National Door invests $4 million in expansion

National Door Industries Inc. has invested more than $4 million into its manufacturing facility to increase capacity and keep up with demand.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based company upgraded the 150,000-square-foot plant at its headquarters with five Engel injection molding machines ranging in size from 400 to 1,000 tons to handle an influx in orders that created double-digit growth during the past two years, according to a news release from Engel Machinery Inc. of York, Pa.

National Door Industries makes garage door trim and related products from vinyl, acrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate and other materials for more than 30 garage door manufacturers. Founded in 1968 by Bob Barnard as Joba Inc., the business started with decorative window trim and then expanded into other components, such as acrylic panes that resemble beveled glass, fasteners and impact-resistant frames.

With a line of styling accents from classic to contemporary, the company changed its name to Architectural Plastics in 1974 and then to National Door Industries in 1989, which was three years after it became a subsidiary of National Door Supply Co., and the businesses merged product lines.

Now operated by the founder's sons, Mike and Britt Barnard, National Door Industries has 87 employees manufacturing more than 33,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) of different window and insert trim products. It also stocks and distributes 70,000 parts, such as hardware, for the industry.

Earlier this year, the brothers reconfigured warehouse storage space to increase the manufacturing floor. Then, an automated paint line was added along with machines for computer numerically controlled milling and multi-spindle drilling, a system for chilled water distribution, the five injection molding machines and an Engel viper robot.

The new equipment will be used to produce window frames and window inserts for the trademarked Stylecraft and Styline products, according to the news release.

“Looking to the future, we anticipate additional major capital improvements to further advance our reputation as the leader and innovative manufacturer for our industry,” owner Mike Barnard said in the release. “We are also looking to diversify into other growth industries that will benefit from our core competencies and high quality production, and will look to Engel to support us down that path.”

Engel Holding GmbH is based in Schwertberg, Austria.