© 2006 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Fall 2006
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Pages 4-42

NEWSLINES

PRODUCT

LiftMaster Announces Residential Jackshaft Opener

In July, Chamberlain introduced the LiftMaster Model 3800 Residential Jackshaft Opener for unique applications, such as garages with low, cathedral, or obstructed ceilings.

The opener’s 24V DC motor can be mounted on either side of the wall beside the garage door, freeing up storage space. The 3800 meets all UL 325 requirements and is compatible with sectional doors up to 14' high.

A cable tension monitor maintains accurate tension and eliminates “cable throw,” which occurs when the cable slips off the drum. When the garage door is fully closed, the PowerLock locks the door in place, ensuring the door cannot be forced open.

The model 3800 comes with a motion-detecting control panel that activates the opener light. The unit’s patented Absolute Positioning Technology allows the electronic limits to be exceptionally accurate. www.liftmaster.com

Northwest Door Adds New Carriage-Style Door

In August, Northwest Door announced Therma Classic, a new line of carriage-house style insulated steel garage doors.

The door has a deeper, more-defined embossing pattern than many other steel garage doors, says Steve DeWitt, president. “The design is much more visible at a distance, enhancing a home’s curb appeal,” he adds.

The 2"-thick sandwich door has a polystyrene core and a thermal break for an R-value of 9. It is available in 48 standard designs, some with true arched windows. The steel Therma Classic adds to the company’s carriage-house door offerings of wood Heritage Classic doors and aluminum Infinity Classic doors. www.nwdusa.com

Overhead Door Introduces New Commercial Openers

In June, Overhead Door introduced its RMX Series of medium-duty commercial openers with features previously unavailable in this class of opener.

Such features include a 16-character LCD display, an automatic tensioning belt system, and an intelligent menu system. Other features include a delay-on-reverse feature (standard), a secondary reversal system (trolley), an enhanced diagnostic system, and more.

The opener is available in trolley and jackshaft models for sectional and rolling steel doors. Randy Eveland, product manager, says RMX prices are consistent with other medium-duty openers. www.overheaddoor.com

LiftMaster Introduces Opener With Integrated Battery Backup

In August, Chamberlain announced the new LiftMaster 3850, the only garage door opener with an integrated battery backup. During a power outage, the 3850’s EverCharge Battery Backup System can operate the opener for 40 full cycles within a 24-hour period.

The battery and opener use one logic board, resulting in better performance when operating in the battery backup mode. The 3850 includes a 12V DC belt-drive motor, a motion-detecting control panel, and a burled walnut 3-button Security+ remote control. www.liftmaster.com

Clopay Expands Wood Door Line

In July, Clopay expanded its Classic Line of wood doors to three distinct series.

The Model 44 offers a choice of three wood species (hemlock, cedar, or redwood) in short or long raised-panel configurations with optional hand-carved designer window inserts.

Models 32A and 33 are flush panel doors in a smooth or rough-sawn surface with polystyrene insulation. And Models 20 and 10 are recessed-panel hemlock doors with hardboard or luan panels.

Each series features paint- and stain-grade options. Joint construction methods vary. www.clopaydoor.com

BuildMark Adds Carriage-House Option

In August, BuildMark announced a new carriage-house embossment option for BuildMark STS residential doors for the builder market.

The carriage-house panel option is available in widths of 8', 9', 10', 16', and 18' and in white, claytone, or almond. This option offers optional decorative hardware and full arched Stockton windows. The decorative face hardware includes black matte powdercoated straps and handles. www.buildmarkdoors.com

Gateway Offers Wide Bug Barrier

In August, Gateway Industrial Products released its new manual roll-up Bug Barriers doors in widths up to 14'.

Extra Wide Manual Roll-Up Bug Barriers include galvanized steel guide tracks, a vinyl-coated woven screen, and bottom foam cushion. Gateway uses upgraded fiberglass windbars for added stability and a heavy-duty spring. The company says the door is easy to install and virtually maintenance free. www.gatewayindustrial.com

Canimex Introduces New Chain Hoist

In July, Canimex announced its newest chain hoist, offering easy installation and several advantages. Designed for trolley- or jackshaft-operated doors without hoist, the Disconnect Chain Hoist can open or close sectional doors in case of emergency or power outage.

When users pull the hand chain, the limit switch cuts off the operator’s motor and connects the chain hoist to the door shaft, allowing the opening or closing of the door. www.canimex.com

Wayne-Dalton Adds Finishes to Fiberglass Garage Door

In July, Wayne-Dalton added clay, gray, and green finishes to its Model 9800 fiberglass-clad garage door.

“The three new finishes capture the deep wood-grain pattern but are a viable alternative to natural wood stains,” says Bill Earnest, director of marketing and product management. www.wayne-dalton.com

C.H.I. Announces New Window Options

In June, C.H.I. Overhead Doors added two decorative window inserts and one new designer glass option.

