In 1994, The Gerken Companies acquired the mineral rights and assets of The France Stone Co. The resulting business, The Custar Stone Co., has continued to grow and support Gerken operations in Northwest Ohio. The company produces high-quality limestone products of all sizes and gradation ranges, as well as other aggregate products.

The Custar Stone Co. recently launched a significant undertaking to replace the existing aggregate processing plant with a new facility in a different location on its Portage Road property. Construction of the new plant is underway, and with the 2024 production season winding down in the next few weeks, many milestones remain before the new plant is fully commissioned by mid-2025.

“Our goal is to increase production for future forecasted projects in the markets surrounding the Custar location,” says Joe Knepley, Senior Vice President, Aggregate Production. “The hope is to produce much more efficiently while giving our employees a safer and more economical processing plant.”

The Aggregate division is also considering adding and updating equipment at its other facilities to enhance production and safety processes for the 2025 season.

Images: New Primary Jaw Crushing station, Surge Pile Stacker, and Feeder Tunnel.