Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. Acquires Carrera Manufacturing, Inc.
OVERLAND PARK, KS – Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. (“Wilbert”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of certain assets of Carrera Manufacturing (“Carrera”), also doing business as W&M Manufacturing and Pier-Mac Plastics. Based in Portland, Indiana, Carrera is a molding and finishing manufacturer who produces casket hardware, automotive/transportation components, and other consumer products. “This transaction supports Wilbert’s continued growth strategy and ongoing investment in complementary products and services benefiting funeral professionals and the families they serve,” stated Mark Bates, President & CEO of Wilbert. “Carrera joins Astral within our Casket Division and going forward will do business as Astral Molding & Finishing.”
“We are excited to complete the acquisition and further integrate the production of finish casket hardware into our ongoing manufacturing operations. Combining our operations yields a number of synergies for our company and ultimately the funeral professionals we serve,” said Don Robinson, President of Wilbert’s Casket Division. “Astral Molding & Finishing will not only support our internal demand but will continue to support the hardware requirements for a range of other casket manufacturers in North America. Going forward, we are committed to enhancing and expanding on the assets acquired in order to exceed the needs of our customers.”
This transaction demonstrates Wilbert’s ongoing commitment to supporting and investing in the North American funeral industry.
For more information, call (708) 865-1600.
About Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc.
Established in 1880, Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. is a licensor of, and supplier to, independently owned concrete burial vault manufacturers that are licensed to manufacture Wilbert® brand burial vaults under an intellectual property license agreement including the sale of cremation products, vault forms, liners, and other related products to the licensees. The company sells popular funeral industry products directly to funeral home customers through its brands and vast manufacturing and distribution network. The unique wholly owned brands of Wilbert include Pierce, Astral, Signet Supply, Hoffman Burial Supply, Continental Caskets, Memorial Monuments & Vaults, Wilbert Memorials, and SI Precast. Through these combined brands Wilbert offers burial vaults, lawn crypts, cemetery services, urns, urn vaults, embalming chemicals, prep room supplies, a large variety of caskets, monuments, and an extensive offering of precast concrete products. Wilbert also provides industry specific educational programs through its remote continuing education offering, WilbertEDU. Further educational involvement is provided by Wilbert’s sponsorship, support, and alignment with Pierce Mortuary Colleges, which rank as three of the top funeral service colleges in America. For more information about Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc., visit www.wilbert.com or call 913.345.2120.