The Arched Stockton insert is for long-panel doors, and the Mission insert is for both long- and short-panel doors.

The latest addition to C.H.I.’s Designer Lites series is the insulated Brookstone glass for short-panel doors. The Brookstone has 3M tape adhered to the window, creating the look of beveled glass. www.chiohd.com

Upwardor Introduces New Bottom Bracket

In June, Upwardor introduced a universal bottom bracket for 2" and 3" tracks.

The EZ123 (patent pending) bottom bracket’s design allows easy replacement of bottom rollers in tight installations, eliminating the need to take tension off the springs or clamp cables and the need to force the roller out of the track.

The bracket, made of 12-gauge galvanized steel, can be used on all sectional door types. www.upwardor.com

Garaga Adds New Hardware for North Hatley

In August, Garaga added “Lis Style” handles and hinges for the North Hatley steel door.

The fleur-de-lis style has a hand-hammered texture that coordinates with the old-style swinging carriage-house doors. www.garaga.com

New Shelving Product Seeks Distributors

In August, TrakRack announced its heavy-duty, easy-to-install shelving products, ideal for garages. The company is seeking garage door dealers as distributors.

A key feature of TrakRack is that only the top horizontal rail is installed; the remaining components lock into each other. The benefits include easy installation with no holes coming down the walls. The vertical rails slide along the top horizontal rail, allowing for easy placement and repositioning.

Betsy Westhafer, director of marketing, says the company serves many markets, including builders, architects, homeowners, professional organizers, garage door dealers, lumberyards, and others. www.trakrack.com

New Auto-Sensing Gate Receivers From Linear

In July, Linear introduced the MGR and the MGR-2, two auto-sensing MegaCode-format gate receivers that eliminate the chance of damage to either the gate operator or themselves from running off the wrong voltage.

The MGR and MGR-2 receivers recognize the gate operator’s correct voltage; there are no jumpers to set. This built-in compatibility helps installers to reduce inventory and to have the correct model gate receiver on the truck.

The MGR receiver is intended for use with automatic gate operators, systems where a remote antenna is needed, and other devices requiring a Form C relay. The MGR-2 is a 12-30V, two-channel, auto-sensing gate receiver with two relays that can operate two gates, one gate and an obstacle sensor, or two obstacle sensors. www.linearcorp.com

BEA Announces Door Sensor With Smart Sensing

In August, BEA launched its Falcon door sensor with an exact sensing field for security checkpoints, loading docks, and other warehouse applications including high-speed doors and places where the triggering of audible or visual warnings is necessary.

The Falcon’s precise sensing field activates the door only when needed, thus saving energy by reducing unwanted door openings. The unit can detect differences between pedestrian and vehicular traffic, as well as between approaching and departing motion.

The self-contained Falcon unit can be programmed for multiple functions and customized for uni-directional approach or bi-directional sensing and uni-directional depart. All key parameters are easily adjusted via remote control. www.beasensors.com

Magnetically Coupled GDO Introduced

In July, American Garage Door Supply announced the NuMax magnetically coupled air-powered garage door opener for high-use or wet environments.

Field serviceable, the NuMax opener offers the benefits of a “directly connected” air-powered design with no cable spooling or freeze-ups and less downtime. Seals and other wear components can be replaced in the field.

Its corrosion-resistant cylinder, duranodic finish, and stainless steel hardware offer durability for high-use or wet environments such as car washes and food processing environments.

American Garage Door Supply manufactures and distributes door and operator products for the garage door industry. www.carwashdoors.com

Linear Develops Entry System for 125 Tenants

In August, Linear launched the AE-100, a feature-rich telephone entry system for smaller sites with up to 125 tenants. The new system eliminates the need for ongoing incremental memory upgrades to add tenants.

The features include local programming through the keypad and remote programming via telephone. Up to four units can be connected via one shared telephone line. When records need to be updated, they can be transferred from a single location rather than making changes to each unit on the network.

The AE-100 is housed in a locked, vandal-resistant, stainless steel enclosure. The enclosure can be either flush or surface mounted and is suitable for indoor or outdoor applications. www.linearcorp.com

Gate Bird Offers Solar-Powered Driveway Alert

In August, Gate Bird Long Range Gate Operator announced the Cartell solar-powered probe and driveway alert.

The Cartell solar 9V probe is wireless and long range, up to a half mile or more, depending upon terrain. It can be installed with no trenching. The 20" probe is buried slightly underground and parallel to the driveway.

The probe can be used with DoorKing’s 6002, GTO/Pro’s SL 1000 series, or with the Gate Bird operator. It can trigger the gate to open, providing an audible “Automatic Exit” when someone is leaving. If a vehicle enters when the gate is standing open, a driveway alert is sounded to the homeowner’s base station. www.gatebird.com

Allstar Offers Solid-State Controls

In June, Allstar announced a solid-state control option for its commercial overhead door operators.

