Oldcastle Precast history

1973 – Van Neerbos builders merchants yard with truck

1974 – Belgard quarry, Dublin, Ireland

1977 – Irish Cement’s Platin cement works

The year 1978 also marked CRH's entry into the United States, where it acquired Utah-based concrete products group Amcor.

By 1979, it had grown to €328 million of annual sales, had completed 16 acquisitions and was operating in four countries.

1981: The Utility Vault acquisition significantly expanded CRH's precast concrete operations in Western US markets and formed the basis of what is now our Oldcastle Infrastructure business, an industry leader in engineered building solutions.

1986: CRH acquired Heras, the largest manufacturer of fencing and security solutions in the Netherlands, known for its strong brand recognition and innovation culture.

1987: The company enters Spain with the purchase of Beton Catalan Group.

Meanwhile, CRH had also built up a number of strong regional distribution networks, such as in the United Kingdom, where it renamed its building merchants network as Keyline in 1988.

CRH's expansion also included an ever-increasing range of products, such as its entry into the United States glassmaking market with the purchase of 13 plants for a total cost of $135 million in 1990.

By 1993, the company was able to return to its expansion effort, starting with the purchase that year of Pennsylvania-based Pennsy Supply.

The United States retained the group's growth focus, with further acquisitions in 1994 including Balf Co. in Connecticut, Lebanon Rock in Pennsylvania, and additional quarry and asphalt operations in New York.

The arrival of Don Godson as company CEO in 1995 signaled the start of accelerated expansion for the company.

In July 1996, CRH paid more than $120 million to acquire Allied Building Products, which specialized in roofing and cladding products.

1997: The acquisition of Permacon provided a foothold in the Canadian architectural products market plus a welcome introduction to professionally installed hardscapes, which would in time become CRH's successful Belgard brand.

In 1998, the company boosted its French business with the purchases of Rabnoi SA, a builders merchant company, and majority control of drainage systems and concrete vault manufacturing group Prefaest SA.

2000: Shelly Co. of Ohio is acquired for $362 million.

By the end of 2001, the group's continued purchases had boosted it past EUR 10 billion.

In 2002, the company stepped up its presence in Germany, paying EUR 214 million to acquire EHL Group, a maker of paving materials and products.

CRH posted sales of more than EUR 11 billion ($13 billion) in 2004.

2006: In the same year as its shares began trading on the NYSE, CRH entered the US cement production market for the first time with a 50% ownership of the American Cement Company.

2007: In a move to the Far East, CRH made its first acquisition in China with the purchase of Harbin Sanling Cement in the Northeast of the country.

2008: The worldwide financial downturn led to a significant shift in CRH’s short-term focus and a curtailment of development activity as the economic environment deteriorated.

With consolidation in Europe, entry into US cement for the first time and investments in emerging markets, CRH reached sales of over €17 billion in 2009.

2013: CRH continued to build its presence in Eastern Europe with major transactions including the acquisition of Mykolaiv Cement, in the Ukraine.

2014: Active portfolio management was to the fore in 2014 with the Group spending €190 million on 21 acquisitions and initiating a divestment programme delivering proceeds of €350 million from 16 transactions.

2015 – Tarmac’s office in Birmingham, UK

2017 – Fels lime joins the CRH family

2018: The sale of Allied Building Products generated $2.6 billion and marked the Group’s exit from US Distribution.

2020: As CRH marked 50 years in operation, the unprecedented, challenging backdrop of COVID-19 brought out the best in CRH. The Group acted swiftly in response, working together to keep its people safe, deliver for its customers, create value and maintain performance excellence.