Andersen Corporation

Andersen Corporation

Type	Private
Industry	Manufacturing
Founded	July 25th 1903
Founder	Hans Andersen and family
Headquarters	Bayport, Minnesota, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Windows and Doors
Number of employees	9,000 (2013)
Subsidiaries	Andersen Windows, Inc. Renewal by Andersen Corporation EMCO Enterprises
Slogan	Come home to Andersen
Website	http://www.andersenwindows.com/

Andersen Corporation is an international window and door manufacturing enterprise employing more than 9,000 people at more than 20 locations, with 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 manufacturer in North America. Their production facility in Bayport, Minnesota is 2.8-million-square-feet, and the facility covers 65 acres.

History

1903

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.

1913

Originally Andersen Lumber Company was based in Hudson, Wisconsin where logs arrived to their location via the St. Croix River. In 1905, Andersen originates the “two bundle” method, which streamlines the window construction process. By standardizing sizes of frame pieces, then packaging them in separate horizontal and vertical pairs, units can 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.

1923

Andersen becomes the first in the industry to offer two weeks paid vacation to all 295 employees—a novelty in the woodworking industry at the time.

1924

January 2, 1924, Andersen begins publishing a newsletter for employees called The Frame Maker. The newsletter still exists today.

1929

Andersen Lumber changes their name to Andersen Frame Company.

1932

The Andersen Master Casement Window becomes the first completely assembled window unit in the industry—sash, frame and hardware. In 1932, Sam Engman founds 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).

1937

Andersen Frame Company changes its name for the final time to Andersen Corporation in 1937.

1941

Because metals are scarce during World War II, Andersen begins 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.

1941

The Bayport Foundation, the precursor to the Andersen Corporate Foundation, is 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.

1947

Silver Line Building Products, LLC is founded by Arthur Silverman in Springfield, Minnesota.

1952

Andersen begins fitting its windows with a first-of-its-kind new Welded Insulating Glass to help provide protection against condensation and frost. It also eliminates the need for a removable storm panel.

1955

Sam’s House of 1,000,000 Parts shortens its name to EMCO Specialties, Inc. and diversifies its business to provide home and recreational products.

1960

Silver Line starts producing residential and aluminum windows for both new construction and replacement applications. The Perma-Shield cladding system makes its debut in 1966. The patented vinyl exterior for wood windows is 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.

1970

The precursor to Eagle Window & Door changes its business strategy and starts making windows.

1976

Andersen Corporation surpasses The 2,500 employee mark in 1976.

1977

EMCO concentrates its business on plastic storm doors and introduces the patented “Store-in-Door” window and screen door.

1980

Andersen begins advertising on national television with the slogan "Come Home to Quality, Come Home to Andersen.”

1984

In 1984, Silver Line enters the vinyl market with replacement windows and purchases a 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Middlesex, New Jersey.

1985

In 1985, EMCO introduces Forever View door, a top-selling, premium-quality, full-view storm door. Eagle Window & Door becomes one of the first companies to use curves in its windows and doors in 1987. The ownership sells the business to Masco.

1990

Andersen looks 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.

1991

Andersen develops 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.

1995

Renewal by Andersen is founded 1995.

1996

Masco sells various divisions, including Eagle Window & Door, to George Hoffmeister and Frank Amedia, who consolidate the divisions as American Architectural Products.

1999

Andersen becomes the first window manufacturer to be named an ENERGY STAR National Window Partner of the Year.

2000

Andersen opens a new manufacturing facility in Menomonie, Wisconsin in 2000. Andersen acquires EMCO Enterprises, Inc. and KML Windows Inc.

2004

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 purchases Eagle Window & Door, Inc. in May 2005. The company, which is based in Dubuque, Iowa, manufactures aluminum-clad wood windows and patio doors.

2006

Andersen purchases 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, Ohio, Texas and Illinois.

2010

Andersen Corporation introduces the A-Series product line, consisting of windows and patio doors in a range of colors and design.

2013

October 2013, Andersen acquires 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.

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.

External links

• Andersen Windows, Inc.
• An extensive collection of historical Andersen Corporation Records is available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.