Air Placement Cement Company
Air Placement Cement Company is a family-owned, third-generation industrial services firm headquartered in Bridgeport, WV, providing turn-key refractory, gunite, and shotcrete installation plus refractory product distribution to power, metals, petrochemical, pulp and paper, and infrastructure customers across the Eastern and Central United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersBridgeport, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Air Placement Cement Company does
Air Placement Cement Company is a privately-held, family-owned industrial services provider headquartered in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Operating as a division of John M. Hill, Inc., the company delivers turn-key refractory, gunite, and shotcrete services to industrial customers across the Eastern and Central United States, with active sales coverage in West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. Founded in 1951 by G.D. Heldreth and under Hill-family ownership since 1976 (currently in its third generation of management), the firm serves nine industrial verticals including power generation and incineration, coal processing, iron and steel, non-ferrous metal processing, aluminum, petrochemical, mineral processing, pulp and paper, and infrastructure.
The company's core technology is mechanical and materials-science based, centered on specialized refractory installation techniques including gunite (pneumatically applied concrete) with 65+ years of experience, shotcrete and concrete pumping, refractory brick work, precast shape fabrication, ceramic fiber work, and structural repair methods such as epoxy injection and carbon fiber wrap. Air Placement Cement owns and maintains its own equipment fleet — Piccola, Reed, Allentown, and Airplaco Gunite Machines, dry-mix batch plants, high-pressure pumps, and multiple high-CFM air compressors — enabling 24/7 emergency response. The company also distributes refractory products (brick, castables, mortars, gun mix, fiber products, high-temperature products) from its West Virginia warehouse, acting as a regional distributor for major manufacturers including Harbison Walker International, Vesuvius, RHI Magnesita, Unifrax, Snow Shoe Refractories, Resco Products, Mt. Savage Specialty Refractories, Spar Refractories, United Refractories, Magneco/Metrel, and Carolina Refractories.
The business operates on a sales-led, project-based model with field sales representatives making direct calls on industrial customers and providing custom quote-based pricing. Revenue is generated through two streams: professional services (turn-key refractory installation and repair projects) and hardware sales (refractory product distribution), with multi-year contracts referenced. The company has 11-50 employees, no disclosed revenue, no external institutional ownership, and a wholly-owned subsidiary (Hill Refractory Services) formed in 2013 after the acquisition of Bigelow-Liptak Corporation's service division.
Air Placement Cement Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Air Placement Cement Company
- Legal name
- John M. Hill, Inc.
- Website
- https://airplacement.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Air Placement Cement Company is a family-owned, third-generation industrial services firm headquartered in Bridgeport, WV, providing turn-key refractory, gunite, and shotcrete installation plus refractory product distribution to power, metals, petrochemical, pulp and paper, and infrastructure customers across the Eastern and Central United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Air Placement Cement Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Refractory Services
- NAICS
- Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing (3273), Other Concrete Product Manufacturing (327390), Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (23811)
- SIC
- Concrete Products, Except Block & Brick (3272), Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products (3270)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mortar, Grout & Masonry Cements (IMADABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Concrete Resurfacing, Overlays & Patching (HSAGALAD), Concrete Equipment (Mixers, Pumps, Batching) (IMAHAAAK), Cementitious Binders & Additives (Fly Ash, Slag, Silica Fume, Lime) (IMADAAAH)
Keywords
Where Air Placement Cement Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bridgeport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Air Placement Cement Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Refractory Services: Project-based services including gunite, shotcrete, brick installation, precast shapes, fiber work, fabrication and steelwork, epoxy injection, carbon fiber wrap, concrete and grout applications for industrial customers.
- Refractory Products Distribution: Distribution of refractory products including brick, castables, mortars, plastics, fiber products, gun mix, and high temperature products. The company maintains products in their West Virginia warehouse and acts as a distributor for multiple refractory brands.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Air Placement Cement Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Air Placement Cement Company is a turn-key provider of refractory, gunite, and shotcrete services serving industrial customers across the Eastern and Central United States. The company installs and maintains high-temperature refractory linings, performs precast shape fabrication, brick installation, concrete and grout work, epoxy injection, carbon fiber wrap, and structural steelwork, while also distributing refractory products (brick, castables, mortars, plastics, fiber products, gun mix, high-temperature products) from its West Virginia warehouse.
