The Story of Kuert Concrete

Kuert Concrete is honored to be one of the oldest central mixed concrete plants in not only Indiana, but in the entire United States.

1925

June 24, 1927: The Company was incorporated as Kuert Concrete, Inc.

1930’s George J. Hoffman retired and sold his stock to John Kuert and Frank Morrow. John and Frank took a big gamble buying Mr. Hoffman out as the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression. Kuert Concrete struggled through 1931 and 1932 because of the effects of the Depression. In 1933, PWA money was available, and one of the projects approved was Adams High School. Kuert concrete was used, and with other projects, the company survived and continued to grow on through the 1930's.

1940’s In 1942 John Kuert resigned as President and was succeeded by Mr. D. Cole Hay. In 1947 the Board of Directors voted to spend $5000 to $6000 on the erection of a new ready-mix plant. The interest rate for the borrowed money was 4% per year; today that $5000 to $6000 is the cost of a new air compressor for our existing plant. In 1949, Kuert and Hass Concrete purchased Standard Ready Mix, another company in South Bend which had filed for bankruptcy for $3850. The World War II era of the 1940’s brought very good business to South Bend, first by additions to factories during the war, and then, by new housing starts after.

1950’s The 1950’s were a growth period for Kuert, fueled by the post-war boom and the construction of the Indiana Toll Road, which helped the yardage jump significantly. 1953 saw the completion of Plant #2 and our fleet now included 17 units.

1960’s In April 1960, Kuert sold twenty acres on the west side of Bendix to the Industrial Foundation at a selling price of $1000 per acre. In 1968 Kuert decided to abandon the railway from the gravel pit to the wash plant and to purchase two Euclid haul trucks. In addition, in the 1960’s Kuert started to switch to six-wheel drive Oshkosh rear-discharge concrete trucks.

1970: The 70’s brought many changes for Kuert Concrete. Front discharge mixers, acquisitions within and outside of the industry, the sales of facilities, and the death of D. Cole Hay, Sr., a pioneer of our industry. The vacancy of Board Chairman left by the death of D. Cole Hay, Sr., was filled by Mr. Frank Morrow. In 1971 Valley Concrete, with locations in Mishawaka, Elkhart, Niles and Benton Harbor, was purchased. In 1974, Jadair truck washout systems were installed at each of the plants. An agreement was reached with Fidler, Inc. for the purchase of the Elkhart plant. In 1975, we closed the Benton Harbor plant, and, later in the year, sold it to J Kolesar, Inc. A new ready-mix plant was erected in Niles at a cost of two hundred thousand dollars. In 1975, the merger of South Bend Sand & Gravel and Kuert Concrete is completed and two 1976 Riteway front discharge trucks were delivered at a cost of $58,000 each. In 1978, Kuert Concrete purchased Nelson Engineering Sales, a local steel supplier. Five 1977 Viking font discharge trucks were ordered at a price o $70,000 each. Kuert also purchased Fawcett Sales and Engineering which was the biggest competitor of Nelson. Sixty-six acres of land was acquired on U.S. 20 West for a future gravel plan.

1980’s On June 13, 1983 John Fidler signed the necessary papers to purchase Dave Hay’s stock in Kuert Concrete. When the two first met, Mr. Hay had written what he wanted and the terms on a piece of paper 2½” wide and 5” long. They never changed from that except for the hoops the government and the bank made them jump through. Since 1983 nine buildings and the old plant footings have been demolished.

1990’s On February 2, 1994 we purchased the Goshen ready mix operation from Consumers. On April 1, 1996 we merged with American Ready-Mix, acquiring locations in Leesburg and Rochester

The New Millennium On August 21, 2002 we were commended by Mayor Stephen J Luecke, Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as it celebrates 75 years of building a firm foundation for Michiana!

It becomes very apparent that Kuert Concrete has an extended and unique story that no other ready mixed company in the area can come close to matching. We hope you find it informative, and possibly entertaining. We hope this backward glance has been informative, entertaining and has given you an insight into the roots of the pride and dedication Kuert employees put into every job. The presentation of the "Key to the City" by Mayor Luecke was a milestone for this company that played a "key" role in building Michiana --- literally!