Company Overview

Ironrock Capital, Inc. is a manufacturer of high quality indoor/outdoor unglazed ceramic quarry tile, and architectural thin brick. Located in Canton (Stark County), Ohio, Ironrock uses Ohio clays and shales that are considered to be some of the best in the country. Ironrock operates a facility of 370,000 sq ft, with a workforce of 100 employees. Ironrock has two product brands – Metropolitan Ceramics® and METROBRICK®. While each brand targets a specific need of the design community, a common thread of commitment to quality and innovation runs throughout. Just as Ironrock is well known for its commitment to quality, the company is also regarded for its family tradition. Today, Ironrock is led by the fifth generation of the Renkert family, with Guy F. Renkert as its President and CEO. Ironrock blends quality craftsmanship with more than 100 years of family tradition and ceramic manufacturing experience. Brick and Tile Makers Since 1866.

History

Jacob Renkert, the founder of Ironrock, began his involvement in brick making in Tuscarawas County in 1866. Several local companies, including The Royal Brick Co., merged in 1902 to form the Metropolitan Paving Brick Company. The company became the country’s largest source for paving brick. In 1949, the name was amended to Metropolitan Brick, Inc. to reflect a more diverse product line. In 1975 J. Steven Renkert and his brother, “Hal”, introduced the German ceramic “split-tile” extrusion process to the United States. The company became a leading split-tile manufacturer. In 1999 the name was changed to Ironrock to reflect the continuing diversification of the company.

Metropolitan Ceramics®

High quality, unglazed 1/2" thick ceramic quarry tile for demanding commercial and residential, indoor and outdoor applications. Metropolitan tiles are made from a mixture of natural ingredients including clays and shales, very similar to that used in the manufacture of brick products. They are extruded through a die and cut. This extrusion process creates a much tighter/denser body than can be achieved through other processes. Once extruded, the low absorption tiles are sent through a drier and then hard fired in a kiln. Metropolitan quarry tile is a natural product with through-the-body color that won’t wear off. Metropolitan tiles are offered in a variety of colors and sizes with trim options. Metropolitan has been used in many demanding applications such as the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, the Pittsburgh International Airport, and national chains such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Denny’s and TGI Fridays.

METROBRICK®

TBX Grade Architectural Thin Brick used in pre-cast concrete panels, tilt-up concrete panels, prefabricated metal panels, field applied systems/applications and cast in place concrete elements. METROBRICK® offers the aesthetics of full facial brick with a number of benefits associated with the use of a thin “architectural brick” product. METROBRICK® is the latest addition to the Ironrock family and is the direct result of a commitment to producing innovative ceramic products using state-of-the-art equipment. METROBRICK® installations include the Nordstrom Department Store in Dallas, TX, the Orthopedic Medical Building in Sheffield, Ohio, and the University of Florida Cancer and Genetics Research Building in Gainesville, Florida.