History

Tubelite, a leading supplier of storefronts and entrances, has been in the business of fabricating and distributing extruded aluminum products for the glass and glazing industry since 1945.

Tubelite is a part of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG), a leading provider of architectural products and services for enclosing buildings, and glazing products for framing art. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Apogee’s portfolio of industry-leading products and services includes high-performance architectural glass, windows, curtainwall, storefront and entrance systems, integrated project management and installation services, as well as value-added glass and acrylic for custom picture framing and displays.

All of Apogee’s businesses have a shared ambition to deliver superior results, guided by a customer-first approach, and backed up by the financial and operational strength of an industry leader. We aim higher, think bigger, and strive to create peak value in everything we do.

For more information, visit www.apog.com.

To see our history in relation to the world around us, click on this visual history timeline and navigate through the decades:

Here are a few highlights of our history:

1945 Tubelite founded by James T. Miller in Reed City, Michigan
1949 Tubelite moves from the garage of Miller to the current location of the extrusion operation in Reed City
1949-1967 Period of continuous expansion, including construction of plants in South America
1961 Extrusion press purchased an addition to the building
1968 James T. Miller sells company to Olin Corporation
1977 Tubelite purchased by Consolidated Aluminum Company (Conalco)
1981 Tubelite purchased by Indal Limited
1986 Tubelite begins strategic relationship with Linetec for paint finishing
1994 Senior Tubelite managers buy company, return it to private ownership
1996 Tubelite makes major expansion in its distribution network
1997 Last of regional service centers are consolidated to Reed City to improve client service
2000 Tubelite launches e-business website for clients
2001-2002 Tubelite invests in new state of the art CNC equipment as well as new press, aging ovens and handling equipment
2003 Assembly, warehousing and distribution operations relocate to Walker, Michigan
2006 Tubelite’s corporate office moves to Walker, Michigan
2006 Max/Block sun shades for reduction of Solar Heat Gain on vision glass areas are launched
2007 Assembly, warehousing and distribution operations move into the same 80,000-square-feet facility occupied by the corporate office
2007 Tubelite joins Apogee Enterprises, Inc., an excellent fit as we are both known for our quality and on-time services
2009 Tubelite changes standard anodizing process from caustic etch to acid etch to decrease waste by-product and improve eco-friendliness
2010 Thermal=Block thermally broken doors and frames are launched
2011 ForceFront Blast Doors and Curtainwall framing system is launched
2012 Tubelite adds fiberglass pressure plate for 400 Series Curtainwall for improved thermal performance
2013 ForceFront Storm hurricane-resistant entry doors receive Florida Product Approval for HVHZ use
2013 Tubelite releases TU24000 High Performance Thermal Storefront with dual pocket poured and debridged thermal breaks
2013 Dallas, Texas offices, fabrication and warehouse operations opens
2015 Tubelite releases TU24650 2” x 6 ½” high performance thermal storefront
2016 Tubelite releases 900RW Window Wall System with single or dual thermal breaks
2017 Tubelite releases 400T Curtainwall with improved thermal performance
2019 Tubelite adds polyurethane pressure plate for 400 Series Curtainwall for improved thermal performance
2019 Steve Green named President of Tubelite
2020 Tubelite celebrates 75 years of serving our customers
2021 Jon Close named President of Tubelite