Media

BAYPORT, Minn. (Feb. 7, 2007) — From its founding as a lumberyard in a Wisconsin river town, to its rise as the market leader in the window and door industry, Andersen Corporation is a company where “solution” has new meaning.  The Andersen story is one of change and innovation inspired by customer needs, from the company founder’s first solution to improve window assembly, to its most recent breakthroughs in high-performance technology.

Today, the Andersen^® brand is the most recognized and most used brand in the fenestration market. Builders, remodelers, architects, retailers and homeowners know it as the brand against which all others are measured.  Its commitment to product excellence and customer satisfaction, combined with commitment to environmental stewardship, employee welfare and corporate citizenship, has built Andersen Corporation into the foremost manufacturer of windows and doors.

Facts

The privately-owned business was founded in 1903 by Danish immigrant Hans Andersen and his family in Hudson, Wisconsin, where logs arrived via the St. Croix River. Andersen Corporation, headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, is now an international enterprise employing more than 14,000 people in locations across North America.  With 16 manufacturing facilities, Andersen annually manufactures more than 12 million windows and doors, with sales worldwide.

Products

From a custom entranceway handcrafted in cherry or alder to a standard vinyl window, the Andersen enterprise continues to expand, providing what customers need for every kind of home. 

Andersen Windows offers three distinct product portfolios – the Andersen^® 400 Series, Andersen 200 Series and Andersen architectural windows and doors. The 400 Series is the company’s classic product line, offering a broad array of the highest-performing products and accessories.  The 200 Series concentrates on the most popular sizes, styles and options in a more affordable offering.

Andersen architectural windows and doors are carefully handcrafted in dramatic sizes and shapes, and can beautifully complement 400 Series and 200 Series products.  All lines are built, backed and serviced with the quality and care customers expect from Andersen. 

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Andersen Corporation: A Profile

In 1994, Andersen introduced Fibrex^® material, the major component of its replacement windows.  Fibrex material is a patented, revolutionary structural composite that blends the very best attributes of thermoplastics and bio-fibers. A bio-fiber is a natural fiber coming from a plant, such as wood. It is noted for its high performance, durability and unlimited custom applications. Fibrex material is featured in the Renewal by Andersen^® replacement products as well as components of Andersen^® 400 Series and 200 Series products. Fibrex material has the strength and durability of wood, plus the maintenance ease of vinyl.  

Renewal by Andersen targets “do it for me” homeowners seeking simple, reliable solutions for replacing their old, problem windows with low-maintenance, energy-efficient, custom-made windows made from Fibrex material. Renewal by Andersen features a start-to-finish replacement process, from measurement and manufacturing of custom windows, to installation and cleanup. The company warranties both its windows and its work and offers complimentary in-home consultation.  Launched in 1995, there are nearly 100 Renewal by Andersen retail locations across the U.S.

Eagle Window & Door, an Andersen company based in Dubuque, Iowa, manufactures wood and aluminum-clad wood windows, patio doors and entry doors for high-end residential and commercial construction projects, furthering Andersen’s capability to serve customers in this segment of the market.  With 50 standard colors, several anodized finishes and nine different wood species available, Eagle builds custom windows that are made to order.

Silver Line, an Andersen company based in New Jersey, is the largest manufacturer of vinyl windows and patio doors in North America.  The company markets under the brands of Silver Line^® and American Craftsman^® and has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and Illinois.  Adding this product line to the company’s portfolio has enabled Andersen to provide windows and doors for virtually any new construction or home improvement project at any price point.  

EMCO, an Andersen company with facilities in Des Moines, Iowa and Luray, Virginia, is one of the industry-leading manufacturers and distributors of storm doors and related accessories. The addition of the EMCO product line marked Andersen Corporation’s entrance into the storm door product category.  The products are now sold under the Andersen^® and EMCO^® brands, and available at a number of U.S. retailers, including The Home Depot.  EMCO is the first and only manufacturer to offer thermal storm doors with insulated, energy-efficient, double-pane glass.  

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Andersen Corporation: A Profile

Market Segments and Customers

The Andersen enterprise has a broad portfolio of products that meet the needs of customers in the following market segments:

• New Construction  ¾ Builders and Contractors
• Home Improvement ¾ Professional Remodelers and Do-It-Yourselfers

• Replacement Services ¾ Homeowner

• Commercial ¾ Architects and Building Owners

• International ¾ Large Building Project Architects and Building Owners

Research and Technology

In conjunction with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aspen Research Corporation, the company’s research and technology activities have three primary areas of focus: 1) Product life cycle management; 2) Composite materials development, and 3) Elimination and reclamation of waste.

Manufacturing

The Andersen manufacturing facility in Bayport, Minn., is a recognized world-class leader.  Andersen has been on the leading edge of mass production and customization technologies since it first began mass producing back in 1904, nine years before Henry Ford put the automobile on an assembly line.  A new facility opened in Menomonie, Wis., in 2000 to assemble the 200 Series.  Andersen’s assemble-to-order facility that makes windows with Fibrex^® material opened in Cottage Grove, Minn., in 1999 and in 2004 a Fibrex extrusion plant was opened in North Branch, Minn., to supply components for many of Andersen’s product lines.  EMCO has manufacturing facilities in Des Moines, Iowa, and Luray, Virginia.  Andersen architectural windows and doors are produced at our KML facilities in Strathroy and London, Ontario.  Dashwood Industries has the company’s manufacturing plant for roof window products in Centralia, Ontario.  Eagle Window & Door manufactures its products in Dubuque, Iowa. Silver Line has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and Illinois.   

Distribution

Andersen operates with a combination of company-owned and independent distributors. Andersen Logistics, Inc., is an integrated part of Andersen’s customer-focused operations with distribution centers across the United States.  More than 1,400 dealers have substantial commitments of sales and services for Andersen products.

Commitment to the Environment

Andersen is the only manufacturer in the industry to receive certification (1995, 1997 and 2000) from Green Seal, the independent U.S. environmental labeling organization. It was one of the first window manufacturers in the Energy Star^® Program, a public/private initiative spearheaded by the

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Andersen Corporation: A Profile

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Honors include the 1999 Energy Star^® National Window Manufacturer Partner of the Year award from DOE and the prestigious Stars of Energy Efficiency award from the Alliance to Save Energy in 1997. Since 1988, Andersen has made dramatic reductions in emissions. It trimmed Toxic Release Inventory emissions by more than 97 percent and reduced releases of Volatile Organic Compounds by more than 60 percent.  In addition, the company cut landfill deposits by 97 percent.

Andersen won the Minnesota Governor’s Award for Excellence in Waste and Pollution Prevention in 1997. In 2000, Andersen was accepted into the EPA's National Environmental Achievement Track program for companies that exhibit superior environmental accomplishments and commitments to future environmental improvement. After completing the three-year program in 2003, Andersen renewed its commitment for another three years through 2006.

In 2006 Andersen Corporation was awarded an XL Permit (which stand for eXcellence in Leadership) by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.  This permit is granted to manufacturers that demonstrate superior environmental performance and allows for greater regulatory flexibility.  Andersen is the first company in Minnesota to be granted this permit and the 13^th in the United States.  Ultimately the process for being granted the permit ensures improved environmental performance, greater public understanding of the manufacturing facility; the removal of pollution prevention barriers; and the ability to simplify the reporting to regulators.

Corporate Citizenship

Dedicated to giving back to the communities where Andersen people live, work and do business, the company has a long history of philanthropy. Today’s corporate citizenship programs focus on supporting shelter, architecture and design, the building industry and community. In 2003, Andersen announced “100 Years/100 Homes,” demonstrating it commitment to fund and build 100 Habitat for Humanity homes in honor of its 100 years in business. To date, 83 Habitat homes have been built in partnership with Andersen volunteers.  The company will complete the 100 homes in 2007.  Andersen Corporation and the Andersen Corporate Foundation make donations to hundreds of non-profit organizations that provide educational, human services, cultural and civic activities in the areas in which we do business.