In This Month’s Edition:
- An OSHA fine for an Oregon-based manufacturer
- A look at how a major door and window manufacturer decided to offer healthcare
- A major expansion by a millwork company in New York
- A look at which door and window brands consumers trust most
[LEADING NEWS]
Oregon Door and Window Company Fined for Safety Violations
In mid-December, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) found a metal door and window framing manufacturer “intentionally kept a faulty system in place” for storing raw materials, leaving employees vulnerable to hazards. Oregon OSHA opened an inspection of Tualatin, Oregon-based Avalon International Aluminum following a complaint, completing the inspection last November. The examination included interviews with employer representatives and employees, conversations with a manufacturer of the storage racks Avalon International used in its facility, walk-throughs of the company’s warehouses, measurements and photo documentation.
According to the OSHA report, Avalon International Aluminum willfully violated a safety rule by refusing to follow the installation and maintenance requirements set by the manufacturer of its industrial storage racks. Findings showed that an estimated 40 baseplates for the storage racks were unanchored to the concrete floor, while an estimated four baseplates were damaged and three were installed upside down. In doing so, the company left hundreds of pounds of raw materials sitting atop unanchored cantilever storage racks, some with damaged or upside-down baseplates, rising as high as 18 feet.
Oregon OSHA cited the company for two violations: one “willful,” involving the storage racks, and the other “serious,” for failing to guard a belt sander at a nip point where hands and fingers could get mangled or cut off. The violations amounted to a total penalty of $28,478. During the inspection, the company corrected the belt sander violation. The company remains under an order by Oregon OSHA to correct the willful violation.
The company filed an appeal of its citation.
Pella Corp. and Premise Health Open a Dedicated Wellness Center for Employees and Families
In mid-January, Pella Corp. announced the opening of a Pella Corporation Wellness Center in Pella, Iowa. Powered by Premise Health, a direct healthcare company and provider of digital care, the wellness center and pharmacy, located on Washington Street, will provide convenient access to care for nearly 2,500 employees, including primary care and pediatrics, behavioral health, pharmacy services, care navigation and care management. Pella Corporation team members and their families can also schedule appointments both in-person and virtually.
“We’re excited to announce the opening of the Pella Corporation Wellness Center right here in our hometown,” said John Bollman, executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “Our legacy has always been shaped by our people. That’s why we’re going the extra mile to focus on our team members, investing in their long-term health and wellness, so they can continue to grow and support our mission of fostering bold, innovative ideas and creating brighter futures for generations to come.”
For additional details, CLICK HERE to read an in-depth Q&A with Bollman elsewhere in this edition.
[EXPANSIONS]
Axos Designs Expands With New Long Island Facility
Axos Designs, a New York-based millwork manufacturer, has acquired a new 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Long Island City, expanding its production capabilities. The new plant will operate alongside the company’s existing 10,000-square-foot facility in Astoria, increasing total millwork production capacity to nearly 40,000 square feet. Officials said the expansion marks the first phase of a broader vertical growth strategy that includes adding metal fabrication services in 2026.
According to company officials, Axos Designs serves many of New York City’s flagship retail, hospitality and residential projects. Once fully operational later this year, the new facility is expected to nearly double the company’s workforce. The space will be outfitted with new machinery, vacuum-sealed spray booths, conference rooms, a showroom and artificial intelligence technology designed to optimize manufacturing, tracking and job analysis.
In parallel, officials say Axos is pursuing a vertical-integration strategy to expand beyond wood fabrication into metal, glass and stone, while also evaluating potential acquisitions across the East Coast in 2026. The goal is to create a unified, multi-material production platform that reduces reliance on third-party vendors and improves quality control, scheduling and coordination, they added.
“We’ve built our reputation by combining precision and creativity, and these new initiatives will give us the tools and capacity to do both on a much larger scale,” said Chris Yerolemou, owner.
The new facility is located just over the 59th Street Bridge, providing centralized access to key New York metropolitan design and construction markets.
[MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS]
Adams Group Acquires Mill-Rite Woodworking
Adams Group, a North Port, Florida-based cabinet manufacturer and installer of interior casework, has acquired Mill-Rite Woodworking Co Inc. As of January 2026, visitors to the Mill-Rite website are greeted with a message explaining the acquisition. Per the announcement, Mill-Rite Woodworking in Pinellas Park, Florida, “will now operate as the Specialty Wood and Stone Division of Adams Group.”
The public statement says that the acquisition “is about alignment—bringing together craftsmanship, consistency, and trust,” adding that, “By integrating Mill-Rite into the Adams Group platform, we’re increasing capacity while maintaining the disciplined processes and service standards our partners rely on. The addition of specialty wood and stone fabrication strengthens our ability to deliver complex projects with greater clarity, predictability, and follow-through.”
Adams Group got its start in Dayton, Ohio, in 1978 but now operates out of North Port, Florida.