Features include onboard open/close/stop buttons, adjustable timer-to-close with a timer-defeat option, numerous field-selectable functions including delay-on-reverse and mid-stop, and diagnostic LEDs.

The board also provides plug-and-play control interfaces to speed installation of safety devices such as certain photo-eyes and sensing edges. The control board automatically monitors these safety systems for correct operation. www.allstarcorp.com

New Transmitter From Seco-Larm

In August, Seco-Larm introduced an RF transmitter for applications requiring large numbers of identical codes (block coding). With DIP-switch programming and 59,049 available codes, the transmitter also allows simple matching of a transmitter already in use.

The one-button transmitter replaces keypads and key locks for wireless RF remote control of alarm control panels, garage doors, house lights, or other devices. Also available is a slimline design with a range of up to 500'. The unit operates on 315MHz; 433.92MHz is also available. www.seco-larm.com

Linear Repackages Stanley-Compatible Transmitters

In August, Linear announced that it has repackaged Stanley-compatible visor-clip controls in new black cases. The electronics inside remain unchanged in these 310MHz transmitters.

Three models are available: a one-button, one-channel transmitter; a two-button, two-channel transmitter; and a four-button, four-channel transmitter. All are powered by a standard 9V alkaline battery. www.linearcorp.com

Makita Releases LXT Cordless Combo Kit

In August, Makita announced its new 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Combo Kit with a hammer driver-drill, an impact driver, a 45-minute charger, and two Lithium-Ion batteries.

Makita says the LXT series offers 40 percent less weight, a more-compact size, an ergonomic shape, and LED lights to illuminate the work area. Its Lithium-Ion batteries offer 1,400 battery cycles, twice that of professional Ni-Cad batteries, and five times lower self-discharge to keep cells active longer.

The Optimum Charger communicates with the LXT battery via built-in memory chips to recognize the history and battery condition. The charger also has a built-in fan to cool the battery to produce more lifetime work. www.makitatools.com

PEOPLE

Adrian Resigns at Overhead Door

In July, Karl Adrian stepped down as president of Overhead Door Corporation’s Access Systems Division.

“Karl was instrumental over the last three years in the development of the organization’s capabilities and significant programs, which impact our company’s future growth,” says Dennis Stone, president and CEO. “Both the corporation and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Stone has assumed management responsibilities for the Access Systems Division.

Raynor Promotes Keesey to Senior VP

In August, Raynor announced that Jon Keesey had been promoted to chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance.

Keesey now has leadership responsibilities for all finance, accounting, information services, and business process engineering functions of Raynor Worldwide and its subsidiary companies.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Keesey holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus in finance. He recently earned an M.B.A. from Northern Illinois University.

Chamberlain Appoints GM of Australia and New Zealand

In July, Chamberlain appointed Jim Mole general manager (GM) of Australia and New Zealand. Based in Sydney, Mole supervises all of Chamberlain’s activities throughout Australia and New Zealand, including the newly acquired Merlin and Grifco brands.

Mole has held key posts for Dow Chemical, Eagle Environmental Systems, and Makhteshim Agan in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

“Jim’s depth of experience and stellar skills make him the perfect person for this position,” says David Rolls, Chamberlain’s CEO.

Wayne-Dalton Names Director of Engineering

In July, Wayne-Dalton announced the addition of Chuck Haba as director of engineering, leading all engineering initiatives and programs. He comes with nine years of engineering management experience.

Previously, Haba worked for Lear Corporation as an assistant director for advanced engineering and product strategy. He received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical and mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

ATL Adds Director of Engineering

In August, Arrow Tru-Line announced the addition of Jerry Schutt as director of engineering. Schutt now oversees all engineering and quality programs in North America and overseas. He will also work to bring new products to the garage door marketplace.

He previously served as engineering manager for Midwest Stamping and Lear Corporation and was plant engineer for United Technologies Automotive.

Schutt received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree in occupational health and safety from the Medical College of Ohio.

Raynor Names Director of Manufacturing

In August, Raynor promoted Stephen Lankford to director of manufacturing, assuming responsibility for all manufacturing operations in the company’s plants in Dixon, Ill., and Duncan, S.C., as well as responsibility for manufacturing engineering, maintenance, facilities, and logistics.

Lankford joined Raynor in 2000 as a buyer/materials manager for the Duncan plant. In 2001, he was promoted to plant manager of the Duncan plant. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University.

Overhead Door Announces New Additions and Promotion

In June, Overhead Door announced four new additions to the Overhead Door family: Beth Somplatsky-Martori as director of marketing, Mark Wittmann as director of customer financial services, Robert Goldberg as director of customer service, and Karen Cohen as commercial sectional product manager. Mark Sublett was also promoted to director of builder sales.

Beth Somplatsky-Martori brings 15 years of marketing experience. She comes from Dallas-based Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath where she was vice president of retail. Her responsibilities encompass brand management for the Access Systems Division.

