About National Block Company

National Block and Ready-Mix has come a long way since 1946 when four childhood friends decided to go into business. The four veterans of World War II returned home and started a concrete block operation on a scale that resembled a cottage industry. Their inspiration came from an old immigrant Czech Farmer who was making block one at a time with a Sears Catalog purchased block mold.

Within three years it became clear the backyard operations could never keep up with the demand. The present site of nine acres on Ford Road in Westland was bought in 1949. The purchase gave National Block the space for plant, equipment and storage necessary to become a major player in the concrete block market and by 1952 the Ready-Mix concrete field.

In 1990, George Eisenstein, the last of the four original owners, retired. He sold his interest to his son Marty, who is now the company president.

In 1987 Jim Gendron joined the National Family and in the four years that followed, his industry knowledge expanded as did his responsibilities as he became Vice-President and part owner of the company.

Much like their predecessors, Jim and Marty combined their skills and capitalized on the opportunities in the building construction business.

From those early days through today's world a steady growth has resulted from hands on hard work to the utilization of the latest technology. Every improvement and each expansion was meant to provide our customers and community with assurances of quality products and service.

Visitors can see the wonders of robotics in the 23,000 Sq. Ft. block manufacturing plant opened for full production in 1996.

As well as witness the recycling and reuse of leftover concrete in the Enviro-Port Reclaimer installed in 2003.

One of the ready-mix concrete producers' biggest environmental challenges is how to manage the surplus process water and solids associated with the returned concrete. The owners have always been fervent in maintaining the highest level of environmental compliance. This investment has again allowed them to attain their goals in addition to conserving water, reclaiming aggregates and reducing waste.

A pledge has been made to continually reinvest in plant and equipment to better serve our community and its people.