Product overview
Air Placement Cement Company is a turn-key provider of refractory, gunite, and shotcrete services serving multiple industries. The company operates as both a products distributor and service provider. The product portfolio includes refractory materials: Brick (various types including silica, fireclay, high-alumina, zircon-based), Castables (conventional, insulating, low cement, ultra-low cement, vibration cast, cement-free, pump cast, self-leveling), Mortars/Plastics/Fiber Products (refractory mortar, coatings, ladle wash, heat/air setting plastic, ceramic fiber products), Gun Mix products (conventional cement bonded, insulating, low cement, shotcrete, colloidal silica, plastic mixes), and High Temp Products (cloth, rope, sleeves, gaskets, packing). Services include Shotcrete/Pumping, Gunite, Precast Shapes, Fiber Work, Fabrication and Steelwork, Brick Work, Epoxy Injection/Carbon Fiber Wrap, Concrete/Grout, and Sand Blasting. The company also operates under Hill Refractory Services division after acquiring Bigelow-Liptak Corporation's service division in 2013.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brick Refractory brick products including Silica Bricks, Fireclay Bricks, High-Alumina Bricks, Chrome-corundum Bricks, Zircon Mullite Bricks, Zircon Silicate Bricks, Magnesia Bricks, Calcium Bricks, and Insulating Bricks, supplied for industrial high-temperature applications.
- Castables Refractory castable products including Conventional Cement Bonded Castable, Insulating Castable, Low Cement Castable, Ultra-Low Cement Castable, Vibration Cast Castable, Cement Free Castable, Pump Castable, Free-Flowing Castable, Self-Leveling Castable, and Aluminum Resistant Castable.
- Mortars | Plastic | Fiber Products Refractory mortar, plastic, and fiber products including Refractory Mortar, Refractory Coatings, Ladle Wash, Heat Setting Plastic, Air Setting Plastic, Ceramic Fiber Blanket, Ceramic Fiber Board, Ceramic Fiber Paper, Ceramic Fiber Rope, Ceramic Fiber Textiles, Ceramic Fiber Cloth, and Ceramic Fiber Modules.
- Gun Mix Gunite and shotcrete mix products including Conventional Cement Bonded Gun Mixes, Insulating Gun Mixes, Low Cement Gun Mixes, Shotcrete Mixes, Colloidal Silica Gun Mixes, and Plastic Gun Mixes.
- High Temp Products High temperature products including High Temp Cloth, High Temp Rope, High Temp Sleeves, High Temp Gaskets, and High Temp Packing.
- Gunite Gunite application services with 65+ years of experience, featuring specialized equipment including Piccola, Reed, Allentown, and Airplaco Gunite Machines, with 24/7 emergency service capability for industrial customers.
- Shotcrete | Pumping Shotcrete and concrete pumping services with 10+ years of experience, offering High Pressure Refractory/Concrete Pumps, High Output Pumps, Shotcrete Equipment, and Accelerator Pumps for emergency 24/7 response.
- Precast Shapes Precast refractory shapes services with capability to design, precisely cast, fire, and deliver refractory shapes for installation across multiple industries.
- Fiber Work Fiber refractory construction services provided in partnership with leading manufacturers, offering over 10 years of experience in fiber construction from small repairs to complete new linings.
- Fabrication and Steelwork
- Brick Work Refractory brick work services with highly specialized skills in all types of Refractory Brick applications, performed by trained and skilled craftsmen.
- Epoxy Injection | Carbon Fiber Wrap Structural repair services including Epoxy Injection for repairing non-moving cracks in concrete (10+ years experience) and Carbon Fiber Wrap for structural column confinement and strengthening of concrete, masonry, stone, and timber structures.
- Concrete | Grout Industrial Concrete and Grout services with over 65 years of experience, including pneumatically applied concrete for vertical and overhead applications without forms, and concrete pumping for non-residential work.
- Sand Blasting Sandblasting services for Commercial and Industrial markets with capabilities to use Baking Soda, Dry Ice, Sponge, Glass, Ceramic, Jetmag, Coal Slag and other abrasives.
Companies that use Air Placement Cement Company
Customer profileSegments9 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Air Placement Cement Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Air Placement Cement Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- UnifraxminorUnifrax supplies ceramic fiber products including blanket, board, paper, rope, textiles, cloth, and modules that Air Placement Cement distributes to customers. Products are branded under Unifrax.
- Snow Shoe RefractoriesminorSnow Shoe Refractories supplies brick products including silica bricks, fireclay bricks, high-alumina bricks, and other refractory bricks that Air Placement Cement distributes.
