A full ten years in Europe

For more than 50 years now, Wayne-Dalton has been producing sectional doors for residential garages from steel, wood and PVC. For the past ten years the American company, which is today represented in more than 70 countries throughout the world, has been operating a facility of its own in France. This is the site of its European production headquarters, where a workforce of 80 is currently employed. The French location is responsible for the manufacture, storage and distribution of Wayne-Dalton Europe’s entire product programme and accounts for approximately 50 per cent of European production.
Several modern production lines were brought into operation for this purpose. A branch in Manchester, England, and strategic sales partners in other countries ensure that the company has a presence throughout Europe.
Wayne Dalton’s pre-packaged, pre-assembled sectional garage doors are quick and easy to install.
Wayne-Dalton is planning the future expansion of its presence in the German marketplace. The company is currently establishing a comprehensive network of distributors through a German office and coordinating the direct supply of major accounts from France.
The Wayne-Dalton Corporation, which is headquartered in Ohio, USA, manufactures around one million garage doors per year at a total of ten production facilities and achieves annual sales in excess of US $ 400 mio (approx. € 330 mio) with a workforce of about
2500. The year 2003 saw more than 32000 garage doors sold throughout Europe, amounting to a turnover of around € 14 mio in total.
The company’s offer for DIYers comprises pre-assembled garage doors in all standard dimensions that require just a few steps to install. Transporting the pre-packaged doors is free of complications, since they feature built-in carry straps and base supports. What is more, tough plastic foil packaging is provided to protect them from damage. According to the manufacturers, the installation process itself is simple: It takes only about an hour to install a pre-assembled sectional garage door, which comes ready fixed into its metal frame. The patented “Torquemaster” enclosed spring system is designed to ensure that opening the door requires the minimum amount of energy. An automatic opening system is also available. Here the patented “iDrive” operating unit is pre-mounted on the spring system and ready for operation.
A system of complementary modules is available for presentations at the point of sale.
For presentation at the point of sale, the company offers its distributors a system of complementary display modules designed to convey the merits of the sectional doors and so dynamize sales. Wayne-Dalton’s objective is to see that the customer has a good understanding of the product, can touch it and see how it works. Here head office is firmly convinced that “To test it, is to adopt it.” The presentation stand can show as many as three models of doors. The composition can be planned so that two door sections are operable and one is fixed, or vice versa. Also available to customers is an up-to-date range of literature. What is more, the individual DIY outlets are visited by the company’s team at regular intervals.