Dickinson Ready Mix

Company Background

Dickinson Ready Mix Co. & Concrete Products began operations in May of 1950 under the name of Ready Mix Co. The original founders were Taft Sadowsky and L.W. Veigel (who also founded Veigel Engineering which evolved into the present day Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson engineering firm). Long-time company president Jack Olin left the North Dakota Highway Patrol to become general manager of the company in 1961. Dickinson Ready Mix Co. was one of the charter members of the North Dakota Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association when it was formed in 1966. Current general manager, Scott Olin was hired as sales manager in 1981. In 1986, with the acquisition of Dickinson Concrete Products, the company expanded and diversified its product line to include concrete block, brick, precast concrete products, contractor and masonry supplies, and landscaping products. Current Products Division manager Doug Braun joined the company at that time. In 2000 the company was sold to Mike Fisher and Suzie Medley. In 57 years of operation DRM has had only two plant superintendents / batchmen, with Bill Heidecker serving in that capacity from 1950 until 1987 and Terry Miller in that position from 1987 to the present time. Today Dickinson Ready Mix Co. serves 10 counties in southwestern North Dakota with its Ready Mix operations while the Products Division has sales in 4 states.

The Business of Concrete

Historically DRM has supplied concrete and concrete products for public and commercial buildings, traditional stick-built homes, bridges and box culverts, curb & gutter, sidewalk and agricultural buildings and grain bins. Major projects in recent years have helped boost company sales. DRM is very proud of their role in the construction of the West River Community Center, the Super Wal-Mart and the Red Trail Energy Ethanol Plant, to name a few of those projects. Also, in recent years DRM has been able to expand sales beyond the traditional markets. Concrete intersections, ICF concrete homes, and concrete parking lots are examples of markets that have grown significantly in the past few years. Several intersections in Dickinson have gone concrete because of its durability and its resistance to rutting caused by the stopping/starting and the turning movements of traffic. DRM has also provided concrete for several ICF concrete homes and businesses. Mike Fisher built a 5300 sf ICF home east of Dickinson and really enjoys the advantages of ICF construction. Energy efficiency, storm protection, fire protection and quiet are advantages Mike lists when discussing his home. “The wind can be blowing 70 mph and we can’t feel it or hear it in our house” according to Fisher. Winn Construction has partnered with Dickinson Ready Mix Company to convert several parking lots from asphalt to concrete. According to Willie Winn, “business owners appreciate the competitive first cost, long life, low maintenance and added safety they get with concrete lots.” According to Olin, “these are the markets that have the most potential for expansion and we will continue to promote them.”

DRM will continue to provide ready mix concrete for farm, commercial, and residential applications as well as supplying masonry products, precast concrete products, a complete line of contractor supplies and a complete line of landscaping products. Dickinson Ready Mix Co. & Concrete Products is the Concrete Superstore for southwestern North Dakota.