Workplace incidents, shop closures, the impacts of the war in Ukraine and no shortage of lawsuits made for an exciting, yet at times solemn, year of news for [DWM] in 2022. Take a look at the top stories from the past year as 2023 approaches.

1. Worker Dies in Accident at Cardinal Glass Church Hill (December 15, 2022)
An employee of a subcontractor for Cardinal Glass in Church Hill, Tenn., died on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. A spokesperson for Cardinal Glass told local media organizations that the accident occurred in an area that is not currently used for production. Jamie Miller, Emergency Management Agency director for Hawkins County, says the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office heads the investigation alongside the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA). He says both agencies are set to issue reports on the incident, though the timeline for the release of that information is not set in stone.

2. Koch Responds: Here’s why it’s not Shutting Down its Russian Float Lines (March 31, 2022)
“While Guardian’s business in Russia is a very small part of Koch, we will not walk away from our employees there or hand over these manufacturing facilities to the Russian government so it can operate and benefit from them … Doing so would only put our employees there at greater risk and do more harm than good,” said Koch Industries president and COO Dave Robertson. At the end of July 2022, Koch sold its business in Russia to a private enterprise in the construction industry. Robertson said the outcome was “facilitated and supported by plant employees,” and that it “complied with all applicable sanctions, laws and regulations.”

3. Larson Manufacturing in Lake Mills, Iowa, to Close (September 22, 2022)
Fortune Brands, the parent company of Larson Manufacturing, announces the closure of the Larson manufacturing plant located in Lake Mills, Iowa, with approximately 197 employees reportedly set to lose their jobs. Fortune Brands says the development is not a reflection of the skills of the workforce at the location, but an “opportunity to strengthen the organization and solidify the long-term value of the business.”

4. Grafco Closes Doors After 58 Years (February 1, 2022)
Grafco, a profile wrapping supplier based in Woodbridge, Ontario, is closing its doors after 58 years as a family-run business. Mike Grafe, owner, told [DWM] back in December 2021 that the company was in the process of selling. However, those plans fell through.

5. Weather Shield to Discontinue Vinyl Windows and Doors from Its Offering (February 28, 2022)
Medford, Wis.’s-Weather Shield Windows & Doors recently announced its intent to exit production and sales of vinyl windows and doors. The change is part of a corporate initiative to focus the company’s attention on the luxury window and door markets. With the announcement, Weather Shield eliminated its Visions brand of vinyl windows and doors toward the end of the summer of 2022. The last day orders were placed for Visions Windows & Doors was May 16, 2022.

6. Civil Suit Accuses Jeld-Wen of Selling ‘Defective’ Windows (September 6, 2022)
A class action claim has been brought in Alaska against Jeld-Wen Inc. and two additional parties alleging that the company designed, manufactured, marketed and sold “defective windows” under the Pozzi window line approximately 20 years ago. It’s alleged that a particular “defect” required the replacement of the glass and windows, as the resins used did not contain enough UV absorber, according to court documents filed by the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs argue that the window manufacturer “knew or should have known” of the nature of the windows and removed them from the market.

7. Court Denies Pella Corporation’s Motion for Summary Judgment (May 17, 2022)
A motion for summary judgment from Pella Corporation, named by plaintiff Sophia Suleiman in a 2018 civil suit alleging a lack of safety features on its windows, was denied by the Northern District of Indiana. The plaintiff alleges that windows installed at her Indiana residence did not have safety locks to prevent children from opening them. On May 10, 2022, the court denied Pella Corporation’s motion for summary judgment.

8. Guardian Glass Announces Price Increases and Surcharges (June 14, 2022)
Guardian Glass cited extreme volatility in raw material costs, supply chain disruptions and industry conditions in a letter to its U.S. and Canadian customers announcing price increases on all shipments starting mid-June 2022. It also announced its energy, transportation and silver surcharges will now undergo monthly adjustments. “The changes to glass prices will enable future investments in our business and enable us to maintain our position as a premier supplier to the glass industry,” read the letter.

9. GlassBuild America: Products (October 24, 2022)
GlassBuild America wrapped up in October 2022. Here’s a video from the show floor, including several “show stoppers.”

10. Masonite Announces Layoffs at Walkerton, Indiana Facility (September 30, 2022)
Masonite Corporation notified the Indiana Department of Workforce Development on Wednesday, Sept. 28 that it would eliminate “at least” 33% of the 220 jobs at its facility in Walkerton, Indiana over a 30-day period. Masonite senior corporate attorney Donald Tyler wrote in the notification that 74 to 84 jobs would be affected. Those jobs were eliminated over a 30-day period starting Wednesday.