Mark Wittmann has 25 years of credit management experience. His duties include supervision of credit and accounts receivable, cash application, customer financial analysis, and dispute resolution for the Access Systems Division. Previously, Wittmann was director of credit for American Tool Companies, based in Lincoln, Neb.

Robert Goldberg brings 25 years of experience in sales and customer service. He will create and manage Overhead Door’s customer service network and create a call center in the Lewisville, Texas, corporate office. He was previously the customer services manager for Cincinnati-based Nutone.

Karen Cohen brings 10 years of experience managing key product lines, having recently served as product manager of luxury baths at Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath. She now has product line responsibility for commercial sectional, high performance, and sheet doors.

Mark Sublett has been promoted from residential national accounts manager to director of builder sales. He arrived at Overhead Door in 2005 with 20 years of sales and account management experience.

In August, Overhead Door announced that Gary Saletrik had joined the company as director of product development. He has 24 years of marketing, business development, and international experience.

Saletrik will lead the product development team, providing strategic planning, pricing, and product initiatives for the Access Systems Division. He has worked with American Greetings, Levolor Home Fashions, and Oasis Corporation, a manufacturer of water filtration systems and coolers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management and an M.B.A.

Royal Mouldings Names VP of Sales

In July, Tim Dykstra was promoted to vice president of sales, marketing, and distribution at Royal Mouldings.

Dykstra came to Royal as the sales manager of its specialty décor product segment. He was previously the owner of retail and distribution businesses in South Dakota.

He is responsible for Royal Mouldings’ product promotion, dealer and retail sales, and placement across all product categories, which includes window systems, door systems, shutter systems, and trim boards.

BioMetrx Appoints CFO

In August, BioMetrx announced that J. Richard Iler had been named chief financial officer (CFO) and appointed to the company’s board of directors.

Iler comes to BioMetrx from SiriComm, a publicly traded company where he also served as CFO and member of the board. From 1998 to 2001, Iler served as CFO of United American e-Health Technologies. Iler holds a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and attended South Texas College of Law.

North Central Door Names GM

In August, North Central Door announced that Steven Palmer had been appointed general manager, a newly created position.

Palmer holds a B.S. in finance and a M.B.A. from St. Cloud State University. He formerly was general manager/controller for McKechnie Vehicle Components. Palmer will be responsible for all operations at North Central Door’s Bemidji, Minn., facility.

C.H.I.’s McCombs Elected to IDA Board

In June, C.H.I. Overhead Doors announced that Patti McCombs, sales manager, has been elected to a three-year term on the International Door Association’s (IDA) board of directors.

McCombs will initially serve on three IDA committees: Member Services, Communications, and Heritage & Nominations. Patti McCombs is currently a C.H.I. sales manager for New York, northern Pennsylvania, and northern New Jersey.

Amarr Adds Director of Trade Marketing

In July, Amarr Garage Doors added Julian Drake as director of trade marketing to develop initiatives and strategies for Amarr’s key retail customers.

“We want to leverage the latest market information and tools,” says Drake. “We know the building industry has become very competitive, and we must do everything we can to help our customers be successful.”

Drake is a graduate of Wake Forest University. Most of his career was spent in marketing for Sara Lee Branded Apparel in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Plymouth Foam Adds Executives

In July, Plymouth Foam announced that it has added two senior executives to its sales and marketing staff.

Kevin Copsey is the new director of sales and marketing for all five divisions; he will also serve on the management team. Copsey previously served as director of sales and marketing for Teel Plastics in Baraboo, Wis., and worked as an international business manager in Brussels.

Tom Groth, as the new marketing manager, will cultivate brand identity and preference for Plymouth Foam’s building insulation products. He previously served with National Gypsum as a territory sales manager.

Summit Door Adds Management Position for Distribution

In July, continued growth led Summit Door to appoint its first distribution warehouse manager, Bob Airhart III. The position marks the division of all factory operations into production and distribution.

In this role, Airhart will handle all of the company’s post-production operations, such as hardware preparation, order accuracy, crating, and shipping. Airhart brings a background in the Air Force, engineering, and many aspects of residential home construction.

Bircher Reglomat Creates First Sales Position

In August, Bircher America announced that Don Hunter has joined the firm as their first sales representative, covering 23 U.S. states and Canada. Barac Bieri, president, says that Hunter will help to manage Bircher’s double-digit growth.

Hunter brings 10 years of sales experience in the automatic door industry and 15 years in the storefront-curtain wall industry. He has worked with national accounts, architects, and distributors.

COMPANIES

Clopay Begins $70 Million Expansion

In July, Clopay completed the purchase of a vacant plant in Troy, Ohio, as part of a $70 million dollar project to expand manufacturing capabilities. Operations began at the site in August.

State tax credits of $2.1 million will help to fund the project. The company is required to maintain operations at the site for 16 years.

Clopay currently employs over 700 people in Ohio at its Mason-based headquarters and at a manufacturing facility in Russia. The company also has manufacturing plants in Auburn, Wash., Tempe, Ariz., and Baldwin, Wis.

