Andersen Corporation is an international window and door manufacturing enterprise employing more than 9,000 people at more than 20 locations, with its headquarters in the St. Paul exurb of Bayport, Minnesota.
Andersen was founded in 1903 by Danish immigrant Hans Andersen and his family in Hudson, Wisconsin. Pine logs were harvested up North and would arrive at their original lumberyard location via the St. Croix River.
In addition to the Andersen brand, Andersen Corporation includes Renewal by Andersen for window replacement services, Silver Line brand windows and doors, American Craftsman brand windows and doors, Eagle Window & Door Manufacturing, and Weiland Sliding Door & Window. Andersen Corporation and the affiliates they comprise are the largest window and door manufacturers in North America. Their production facility in Bayport, Minnesota is 2.8-million-square-feet, and the facility covers 65 acres.
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History
Andersen Lumber Company (the precursor of Andersen Corporation) was a privately owned business founded July 25, 1903 with the filing of its incorporation papers by Danish immigrant Hans Andersen and his family.
Originally Andersen Lumber Company was based in Hudson, Wisconsin where logs arrived to their location via the St. Croix River. In 1905, Andersen originated the "two bundle" method, which streamlined the window construction process. By standardizing sizes of frame pieces, then packaging them in separate horizontal and vertical pairs, units could be assembled on the job site in as little as 10 minutes. It was nicknamed the 10-Minute Window. With no more room for expansion at the Hudson lumberyard, now turned window manufacturing facility, Andersen built a new factory in 1913 in South Stillwater (now Bayport), Minnesota.
In 1923, Andersen became the first in the industry to offer two weeks paid vacation to all 295 employees.
In January 2, 1924, Andersen began publishing a newsletter for employees called The Frame Maker. The newsletter still exists today.
In 1929, Andersen Lumber changed their name to Andersen Frame Company.
The Andersen Master Casement Window becomes the first completely assembled window unit in the industry--sash, frame and hardware. On April 12, 1930, James D. "Jim" Rowland, becomes the newest Andersen Sales Manager and created the first traveling Andersen Master Casement window display. Mr. Rowland traveled extensively calling on architects and builders to demonstrate the casement windows. Mr. Rowland was a loyal employee and enjoyed a career spanning more than 50 years with Andersen Corporation.
In 1932, Sam Engman founded Sam's House of 1,000,000 Parts, an auto salvage and parts business in Des Moines, Iowa. This company is the precursor to EMCO Enterprises, Inc. (now operating as Andersen Storm Door Division).
Andersen Frame Company changed its name for the final time to Andersen Corporation in 1937.
Because metals are scarce during World War II, Andersen began producing the Victory Window in 1941 using parts with 97% less metal by weight and other material to support the war effort. Andersen Corporation also made wooden ammunition boxes for the war effort, which resulted in "E" awards from the United States Army, United States Navy.
The Bayport Foundation, the precursor to the Andersen Corporate Foundation, was established in 1941. To date, the foundation has donated more than $50 million to a wide range of nonprofit organizations that provide community, social and support services to improve people's lives and strengthen communities.
In 1947, Silver Line Building Products, LLC was founded by Arthur Silverman in Kenilworth, New Jersey.
In 1952, Andersen began fitting its windows with a first-of-its-kind new Welded Insulating Glass to help provide protection against condensation and frost. It also eliminated the need for a removable storm panel. In 1955, Sam's House of 1,000,000 Parts shortened its name to EMCO Specialties, Inc. and diversified its business to provide home and recreational products.
Silver Line started producing residential and aluminum windows for both new construction and replacement applications. The Perma-Shield cladding system made its debut in 1966. The patented vinyl exterior for wood windows was developed with the help of Italian inventor Luigi Zanini. The vinyl-cladding system revolutionized the window industry and created an entirely new category of wood windows called clad-windows.
In 1970, the precursor to Eagle Window & Door changed its business strategy and starts making windows. Andersen Corporation surpassed the 2,500 employee mark in 1976.
In 1977, EMCO concentrated its business on plastic storm doors and introduced the patented "Store-in-Door" window and screen door. In 1980 Andersen began advertising on national television with the slogan "Come Home to Quality, Come Home to Andersen."
In 1984, Silver Line entered the vinyl market with replacement windows and purchases a 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Middlesex, New Jersey. In 1985, EMCO introduced Forever View door, a top-selling, premium-quality, full-view storm door. Eagle Window & Door became one of the first companies to use curves in its windows and doors in 1987. The ownership sold the business to Masco.
Andersen looked at expansion through acquisitions to further its product line, technology and distribution, including a new international division. Silver Line develops the American Craftsman brand exclusively for The Home Depot stores in 1990. In 1991, Andersen developed Fibrex material, a composite made of wood fiber reclaimed from Andersen manufacturing operations and a thermoplastic polymer, some of which is also reclaimed. Among its features are resistance to rotting, excellent insulation and low thermal expansion in extreme temperatures.
Renewal by Andersen was founded in 1995. In 1996, Masco sold various divisions, including Eagle Window & Door, to George Hoffmeister and Frank Amedia, who consolidate the divisions as American Architectural Products. In 1999, Andersen became the first window manufacturer to be named an Energy Star National Windows Partner of the Year. Andersen opened a new manufacturing facility in Menomonie, Wisconsin in 2000. Andersen acquired EMCO Enterprises, Inc. and KML Windows Inc.
Andersen Introduces Stormwatch Protection which are windows and doors designed to resist the effects of high wind and wind-borne debris common in coastal storms. Renewal by Andersen expands west into Texas, Utah and California, the Midwest, and Northeast in 2004. Andersen purchased Eagle Window & Door, Inc. in May 2005. The company, which is based in Dubuque, Iowa, manufactures aluminum-clad wood windows and patio doors.
In 2006, Andersen purchased Silver Line Building Products, LLC. New Jersey-based Silver Line is a manufacturer of vinyl windows and patio doors in North America. Founded in 1947, the company is privately owned with facilities in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Marion, Ohio, Texas and Illinois. In 2010, Andersen Corporation introduced the A-Series product line, consisting of windows and patio doors in a range of colors and design.
In October 2013, Andersen acquired southern California-based Weiland Sliding Doors and Windows, Inc. Andersen's Garland, Texas, plant manufactured its 1 millionth 100 Series window in December after just five years in production.
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Window products
Andersen offers 100, 200, 400, and A-Series windows. Eagle windows (purchased in may of 2005 by Andersen) are now available as E-series by Andersen. Andersen was named as the top window products brand in terms of brand familiarity, most used and quality rating by the Builder magazine in 2005.
EMCO doors
Andersen acquired EMCO Enterprises, a Des Moines, Iowa storm door manufacturer in 2001. Andersen was named as the top door products brand in terms of brand familiarity, most used and quality rating by the Builder magazine in 2005.
References
External links
- Andersen Windows, Inc.
- An extensive collection of historical Andersen Corporation Records is available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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