CalStar shifts production to new plant

CalStar Products, Durham, North Carolina, has shifted its production from its pilot plant in Racine, Wisconsin, to a new 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Columbus, Mississippi. The company says the move to the new plant will result in increased capacity and a larger geographic footprint for the brick, masonry and decorative trim products manufacturer.

Craig Ratchford, CalStar’s CEO, says the expanded plant will continue to service the North American brick and masonry market, including the Milwaukee and Chicago markets surrounding its Racine pilot operation. “We’re excited for the expansion of our newest Columbus facility as we continue to manufacture America’s only sustainable brick and masonry solution.”

The company says it is adding additional curing capacity to Columbus in order to keep up with the demand for a new line of decorative trim cast stone products.

The company says the Mississippi facility is CalStar’s first full-scale manufacturing plant.

The company’s product uses up to 37 percent recycled content, eliminating the need for kiln-firing, typical of traditional clay brick, or the use of Portland cement, used to bind concrete masonry products.