What Thelen Sand & Gravel does

Thelen Sand & Gravel is a family-owned construction materials manufacturer founded in 1947 by Vern Thelen in Antioch, Illinois. The company produces and distributes IDOT- and WisDOT-certified aggregates including gravel, sand, crushed concrete and asphalt (recycled products), and organic mulch and soil solutions. Operations are concentrated at three manufacturing facilities located in Antioch, IL; Lakemoor, IL; and Genoa City, WI (Lange Road), supporting distribution across Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin. The company also operates yard waste recycling and land-restoration activities, including the installation of solar panels on previously exhausted parcels, framed under a stated mission of sustainable value creation in mining and recycling.

The business serves three primary customer segments: contractors (primary, for IDOT/WisDOT road-building and construction projects), government and public works entities (primary, for certified infrastructure materials), and homeowners (secondary, for landscaping, driveways, and smaller residential projects). Revenue is generated through one-time sales of bulk aggregates and materials, with both customer pickup at facility locations and delivery to job sites available. Pricing is quote-based, varying by material type, volume, and delivery distance, and is not publicly disclosed. Sales occur primarily via inbound phone (847-395-3313) and the thelensg.com website, with no e-commerce or app-based ordering infrastructure.

The company is privately held under family ownership, with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or external investors. An affiliated operating entity, Thelen Materials, hosts product-specific content and regulatory documentation (CCDD/SDS for IEPA compliance), and the Thelen Family Foundation operates as a separate nonprofit. The company holds memberships in six regional and state construction and aggregates industry associations but has no disclosed patents, trademarks, or certifications beyond IDOT/WisDOT aggregate approval.

Name

Thelen Sand & Gravel

Legal name

Thelen Sand & Gravel

Website

https://thelensg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Thelen Sand & Gravel is a family-owned construction materials manufacturer founded in 1947, producing IDOT- and WisDOT-certified aggregates, recycled products, and organic soil solutions for contractors, government agencies, and homeowners across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Aggregates

NAICS

Construction Sand and Gravel Mining (212321), Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying (21232), Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (2123)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)

akta.pro primary industry

Sand & Gravel Extraction & Processing (IMAKAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Aggregates Mining & Processing (Sand, Gravel, Crushed Stone) (IMADAAAI), Recycled Aggregates & C&D Materials Processing (RCA, RAP, Glass Aggregate) (IMAKAHAI), Asphalt Aggregates & Specialty Aggregates (Rail Ballast, Riprap, Lightweight) (IMADAAAJ)

Keywords

• Construction aggregates
• Sand and gravel
• Recycled concrete
• Organic soil solutions
• Landscaping materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Antioch

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aggregates and Construction Materials Sales: Revenue generated from selling construction aggregates including sand, gravel, crushed concrete, asphalt, and organic soil solutions. Sales occur through direct pickup at facilities or delivery to customer sites. Products include certified aggregates for IDOT and WisDOT projects, special blends, and gradations for road building, construction, and landscaping applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Thelen Sand & Gravel mines and manufactures construction aggregates and organic soil solutions, including gravel, sand, recycled crushed concrete and asphalt, and mulch/soil products. All aggregates are IDOT and WisDOT certified and available in custom blends and gradations for road building, construction, and landscaping applications. Products are produced at the Antioch, Lakemoor, and Lange Road (Genoa City) facilities and distributed through pickup or regional delivery across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Product overview

