What Stalite does

Stalite is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of expanded slate lightweight aggregate, headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina, with two integrated production facilities in Gold Hill and Norwood (Aquadale), NC. The company is the world's only producer of expanded slate lightweight aggregate, manufacturing its product by expanding argillite slate in high-temperature rotary kilns at over 2,200°F using a patented pre-heater conditioning process. The aggregate delivers approximately 6% water absorption versus 15–30% for competing shale or clay-based lightweight aggregates, yielding higher strength-to-weight ratios, improved durability, and lower dead load in finished concrete and masonry.

The company sells a single core product — Stalite Lightweight Aggregate — across multiple application categories: structural concrete (high-rise buildings, bridges, marine structures), precast/prestressed concrete, concrete masonry units, geotechnical fill, internal curing, road materials, and environmental/horticultural media (including the PermaTill brand). It serves federal and state Departments of Transportation, federal agencies (GSA, DoD, FHWA), private developers, precast producers, and contractors via direct factory shipment, 28 U.S. distribution terminals, rail service through CSX and Norfolk Southern, and port-based international export. Pricing is quote-based by the ton, with a full truckload minimum of approximately 24 short tons; revenue is project-driven and tied to construction cycles. The company is sales-led, targeting engineers, architects, and specifiers for specification pull-through, and is a member of 40+ industry bodies including ACI, ASTM, PCI, NPCA, NCMA, ASCE, and fib.

The business model is a classic specialty industrial materials operation: high capital intensity (kilns, mining, processing), high product margin relative to commodity aggregate due to technical specifications, and demand tied to public infrastructure and commercial construction cycles. Stalite has been operating for over 65 years under continuous private ownership, with no disclosed venture capital, private equity backing, or public-market listing.

Name

Stalite

Legal name

Stalite

Website

https://stalite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Stalite is the world's only producer of expanded slate lightweight aggregate, manufacturing high-strength, low-absorption aggregate in North Carolina for use in structural concrete, masonry, bridges, geotechnical, road, and environmental applications sold to DOTs, government agencies, and private construction firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Materials / Lightweight Aggregate Manufacturing

NAICS

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (2123), Construction Sand and Gravel Mining (212321), Other Crushed and Broken Stone Mining and Quarrying (212319)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Aggregates Mining & Processing (Sand, Gravel, Crushed Stone) (IMADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aggregate Processing & Value-Added Products (Washing, Screening, Asphalt/Concrete Aggregates) (IMAKAHAH), Manufactured/Engineered Stone & Agglomerates (Quartz, Terrazzo, Sintered Stone) (IMAKAHAG), Specialty Aggregates (Rail Ballast, Riprap/Armor Stone, Gabion Stone) (IMAKAHAJ)

Keywords

• Lightweight aggregate manufacturing
• Expanded slate aggregate
• Structural concrete materials
• Precast prestressed concrete
• Construction materials manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Salisbury

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, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Lightweight Aggregate Product Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling expanded slate lightweight aggregate to construction projects. Products are sold by ton, with pricing based on gradation, quantity, and delivery distance. Revenue is project-driven and tied to construction activity cycles across structural concrete, masonry, geotechnical, road material, and environmental applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stalite mines argillite slate and converts it in rotary kilns into expanded slate lightweight aggregate (ESLA) sold by the ton for structural concrete, precast/prestressed concrete, concrete masonry, geotechnical fill, road base, and marine and environmental applications. The company also produces the PermaTill branded line of expanded slate horticultural and environmental media, including PermaTill VoleBloc, distributed through retail and project channels.

