This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Stone World logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Stone World logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Editions
  • CSTD Magazine
  • Topics
    • Fabricator Case Studies
    • Fabricator How-to
    • Large Scale Production
    • Stone in Architecture
    • More
  • Products
    • Featured Products
  • Statistics
  • Web Exclusives
  • Multimedia
  • Stone Guide
  • More
    • Calendar of Events
    • Classified Ads
    • Custom Content and Marketing Services
    • eNewsletters
    • Industry Links
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Research
    • Polls
    • Stone Industry Education
    • Stone World Store
Home » Keeping the family name alive

Keeping the family name alive

February 8, 2001
Jennifer Richinelli
Reprints
No Comments
In 1976, Becker & Becker Stone Co. was started in Dubuque, IA, by Fred Becker and his father. Today, the company produces 50,000 cubic feet of cut-stone per year, and blocks are processed with a narrow belt block saw from Sawing Systems.


Among the equipment in the factory is a Sawing Systems 90-inch, diamond-blade saw.
Since the early 1900s, the Becker family has been making a name for itself in the stone industry. As a fourth-generation quarrier and stone fabricator, they first gained experience by quarrying dolomitic limestone in the Dubuque area of Iowa. And as the years passed, the Beckers continued to expand their business, and in 1976, Harold Becker and his son Fred co-founded Becker & Becker Stone Co.

According to Fred Becker, who has been the company's sole owner since 1985, his father purchased a small cut-stone company in the late 1940s. The shop included a ripsaw, gangsaw and planer, said Becker, adding that the business fabricated housing veneer, landscape and building stone, which they installed themselves.

In 1976, when Becker and his father started Becker & Becker Stone, they purchased another quarry south of Dubuque and built a cut-stone mill with several saws, planers and a polishing mill. "As the demand for cut-stone work grew, Becker & Becker Stone continued to grow and purchase more machinery," said Becker, adding that they purchased another quarry in 1994, and built a new mill at the Dubuque site. "Currently, Becker & Becker Stone's production facility has over 41,000 square feet and 4,000 square feet of office [space] at the Dubuque location." It now employs 13 workers, and its plant produces 50,000 cubic feet of cut-stone per year.

Since its beginning, Becker & Becker Stone has invested a great deal in technology. Among its equipment are nine diamond-blade saws from both Sawing Systems and Park Industries -- ranging from 18 to 90 inches in diameter; a Ty-Sa-Man diamond wire block saw; a Sawing Systems narrow belt block saw; a Park Industries 72-inch splitter; three Sawing Systems and Ty-sa-man 76-inch diamond gauger/finishing machines; five planers -- including a circular planer; a milling machine; a Sawing Systems vertical spindle router; a Pellegrini automatic bushhammer line and various polishing machines. In addition, the company also is equipped with five overhead cranes, and a number of fork trucks, rubber-tied end loaders and delivery trucks.

"Our most recent purchase is a Sawing Systems horizontal spindle contour grinder," said Becker. "This machine is capable of producing straight lines as well as geometric shapes. The shapes are read by high resolution photo eye, and are plotted into the computer memory. These shapes can be downloaded and stored on discs for future projects."

At the quarries, the company has a W.F. Meyers belt saw to cut the stone blocks, which typically measure from 5 1/2 feet x 13 feet x 3 to 5 feet high. Once cuts are made with the belt saw, air bags are placed in the cuts to push the stone blocks free, according to Becker. The blocks are then carried away with large rubber-tired end loaders that are equipped with fork attachments. These end loaders are Michigan 7 yard and 12 yard capacity machines. In total, Becker & Becker produces more than 250,000 cubic feet of limestone blocks from its quarries annually.

The factory has a total of nine diamond-blade saws from both Sawing Systems and Park Industries -- ranging from 18 to 90 inches in diameter.<

Marketing its products

The company manufactures a complete line of housing products, including veneer, flagstone, pavers, polished stone and landscape products -- with retaining wall blocks ranging from 3 to 26 inches thick in any width and lengths up to 80 inches, according to Becker. "Becker & Becker Stone is capable of producing any size cut-stone project -- ranging from panel, sills and coping to turned tapered columns and radius," he said, adding that the company produces work in Indiana limestone. "We also quarry Dolomitic limestone from two separate locations in Iowa. This product supports our housing and landscape market, and is also used in cut-stone fabrication."

Primarily, the company's markets are the central and western U.S. "Approximately 75% of our sales are cut-stone products, with the balance of sales being housing and landscape materials," said Becker. Among some of the recent projects that Becker & Becker Stone has supplied material to are the Iowa State Old Historical Building in Des Moines, IA, and the Lincoln Benefit Life Building in Lincoln, NE.

When looking towards the future, the company intends to continue to increase its sales and production rate. "Becker & Becker sees technology and modern equipment as great tools for increasing production as well as keeping fabrication costs low," said Becker. "[Also], we intend to add to our loyal customer base. We are always striving to lower our production turn around time in order to better serve our customers."

Subscribe to Stone World Magazine

Recent Articles by Jennifer Richinelli

Stone Column: Getting involved

Rebuilding a house of worship with natural stone

Learning the components for success in the stone industry

An inside look at Intermac

The Natural Stone Institute's 2019 Study tour

Jennifer-200x200

Jennifer Richinelli has been covering the stone industry since 1996 as Managing Editor of Stone World and Editor of our sister publication Contemporary Stone & Tile Design. Much of her work focuses on design, and it has also appeared in a range of consumer and shelter publications. Email:  jennifer@stoneworld.com

 

 

Related Articles

Growing a family business with state-of-the-art technology

An evolving family business for over a century

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Stone World Subscriptions
  • CSTD Subscriptions
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Proliner digital templating by Prodim


IceStone Featured Product

Poll

Employees

How many employees do you have?
View Results Poll Archive

Fabricator of the Year 2019 voting promo


classifieds- for sale

Stone World Magazine

SW1219_Cover.jpg

2019 December

In this issue of Stone World Magazine, read about the latest Marmomac show, see how Margraf marble was used throughout an Sicilian home, view the machine of the month, PowerROC D60 from Epiroc,and much more!
View More Create Account

Contemporary Stone & Tile Design Magazine

01-CSTD2019Fall_Cover.jpg

2019 Fall

In this issue of Contemporary Stone & Tile Design magazine, read about a surprise kitchen makeover, the 2019 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition winner in the residential category, and much more!

View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • List Rental
    • Partners
    • Privacy Policy
  • Want More
    • Stone World
    • CSTD
    • Connect
    • Survey And Sample
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
    • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe to Stone World
    • Subscribe to CSTD

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing