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Modernfold History

 

1925 - Circle A Company begins to build wood folding doors, wooden office partitions and the first pre- fabricated classroom and church buildings

1930 - Henry Oberdorfer, General Manager at Circle A, buys out its assets, and New Castle Products is founded. The company adds large folding partition for gymnasiums to its product line.

1932 - A St. Louis -based architect specifies several large fabric folding door projects. New Castle Products receives contract and the first production "accordion" door is born.

1939 - Chicago World's Fair introduces the Modernfold accordion door in 14 of the 29 homes featured in its "Town of the Future".

1941 - 1945 - New Castle Products converts production to support the war effort. The company manufactures large tents for the Navy, aircraft hanger doors for the Army Air Corps, and produces engine covers for every bomber in World War II.

1946 - The company is incorporated.

1947 - New Castle Products, Canada, founded

1950 - Despite new competition, New Castle Products keeps lead in the market through the foresight of its nationwide distribution system, and by moving into the commercial construction marketplace.

1960's -  Modernfold sees the expansion of products and the acquisition of several companies: Peabody Seating Co.; Mutschler Cabinets; Force Control, Pyro Electro, and Laminating Surfaces. During this era, the company changes its name from New Castle Products to Modernfold Industries.

1963 - The Acousti-Seal® operable wall is introduced, and the Soundmaster accordion door was launched.

1964 - Coil Wall partitions of Dyersville, Iowa is acquired.

1969 - Mr. Oberdorfer, Modernfold's founder, retires and sells the company to American Standard Corp. Modernfold becomes part of the Building Specialties Group.

1970 - All steel Acousti-Seal® partition announced.

1971 - The Divisiflex wood operable wall is introduced to the ever growing school market.

1981 - Spacesetter® operable partition announced at the International Sales Meeting in Hawaii.

1986 - American Standard sells its Building Specialties Group. Private investors purchase Modernfold Industries.

1987 - The company recognizes that the name Modernfold has become synonymous with movable walls. Changes its logo and renames the company Modernfold, Inc.

1989 - Modernfold introduces the Spacesetter® Portable Panel System

1993 - Modernfold's domination of the convention center market culminates with the design for Chicago's McCormick Place Expansion. At the time, this project represented the largest operable partition ever installed (844' x 46'). It also was the first flat wall operable partition in the world to meet strict temperature rise parameters and a stringent two-hour UL fire rating with an ASTM E119 requirement.

1994 - A new, menu driven Acousti-Seal® is introduced, offering the largest selection of options and components for operable partitions in the industry

1995 - Modernfold becomes the first full-line operable wall manufacturer on the World Wide Web, offering online information about the company and its products.

1996 - Modernfold Service Centers debut as the industry's first network of service centers for 24-hour emergency repairs and general/preventative maintenance of all brands of operable wall systems throughout North America.

1997 - Strengthening its position in the casino market, Modernfold is the first manufacturer to design, produce and install double-pass doors with a one-hour UL fire rating in two of Las Vegas' premier resorts -- the MGM Grand and the Bellagio Resort.

1999 - The company unveils a unique interactive trade show exhibit that combines continually running examples of operable wall systems with a "hands-on" interactive kiosk that lets architects and specifiers determine which products meet their individual needs.

2000 - Modernfold unveils The Automated on-line CAD drawing program. Distributors can input their data and figures for a wall while online have presentation ready drawings within minutes.

2001- Modernfold unveils The Modernfold Project Manager.

2002 - Effective February 28, 2002 DORMA Holding GmbH + Co. acquires Modernfold Inc. DORMA is privately held International group of companies based in Ennepetal Germany.

 

2003 - Modernfold adopts a new image that reflects the values of parent company DORMA.

 

2004 - Modernfold launches the frameless Moveable Glass Wall to compliment line of Acousti-Seal framed glass partitions.

 

2005 - Modernfold launches new website.

 

2008 - Modernfold rolls out next generation of operable partions, MOVEO Glass, at AIA Trade Show in Boston, MA.

 

2009 - Modernfold installs first MOVEO moveable wall in North America at the Los Angeles headquarters of Product Partners LLC aka BEACHBODY.