Product overview

Stalite is the world's only producer of expanded slate lightweight aggregate, manufactured at facilities in Gold Hill and Aquadale, North Carolina. The core product is Stalite Lightweight Aggregate, produced by expanding select slate in high-temperature rotary kilns at over 2,200°F. The product portfolio spans multiple application categories including Structural Concrete (for high-rise buildings, bridges, and marine structures), Precast Concrete (prestressed girders, double tees, panels), Concrete Masonry Units (for commercial and residential construction), Geotechnical Fill (for retaining walls and settlement control), Environmental Media (green roofs, bioretention, PermaTill horticultural products), Road Materials (asphalt surface treatments), Internal Curing (prewetted aggregate for concrete), and Marine Structures. The company distributes through 28 terminal locations with rail access via CSX and Norfolk Southern, and international shipping through East Coast ports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stalite Lightweight Aggregate (Expanded Slate) Bulk expanded slate lightweight aggregate (ESLA) produced in rotary kilns from argillite slate, sold by the ton to ready-mix concrete producers, precast/prestressed manufacturers, masonry producers, geotechnical contractors, and DOTs for structural concrete, precast, masonry, geotechnical fill, road, and marine applications. The product is supplied in multiple gradations meeting ASTM C330 (structural) and C331 (masonry) specifications with approximately 6% water absorption.
• PermaTill Horticultural Media Expanded slate horticultural and environmental media sold under the PermaTill brand to greenhouse growers, nurseries, landscape contractors, sports-turf managers, and stormwater designers as a permanent, inorganic soil amendment and drainage media.
• PermaTill VoleBloc Expanded slate product sold under the PermaTill VoleBloc brand to landscape contractors, sports-turf managers, and retail consumers for controlling vole and rodent damage in turf, ornamental beds, and landscape plantings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Absorption rate of approximately 6% compared to 15–30% for conventional shale or clay lightweight aggregates — improving concrete strength, durability, and long-term structural integrity
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Expanded Shale Clay and Slate Institute (ESCSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESCSI is a non-profit association promoting the use of expanded shale, clay, and slate lightweight aggregate. Stalite is featured on ESCSI's website and collaborates through shared technical resources, industry advocacy, and promotion of expanded aggregate applications in construction.
• American Concrete Institute (ACI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACI develops and disseminates consensus-based standards and technical resources for concrete design and construction. Stalite maintains membership and participates in ACI committees related to lightweight concrete specifications and applications.
• ASTM InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASTM develops voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Stalite products comply with ASTM C330 (lightweight aggregate for structural concrete), ASTM C331 (lightweight aggregate for concrete masonry), and other applicable ASTM standards. Stalite participates in standards development processes.
• Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCI is the leading technical institute for the precast concrete structures industry. Stalite provides technical data, test reports, and support for precast applications using lightweight aggregate, and participates in PCI programs and publications.
• National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPCA represents manufacturers of plant-produced precast concrete products and suppliers to the industry. Stalite provides technical support and产品规格 data for precast concrete applications using expanded slate lightweight aggregate.
• Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada (CMHA/NCMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCMA (National Concrete Masonry Association) and its regional affiliates provide technical resources, standards, and certification for concrete masonry construction. Stalite supports masonry applications through technical data and product specifications for lightweight CMUs.
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCE is a professional body representing civil engineers across all disciplines. Stalite engages with ASCE through technical publications, conferences, and collaboration on infrastructure and construction standards.
• fib (International Federation for Structural Concrete)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerfib is an international technical organization promoting advanced concrete technology and structural engineering. Stalite participates in fib activities related to structural concrete innovation and international best practices for lightweight aggregate applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Holcim (Aggregate Industries): Holcim is a global building materials and aggregates major with U.S. lightweight aggregate and concrete operations. It serves overlapping structural, infrastructure, and masonry end markets and represents a strategic-scale competitor and potential acquirer profile for specialty players like Stalite.
• Martin Marietta Materials: Martin Marietta is a top-tier U.S. aggregates producer serving heavy construction and infrastructure. Broad incumbent with similar end-customer base (DOTs, contractors) but focused on normal-weight aggregate, making it a strategic reference point for the aggregates industry.
• Vulcan Materials Company: Vulcan is the largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates (crushed stone, sand, gravel). While not focused on lightweight aggregate, it competes with Stalite for specification on conventional concrete and infrastructure projects and could expand into the lightweight category.

Direct peers

• Liaver GmbH & Co. KG: Liaver is a European manufacturer of expanded glass and shale lightweight aggregate, supplying structural concrete, acoustics, and horticulture markets. Comparable specialty lightweight aggregate producer with international project references that overlap with Stalite's export accounts.
• Arcosa Lightweight Aggregate: Arcosa produces expanded shale and clay lightweight aggregate for structural concrete, masonry, and geotechnical applications. It is the most direct U.S. competitor to Stalite, offering a similar product portfolio and serving the same DOT and precast customer base with a different (shale/clay) raw material.
• Utelite Corporation: Utelite mines and produces expanded shale lightweight aggregate in Utah, serving structural concrete, masonry, and horticultural markets across the western U.S. Comparable product offering to Stalite with regional rather than national distribution.
• Buildex (Hydraulic Press Brick / Boral Lightweight): Buildex is a long-established producer of expanded shale and clay lightweight aggregate used in masonry, concrete, and geotechnical applications. Comparable mid-sized specialty competitor to Stalite in North America.
• Solite (Carolina Solite / Solite International): Solite produces expanded shale lightweight aggregate in the eastern U.S., historically a direct competitor in the same structural, masonry, and geotechnical applications. Closest geographic overlap with Stalite's core Southeast market.
• Norlite LLC: Norlite produces expanded shale lightweight aggregate in New York, serving structural concrete, masonry, and filtration markets in the Northeast. Comparable product specification and customer overlap with Stalite in heavy construction applications.
• Trinity Lightweight Aggregate: Trinity produces expanded clay and shale lightweight aggregate for concrete block, structural concrete, and geotechnical uses. Operates production facilities primarily in the southern U.S. and competes for similar precast and masonry customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-stalite-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Stalite