Jeld-Wen exits garage-door business

Jeld-Wen exits garage-door business, focusing on core products after Onex deal


Published: Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 4:35 PM Updated: Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 5:56 PM

By Richard Read, The Oregonian The Oregonian

The Oregonian’s continuing coverage of the developments at Jeld-Wen and its plan to sell a majority stake to Onex Corp.Jeld-Wen Inc., the Klamath Falls company recently acquired by a Canadian firm, still makes windows and doors -- just no longer garage doors.

A Jeld-Wen spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday the company was leaving the garage-door business, saying managers decided to focus attention on primary products. Garage doors accounted for about 1/10th of 1 percent of Jeld-Wen sales, said Teri Cline, company communications director.

"Although we are phasing out one product offering, Jeld-Wen has averaged 350 new products or enhancements annually over the last three years," Cline said. "We are constantly researching new materials, features and production techniques."

Exiting garage doors will reduce Jeld-Wen's work force in Iowa by five. The company, which once employed more than 24,000 worldwide, has about 19,700 workers, including 2,500 in Oregon, Cline said.

Onex Corp., a Toronto-based private-equity firm, recently invested $871 million for a 58 percent stake in Jeld-Wen, Oregon's largest privately held company.