Unilock, Toronto, Canada, hit its 50-year anniversary as the company celebrates continued growth.
Founded in 1972, Ed Bryant brought the Uni-Stone paving stone method to North America and kicked off Unilock. At its first operation in Barrie, Ontario, Unilock made 12 stones at a time and maintained a focus solely on municipal and institutional projects.
Now, upon reaching its 50-year milestone, Unilock has grown into a hardscaping industry leader of concrete interlocking paver stones for patios, retaining walls and walkways. The company now has more than 700 employees across 17 locations in six regional companies, a reach that includes homeowners and has manufactured millions of square feet of pavers.
“Unilock was founded by my father, Ed, on the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship and strong partnerships set upon a foundation of integrity, trust and a unique family-oriented culture,” says Andrew Bryant, Unilock president and CEO, and son of late founder Ed Bryant. “For five decades, we have been setting the gold standard for the hardscape industry, and today, that culture and heartbeat are still fresh, strong and evident in every aspect of our operation.”
According to a Unilock news release, Unilock was the first company to bring certain production innovations, including the circle paving system to create free-flowing designs, permeable pavers for storm water applications, three-color blends and face mix products to boost authenticity of the overall aesthetics and brand-new surface textures to add detail to pavers. The company was also first to establish an authorized contractor program designed to craft a partnership forged on meaningful conversations and mutual success.
Additionally, Unilock paved the way by leveraging European partnerships and becoming the first concrete paver manufacturer in North America to implement a lifetime guarantee.
“Our relentless desire to innovate and bring new products and technologies has made us a leader in the industry,” says Bryant. “Today, we are thinking beyond just the ‘firsts’ as we continue to apply a laser-focused approach on incremental, continuous improvement in every facet of our business.”
Through investments in capital, product development, staffing and facilities, Unilock has pushed to merge with market growth and customer needs. The company recently broke ground on additional manufacturing facilities in Ayr, Ontario, Canada; Uxbridge, Massachusetts; and Cincinnati, Ohio. Unilock also acquired Rocvale in Québec, Canada, to expand manufacturing capacities.
Unilock plans on commemorating this half-century anniversary throughout 2022 and into the future by recognizing key players in the hardscape industry; continuing focus on its partners, like adding a new authorized contractor program and a redesigned commercial website; and committing to sustainability with a goal to be carbon-neutral within 10 years.
“My father’s legacy will live on through our company and employees, our dealers, and the contractors, commercial specifiers and homeowners who continue to rely on our products to enhance outdoor living spaces,” Bryant says. “We have a lot in store for this year to mark our 50-year milestone and look forward to celebrating with our employees, partners and the industry.”
