Innovation, a commitment to education and an established supplier relationship have proven to be critical to the continued success of Richvale York Block Inc. This company stands ready to meet the needs of the industry. "We provide an array of innovative new and traditional products to service whatever the project design demands. We assist the contractors and find solutions to make their jobs easier," commented Fred Clarke who is responsible for sales and marketing for Richvale York.

Barry McKeown (right), Besser sales representative, visits with Peter Beltrame, Richvale York's plant superintendent, who is in charge of both plants at Gormley and Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Not willing to stand idle, Richvale York introduced a revolutionary, lightweight concrete block in 1997. The block known as "Ultra Lite™" is up to 35 percent lighter than a normal weight block. Benefits of the Ultra Lite block include easier installation for masons, less deadloading for structural design, improved fire resistance, less weight on scaffolds, effective sound absorption, high thermal insulation, excellent life cycle, less maintenance and lower insurance premiums, just to name a few.

The Ultra Lite block can be used for exterior or interior walls, for either loadbearing or non-loadbearing walls and in all types of buildings. Ultra Lite products are produced in all standard unit profiles and in special shapes that are available in the standard or special product range.

The Besser V6 Superpac^® concrete products machine manufactures 20 cm x 20 cm x 40 cm (8" x 8" x 16") block with the use of a Besser Proneq mold.

Richvale York and Lafarge Slag developed the aggregate "True Lite™ Aggregate" for the product mix after years of experimental research and testing. Although the Ultra Lite block is sold exclusively by Richvale York, the True Lite aggregate has been made available to the marketplace.

Richvale York has been successful with the Ultra Lite block which is produced at their facility in Gormley, Ontario, Canada. The block has been manufactured on all three of their Besser concrete products machines: a Vibrapac®, Dynapac® and Superpac®.

"Besser machines and products are proven with a century of experience," stated Marco Beltrame, Gormley plant manager. Richvale York has built a history with Besser and has operated Besser concrete products machines, specifically V3R Vibrapacs, since the company began. Eight staff members currently operate the three machines at Gormley. Typical production is 10 hours a day/five days a week. When necessary a sixth day of production is added.

The Gormley operation has a 73,000 square foot (6716 square meter) facility with 11 acres (4.4 hectares) for storage. A second facility in Brampton, Ontario, has a 55,000 square foot (5060 square meter) facility and 10 acres (4 hectacres) of storage area. More than two million block are inventoried by the company to make sure that product is always available to serve customers. This includes block in approximately 350 different sizes, shapes and colors. Product lines include light weight and normal weight standard block, architectural units and the new Sound Cell™ - sound absorption product.

Block Weight Comparison

For more information, contact Richvale York Block Inc. at (416) 213-7444.

Depending on the product, Richvale York’s market ranges from local Toronto to the Province of Ontario and to all of Canada. The client base depends on the market segment and includes building owners, developers, architects, engineers, contractors and sub contractors.

Richvale York has found that personal contact is the best approach to marketing their product. According to Fred, "We do that with a knock on the door, get +exposure in the hard copy media and follow up from leads generated. We market our quality, personnel, and service to ensure that we will be our clients’ producer of choice."

"Besser is not unlike Richvale York. They not only listen to clients’ concerns, they act on them and find resolution to the issues quickly," exclaimed Fred. "It is our experience that when given accurate information on problem technical issues, the Besser response is fast and efficient with no delays that would cause excessive down time in production."

In addition to the service provided by Besser Company, Richvale York believes in educating employees to keep the plants operating smoothly. Fred mentioned that, "The Besser Blockmakers Workshop® is the best environment to learn both theory and practice. It brings blockmakers from across the world into one learning experience and assists in the exchange of varied ideas that allows for the provision of solutions to many in-plant problems. The prestigious honor of being awarded the Master Blockmaker™ Certification is excellent confirmation of success and achievement in the blockmaking process."

Richvale York does more than develop new products and offer employees the opportunity for increased education - they help to get the building built. Fred alluded, "Our vision of change is continued consolidation of the industry: more efficient plants, new products, increase market share through marketing exposure and the avoidance of references to block as a commodity and proving it to be otherwise. The block industry does have substantial resources to compete head to head with the competition. It is marketing and using our resources that will assist us to capitalize on these changes."

Stanley Stankiewicz and a partner started Richvale Block in the early 1950s. The company moved to a larger property in Richvale, Ontario, Canada with three V3Rs then purchased another block plant in Rexdale, Ontario with two V3Rs to service western Toronto. York Block operating a V3-12 Vibrapac was a block producer down the road from Richvale Block and eventually the two merged to become Richvale York Block.

In 1992, Richvale York Block closed the three plants and constructed a modern plant in Gormley, Ontario. The Gormley plant was automated with the help of a V3-12 Vibrapac that was taken from the York Block facility and new Superpac and Dynapac concrete products machines. The new facility could produce the same amount of block with 12 employees as it did at the other three locations with 70 employees.