Buildex
Buildex manufactures Haydite® ceramic structural lightweight aggregate from a single Dearborn, MO rotary kiln plant, shipping 225,000+ cubic yards annually to infrastructure, commercial construction, geotechnical, and horticulture buyers across 15 Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states as a subsidiary of Summit Materials (NYSE: SUM).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersLawrence, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Buildex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Buildex
- Legal name
- Buildex
- Website
- https://buildex.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Buildex manufactures Haydite® ceramic structural lightweight aggregate from a single Dearborn, MO rotary kiln plant, shipping 225,000+ cubic yards annually to infrastructure, commercial construction, geotechnical, and horticulture buyers across 15 Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states as a subsidiary of Summit Materials (NYSE: SUM).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Buildex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lightweight Construction Aggregate
- NAICS
- Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (2123)
- SIC
- Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Asphalt Aggregates & Specialty Aggregates (Rail Ballast, Riprap, Lightweight) (IMADAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Lightweight Aggregate Blocks (e.g., Pumice, Cinder) (IMADABAE)
Keywords
Where Buildex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lawrence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Buildex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Lightweight Aggregate Sales: Buildex manufactures and sells Haydite lightweight aggregate as its only product. The company ships over 225,000 cubic yards annually throughout the United States. Revenue is generated through bulk sales, super sack (on-pallet) shipments, and one cubic foot bag sales (20 bag minimum).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk Sales |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Super Sack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | One Cubic Foot Bags |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Buildex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Buildex manufactures and sells a single core product, Buildex® Lightweight Aggregate (also marketed as Haydite®), a ceramic structural lightweight aggregate produced by expanding shale in a rotary kiln at temperatures exceeding 2,200°F. The aggregate is sold in bulk, in super sacks on pallets, and in one cubic foot bags with a 20-bag minimum, and is shipped to customers across 15 Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states for applications including asphalt preservation, structural concrete, geotechnical fill, masonry block, stone veneer, refractory, horticulture, aquaponics, and storm water management.
Product overview
Buildex is a manufacturer of a single core product: Buildex® Lightweight Aggregate (also known as Haydite®), a ceramic structural lightweight aggregate produced by expanding shale in a rotary kiln. This one product serves as the foundation for multiple specialized applications, including Asphalt Preservation, Internal Curing, Lightweight Structural Concrete, Masonry Block, Stone Veneer, Refractory Applications, Green Roofs & Horticulture, Aquaponics, Storm Water Management & Water Treatment, Lightweight Geotechnical Fill, Natural Athletic Field Conditioners, and Equine Arena Amendment. The aggregate is sold in bulk, super sacks, or one cubic foot bags and ships throughout 15 Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states. The company, founded in 1950 and now a Summit Materials company, ships over 225,000 cubic yards annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Haydite®: Lightweight aggregate prepared by expanding select shale in a rotary kiln at temperatures exceeding 2,200°F, producing a uniform and high-quality ceramic aggregate.
Products and services
- Buildex® Lightweight Aggregate (Haydite®) Core ceramic structural lightweight aggregate produced by expanding shale in a rotary kiln at temperatures exceeding 2,200°F, sold in bulk, super sacks, and one cubic foot bags for use in construction and infrastructure applications.
- Asphalt Preservation Aggregate Chip seal surface treatment aggregate that produces safer, more economical, and longer-lasting road surfaces than conventional aggregates, extending asphalt life by 5–7 years and reducing windshield damage.
- Internal Curing Concrete Aggregate Prewetted expanded shale, clay, or slate lightweight aggregate that supplies water throughout a concrete mixture to improve hydration, reduce early cracking and chloride ingress, and extend concrete service life.
- Lightweight Structural Concrete Aggregate Structural concrete aggregate designed to reduce dead loads and improve durability in buildings, bridge decks, and exposed structures while helping mitigate Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR).
- Green Roofs & Horticulture Aggregate Non-toxic, odorless, inert horticultural and landscape soil medium for rooftop gardens, golf course greens, ball field conditioners, and potting soil that resists compression, degradation, and chemical reaction.
- Aquaponics Grow Medium Inert expanded shale grow media for hydroponic and aquaponic growing systems, where fish waste supplies nutrients to plants and plants purify the recirculated water.
- Storm Water Management & Water Treatment Aggregate Lightweight aggregate used in vegetated filter strips, rain gardens, constructed wetlands, bioswales, and as filtering fill beneath permeable pavements to treat and reduce storm water runoff.
- Masonry Block Aggregate Lightweight aggregate for concrete masonry units that increases thermal performance, saving an average of 5.5 cents per block per year in energy costs over the life of the structure.
- Refractory Applications Aggregate High thermo-structural resistance lightweight aggregate manufactured above 2,200°F for consumer products such as fireplace logs, gas grill briquettes, patio fire bowls, pizza ovens, and boat dock/pool decking.
- Stone Veneer Aggregate Lightweight aggregate for manufactured stone veneer products that provides an aesthetically pleasing alternative to natural stone at lower labor, shipping, and installation cost.
