St. Louis construction materials firm Fred Weber sells drilling business

July 22, 2026 - 18:41

A St. Louis-area construction materials company has sold a controlling interest in its drilling operations to a private equity firm that is launching a new drilling services company. The deal involves Fred Weber Inc., a Maryland Heights-based business known for supplying aggregates, asphalt, and concrete across the region.

The buyer plans to use the acquired drilling unit as the foundation for a new firm focused on serving aggregate producers and quarry operators. The new drilling services company will offer specialized drilling and blasting work, which is essential for extracting stone and other materials from quarries. Fred Weber will retain a minority stake in the drilling business and continue to operate its core construction materials divisions.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The sale allows Fred Weber to sharpen its focus on its primary business lines while the drilling unit gets dedicated resources from a private equity backer. The new company is expected to expand its services to other quarries and mining operations beyond Fred Weber's own projects. Industry observers note that such divestitures are common when a family-owned or closely held firm wants to unlock value in a specialized unit without losing all ties to it. The drilling business will continue to operate from its existing locations, and no immediate changes to staffing or leadership were announced.