April 8, 2024 Family Openings

Volume 27 | Issue 1

Fimbel Architectural Door Specialties is the oldest manufacturer of sectional garage doors owned and operated by the founding family.

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There’s an old saying that when one door closes, another opens. For Fimbel Architectural Door Specialties (Fimbel ADS), that saying defines a fourth generation family business focused on opening and closing doors.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, Fimbel ADS is the world’s oldest manufacturer of sectional garage doors owned and operated continuously by the founding family. The company’s origins date back to 1924, when master carpenter Edward Fimbel Sr. signed the first franchise with the Overhead Door Corporation to manufacture, distribute, and install wood sectional garage doors from its original Hillside, NJ location.

Edward Fimbel Sr. passed away at the age of 94, passing his legacy to Edward Fimbel Jr. who became president of Fimbel Door Corporation. In 1991 he acquired and setup an automated roll forming line to manufacture foamed-inplace residential and commercial insulated steel doors at their Whitehouse, NJ factory.

Fast forward to 2004, when Ed Fimbel III recognized that the market was shifting to doors with a carriage style look. So the company transitioned from producing stamped steel doors as Fimbel Door Corporation to become Fimbel ADS, employing CNC manufacturing utilizing composite materials to provide the look of real wood sectional carriage doors without the maintenance.

Today, Fimbel ADS, under the fourth-generation leadership of President Erin Fimbel, continues to set the standard for design, manufacturing, and quality as a recognized industry leader. Operating under the guiding principle, “More in a garage door,” the Whitehouse, NJ headquartered company’s advanced materials, patented manufacturing techniques, and advanced quality systems, combined with high attention to detail and a customer service experience that is unsurpassed.

“We make garage doors that look like wood, but without the maintenance,” Fimbel says. Vinyl coated steel and solid vinyl and composite doors treated with composite overlays create a classic wood door appearance, particularly in comparison to embossed fake wood grains in other products, without the drawbacks of real wood that is susceptible to rotting over time.

Fimbel ADS provides residential and commercial garage door solutions for everything from new construction to period-authentic historic preservations. Every door is produced to strict manufacturing specifications, driven by a culture of continuous improvement combined with sustainable and environmentally responsible best practices.

Among the various styles of low maintenance residential and commercial garage doors currently available are traditional, carriage style, modern, and custom designs. “Our CNC manufacturing capabilities allow us to provide complete customization without the added expense,” Fimbel says.

Who You Gonna Call? Fimbel ADS

Case in point is the replacement of deteriorating wood carriage doors for the New York City Fire Department. “Our designers worked closely with the city’s historical society to ensure we accurately duplicated the look of the doors, particularly the wrought iron transoms as well as the windows. If you’ve seen any of the Ghostbuster movies, the Tribeca firehouse shown in the film, which dates back to 1903, features one of our doors.”

Fimbel ADS maintains a 60,000 square foot facility in McAdoo, Penn for most of its sectional garage door manufacturing. A 30,000 square foot facility in Whitehouse is devoted to office space and production of more specialized custom doors. Fimbel emphasizes that the company’s commitment to quality and safety is not just about its manufacturing processes, but also to its 48 employees and local community.

“Our facilities run on solar power and we pass along our unused power back to the grid,” she says. “Fimbel’s recycling program utilizes engineering practices to consume production waste, aiming to achieve zero landfill”. In addition, Fimbel partners with One Tree Planted (501c3) to do our part to restore generous forests. On top of that, our products are designed to minimize environmental impact, both during their construction and throughout their lifetime.”

Patented Performance

Numerous U.S patents have been awarded to Fimbel ADS for its unique processes and product performance. All product lines are engineered for outstanding reliability and longevity. Of particular note are the inlaid door panel overlays that prevent water from seeping behind an overlay and loosening the panels over time. By eliminating gaps between the face and overlay, this feature also produces an aesthetically superior appearance.

Additionally, Fimbel has multiple patients to utilize computer-controlled machinery to carve a design into the solid face of the door and window section. This allows for the look of multipiece construction without the drawbacks and allows for flexibility of design.

Fimbel ADS sells through distributors primarily throughout the northeast who work with homeowners, developers, and architects to deliver garage doors with exceptional curb appeal. While the company is looking to expand, Fimbel emphasizes that any potential future partners must live up to the company’s high quality standards. “We don’t sell to just anybody,” she says. “We’re continually looking to evolve the company and our products, but we’re never going to do that at the expense of our commitment to our customers and team.

Fimbel acknowledges that a garage door is not the first thing that comes to mind to every homeowner or builder when thinking about design aesthetics. “Yet in many situations garage door(s) make up 30% or more of a home’s exterior. The right garage door can have a huge impact on a home’s curb appeal and currently has a 103% ROI”.

Unique Manufacturing

She adds, “Our manufacturing methods enable us to construct door sections in one-inch increments. Combined with single sheet construction and handmade frames, we can make a door just about any way a customer wants. Even if it is the most odd-sized opening, we can make a beautifully built-to-size door. This makes a huge difference in the look, fit and functionality of the door. Premium features and custom options are available for a door’s design, finish, application and more. Most of which come at minimal or no additional charge. Additionally, all products can be factory stained and painted, and Fimbel offers custom colors to complement any home or project.

Interlocking tongue and groove vinyl-clad section joints allow for a door that meets not only durability, but attractiveness. Glass sections are a solid one-piece grille made from durable Versatex®, or Tricoya®. There are no seams in the window muntins for a clean look that does not crack, warp, or gap. There’s an energy insulated glass package and UV resistant materials to prevent yellowing. Hardware attachment points are pre-drilled to ensure a secure and long-lasting installation. All Fimbel ADS doors are encased with high quality materials to prevent water damage and allow for a limited lifetime warranty.

“We are excited with possibilities that exist for Fimbel ADS as we move forward into our second century,” Fimbel says. “New materials, emerging technologies, and a renewed commitment to excellence offers unlimited opportunities for us to create the future generations of high performance, industry-leading doors.”

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