- RHIminorRHI (RHI Magnesita) is a major refractory brick supplier whose products including various brick types are distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- Harbison Walker InternationalminorHarbison Walker International is a leading refractory manufacturer whose gun mix products are distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- Mt. Savage Specialty RefractoriesminorMt. Savage Specialty Refractories supplies gun mix products distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- Resco ProductsminorResco Products supplies gun mix and other refractory products distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- Spar RefractoriesminorSpar Refractories supplies gun mix products distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- United RefractoriesminorUnited Refractories supplies gun mix products distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- Magneco/MetrelminorMagneco/Metrel supplies gun mix products distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- VesuviusminorVesuvius is a global refractory manufacturer whose products are distributed by Air Placement Cement.
- Carolina RefractoriesminorCarolina Refractories supplies gun mix products distributed by Air Placement Cement.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Air Placement Cement Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RHI Magnesita: World's largest refractory supplier with significant U.S. presence in steel, cement, and lime. Overlaps with Air Placement through brick distribution and competes on large industrial refractory projects.
- HarbisonWalker International: Largest U.S. refractory products manufacturer and installer. A supplier-partner to Air Placement via its gun mix distribution relationship and a broad incumbent competing on national turn-key refractory services in power, steel, and chemicals.
- Vesuvius plc: Global refractory and foundry consumables manufacturer with U.S. service operations. Comparable as one of the principal refractory brand partners that Air Placement distributes for and competes with on turn-key installations.
- Resco Products: North American refractory manufacturer serving steel, aluminum, glass, and cement. Comparable through its gun mix and refractory product lines that Air Placement distributes, while competing on broader product portfolios.
Direct peers
- Magneco/Metrel: Manufacturer of refractory and ceramic products including gun mix and specialty castables. Directly comparable product portfolio, with Air Placement acting as a regional distributor and installer for the same product lines.
- BNZ Materials: U.S. manufacturer of high-temperature insulation and refractory products serving industrial customers. Comparable in industrial specialty product focus and end-market exposure (power, metals, cement).
- Gunite Supply & Equipment Co. Specialty gunite and shotcrete equipment supplier and contractor. Directly comparable to Air Placement's gunite service line in equipment, application techniques, and infrastructure/industrial customer base.
- Sharpe Refractory Services: U.S. refractory and insulation installation contractor serving power, petrochemical, and heavy industrial markets. Closely comparable turn-key refractory installation business model and customer verticals.
- Plibrico Company: U.S. manufacturer and installer of monolithic refractories and turn-key refractory services. Closely comparable in combining proprietary refractory products with field-installation services for industrial customers.
- United Refractories: U.S. manufacturer of monolithic and gunned refractories for iron, steel, aluminum, and cement. Comparable specialty product mix (gun mix, castables) and similar industrial customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Air Placement Cement Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Air Placement Cement Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Air Placement Cement Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Air Placement Cement Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Air Placement Cement Company 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 Air Placement Cement Company
What does Air Placement Cement Company do?
Air Placement Cement Company is a turn-key provider of refractory, gunite, and shotcrete services serving industrial customers across the Eastern and Central United States. The company installs and maintains high-temperature refractory linings, performs precast shape fabrication, brick installation, concrete and grout work, epoxy injection, carbon fiber wrap, and structural steelwork, while also distributing refractory products (brick, castables, mortars, plastics, fiber products, gun mix, high-temperature products) from its West Virginia warehouse.
Is Air Placement Cement Company a public or private company?
Air Placement Cement Company is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Air Placement Cement Company founded?
Air Placement Cement Company was founded in 1951. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Air Placement Cement Company based?
Air Placement Cement Company is headquartered in Bridgeport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Air Placement Cement Company make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Refractory Services are the primary driver. The others are refractory Products Distribution.
Who are Air Placement Cement Company's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RHI Magnesita, HarbisonWalker International, Vesuvius plc and Resco Products. Direct peers are Magneco/Metrel, BNZ Materials, Gunite Supply & Equipment Co., Sharpe Refractory Services, Plibrico Company and United Refractories.
Does Air Placement Cement Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Air Placement Cement Company.
What industry is Air Placement Cement Company in?
Air Placement Cement Company's product category is Industrial Refractory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADABAL, Mortar, Grout & Masonry Cements, with a secondary code of HSAGALAD, Concrete Resurfacing, Overlays & Patching. Its NAICS code is 3273 and its SIC code is 3272.