Andersen Corporation is an international window and door manufacturing enterprise employing approximately 12,000 people at more than 30 manufacturing, logistic centers and company owned retail locations. Andersen is a private company with its headquarters in Bayport, Minnesota.
Andersen ranked #179 on Forbes List of Private Companies with $2.5 billion in annual sales for fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. Andersen Corporation and its affiliates comprise the largest window and door manufacturer in North America. Andersen was named as the top window products brand for wood and wood clad windows in terms of brand familiarity, most used and quality rating by the Builder magazine in 2015.
Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market window and door products under the Andersen, Renewal by Andersen, American Craftsman, Silver Line, EMCO, Weiland, MQ and Heritage brands. Andersen has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada and Italy. Andersen's production facility in Bayport, Minnesota is 2.8-million-square-feet, and the facility covers 65 acres.
Business Divisions
Andersen Windows Announces Major Expansion In Minnesota - America's largest window and door maker is getting even bigger. Andersen Windows today announced a major expansion in Minnesota, Angela Davis reports (2:30). WCCO 4 News at 5 - April 6, 2015.
The company is organized into three business units, the Renewal Division, The Home Depot Division, and the Residential and Commercial Pro Division.
The Renewal by Andersen Division is the start-to-finish window replacement division of Andersen Corporation. The company offers a replacement process that includes an in-home consultation, custom manufacturing, and installation through one of the largest nationwide networks of window replacement specialists. Renewal by Andersen was a winner of the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota’s (BBB) Torch Awards for Ethics in 2017 accepting the award in a ceremony held October 25th, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium. BBB Torch Awards for Ethics recognize leading area businesses that uphold the highest standards and display an outstanding level of ethics and integrity in every aspect of their day to day operations.
The Home Depot Division supports the product marketing, innovation and selling of American Craftsman and Andersen branded windows and patio doors sold through the retailer’s over 2,000 locations in North America. At The Home Depot, Andersen also has a broad selection of Andersen and Emco brand storm doors.
The Residential and Commercial Pro Division, the company’s flagship business unit, is focused on marketing and selling the complete portfolio of Andersen-branded windows, patio doors, “big doors†and specialty products through its professional channels to architects, builders, contractors and homeowners. Andersen’s Architectural Collection includes E-Series, A-Series, and Big Doors which include the Weiland, MQ and Heritage brand products. The Andersen Windows and Doors product portfolio includes 400 Series, 200 Series and 100 Series. Expanding the range of choice, Silver Line windows and patio doors offers the V3 Series and V1 Series.
History
Andersen Corporation was founded in 1903 as the Andersen Lumber Company by Danish immigrant Hans Jacob Andersen and his family at Hudson, Wisconsin. In 1929 the name of the firm was changed to Andersen Frame Company and in 1937 to Andersen Corporation.
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. In 1908, Hans Andersen sells the lumberyards to devote all the company's efforts to the window frame business. Needing room for expansion, Andersen builds a new factory in 1913 in South Stillwater (now Bayport), Minnesota. in 1914, Fred C. Andersen becomes president. In 1916, Andersen gets back into the lumber business. In 1917, Andersen's "White Pine Frames" logo becomes its first registered trademark.
In 1923, Andersen became the first in the window 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.
The Andersen Master Casement Window is introduced in 1932 as a completely assembled window unitâ€"sash, frame and hardware.
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 "Excellence in Production" ("E") awards from the United States Army, United States Navy, an award that had been earned by only 5% of the more than 85,000 companies involved in producing materials for the U.S. military's war effort. In 1941, Fred C. Andersen marries Katherine Dyer Blount and she becomes known as Kitty Andersen. In 1943, Kitty Andersen joins the Andersen Corporation Board of Directors and serves for 50 years.
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.In 1957, an Andersen Ad in the trade press is titled "A Fervent Plea for the Letter E" because journalist can't seem to get the "E" in Andersen. 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. In 1978, Andersen begins its relationship with The Home Depot stores. In 1982 Andersen began advertising on national television with the slogan "Come Home to Quality, Come Home to Andersen.†In 1983, Sarah Andersen, daughter of Hugh Andersen, becomes a member of the Andersen Corporation Board of Directors. She is elected chair of the Board in 1993.
