Thirty years ago, Ankmar introduced its revolutionary CladPanel garage door: a wood composite door whose homogenous panels presented the look, feel and strength of wood, but with higher performance. In 2005, CladPanel doors were SCS Certified for 100% recycled content, due to their unique composition of unused Douglas fir recovered from mills (fused with exterior grade resins and waxes) and resin-impregnated recycled newsprint.
Today, Ankmar is focusing its entire manufacturing operations on this proven technology and re-launching its products with a name that better reflects their features and benefits: Dura-Green™ Garage Doors.
Greg Clarke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ankmar , explained the name change. “With the growing green movement and increased homeowner consciousness regarding quality building products, a durable green (hence the name “DuraGreen”) garage door that outperforms conventional wood and brings tremendous curb appeal deserves more attention.
“The name is new,” Clarke said, “but these doors have proven themselves in real time tests. We've been making them for nearly 30 years.”
Because DuraGreen doors are primarily wood enhanced by the resins and waxes, they offer all the aesthetics, strength, durability and even sound of wood, but with significantly less warping, splitting or cracking. Because their surfaces are finished with resin-impregnated recycled newsprint, this eliminates the need for the doors to be primed, so the painting process is quicker and the results longer lasting. Dura-Green doors can also be easily repaired, whereas damaged steel doors usually require replacement.
One thing that hasn't changed about these doors, Clarke said, is the price. “DuraGreen doors are typically one-third the price of traditional wooden doors. As a result, we're writing a great deal of business with new home developments throughout the west.”
A variety of dimensional designs are available, along with a choice of windows and hardware, so homeowners or architects can - in effect - design their own distinctive door. Insulated doors are also available with an R-6 insulation rating.
According to a 2007 survey by Professional Builder magazine, 70% of the 291 builders, developers and contractors indicated that green building is important to market strategy and 67% disagreed with the notion that green building is a fad, even as more and more builders and developers are branding themselves as green.
Ankmar is the largest garage door supplier in Colorado, with major manufacturing facilities in Kansas, Oregon, Colorado and Texas.
For more information on DuraGreen doors, visit www.ankmar.com.