The many sides of Brickle textiles

IN GOOD COMPANY: Max Brickle, right, president of the holding company the Brickle Group, examines wool material used in mattress covers with Director of Operations Andrew Dudka. The companies within the Brickle Group produce everything from wool blankets for the U.S. Department of Defense to the yarn used in MLB baseballs and the wool fabric used in Homeland Security uniforms at airport-security checkpoints. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
IN GOOD COMPANY: Max Brickle, right, president of the holding company the Brickle Group, examines wool material used in mattress covers with Director of Operations Andrew Dudka. The companies within the Brickle Group produce everything from wool blankets for the U.S. Department of Defense to the yarn used in MLB baseballs and the wool fabric used in Homeland Security uniforms at airport-security checkpoints. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Max Brickle, president of the Brickle Group, a holding company, oversees the trading and manufacturing of diversified textiles.
Combined, three of six companies within the Brickle Group produce everything from wool blankets for the U.S. Department of Defense to the yarn used in MLB baseballs and the wool fabric used in Homeland Security uniforms at airport-security checkpoints, Brickle said.
“Cotton khaki fades and wears out,” said Brickle. “Wool [uniforms] are more expensive but last longer. Every time I walk through the airport, I’m up-selling them.”
As the third-generation family co-owner, Max Brickle followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Hyman Brickle, and his father, Brickle Group Chairman Samuel Brickle.
As co-owner, Max Brickle says, concerns about the company are always with him. For instance, whenever he flies, he makes a point of plugging the company’s offshoot, Metcalf Brothers, for its durable uniform fabrics.
Max Brickle urges the security workers not only to switch from khaki to wool but to post to Facebook if they’re happy with the change, which, he says, they often do. The social media marketing that results has helped that division, he said.
Founded in 1937 and originally named H. Brickle & Son Inc., the manufacturer got its start when Hyman lived at the corner of Harris and Singleton streets in Woonsocket, where he ran a small mill and sold odd-lot yarns and fabrics, Max Brickle said.
In 1958, Samuel, with a business and communications degree from Boston University, joined the business and bought nearby 235 Singleton St. Max earned an economics degree from the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and Economics, in 1988, then joined his father in the business.
Today, in Woonsocket, a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 235 Singleton St., houses three related companies: Bouckaert Industrial Textiles, a manufacturer of industrial felt products; Metcalf Brothers, which provides fabrics for uniforms; and Northwest Woolen Mills, which makes woolen blankets.
In North Smithfield, a 485,000-square-foot facility houses fiber recycling and warehousing facilities to support Brickle Fiber Trading and Recycling, a reseller and division of H. Brickle and Son, Inc. The trading division supports the fiber needs of the other group companies, Max Brickle said. Also based in North Smithfield is the sixth company, Brickle Realty Group, which includes Sam-Man Realty. Within that group, the realty business the Singleton Group is based in Woonsocket. A third entity, J-Von Realty of Providence, is involved in leasing commercial office space in downtown Providence.
Of all the businesses, Bouckaert has the fastest rate of growth, at 39 percent in 2014, in markets for nonwoven felt, Brickle said. Products include equestrian pads that are attached under saddles; felts for wicking in motors and air and liquid filters; sound absorption panels; automotive insulation and insulation for above and below ground pipelines, Bickle said.
BIT buys the fiber from Brickle Fiber Trading, which supplies North American textile mills as well as textile operations in Asia and Europe with raw textiles.
Heat Smart, a national, for-profit heating-assistance program developed by Samuel Brickle in 2005, sells a $12 kit that includes tools, warm plaid woolen blankets, weather stripping and instructions on turning the thermostat back at night and using the blanket to stay warm, said Heat Smart Campaign Director Donna Montaquila, who works for the Brickle Group.
Weather stripping helps prevent drafts from window or doors, she added, noting that the kit helps consumers save about 10 percent on heating bills and conserve energy.
Lean manufacturing and periodic shutdowns of equipment have improved efficiency, Brickle added.
“Four of five years of doing this has made a huge difference,” Brickle said. “Our up time is better; yields are on time; performance – it’s all better. Customer satisfaction is No. 1, but we know we can’t achieve that if we are not engaged with our employees. We’re actually asking our employees how we can do things better.” •COMPANY PROFILE
Brickle Group
OWNERS: Max Brickle, president, and Sam Brickle, chairman
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Diversified textiles
LOCATIONS: 235 Singleton St., Woonsocket, and 582 Great Road, North Smithfield
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1937
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 85 full time and 45 temporary
ANNUAL REVENUE: WND

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