Clopay says it has no plans to close the Russia facility; however, it will gradually transfer selected equipment and personnel to the Troy location. The Troy expansion is expected to create 100 manufacturing jobs in its first phase.

The company owns and operates 48 distribution centers and sells to 2,000 independent professional dealers and home center retail chains such as Menard’s, Lowe’s, and Home Depot. Clopay achieved record sales in 2005, surpassing $500 million.

Amarr to Open Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina

In July, Amarr Garage Doors announced plans to begin manufacturing doors in 2007 at a facility about 30 miles west of Amarr’s corporate support center in Winston-Salem, N.C. The new plant is expected to expedite the manufacturing and delivery of Amarr’s most popular products.

The plant will operate out of an existing 109,000-sq.-ft. building. The facility will open for production in January 2007, after the building is prepared.

The new plant could create 140 jobs over the next three years. Amarr will initially produce its Stratford and Heritage models at the plant.

With the new plant, Amarr expects to deliver products faster to East Coast garage door dealers. Midwest and West Coast dealers are also expected to benefit from new capacity at the firm’s existing plant in Lawrence, Kan.

Royal Mouldings Expands Tennessee Facility

In October, Royal Mouldings is expected to complete a $17 million expansion of its Bristol, Tenn., manufacturing facility that will add 250,000 sq. ft. to the present 150,000-sq.-ft. plant.

A major reason for the expansion is to elevate the company’s technology, production, and ability to ship to the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast in one day, according to Art Ramey, president.

Royal Mouldings makes consumer, home improvement, and construction products, including rigid PVC garage and garage door products, window systems, siding, roofing, decking, fencing, and columns.

Keri Acquires Access Control Provider

In August, Keri Systems of San Jose, Calif., acquired Digital Horizon Solutions (DHS) of Dallas. The purchase provides Keri with door access control and integrated security systems for customers with enterprise-class requirements.

DHS’ flagship product, the Eclipse 700 software, is based on the Mercury Security hardware platform used by many other access control software manufacturers.

Keri Systems provides integrated card access control, telephone entry, video badging systems, and digital video recording.

Janus Expansion Underway

In June, Janus International announced a facility expansion that will increase production space by 30 percent, to 117,000 sq. ft.

The expansion, initially planned for 2008, will add jobs to the current staff of 210. Janus also plans to expand two other plants, one in Houston and another in Surprise, Ariz.

Hörmann and Gadco Announce Merger

On August 1, Hörmann and General American Door Company (Gadco) merged to form Hörmann Gadco. The new merged firm will offer Hörmann’s pinch-resistant insulated doors and SilentDrive openers and Gadco’s steel, high-density polyethylene, and wood garage doors.

Christoph Hörmann, one of the principals of Hörmann, says the merger will provide customers with “quick turnarounds by using our distribution centers throughout the eastern United States.”

Gadco’s former headquarters in Montgomery, Ill., now serve as the headquarters of Hörmann Gadco and the production site of Gadco doors. Hörmann’s plant in Vonore, Tenn., will manufacture the double-skin Hörmann doors and serve as a distribution center for Hörmann Gadco.

Frank Weber is the new president of Hörmann Gadco. Norbert Fritz, former president of Hörmann, and Joe Kee, former president of Gadco, will continue to serve as vice presidents for the new company.

Amarr Opens Fourth International Door Center

Caption: Alfredo Ibarra, general manager (left), and Rene Uribe, manager trainee.

In August, Amarr announced the opening of its fourth international door center. The new one, in Guadalajara, Mexico, will respond to demands in central Mexico. Amarr’s other international locations are in Toronto, Canada, Budapest, Hungary, and Monterrey, Mexico.

The Guadalajara Door Center has 10,000-sq. ft. of warehouse space. Alfred Ibarra, general manager, leads a team of five employees.

ACH Foam Acquires Allied Foam Products

In July, ACH Foam Technologies, a manufacturer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) products, announced its acquisition of Allied Foam Products of Gainesville, Ga. The Allied acquisition is expected to expand growth opportunities in the construction, packaging, and O.E.M. markets in the Southeast.

This transaction occurs just one year after ACH Foam Technologies was formed by the merger of Advance Foam Plastics in the West, Contour Products, and Heartland EPS in the Midwest and central United States.

“ACH brings a lot of additional product opportunities to the Southeast with their shape molding, film, and garage door laminating capabilities,” says Jim Clark, founder of Allied Foam Products. ACH Foam Technologies now has manufacturing facilities in 10 locations.

Wayne-Dalton Continues ROC Expansion

In July, Wayne-Dalton announced the opening of two new Regional Operations Centers (ROC), one in Chicago, Ill., and one in Pensacola, Fla. Wayne-Dalton ROCs allow the company to strategically expand throughout the country and create new relationships with other independent garage door dealers.

