Celebrating sustained innovation: Astec

Since its inception in 1972, Astec Industries has become one of the leading manufacturers of asphalt construction equipment.

Astec Industries is commemorating its 50th year of operation in 2022. Jorge Boil, Business Line Manager ‑ Infrastructure, explains what the milestone means for the company.

Born from an idea at a kitchen table in 1972, Astec Industries has grown into one of the world’s largest manufacturers of asphalt, aggregate and concrete production equipment.

In 2022, the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary and reflecting on its humble beginnings – from Chattanooga, Tennessee – to the global stage.

Jorge Boil, Astec Industries Business Line Manager ‑ Infrastructure, says the company’s original vision, to be a “state-of-the-art equipment provider” for traditionally low-tech industries, laid the foundation for its success in the modern era.

“The company was founded by Don Brock, along with Norm Smith, Al Guth, Gail Mize and Mike Uchytil,” Boil says. “The Astec brand has now grown to more than 19 subsidiaries globally.”

Astec Industries hit its first major milestone in 1986, listing on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. The company accumulated $12 million during its initial public offering. Shortly after, Astec Industries acquired Barber-Greene, a renowned business within the asphalt industry.

As Boil says, this acquisition opened the door for more asphalt, aggregate and concrete products, and services for Astec Industries’ clientele. He says additional acquisitions later paved the way for further innovation.

“Each of our brands have a rich history,” he says. “In the construction, paving, quarry and mining areas, we’re always looking for opportunities to add new equipment, designs and companies to expand our footprint globally.”

Astec Industries’ innovation has led to improvements to its asphalt plant technology, since the equipment was first introduced.

Innovating for industry

As Boil puts it, Astec Industries has introduced a vast range of innovations and equipment during the past 50 years, many of which are now regarded and used as “standard” across the asphalt and concrete production industries.

He says the basic concept for items such as the Shuttle Buggy, Crumb Rubber Blending System, Modular Aggregate Plants and the FastPack Portable Crushing and Screening Plant can all be traced back to Astec Industries.

One key innovation for Astec Industries’ early success was the development of the Asphalt Double Barrell Drum Mixer.

“The Double Drum makes asphalt plants a lot more compact,” Boil says. “It gives the operator freedom, as it mixes the mobility of a portable plant with the productivity and operational capacity of a stationary plant.”

Through its own in-house engineering and development, Astec Industries has increased its range to satisfy the market for rock crushing and screening plants, hot mix asphalt facilities, concrete plants, milling machines, asphalt pavers, and material transfer vehicles.

Boil says he is proud of Astec Industries’ commitment to innovation and continued investment in product development, which has resulted in more than two hundred patented products.

“It is a testament to the fact that we have been in operation for 50 years. From starting out as a very small company and manufacturing on a small scale, to manufacturing globally, we are very proud of where we started, where we have been and where we are now,” he says.

A significant restructure

Astec Industries has recently undergone a restructure, uniting entities including JCI, KPI, AMS, BTI, Telesmith, Roadtec, Carlson, Osborn, Heatec, Astec Inc., Powerflame, Peterson and Rexcon, Con-E-Co and BMH Systems, under the one brand.

This unification created OneASTEC – the company’s first official rebranding since its inception in 1972.

Under OneASTEC, the company aims to align its operations to be identical across every region globally. And working under a common operating system allows for quicker information transfers between departments.

The new structure also caters for the needs of local markets around the world, with hubs to be established at the centre of each region.

As part of this restructure, Astec Industries Australia has also taken command of its national dealership network, with plans to expand the product range into new market sectors.

Boil says the move aligns with the company’s business model, which includes a “simplify, focus and grow” strategy.

“Before OneASTEC, each of our businesses were running their own race by doing their own marketing and their own purchasing,” he says. “Centralising our design and engineering, with the same equipment across all companies, makes us much more efficient and effective. Especially when integrating common sharing components such as new engines, hydraulic pumps, and motors to our machines.”

Boil says the transformation to the OneASTEC brand bodes well for the company’s long-term success and he looks forward to one day celebrating the company’s centenary year of operation.

“We pride ourselves on the support and back-up that we give our customers. And that is why they keep coming back to us. Our customers trust us, and that is why many of our clients have been with us for a very long time,” he says.

“We’re not just selling equipment; we build relationships with our customers. That is our philosophy and it’s what we do.”

This article was originally published in the August edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.

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