Your Story Made Here: HomeGuard
Your Story Made Here: HomeGuard
By Melissa Long- 21Alive
By Ian Hoover- 21Alive
June 17, 2014 Updated Jun 17, 2014 at 5:17 PM EDT
Grabil, Ind. (21Alive) -- The great recession took a bite out of the manufacturing industry and nowhere was that more evident than in the construction sector. But one local business survived and thrived by adapting and positioning themselves to succeed. "Your Story Made Here" visits HomeGuard Industries in Grabil
The quaint town of Grabil is known for it's strong Amish community and it's fine craftsmanship of cabinets and other custom built-products. Just off Main street is one of those businesses...HomeGuard Industries. In the early 80's the business started building steel security storm doors and then branched into vinyl replacement windows and entry doors. All custom retro-fit products nothing for new construction.
Brian Barbieri says: During the big downturn in the building industry it kinda helped us out because even though remodelling went down, nothing to the degree of new home construction.
Today, Homeguard employs 90 people in it's 180 thousand square foot building. Many of the workers are Amish skilled in carpentry, painting, staining, assembly and most importantly, coming to work every day! Their custom products go out to 600 home improvement dealers throughout the midwest and northeast.
Barbieri says : On a good day, we'll put out 250-300 doors and windows a day. Your gonna send me an order for a 78 inch door painted on one side, stained on the other side with special hardware and special glass and it's my job to get it turned around and to you in two weeks.
And that is something their competitors in China can't do. Homeguard Industries prides itself on it's custom order windows and doors, its attention to detail that is obvious with a visit to the company. And northeast Indiana is a great place to build a specialty manufacturing business.
Barbieri says, "the talent was here...the engineers were here, there was a lot of feeder companies all around."
Beautiful doors and windows add enormous value to a home just as this home-grown business adds value to our community.