The centers will provide distribution options for dealers and installing customers in the area who promote and sell Wayne-Dalton residential and commercial doors and openers.

Bircher Reglomat Obtains Certification

In August, Bircher Reglomat, a manufacturer of motion and presence sensors for automatic doors, announced that its five key product families have been certified as compliant with the new ANSI/BHMA 156.10-2005 standards.

“This is a necessary and logical step for our organization,” says Barac Bieri, president. “We are a leader in other parts of the world and still a challenger in the U.S. In order for our market to trust our products, the best route was to have them certified as compliant to local standards by an independent testing organization.”

The five product families that are now certified as compliant are a dual technology motion and presence sensor, a presence sensor, two microwave sensors, and a door-mounted presence sensor for swinging and revolving doors.

Click2Enter Granted Canadian Patent

In April, Click2Enter, a manufacturer of emergency access control technology, announced that it has been granted Canadian patent rights for all of the Canadian provinces. Pete Sutsos, president and CEO, says the Canadian patents will complement Click2Enter’s U.S. and European patents.

Click2Enter-I can operate within the entire spectrum of available frequencies and allow up to 50 different authorized public safety users to operate off one Click2Enter-I device. The access control system has been in the field for more than five years.

Clopay Reveals Contest Results

This summer, celebrity designer Chayse Dacoda made a house call in San Marino, Calif., to the Villaluna family, the grand prize winners of the Clopay “Transform Your Home Contest.”

The prize included a personal design consultation from Dacoda, a new Clopay Reserve Collection carriage-house garage door, and $6,500 toward the cost of other exterior upgrades. Besides the garage door, Dacoda enhanced the home with added greenery, Adirondack chairs, a stone birdbath, and a fence, and by painting the front door and the window trim.

The contest attracted more than 3,500 contest entries. Entrants explained why their home was the best candidate for an exterior makeover. The results will be featured in the November/December 2006 issues of Renovation Style, Better Homes & Gardens - Better By Design, Country Home, and Traditional Home.

Jeld-Wen Holds Garage Door Makeover Contest

In June, Jeld-Wen announced its first annual “Garage Door Makeover Contest,” presenting one lucky homeowner with a Jeld-Wen wood composite garage door. The contest demonstrates the difference a garage door makes on the overall look and value of the home.

Entries were accepted through Sept. 15. Contest participants had to submit a photo of their current garage doors and a brief essay describing why new garage doors would be essential.

Clopay Ranked Brand Leader by Magazine

In July, Clopay ranked first among “brands used the most” in the garage door category, according to the results of Remodeling magazine’s current building product brand use study.

Readex Research, an independent market research firm, interviewed a sample of the magazine’s subscribers to determine which brands they have specified the most often during the past two years. The survey also asked which brand subscribers are most likely to consider using.

Additionally, Clopay’s aluminum and glass Avante Collection was named one of the Top 100 building products by Building Products magazine. The 2006 list is compiled from the number of reader inquiries generated during the previous year.

Remodeling Readers Prefer Wayne-Dalton

In July, Wayne-Dalton ranked first among garage door “brands used in the past two years” in Remodeling magazine’s Brand Use Study conducted by Readex Research.

Annually, Remodeling readers participate in the Brand Use Study to identify the industry’s leading companies. This year, the survey engaged more than 1,900 readers.

Remodeling’s annual Buyer’s Guide features nearly 3,000 manufacturers in more than 40 major product categories and serves as a reference for remodeling professionals.

Windsor Republic Doors Recognized by Builders

In June, Windsor Republic Doors announced that it had received recognition in the annual brands survey conducted by Home Builder Executive.

According to the survey, 19 percent of the nation’s largest builders reported using Windsor garage doors in their homes. This is the 5th consecutive year that Windsor has ranked in the top five or higher.

Martin Incentive Trip Goes to London

Caption: Brace and Karen Lake of Mr. Martin Garage Doors in Buena Vista, Calif., pose with their children in front of Windsor Castle.

For the first time in its history, Martin Door held its annual dealer incentive trip outside of the North American-Pacific region, moving its trip to Europe.

Qualifying Martin dealers were treated to a six-day trip to London, where they enjoyed the Royal Garden Hotel and several landmarks from Windsor Castle to Big Ben. More than 100 took part in the trip.

Wayne-Dalton Develops Hurricane Protection Course

In July, Wayne-Dalton announced that its Fabric-Shield Division has been authorized to develop an Installation Certification program for the International Hurricane Protection Association (IHPA).

The four- to eight-hour Advanced Installation Training course trains attendees to understand manufacturer-approved engineering documents regarding fastener spacing, anchor selection, proper attachment types, and proper anchor installation. The course will also teach proper procedures for permitting hurricane shutter installations in Florida.

Encon Holds Seminar With Chamberlain

In May, access control products distributor Encon Electronics collaborated with Chamberlain for a two-day technical seminar in Fremont, Calif. This was the second of a series of seminars Encon is offering its dealers throughout the year.

