Allan Block
Allan Block Corporation, founded 1986 in Bloomington, Minnesota, licenses patented mortarless interlocking concrete retaining wall systems to a global network of manufacturers, dealers, and certified landscape contractors serving residential, commercial, and infrastructure markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersBloomington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Allan Block does
Allan Block Corporation, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, designs, patents, and licenses Segmental Retaining Wall (SRW) systems built around a proprietary mortarless interlocking lip-and-notch concrete block technology, supplemented by geogrid reinforcement products. Its portfolio spans multiple decorative and functional collections — AB Collection, AB Europa, AB Aztec, AB Fieldstone for retaining walls; AB Courtyard and AB Metro for patio and seating walls; and AB Fence for sound barrier and privacy applications — together with a suite of proprietary engineering and estimation software (AB Walls 3D+Terraces, AB Estimating Tool, AB Layout Tool Extension) used by design professionals and contractors. The company holds a multi-jurisdiction patent estate (US, Europe, Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan) and a dense regulatory footprint including IAPMO ES #0958, UK BBA #13/H503, IACET Authorized Provider status, and Department of Transportation approvals in 28 US states plus British Columbia.
Allan Block operates an asset-light licensing-and-channel model: it does not manufacture product directly. Instead, qualified concrete block manufacturers produce Allan Block products regionally under license in protected territories and pay royalties; their output flows through a dealer and distributor network stocked by a consumer-facing dealer locator, ultimately reaching landscape contractors and end homeowners. The company monetizes through licensing royalties and channel support services, and reinforces specification pull via contractor certification, IACET-accredited CEU training webinars, a contractor rewards program, and dedicated portals for producers, dealers, designers, and contractors. Its end customer base is highly fragmented across residential, commercial, and DOT/engineered infrastructure applications in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Allan Block firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Allan Block
- Legal name
- Allan Block Corporation
- Website
- https://allanblock.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Allan Block Corporation, founded 1986 in Bloomington, Minnesota, licenses patented mortarless interlocking concrete retaining wall systems to a global network of manufacturers, dealers, and certified landscape contractors serving residential, commercial, and infrastructure markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Allan Block industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retaining Wall Systems
- NAICS
- Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing (327331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retaining Wall Blocks & Segmental Wall Systems (IMADABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Concrete Pavers, Hardscape & Retaining Wall Systems (IMADAAAE)
Keywords
Where Allan Block is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bloomington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Allan Block business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Licensing Royalties: Allan Block licenses its patented designs to concrete block manufacturers worldwide. Licensed producers manufacture and sell Allan Block products in their designated territories, paying royalties to Allan Block for the use of patented technology and brand.
- Dealer/Distribution Network: Products are sold through a network of dealers and distributors who purchase from licensed manufacturers. Allan Block provides marketing support, training, and tools to the dealer network.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Allan Block product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Allan Block designs, patents, and licenses segmental retaining wall (SRW) systems, patio and seating wall products, and sound barrier fencing solutions. Products are produced by licensed regional manufacturers and sold through an authorized dealer/distributor network to landscape contractors and homeowners. The company also provides complementary design software (AB Walls) and estimating tools for engineers, designers, and contractors.
Product overview
Allan Block is a manufacturer of segmental retaining wall systems, patio walls, and sound barrier fencing solutions. The product portfolio centers on interlocking concrete block systems sold under multiple collections (AB Collection, AB Europa, AB Aztec, AB Fieldstone) for retaining walls, with dedicated product lines for patio/seating walls (AB Courtyard, AB Metro) and fencing (AB Fence). The company also provides a complementary suite of design and estimating software tools (AB Walls 3D+Terraces, AB Estimating Tool, Layout Tool Extension) for architects, engineers, and contractors, along with geogrid reinforcement products. The offering is structured as a product ecosystem where physical masonry systems are supported by digital design tools and specification resources, rather than a unified platform architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AB Collection: Core retaining wall block product line with split-face finish
- AB Europa Collection
- AB Aztec Collection
- AB Fieldstone Collection
- AB Courtyard Collection
- AB Metro Patio Wall
- AB Fence
- AB GO
- AB Walls Design Software
Products and services
- AB Collection Retaining Walls Flagship retaining wall block product line featuring mortarless, interlocking concrete blocks with a patented lip-and-notch design for residential and engineered commercial projects.
