EZG Manufacturing: A Partner Profile

EZG Manufacturing Mission

EZG Manufacturing focuses on providing high-quality project solutions and equipment to its valued customers throughout the masonry industry and beyond.

History

In 1998, Damian Lang managed masonry crews under his company, Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc. At the time, he and his crews were struggling to complete their projects properly using poorly designed masonry equipment. This equipment was cumbersome to use, detracting from their quality of work, efficiency, and overall profitability. Specifically, the equipment was unreliable. In addition, it was not sturdy enough to perform up to the desired standards for industrial use. These downfalls often resulted in operational issues, such as mechanical failures and system clogs. Thus, more manpower was needed and eroded profits.

At the time, Lang sought to create improved masonry equipment for the benefit of his team and the masonry industry as a whole through his new manufacturing company. This company was initially known as EZ Grout, and Lang later changed the name to EZG Manufacturing as it expanded its product line and services.

While the Grout Hog was an improvement over other competing products, Lang did not rest. He drew from his hands-on experience in the masonry field to develop better options for his team and others. He started innovating and patenting special features that would later be added to the Grout Hog®.

Fresh off his success with the development of the Grout Hog, Lang set to work with the innovation of other new products. His initial focus was on improving functions in the masonry and construction industries through the release of products, like the Booger Hog®, the Hog Trough®, the Hog Leg®, the Hog Slopper®, the Uphill Grout Hog®, and the Mud Hog®. Lang was ready to expand EZ Grout’s product line within a few years by stepping into the fencing industry. This led to the debut of the Fence Hog®. The Fence Hog® has since expanded into a larger line that includes several unique models for fencing contractors to benefit from.

Lang did more than develop and release new products to the construction, masonry, and fencing industries. He and his team identified their concerns and needs across each industry. This led to the company’s expanded range of services, such as machining, laser cutting, and powder coat paint. As the company made this evolution soon after the turn of the century, its name was officially changed to EZG Manufacturing.

Today, EZG Manufacturing is a true leader in the industries that it serves. Its many products are used on jobsites around the world. As a result, EZG Manufacturing regularly helps contractors improve their profitability and elevate the quality of their work.

Notably, Damian Lang also serves these industries through his writing. He publishes a magazine column called “Contractor Tip of the Month” in several prominent industry publications, including MASONRY, and has penned a book entitled, Rewarding and Challenging Employees (RACE): For Profits in Masonry. Lang also spends time pushing forward the industries he serves through consultations and hosting seminars throughout the year.

Their Products

EZG Manufacturing, based in Ohio, offers an extensive range of products for categories like masonry, fencing, hardscape, and precast/refractory. Its masonry line of products is divided into delivery systems, mixers, wall brace systems, jobsite equipment, tubs, and handling.

The two main delivery systems that it offers include gravity-fed delivery systems and grout pumps. Its gravity-fed delivery system is the Grout Hog, which was the company’s original product more than two decades ago. Its group of pumps is sold under the name Hog Pump®, and there are four unique models to choose from.

To meet all the needs, EZG Manufacturing offers three categories of mixers: hydraulic mixers, manual mixers, and mobile mixers. The hydraulic mixers are offered in the Mud Hog line, and there are three options to choose from. The manual mixer, the EZG Mixer®, is a durable unit suitable for smaller jobs. There are four mobile mixers offered under the Mobile Mud Hog® line, and these are used in conjunction with a skid steer.

EZG Manufacturing’s line of wall brace systems is offered under the Hog Leg line. The Hog Leg Wall Brace Kit® can cover up to 400 linear feet. Additional wall brace products are the Hog Leg Extension Kit®, the Hog Leg Kicker Assembly®, and the Hog Leg Swivel/Screw Adjustment Assembly®. Notably, the Hog Leg® line requires no anchor bolts or block cutting. They are fastened through head joints.

The company’s line of masonry jobsite equipment is expansive, and it covers all of a contractor’s needs from start to finish. This includes everything from training and setup to tear down and cleaning. Its many types of jobsite equipment are broken down into subcategories like block splitting, hybrid light towers, lifting equipment, material handling, material recycling systems, and wall scrubbers.

EZG Manufacturing’s masonry equipment rounds out with a variety of tubs and handling equipment, including the Hog Cart®, the Hog Trough, the Hoist Hog®, and the Mortar Hog®. These durable products work well with other EZG Manufacturing equipment, such as the Mud Hog and the Grout Hog.

As EZG Manufacturing expanded its masonry product line over the years, it also ventured into fencing equipment. It now offers dispensers, mixers, add-ons, and stretchers to meet all needs. Its dispenser product attaches to a skid steer for easy maneuverability around a jobsite, and it functions properly with both wet and dry materials. In its mixer line, the Mobile Mud Hog mixer can also be attached to a skid steer, and it aids in the tough job of filling fence postholes. To simplify the task of installing a variety of fencing products, EZG Manufacturing offers stretchers and dispensers for barbed wire, chain link, and woven fences. A variety of add-ons for these stretchers and dispensers are also available.

EZG Manufacturing’s extensive product line includes a wide range of hardscape equipment. These cover needs for compaction, cutting, layout, lifting, and more. Its compactors include forward vibratory plate compactors, vibratory rollover paver compactors, and reversible vibratory plate compactors. For cutting, it offers blades, cutting guides, and dust control. Layout tools offered by EZG Manufacturing are digital tools, measuring wheels, and screed levels. The products also include backpack vacuum lifters, lifting heads, handheld lifters, compressor lifters, and battery-operated lifters. The company’s expansive list of hardscape tools and equipment fills out with chisels, hammers, mixers, paver splitters, mortarboards, and more.

To round out EZG Manufacturing’s lengthy list of products, refractory mixers, and precast delivery systems are available. The Refractory Mud Hog is a hydraulic mixer that utilizes paddlers and rubber wipers in a steel drum for thorough industrial mixing. In addition, two precast delivery systems are available: the Precast Grout Hog and the Precast Uphill Grout Hog. Both are designed to save money and reduce manpower. 

In addition to selling a wide range of industrial-grade masonry equipment and tools, EZG Manufacturing offers contract manufacturing services. These services are available for construction, medical, oil and gas, material handling, food processing, and lawn and garden industries. Capabilities include bending and welding to machining, powder coat painting, and fabrication. Its manufacturing equipment includes cutting, milling, presses, lathe, and welding machines.

Industry Involvement

Damian Lang has long seen the value associated with holding a membership with the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA). In fact, before forming EZG Manufacturing, Lang’s contracting firm was an MCAA member. Specifically, Lang Masonry joined the MCAA in 1995. EZG Manufacturing later became a member in 2001.

The initial goal of joining in both instances was networking. The organization is an incredible platform for sharing best practices with others in the industry. Lang decided to maintain his memberships with the MCAA in both cases because of the MCAA’s many programs. Specifically, he mentions the value of the MCAA’s lobbying efforts in Washington, DC. The organization strives to prevent politicians from levying more regulations on the industry.

EZG Manufacturing is often well represented at the Midyear MCAA meetings. In addition, as a Strategic Partner with the MCAA, EZG Manufacturing can connect with mason contractors at these and other live events.