[BRAND RECOGNITIONS]
Lifestory Research Reports America’s Most Trusted Fenestration Suppliers
In early January, Lifestory Research, an independent research firm in Newport Beach, California, announced the results of an ongoing national consumer trust study examining brand trust across the residential door and window markets. The organization published its 2026 America’s Most Trusted reports for entry doors, patio doors, windows and home improvement retailer brands.
In both the front entry door study and the patio door study, Pella was named the most trusted brand, with Net Trust Quotient Scores of 110.8 and 112.1, respectively. Pella was also number two in the window brand study, with a score of 112.7, receiving five stars in all three categories.
Andersen took first in the windows brand study (113.0) and second in both the front door and patio door categories, with scores of 110.4 and 111.5. Andersen also received five stars in three categories as well.
Marvin was third in the windows category, with a score of 104.8 and two stars. In both door categories, Stanley took third (scores of 106.1 and 104.2), though it received three stars for its front doors and only two for its patio doors.
Weather Shield came in fourth for both door categories (at 105.5 and 104.1) as well as the window category (104.6), with two stars in each.
Milgard was fifth across all three categories (105.2, 103.9 and 104.3).
Rounding out the rest of the front door category was Sierra Pacific, which came in sixth (104.3), followed by Jeld-Wen (103.8 ), Therma-Tru (102.7) and Masonite (100.5), all with two stars.
The front door category was based on 6,237 opinions from individuals across the United States who reported actively shopping for front entry doors over the past 12 months.
The patio door list, which was based on 6,411 opinions from individuals across the U.S. who reported actively shopping for back patio doors over the past 12 months, included Marvin, in sixth place (103.2), Therma-Tru (102.8), Jeld-Wen (102.4) and Masonite (100.8), all with two stars.
The windows category only ranked to seven, and according to 8,508 opinions, Jeld-Wen came in sixth (104.2), while Ply Gem brought up the rear (101.6), both with two stars.
Lifestory Research also took a look at Home Improvement retailer brands. After surveying 13,765 individuals, Home Depot was crowned the winner with a score of 112.0 and five stars, followed by Lowe’s, with a score of 111.0 and also a five-star rating. Ace Hardware came in third, with a score of 105.9 and three stars.
The Glass Guru Named a Top Franchise for 2026
The Glass Guru was named a Top Franchise for 2026 by Franchise Business Review. Each year, the publication surveys franchise owners directly to measure how well brands deliver on support, leadership, culture and financial opportunity. The company credits its franchise owners for the win, citing “the continued trust and feedback” they provided.
Franchise Business Review’s Top Franchise rankings are determined entirely by independent, third-party research. For the 2026 rankings, more than 26,000 franchise owners across 330+ brands participated in the survey process.
Franchisees evaluated their experience across 33 key benchmarks, including: training and ongoing support, operations and systems, franchisor–franchisee relationships, leadership and culture, and financial opportunity and sustainability.
The Glass Guru placed among the Top 200 franchises nationwide.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
In addition to the latest developments above, following is some of the latest from [DWM]’s e-newsletter. Our twice-weekly newsletter is the industry’s most reliable, up-to-date source for developments. CLICK HERE to subscribe and ensure that you’re up on all of the latest.
Ten Years Later: Jeld-Wen Continues the Fight for Towanda
A long-running antitrust dispute involving Jeld-Wen Inc. resurfaced in 2025 after the company appealed a court order requiring it to divest its Towanda, Pennsylvania, door skins plant. Although the plant was sold to Woodgrain in late 2024, Jeld-Wen argues the divestiture is no longer justified. CLICK HERE to read the full article.
Quanex Reports Net Sales Growth of ~44% Year-Over-Year, $75 Million of Debt Repaid in Fiscal 2025
Quanex Building Products Corp. reported mixed results for the three and twelve months ended Oct. 31, 2025. Fourth-quarter net sales slipped slightly year over year to $489.8 million, while full-year net sales increased to $1.84 billion, driven by the Tyman acquisition completed in August 2024. Gross margin improved in both periods. CLICK HERE to read the full article.
84 Lumber Opens New Door Shop in Austin
84 Lumber recently announced the opening of its newest door shop, near Austin, Texas. Operating since Nov. 5, 2025, the door shop located at 610 Blue Springs Blvd., Georgetown, Texas, marks what company officials call a “significant expansion” of 84 Lumber’s manufacturing and service capabilities in Central Texas. CLICK HERE to read the full article.
MILGARD Makes Multimillion-Dollar Investment
MILGARD Windows and Doors, part of the MITER Brands portfolio, recently announced the completion of a “significant renovation” at its fiberglass door and window production facility in Tacoma, Washington—an improvement that officials said is meant to “drive innovation in 2026.” CLICK HERE to read the full article.
Power Home Remodeling Expands to Oklahoma City
Power Home Remodeling recently announced an expansion into Oklahoma City, establishing the company’s 26th territory in the United States. The new location is Power’s first in the state of Oklahoma, following a recent expansion in Jacksonville, Florida. CLICK HERE to read the full article.