- AB Europa Collection
Quantifiable outcome
- Mortarless installation significantly reduces construction time compared to traditional poured concrete or mortared block walls
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Allan Block
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Allan Block technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Allan Block partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- HomeAdvisorminorPartnership announced in 2019 to provide HomeAdvisor customers with access to Allan Block products and trained contractors. Win-win arrangement for lead generation.
- Hardscapes North America (HNA)coreAnnual industry event where Allan Block sponsors project recognition awards. Provides visibility and credibility within the hardscape industry for certified contractors.
- Waste Management CompanyminorPartnership for responsible disposal of treated timber removed during Allan Block timber replacement projects. Waste Management provides certification letters confirming EPA-compliant disposal of hazardous wood materials.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Allan Block competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Belgard (Oldcastle APG): Belgard, part of Oldcastle APG (CRH), is the largest hardscape brand in North America offering retaining walls as part of a comprehensive paver and outdoor living portfolio, competing with Allan Block across residential and commercial segments with broader dealer reach and consumer brand awareness.
- Pavestone (Oldcastle APG): Pavestone, part of Oldcastle APG, is a broad hardscape incumbent offering segmental retaining walls alongside pavers and outdoor living products, providing large-scale competition to Allan Block through deep dealer relationships and BigBox retail distribution.
Others
- Tensar International: Tensar is a leading manufacturer of geogrid soil reinforcement products that complement segmental retaining wall construction. While not a direct competitor, Tensar's BX and TriAx grids are often specified alongside or against Allan Block's AB Reinforcement Grid in engineered wall designs.
Regional players
- EP Henry: EP Henry is an East Coast-focused manufacturer of segmental retaining walls and concrete pavers, competing directly with Allan Block products in regional residential and commercial hardscape markets through company-owned production and dealer networks.
Direct peers
- Cambridge Pavers: Cambridge Pavers manufactures Armortec and other segmental retaining wall systems alongside concrete pavers, competing with Allan Block across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with similar DOT-approved products and dealer-driven distribution.
- Redi-Rock International: Redi-Rock is a direct segmental retaining wall competitor specializing in large-block wet-cast concrete retaining wall systems, distributed through a licensed manufacturer network with comparable international expansion and engineering support offerings.
- Anchor Wall Systems: Anchor Wall Systems (now part of Belgard/Oldcastle APG) is a long-standing direct competitor in segmental retaining walls, offering Diamond and other interlocking block systems sold through producers and dealers with similar DOT-approval driven specification strategies.
- Keystone Retaining Wall Systems: Keystone is one of the most direct competitors to Allan Block in segmental retaining wall systems, offering a similar lineup of interlocking concrete blocks with comparable pin and lip-and-notch connection technologies sold through licensed producers and a dealer network across North America.
- Unilock: Unilock manufactures and distributes segmental retaining wall blocks alongside a broader line of concrete pavers and outdoor living products in North America, competing with Allan Block for landscape contractor and homeowner specification across residential and commercial projects.
Emerging players
- Rosetta Hardscapes: Rosetta Hardscapes offers wet-cast concrete segmental retaining walls designed to mimic natural stone, competing with Allan Block's higher-end collections (AB Fieldstone, AB Europa) in residential and commercial landscape projects through licensed producer distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Allan Block social profiles
Digital presenceAllan Block compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Allan Block financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Allan Block leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Allan Block funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Allan Block 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 Allan Block
What does Allan Block do?
Allan Block designs, patents, and licenses segmental retaining wall (SRW) systems, patio and seating wall products, and sound barrier fencing solutions. Products are produced by licensed regional manufacturers and sold through an authorized dealer/distributor network to landscape contractors and homeowners. The company also provides complementary design software (AB Walls) and estimating tools for engineers, designers, and contractors.
Is Allan Block a public or private company?
Allan Block is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Allan Block founded?
Allan Block was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Allan Block based?
Allan Block is headquartered in Bloomington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Allan Block make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Licensing Royalties are the primary driver. The others are dealer/Distribution Network.
Who are Allan Block's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Belgard (Oldcastle APG) and Pavestone (Oldcastle APG). Tensar International is listed as an others. EP Henry is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Cambridge Pavers, Redi-Rock International, Anchor Wall Systems, Keystone Retaining Wall Systems and Unilock. Rosetta Hardscapes is listed as an emerging player.
Does Allan Block have an API?
No public API is recorded for Allan Block.
What industry is Allan Block in?
Allan Block's product category is Retaining Wall Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADABAJ, Retaining Wall Blocks & Segmental Wall Systems, with a secondary code of IMADAAAE, Concrete Pavers, Hardscape & Retaining Wall Systems. Its NAICS code is 327331.