TRACO Sells Residential Window Business to Company Founded by Former Owner of Republic

TRACO has sold its residential vinyl replacement division to Echo Windows LLC, a company founded in November 2008 by former Republic Windows owner Rich Gillman. Echo Windows will assume all TRACO residential vinyl manufacturing and sales operations, and will continue manufacturing TRACO's Sienna Series and Power Two composite vinyl/aluminum windows in the Red Oak, Iowa, facility, which was purchased as part of the agreement.

"The decision to sell our vinyl division was a difficult one for us, as TRACO was founded by my parents in 1943 to service the residential market. But, we are certain that we have chosen the best fit for our long-term residential customers," says Robert P. Randall, president and chief executive officer of TRACO.

Randall adds, "We felt that the timing was right for a more streamlined corporate strategy, concentrating on the heavy commercial side of our business, which has grown dramatically since the 1980s, and the vinyl division belonged where it would receive the primary attention it deserves."

Echo Windows was incorporated on November 18, 2008, in the state of Illinois, according to state records. Former Republic vice president of sales and marketing for Republic, Amy Zimmerman, is listed as the registered contact for www.echowindows.com, though to date the site appears to be under construction.

Repeated attempts to reach both Gillman and Zimmerman have been unsuccessful.

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