Broker Makes Bricks

 

A litter box is not the only place kitty litter can be put to use, the founder of Corinth Brick Co. has discovered.

Allen Lee used to work as a broker for brick manufacturers, but decided to start making brick himself, opening the Corinth Brick Co. in 2000. There was one big problem: The local clay wouldn?EUR??,,????'???t hold its shape because of too high moisture content. This is not an unusual problem. Sawdust and other aggregates have been used to remedy such problems, but the usual additives did not work on the regional clay.

Lee wondered if a lightweight kitty litter would work, and went to Oil-Dri Corp., in Chicago, a manufacturer of cat litter, but also ?EUR??,,????'??mineral absorbents and polypropylene sorbents?EUR??,,????'?? and a variety of products to the ?EUR??,,????'??fluids purification?EUR??,,????'?? markets. Oil-Dri and Lee worked together on various mixes that would not only absorb the moisture but be viable with the heat required in brickmaking, plus not emit any toxicities. The result, after three years, is the brick additive BA 1000. Brick using BA 1000 is said to be more porous than heavier clay mixtures and 4-6 percent lighter in weight, which lowers shipping costs.

The BA 1000 additive is slightly more expensive than other options on the market, but Lee asserts the benefits in manufacturing, transport and the quality of the brick more than offset the product cost. Corinth Brick manufactures 12 to 15 million bricks a year in five colors.