Masonry Magazine May 2007 Page. 32
TECHNOLOGY
Holding Down Costs
EVEN WITH the advances that brick manufacturers have made during the last several decades, they've been able to keep a lid on costs.
"You can compare it to other building products, like lumber, and see that [brick has gone up only a fraction. It's still under-priced," Rogers said. "We have to be more efficient to make it. We have to keep costs down. We have to be efficient to survive."
Higgins pointed out that manufacturers have to keep prices low to appeal to consumers. "Generally, the price of brick hasn't changed over the years," he said. "People want to build with brick. People love brick, but people won't want to pay a lot for it."
Mass production in technologically advanced factories has been paramount in holding down prices. At one time, Higgins Brick needed 1,000 workers at five plants to manufacturer bricks by hand. Today, technology and 35 employ-