- Lightweight Geotechnical Fill Engineered lightweight aggregate fill for geotechnical applications that converts unstable soft soil into usable land, with approximately half the weight of common fills and high internal friction angle reducing vertical and lateral forces by more than half.
- Natural Athletic Field Conditioners Lightweight aggregate field conditioners that mix evenly with all soils, absorb water quickly, decrease wind erosion, and reduce player injuries on athletic fields and warning tracks.
- Equine Arena Amendment Arena blend that transforms clumpy, sandy soils into comfortable riding surfaces, cutting dust, reducing muddy and slippery conditions, and requiring less water and rain-related downtime.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90 lb./ft3 concrete has 260% better insulation factor than 135 lb./ft3 concrete
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Buildex
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Buildex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Buildex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Expanded Shale, Clay, & Slate Institute (ESCSI)coreBuildex is a proud member of ESCSI, an industry institute focused on expanded shale, clay, and slate lightweight aggregate. ESCSI provides industry standards, research, and promotion of structural lightweight aggregate products.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Buildex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arcosa Specialty Materials (Lightweight): Arcosa (formerly Trinity Lightweight) is the largest North American producer of expanded clay, shale, and slate lightweight aggregate. Directly comparable to Buildex via identical rotary kiln vitrification technology, ASTM certifications, and structural concrete / masonry block end markets.
- Norlite LLC: Norlite produces expanded shale lightweight aggregate in upstate New York using the same rotary kiln process as Buildex, targeting structural concrete, masonry, and geotechnical fill in the Northeast. Closely comparable product, technology, and applications.
- Carolina Stalite Company (Stalite): Stalite produces expanded slate lightweight aggregate in North Carolina through rotary kiln processing, serving structural concrete, masonry, and horticultural markets in the Southeastern U.S. Same core product, end-use focus, and certification profile as Buildex.
- Utelite Corporation: Utelite mines and expands shale into lightweight aggregate at a Utah facility serving the Mountain West and West Coast. Comparable rotary kiln process, expanded shale feedstock, and structural concrete / masonry end markets.
- Big River Industries: Big River (formerly Texas Industries lightweight unit) produces expanded clay lightweight aggregate in the Gulf Coast region for concrete masonry and structural applications. Same lightweight aggregate category and structural / masonry use cases as Buildex.
Broad incumbents
- Vulcan Materials Company: Largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates with a national footprint. While Vulcan is principally a commodity crushed-stone producer, it participates in specialty lightweight aggregate end-use applications and serves as a benchmark for aggregates-industry scale economics.
- Martin Marietta Materials: Top-tier aggregates and heavy building materials producer with national operations across the Midwest, South, and East. Relevant comparable for aggregates production economics, infrastructure end-market exposure, and trucking logistics costs that drive Buildex's 15-state market area.
- Summit Materials Inc. Public parent company (NYSE: SUM) with aggregates, cement, and ready-mix operations across the U.S. Buildex is a wholly-owned subsidiary; relevant for understanding capital allocation, geographic footprint, and competitive dynamics with other Summit aggregates operations.
- Holcim US: Aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and cement producer serving U.S. infrastructure and commercial markets. Holcim's ready-mix and aggregates operations compete at the ready-mix and concrete producer stage that Buildex's lightweight aggregate feeds into.
- CRH plc (Oldcastle): Global building materials conglomerate with North American Oldcastle franchise producing aggregates, concrete products, and masonry. Significant presence in masonry block — Buildex's masonry block end market — making CRH a relevant end-customer-adjacent peer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Buildex social profiles
Digital presenceBuildex compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Buildex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Buildex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Buildex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Buildex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Buildex
What does Buildex do?
Buildex manufactures and sells a single core product, Buildex® Lightweight Aggregate (also marketed as Haydite®), a ceramic structural lightweight aggregate produced by expanding shale in a rotary kiln at temperatures exceeding 2,200°F. The aggregate is sold in bulk, in super sacks on pallets, and in one cubic foot bags with a 20-bag minimum, and is shipped to customers across 15 Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states for applications including asphalt preservation, structural concrete, geotechnical fill, masonry block, stone veneer, refractory, horticulture, aquaponics, and storm water management.
Is Buildex a public or private company?
Buildex is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Buildex founded?
Buildex was founded in 1950. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Buildex based?
Buildex is headquartered in Lawrence, United States, in the North America region.
How does Buildex make money?
One revenue line is on record: lightweight Aggregate Sales.
Who are Buildex's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arcosa Specialty Materials (Lightweight), Norlite LLC, Carolina Stalite Company (Stalite), Utelite Corporation and Big River Industries. Broad incumbents are Vulcan Materials Company, Martin Marietta Materials, Summit Materials Inc., Holcim US and CRH plc (Oldcastle).
Does Buildex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Buildex.
What industry is Buildex in?
Buildex's product category is Lightweight Construction Aggregate. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAAAJ, Asphalt Aggregates & Specialty Aggregates (Rail Ballast, Riprap, Lightweight), with a secondary code of IMADABAE, Lightweight Aggregate Blocks (e.g., Pumice, Cinder). Its NAICS code is 2123 and its SIC code is 1400.