Wienerberger

In 1819 Wienerberger was founded in Vienna by Alois Miesbach and got its start making use of clay deposits in the Wienerberg area of Vienna. The company embraced innovations such as circular kiln designs, allowing it to have near-continuous production and achieve early success. Miesbach continued to increase manufacturing capacity as the business grew, and by the time of his death in 1857 the company had nine factories, a clay plant, and multiple coal mines. Miesbach's nephew, Heinrich Drasche, took over the company and maintained its dominant position. Starting in 1869 the company traded on the Vienna Stock Exchange.

For the next hundred years, Wienerberger was the market leader in Austria. They branched into other related industries, such as ornamental sculptures, roof tiles, and architectural terracotta. After World War One and the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Wienerberger lost many of its foreign operations and rebuilt around its core Austrian businesses.

The company began using mechanical presses for brick production around the 1920s, allowing them to produce perforated bricks. Advanced tunnel kilns were adopted starting in the 1950s, leading to increased manufacturing efficiency. They purchased Bramac, a concrete roof tile manufacturer, in 1972.

Starting with its purchase of Germany's Oltmanns-Gruppe company in 1986, Wienerberger expanded into other regions of Europe and entered the plastic pipe business. In 1999 the company acquired General Shale in the United States and became the world's leading manufacturer of bricks.

The company continued to undertake numerous international acquisitions, including Baggeridge PLC in 2007, Semmelrock in 2010, and Tondach Gleinstätten and Keymer Tiles in 2014.{{cite press release|url=http://www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net/news/news.asp?id=10521 |title=Wienerberger secures availability of Keymer tiles |accessdate=2015-10-26 |date=2014-11-04}} In 2021 the company's American branch, General Shale, acquired Meridian Brick of Georgia, doubling revenues in the United States.{{cite web |title=Wienerberger successfully completes acquisition of Meridian Brick in North America |url=https://www.wienerberger.com/en/media/press-releases/2021/20211008-wienerberger-successfully-completes-acquisition-of-meridian-brick-in-north-america.html |website=wienerberger |publisher=wienerberger |access-date=18 October 2024}}

Wienerberger finalized its purchase of French tile manufacturer Terreal in 2024, dramatically expanding its presence throughout Europe and giving it ownership of Creaton and Ludowici Roof Tile.{{cite web |title=wienerberger successfully closes acquisition of Terreal |url=https://www.wienerberger.com/en/media/press-releases/2024/20240301-wienerberger-successfully-closes-acquisition-of-Terreal.html |website=wienerberger |publisher=wienerberger |access-date=18 October 2024}} Around the same time General Shale completed its purchase of Summitville Tile, an Ohio floor tile and facing brick manufacturer.{{cite web |title=wienerberger expands North America business by acquiring local supplier Summitville Tiles, Inc. |url=https://www.wienerberger.com/en/media/press-releases/2024/20240229-wienerberger-expands-North-America-business-by-acquiring-Summitville-Tiles.html |website=wienerberger |publisher=wienerberger |access-date=18 October 2024}}

In 2004, Wienerberger launched the Brick Award, an architecture prize that is presented every two years. Its goal is to recognize outstanding and innovative brick architecture. Projects are evaluated based on their sustainability, climate resilience, energy efficiency, functionality and architectural quality. The competition features five categories, honoring projects that showcase the versatility of ceramic building materials in unique ways. The use of wienerberger products is not a prerequisite for participation. Winners are honored at an award ceremony and published in the Brick Book. The award is endowed with prize money of 7,000 Euro for the grand prize winner (incl. category winner) and 5,000 Euro for each of the remaining four category winners.{{Cite web |title=Brick Award |url=https://www.brickaward.com/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=WBS-Holding |language=en}}

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• {{Official website|http://www.wienerberger.com}}
• [https://www.wienerborse.at/en/market-data/shares-others/quote/?ID_NOTATION=92612&ISIN=AT0000831706 Vienna Stock Exchange: Market Data Wienerberger AG]

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Category:Manufacturing companies based in Vienna

Category:Companies based in Vienna

Category:Companies listed on the Wiener Börse

Category:Companies in the Austrian Traded Index

Category:Brick manufacturers

Category:Roof tiles

Category:Manufacturer of architectural terracotta

Category:Austrian brands

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