Doors swing open to Advq nced Tec h ilol.igy Celter

rl-tHERMA-TRU Doors has opened I a 38.000-sq. ft. advanced technology center in Edgerton, Oh., to test and create leading edge products for residential and commercial entries.

The center, located less than l0 miles from Therma-Tru's flagship manufacturing facility in Butler, In., is a research and development lab that employs engineers, technicians, designers, project managers and operations personnel working toward making entry doors safer and more innovative.

The facility, which opened last November, has three innovation components: knowledge capture, including customer insight, trend analysis, trade group engagement, technology moni- toring, and competitive benchmarking; rapid development, including virtual design review. on-site prototyping. and comprehensive testing capability, and pilot operations ("beta-site"), including manufacturing, IT systems and safety processes.

Engineers run various tests on the doors to gauge safety and durability. The facility's analytical lab runs fire, UV, heat and humidity tests, while the physical properties lab runs slam tests and missile impact tests.

Technicians conduct infrared detection analysis for internal components, air leakages and core voids, in which differences less than 0.2'F can be detected.

Prototypes and new designs are made at the pilot production facility. Engineers and product managers develop new manufacturing techniques and refine production processes prior to transferring technology to Therma-Tru's eight U.S. and international facilities.

Durability and safety aren't the only issues with which Therma-Tru is concemed. "Therma-Tru sells a complete warranted full system," said Carl Hedlund, c.e.o. This system includes sills, hinges and glass.

The aesthetics of the doors is just as important as the technology, says Larry Jones, product manager for residential door systems.

This can be seen in the 2004 rustic and Mahogany collection.

Therma-Tru, which 20 years ago pioneered the fiberglass entry door market, has the technology to mimic any wood species to fit anyone's taste, and houses one of the world's largest SMC lines, which produces different types of SMC for each product line.

In Butler, the almost 600,000-sq. ft. manufacturing plant runs 18 presses and over 120 moulds are used in the process at $200,000 to $250,000 Per moulding.