Thelen Sand & Gravel is a construction materials manufacturer offering a unified portfolio of aggregate and organic products. The core offerings include Gravel, Sand, Recycled Products (crushed concrete and asphalt), and Organics (mulch and soil solutions). All aggregate products are IDOT and WisDOT certified. Products are manufactured at Antioch, Petersen, and Lange Road facilities and are available for pickup or delivery across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. The company also offers special blends and gradations to meet road building, construction, or landscaping needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gravel Quality gravel materials for construction, road building, and landscaping applications, manufactured as IDOT and WisDOT certified aggregates.
• Sand Quality sand products for construction, road building, and landscaping applications, produced as IDOT and WisDOT certified aggregates.
• Recycled Products Crushed concrete and asphalt materials for construction and road building applications, supporting the company's sustainable recycling practices.
• Organics Organic mulch and soil solutions for landscaping applications, manufactured at company facilities.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Thelen Family FoundationminorOthersSister organization focused on community giving and charitable activities. Linked as partner organization under the Thelen family of companies.
• Thelen MaterialscoreOthersAffiliated company within the Thelen corporate family. Serves as the online destination for specific product categories including CCDD and SDS documentation (IEPA compliance).
• Aggregate Producers of WisconsinminorOthersIndustry trade association membership providing networking and advocacy for aggregate producers in Wisconsin.
• Illinois Road and Transportation Builders AssociationminorOthersIndustry association membership connecting the company with transportation construction professionals in Illinois.
• Illinois Association of Aggregate ProducersminorOthersState-level industry association for aggregate producers in Illinois.
• Underground Contractors Association of IllinoisminorOthersIndustry association for underground construction contractors in Illinois.
• Wisconsin Underground Contractors AssociationminorOthersIndustry association for underground construction contractors in Wisconsin.
• Great Lakes Construction AssociationminorOthersRegional construction industry association serving the Great Lakes area.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Prairie Material (Prairie Group): Chicagoland-based supplier of ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and building materials. Comparable to Thelen as a regional aggregates and concrete materials provider competing for the same Northern Illinois construction and infrastructure customers.
• Wepawaug Pit (Bridgeport, CT) / regional IL aggregate operators: Small-to-mid-sized privately-held regional sand and gravel producers operating single or multi-pit operations in the Midwest U.S. Comparable to Thelen in business model (pit mining, haul-and-deliver aggregates to local contractors) and customer profile, though smaller and more localized.
• Ozinga: Family-owned, Midwest-based supplier of ready-mix concrete, aggregates, cement, and related materials with strong Chicago-area and Northern Illinois footprint. Highly comparable to Thelen as a multi-generation family business serving the same contractors and DOT markets with overlapping product categories.
• Stoneco (Michigan): Michigan-based crushed stone, sand, and gravel producer serving construction and infrastructure markets in the Great Lakes region. Comparable to Thelen as a regional aggregate producer with DOT-certified materials serving an overlapping Midwest customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Vulcan Materials Company: Largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates, including crushed stone, sand and gravel, with extensive operations across multiple states. Compares to Thelen as the broad incumbent that defines pricing and competitive dynamics in every regional aggregate market Thelen serves.
• Cemex USA: Global building materials supplier with U.S. operations in aggregates, cement, and ready-mix concrete, including Midwest markets. Comparable to Thelen as a vertically integrated aggregates producer competing for the same contractor and DOT work.
• Lehigh Hanson: One of North America's largest suppliers of aggregates, cement, and ready-mixed concrete, with active operations in Illinois and Wisconsin. Direct overlap with Thelen in certified aggregates and construction materials for the same Midwest customer base.
• Martin Marietta Materials: Major U.S. supplier of aggregates (crushed stone, sand, gravel) and heavy-side building materials with national footprint. Comparable to Thelen as a diversified aggregates heavyweight competing for the same DOT-certified public infrastructure work.
• Holcim US (Aggregate Industries): Global building materials company with U.S. aggregates and ready-mix operations, including a presence in the Midwest. Comparable to Thelen in producing certified aggregates and recycled materials for infrastructure and commercial construction.

Emerging players

• Waste Management / Republic Services (C&D recycling division): National solid waste and recycling companies with growing construction & demolition debris recycling and aggregate-replacement product lines. Comparable to Thelen specifically on the recycled crushed concrete/asphalt side of Thelen's portfolio, representing both a competitor and a potential tipping-fee customer relationship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thelen-sand-and-gravel-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thelen Sand & Gravel