The seminar included an overview of gate operators, telephone entry systems, rules of operator installation, control boards, troubleshooting, and UL 325 guidelines.

Encon also planned to hold a HySecurity seminar in July and a FAAC seminar in September.

Richard Petty Visits C.H.I. Distributors
Caption for Petty2: Gary and Bettse Dodge from Dodge Overhead Door of Easton, Md.

The recent annual C.H.I. Overhead Doors Distributors Meeting, held in Charlotte, N.C., featured a tour Richard Petty Enterprises, the Richard Petty Museum, and a visit from Richard Petty himself.

Some distributors raced around the track in the Richard Petty Ride-Along Experience, some golfed, and some toured an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The meeting also included sessions on C.H.I. marketing, engineering, and advancements.

In addition, C.H.I. and its distributors made a sizeable donation to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a camp founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty for kids with illnesses.

Martin Door Holds Dealer Meeting in England

In April, Martin Door held its first international conference outside the United States, in a meeting for international dealers in England on April 11. Attending dealers came from China, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Malta, Italy, Mexico, England, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

The meeting included a banquet with special awards for international dealers. Kongo Corporation of Tokyo won the International Dealer of the Year award. Representaciones del Callejo of Tijuana, Mexico, won the Greatest Sales Percent Increase award for North America.

GIAX of Ringubu, Norway, won the Quality and Service International award. Krazi Door of Johannesburg, South Africa, was named the New International Dealer of the Year. High Project 1990 of Bangkok, Thailand, won the Chairman’s International award, and Martin Garage Doors Hawaii won the Greatest Sales Percentage Increase award for dealers outside the contiguous United States.

Chamberlain Announces Scholarship Winners

In June, Chamberlain announced this year’s winners of the annual Duchossois Industries College Scholarship Awards.

The scholarships honor outstanding academic achievement by the children of employees at Duchossois Industries and its subsidiaries. This year, three renewable $4,000 scholarships and two one-year $1,000 scholarships were awarded to five students.

The winners were Joanna Jaramillo, daughter of Jose Jaramillo, mechanical engineer; Jessica Matuszak, daughter of administrative assistant Debbie Matuszak; Andra Robinson, daughter of Alice Robinson, electronic component specialist; Emmeline Miller, daughter of Dave Miller, packaging engineer; and Devon Grochowski, daughter of Michael Grochowski, forge engineer.

INTERNET

First United Web Site Adds Video Spokespersons

In July, First United Door Technologies launched the integration of online video spokespersons for its Web site at www.firstudt.com. Using proprietary BlueStream Technology from Rovion, the site includes a lifelike video overlay of messages throughout the site.

“Utilizing Rovion’s InPerson innovative technology allows us to connect with our Web site visitors in a way that is more interactive and appealing,” says Earl Rivard, vice president of marketing.

Amarr Introduces New Web Site and Logo

In September, Amarr launched a completely redesigned Web site (www.amarr.com) and a new logo. Other marketing materials will be changed over the next several months.

The new Web site is designed to be easier to navigate, provide more content, and allow dealers easier access to marketing materials, photos, and logos. An expanded employee intranet site is included.

The new logo updates one that has been in use since 1997. Research revealed that people like the existing logo, so it underwent a minor modification to support Amarr’s new image.

“We wanted to change not only our marketing approach, but a dealer’s perception of our products and services,” says Patrick O’Sullivan, VP of marketing and new ventures.

Garaga Opens New Site

In June, Garaga announced a new look and additional features for its Web site at www.garaga.com. The new site provides quicker access to the Garaga design center, Garaga news, and high-resolution product photos.

The new site also includes a search engine for doing local searches with specific keywords. The new design center enables users to design their own garage door and then refers the user to a photo album to assist in making a final choice.

INDUSTRY

ARDI Merges With DASMA

In June, the American Rolling Door Institute (ARDI) and the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA) agreed to merge the two organizations, incorporating ARDI members into the DASMA Rolling Door Division.

“Since 1969, ARDI has focused on bringing rolling door producers, component suppliers, and professional organizations together with the aim of improving the industry,” says Andrew Cornell, ARDI president. “Based on the excellent work being done by DASMA towards that same end, we became convinced that merging the two associations would only enhance our results.”

Both groups represent manufacturers of rolling service doors, fire doors, grilles, and counter shutters. They also share common goals, including their efforts to increase education and awareness, improve safety, and participate in the standards and code-making process.

Many members of ARDI are already members of DASMA. Those who are not will be encouraged to apply for membership in the DASMA Rolling Door Division.

“A larger unified organization will have a stronger voice before governmental, code, and regulatory bodies,” adds Richard Sedivy, DASMA president.

As part of the merger agreement, ARDI will seek to transfer its seat on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Committee on Fire Doors and Windows to DASMA. The NFPA-80 committee develops standards governing the installation and maintenance of fire doors and air-leakage-rated smoke doors.

