The Belden Brick Company, a family-owned business for five generations, is celebrating its 140th anniversary by focusing on specialty and decorative bricks. Consumer demand, driven by home renovation trends, has led to a shift towards decorative bricks in various colors and glazes. The company is investing in new technology, including the first digital printers for bricks in the U.S., to expand its decorative capabilities. This investment is expected to provide an “almost limitless range” of effects and help match old bricks that are no longer produced. The company has 500 employees in Ohio, with a total of 600 including dealerships and distributors.
CEO Robert T. Belden said the company has adapted to market changes by specializing in innovative products, which has helped them do well financially despite a decline in sales volume. Belden Brick has a strong workforce in Tuscarawas County and Holmes County, with many employees having long careers at the company. The company sells nationwide, with 80% of sales between the east side of the Mississippi and north of the Mason-Dixon line. The company has also made significant investments in new equipment, including a roller hearth kiln and improved dry decorating line, which will increase production of thin bricks and glazed bricks.
The Belden Brick Co. has a history of innovation, with its great-grandfather purchasing the Finzer Brothers Clay Co. in 1914 and expanding to Sugarcreek. The company continues to advance the art of brickmaking, with a focus on decorative and specialty bricks. With a strong workforce and commitment to innovation, the company is well-positioned for the future.
Image Courtesy: Belden Brick Company
