Acme Brick reopens Denton Plant Kiln on 100th anniversary

Words: Artisan Tile company/Public/News/20120421073000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Shown left to right are Nathan Taylor, Johnny Williams, James Steddum, Gregg Sublett, Ed Watson, Lynn Birchfield, Dennis Knautz, Jim Ogg, Garth Tayler and Brian Christenson." />
Shown left to right are Nathan Taylor, Johnny Williams, James Steddum, Gregg Sublett, Ed Watson, Lynn Birchfield, Dennis Knautz, Jim Ogg, Garth Tayler and Brian Christenson.
On Thursday, January 12, 2012, Acme Brick Company conducted the official reopening on kiln “C” at the company’s Denton, Texas plant. The reopening coincides with Acme’s 100th anniversary of the Denton plant’s acquisition by Acme Brick Company. Reopening ceremonies will begin at 10:00 a.m. Attending the event will be Dennis Knautz, President and CEO of Acme Brick Company and Ed Watson, Acme’s Senior Vice President of Production.

The Denton plant is the largest of Acme's 26 brick plants. First organized as the Denton Pressed Brick Company in 1901, the plant became Acme's first major acquisition on January 6, 1912.

The plant was expanded beginning in 1963 when the first of three new tunnel kilns was completed. The final kiln "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 December 21, 2011 and the first brick exited the kiln January 12, 2012, 100 years after the Denton operation became a part of Acme Brick Company.
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