Masonry Magazine April 2012 Page. 43
Acme Brick Reopens Denton Plant Kiln on 100th Anniversary
In January, Acme Brick Co. conducted the official reopening on kiln "C" at the company's Denton, Texas, plant. The reopening coincided with Acme's 100th anniversary of the Denton plant's acquisition by Acme Brick Co. Attending the reopening were Dennis Knautz, president and CEO of Acme Brick, and Ed Watson, Acme's senior VP of production.
The Denton plant is the largest of Acme's 26 brick plants. First organized as the Denton Pressed Brick Co. in 1901, the plant became Acme's first major acquisition on Jan. 6, 1912. The plant was expanded beginning in 1963, when the first of three new tunnel kilns was completed. The final C kiln was completed in 1967. Although it was the last kiln constructed, C kiln was deemed to be inoperable in 2009, due to structural issues. After a thorough review of options, Acme management made the decision in 2010 to rebuild the kiln in the same location and with the same basic configuration as the original kiln.
The kiln design and installation projects were all handled in-house by Acme Engineering and Production Management personnel. The kiln burners were ignited on Dec. 21, 2011, and the first brick exited the kiln on Jan. 12, 2012, 100 years after the Denton operation became a part of Acme Brick Co. Acme celebrated its 120th birthday on April 17, 2011.
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