Renewal by Andersen was founded in 1995 and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015 with news of a 125,000 square-foot manufacturing plant expansion. Andersen opened a new manufacturing facility in Menomonie, Wisconsin in 2000.
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. In 2009, Andersen introduced the A-Series and the 100 Series window and patio door product lines.
Growth by Acquisition
In 2001, Andersen acquired EMCO Enterprises, Inc. based in Des Moines, Iowa and KML Windows Inc., based in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. In May 2005, Andersen Corporation acquired Eagle Window & Door, an Iowa-based manufacturer of aluminum clad wood windows and patio doors. In 2006, Andersen purchased Silver Line Building Products, LLC, a manufacturer of vinyl windows and patio doors. In October 2013, Andersen acquired southern California-based Weiland Sliding Doors and Windows, Inc. In October, 2017, Andersen acquired Quebec-based Fenêtres MQ Inc., a Quebec-based manufacturer of high-end doors and windows. MQ specializes in serving the luxury residential and commercial segments and is known for its work on complex, historic renovations of grand scale. In March 2018, Andersen acquired Heritage Windows and Doors, a manufacturer of custom aluminum doors and windows in Gilbert, Ariz. serving the luxury residential and commercial market in the Southwest region.
Sustainability
Andersen Corporation earns national honors in 1997 as the first window and patio door manufacturer in the U.S. to earn the seal of approval from Green Seal, the national environmental labeling organization by exceeding standards for product efficiency and air leak rates. Also in 1997, Andersen earns the Stars of Energy Efficiency Award presented by the Alliance to Save Energy. Andersen has been an ENERGY STAR partner since the windows program began in 1998. In 1999, Andersen became the first window manufacturer to be named an Energy Star National Windows Partner of the Year. Andersen 100 Series windows and doors earned the Green Builder Media 2016 Readers Choice Award and Fibrex composite material was cited for durability, sustainability and energy-efficiency. Andersen Corporation was named a 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year â€" Sustained Excellence Award winner. Andersen's accomplishments were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. on April 26, 2017.
Fibrex Material
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. In 1992, Andersen patented (#5,486,553) its Fibrex® composite material technology. , Andersen's Fibrex composite material is composed of 40% reclaimed wood fiber by weight, most of which is created during the manufacture of Andersen wood windows, and 60% thermoplastic polymer. , Andersen uses the Fibrex technology in all products of its Renewal by Andersen Division and the 100 Series windows and doors. In 1997, Andersen acquires long-time supplier Aspen Research Corporation, a key partner in the development of the Fibrex material. Andersen’s Garland, Texas, plant manufactured its one millionth 100 Series window in December 2013 after just five years in production. Andersen announced an $18 million expansion of its Bayport, Minn. operations in April 2015 to accommodate growth of the 100 Series., Also in 2015, Andersen added more than 300 jobs as part of a $45 million expansion project at its Renewal manufacturing facility in Cottage Grove, Minn. and its Fibrex extrusion plant in North Branch, Minn. In January 2018, Andersen acquired Frontier Tooling and Design Corp, an extrusion tooling supplier in Huntington, west Virginia providing an element of vertical integration in the design and fabrication of tooling for Andersen's many extrusion technologies.Frontier supports Andersen's strategic initiative of driving growth in their Fibrex composite material with innovation, capacity expansion and better lead times.
Philanthropy
The Bayport Foundation, the precursor to the Andersen Corporate Foundation, was established in 1941.The first check cut was a $100 gift to Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. As of April 2012, 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 November 2017, the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored Katherine B. (Kitty) Andersen with the 2017 Outstanding Legacy Award.
References
External links
- Andersen Corporation
- Andersen Windows, Inc.
- Renewal by Andersen LLC
- Andersen Replacement Windows at The Home Depot
- Andersen Storm Doors
- An extensive collection of historical Andersen Corporation Records is available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.
