roy K. Allen bought thermorite ®Manufacturing (Akron, ohio) in 1985, taking the reins of a respected company that began in 1942. In the 1940s, thermo-rite originated the tempered-glass fireplace enclosure. In fact, thermo-rite was awarded the first u.s. patent for tempered- glass fireplace enclosures—a patent that it held exclusively from 1946 through 1963.

Since 1985, Allen has preserved and grown the company’s considerable legacy. Patio & Hearth Products Report sat down with him to discuss the company’s past and bright future.

What are the key elements in the company’s success and longevity?

Allen: the founder, John lydle, was creative and a very high-quality–minded person. He not only invented the product, but it was a product that was in the finest homes in the united states. For many years, the glass doors were made out of solid brass, mostly using clear glass. Although, later on, bronze glass and gray glass came into play, it started out as all solid brass.

How have tastes/preferences evolved?

Allen: In 1990, we were still making 90% solid brass, but the buying public changed, and solid brass became less popular. today, we use about 85% aluminum— mostly painted with earthtone colors (we have 15 heritage colors). We have about 12% 0.25-inch steel, and the balance is a combination of solid brass and aluminum.

Which products are selling well?

Allen: We make about 60% custom doors, one of a kind, and we make them from a template that is sent in by our customers. We sell these doors all over the united states, Canada, england, spain, and Norway. What makes us unique is that we have a high-end custom line of door products, and we have about 24 different sKus of products featuring different types and models.

How has the company managed to stay successful for all these years?

Allen: one thing that has allowed the longevity of thermo-rite has been our production of creative new designs and new products. For example, about 20 years ago, all glass doors had frames around the glass. We created the Clearview door: We took all the frames off the glass so that the homeowner would be able to see the fireplace without seeing any of this metal around the glass. that was probably one of the major changes in the glassdoor industry in the past 40 years.

Last year, we added a group of doors to our Artisan series—and here again, we’ve done something completely different. We’ve created a door that has rounded corners on the top. We sold doors with arches on them for years, and that’s a complete arch. this is a door that softens the area in a room with the rounded corners.

When did dealers get to see that?

Allen: We introduced it at a show last year, and it was an instant hit. We’ve also come out with a new door that has an old-world gothic look. Both of these doors are of 0.25-inch steel, and all are painted one of 15 heritage colors, so customers can select a color. In fact, they can go to our website (www.thermo-rite.com), pick the color, and transpose it onto the doorframe of their choosing. that’s something that we just updated on our website. We upgraded it in a big way.

What benefits would dealers who are considering carrying your products enjoy?

Allen: our creativity and new products are what dealers like to show their customers, and a new dealer is going to look to us for that. We’re the only glass-door company in the industry that actually has three different doors that we carry in inventory at all times— and we carry those in six or eight sizes, depending on the door. they can call us, and in less than two days, we can ship that product to them. there’s a major interest level for our dealers (and for prospective new dealers).

We’ve been around, and I guess you could call us the grandfather of the industry. We’ve been around so long, and we have so many skilled people internally. For example, we have a great customer-care department, with people who can literally tell someone (by phone) how to install a glass fireplace door. that’s invaluable to dealers and installers around the country, and we are known for that. our reputation is one of being above average, in that regard. All of this is a credit to our invaluable employees.