Over a century of concrete masonry manufacturing, from 1920 to today.
Adolf Jandris and his siblings immigrate from Austria to the United States. During their first decade or so in America, they work various jobs and pick up the skilled trade of masonry. That expertise will become a valuable asset for several of the brothers, who eventually make their way to New England and the bustling town of Gardner.
In 1918 Adolf and Rosa celebrate the birth of their first son Joseph. Adolf ventures out on his own in 1920, he founds a family owned company that will continue on for some 100 years a lot of hard work and hard times are ahead.
Adolf Jandris, after working as a mason building homes and other structures, starts his own demolition company to find new uses for salvaged wood, steel and stones. By 1920 his company is making their own building materials producing hollow concrete block by hand. The manual machine he’s using is turning out one block at a time, it is hard backbreaking work. Adolf proclaims cement block work his specialty.
Adolf Jandris stays afloat by tearing down homes and businesses — reclaiming brick, block and building materials. Four historic towns in the Swift River Valley are torn down and then flooded to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir. This results in a steady stream of work and building materials which allows the Jandris company to survive the depression.
In 1940 A. Jandris and Sons General Contractors is established. Besides being manufacturers of Dunbrik, A. Jandris and Sons design and build homes all across central Massachusetts. After WWII, the Jandris Brothers re-join the family business supplying concrete block and other building materials to competing contractors. Ultimately, an easy choice is made, demand for concrete block takes over and they cease all construction projects.
The demand for concrete block to build new homes is staggering. The Jandris company once again turns to a machine capable of turning out 480 units an hour. But, the new machine has a problem which Albert and Joseph tackle by designing and patenting their own solution. The Jandris vibration absorbing invention speeds up their production and slows down the wear of machine parts.
In January 1962 tragedy strikes, the company founder Adolf Jandris unexpectedly dies. Full control of the company passes to his three sons who honor their father with a bold expansion plan. An automated three-at-a-time concrete block production plant enables architectural concrete masonry product offerings such as colored Smooth Face, Split Face and Split Rib.
The streamlined look of the era calls for new colors, shapes and textures. The fluted concrete split face block require a series of complex molds. In just a few short weeks Jandris finds a way to custom engineer and fabricate their own molds. Jandris is the primary supplier for the massive mount Wachusett Community College project. This is the first journey into production of cutting edge architectural concrete masonry units.
A 17,000 square foot grinding plant enables on-site production of “Ground Face by Jandris,” a popular architectural concrete masonry product. The first large scale ground face project produced was the TD Garden.
Jandris Block updates the original concrete block manufacturing plant (built in 1969) with cutting- edge technology in concrete products equipment.
Production capabilities double with a second concrete block production line equipped with the most modern manufacturing technologies. Jandris Block meets the demands of the 21st century with a reputation second to none in New England and beyond as a premier concrete masonry product manufacturer.
A 17,000 square foot grinding plant enables on-site production of “Ground Face by Jandris,” a popular architectural concrete masonry product. The first large scale ground face project produced was the TD Garden.
Continuing in the tradition of innovation, A. Jandris is the first CMU manufacturer on the east coast to have EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and HPDs (Health Product Declarations) for all of their products.
Using their almost 400 EPDs as a baseline, A. Jandris has committed to lowering their environmental impacts by performing continuous improvements to their manufacturing process. Each one of these steps is reflected in their EPDs, providing a road map for the future. In 2020 A. Jandris and Sons turned 100. With this new era and new generation a new name was established, Jandris Block
...
...
Whether you need product specs, samples, or help choosing the right block — we’re here.