Large Boral Bricks Inc. plant stages grand opening in Union City

By Bill Kramer
Canadian Valley Technology Center

UNION CITY – The $34 million Boral Bricks Inc., plant celebrated its grand opening Thursday (March 23) inside the massive, 165,000-square foot plant.

Area and state officials and Boral chief executives gathered at the plant, which is slated to manufacture 100 million king-sized bricks each year, plant executives said.

The plant’s opening will yield a 6-percent net annual increase in the number of bricks produced by Boral, which is the nation’s largest manufactuer of bricks and pavers.

Dr. Earl Cowan, superintendent at Canadian Valley Technology Center’s El Reno campus, addressed nearly 150 people who attended the ribbon cutting and grand opening. In conjunction with the state Commerce Department, the technology center provided CPR/first aid, maintenance and safety training for nearly 35 plant employees during plant construction.

“It’s really a pleasure for us to provide this training, and we really appreciate you being here in Oklahoma and the Union City area, and we’re going to do everything we can to provide any training you might need,” Cowan told the gathering.

Union City’s plant will employ roughly 50 people for two production shifts and transport truck drivers. All employees are from the surrounding area, executives said. Contract carriers also will be sourced for out-of-state deliveries, which will account for between 50 and 70 trucks per day.

The facility will supply bricks to customers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas and will eliminate costly shipping to these states from the company’s east cost facilities, said Emery Severin, president of Boral USA.

“This state-of-the-art plant enables us to better support the robust housing markets in the region,” Severin said. “By increasing supply and decreasing shipping costs, the brick produced in this facility will benefit the builder market and the end user. We’re thrilled to be here in Union City.”

ABOUT BORAL BRICKS INC.: Boral is the largest clay brick and paver manufactuer in the United States, with 23 manufacturing facilities. Boral Bricks Inc. is the largest operating company owned by Boral USA, a holding company that owns Boral’s U.S. operations that is based in Atlanta, Ga.

For further media inquiries, please contact: Emily Hess, Dir. Of Public Relations, Boral USA, 404-524-3075 (office) / 404-579-7041 (cell) / Emily@functionaltl.com