ARDI was founded in 1969 and included about 20 member companies at the time of merger. DASMA, founded in 1996, is the result of the merger of the National Association of Garage Door Manufacturers (NAGDM) and the Door Operator and Remote Controls Manufacturers Association (DORCMA). It currently includes more than 100 members.

Safety Materials Created by IDA and DASMA

This summer, an extensive Safety Awareness DVD package was distributed to dealers nationwide by the International Door Association (IDA) and the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA). The two industry organizations funded the program to help members of the garage door industry promote safe use and operation of the industry’s products.

The two-disk package includes a variety of professionally prepared materials to help distribute the garage door safety message to schools, service clubs, and the public. The materials can be personalized and can be distributed via a PowerPoint presentation, the Internet, radio, television, and any print medium.

One of the two disks in the package contains a 5-minute introductory video that can be watched on a DVD player or a computer with a DVD drive. The video introduces the components of the package and offers ideas on how the materials can be used.

The DVD has already been distributed to all members of DASMA and IDA. The costs for development and production, along with one complementary copy of the kit to each IDA and DASMA member, were covered by DASMA and IDA. Additional copies are available for $20 plus $8.95 shipping.

Building Industry Launches Hurricane-Resistance Project

In June, a construction industry initiative led by Building Media Inc. (BMI) launched a multi-media educational program to promote better building practices in geographic regions prone to hurricane-force winds and flooding.

The Hurricane-Resistant Construction Project includes an online information clearinghouse at www.hurricaneconstruction.net, Code College Network, an online video training program about code requirements at www.codecollegenetwork.com, and the Hurricane-Resistant Construction Guidebook, a graphics-oriented building code reference for builders in hurricane-affected areas.

“The introduction of new codes in Louisiana and Mississippi and the constant revisions in all hurricane-affected areas point out the need for easily accessible hurricane-resistant construction training,” says Jeff Burton, IBHS Code Expert.

High Performance Door Division Begins Marketing Initiatives

In June, the DASMA High Performance Door Division formed a marketing subcommittee to begin marketing efforts that support the division’s technical progress.

The subcommittee plans to create a brochure, publish an article on industry applications, identify key media sources, and seek representation on the Institute for Door Dealer Education and Accreditation (IDEA).

DASMA to Consider Sheet Door and Wood Door Groups

In October 2006, rolling sheet door and wood garage door manufacturers will meet in Kansas City to explore their unique needs. Joe Hetzel, DASMA technical director, says the groups will initially begin as subcommittees within their respective DASMA divisions.

“Depending on their objectives, these groups could seek to form their own divisions within DASMA,” says Hetzel. Bray Allen of DBCi has volunteered to chair the rolling sheet door group, while a chair is being sought for wood garage door group.

TECHNICAL

DASMA to Host Sixth Technical Forum

DASMA is scheduled to hold its sixth annual Technical Forum on Oct. 18, 2006, in Kansas City. The forum features topics of current relevance to DASMA garage door, rolling door, and high performance door manufacturers.

This year’s topics include FEMA post-hurricane investigations, Texas code development activity, thermal performance testing, and thermal performance computer simulations.

Composite Wood Products Targeted for Regulation

On June 20, the California Air Resources Board considered newly proposed measures to reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. New regulations will be enforced in two phases beginning July 1, 2008.

The proposed measures involve plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and particleboard, but not hardboard or assembly adhesives. However, any plywood, MDF, or particleboard that is shipped (including its packaging) will be subject to the regulations. For more information, go to www.arb.ca.gov.

Texas Approves DASMA’s Proposed Changes

In July, the Texas Building Code Advisory Committee approved proposed code changes submitted by DASMA. The changes include the inclusion of a garage door wind-load table and reference to ANSI/DASMA 115 as an acceptable alternative for garage door windborne debris resistance testing.

DASMA’s Joe Hetzel says that the proposed changes are consistent with the Florida Building Code and are being considered by national model codes. The Texas committee is expected to consider another DASMA proposal at the committee’s fall meeting.

Access Systems Committee Studies “Attack Test”

In August, the DASMA Access Systems Committee met in Chicago to develop “attack test” provisions for access control systems. The provisions are intended to be included in UL 294, a standard addressing access control system units.

Rick Sedivy, Access Systems Committee chair, says the group is studying provisions used by other industries to deal with forced entry to such systems by prying, smashing, puncturing, etc. Input from test laboratories is also being sought.

DASMA expects to submit a proposal to the UL standards technical panel governing UL 294. Watch for further updates on this issue.

DASMA Seeks National Recognition for ANSI/DASMA 303

DASMA has begun taking steps to incorporate ANSI/DASMA 303, the standard for accessible communications entry systems, into nationwide requirements.

The organization has asked the International Code Council to reference the standard in ICC/ANSI A117.1, Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. The A117.1 Committee was expected to consider the DASMA proposal at their summer 2006 meeting.