Richards-Wilcox was incorporated in 1912, making us the oldest door company in Canada. We’re proud of our long history of quality products and we’ve built upon that history to bring you the exceptional line of residential Premium Garage Doors we offer today.
At Richards-Wilcox, we are committed to making the next chapter of our history just as exciting as the first. We are passionate innovators of garage door design and desire to be the highest quality door systems manufacturer in the world.
In the 1800’s, the first North American branch of The Richards Manufacturing Company and The Wilcox Manufacturing Company are headquartered in Aurora, Illinois. Richards-Wilcox is incorporated in 1912 and expands its North American operations by establishing a manufacturing presence in London, Ontario, Canada, and immediately opens branches in Montreal, Quebec, and later in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
In the subsequent years, factory owned dealerships are established in all the major cities across Canada.
Richards-Wilcox becomes the largest Canadian manufacturer of overweight systems, fire doors and fire door hardware, builders’ hardware, farm hardware and specialties like vises, store ladders and wagon jacks. R-W also expands its auto accessories business from shock absorbers to mufflers, heater vents, and Jackson tire tools.
R-W begins manufacturing Slidetite garage door hardware and airplane hangar doors.
Richards-Wilcox expands its product range to include massive airplane hangar doors, Rolltite overhead doors, one piece overhead doors, partition door hardware, monorail equipment, and elevator hangers. They open more branches in Vancouver, Toronto, Moncton, Kingston, Hamilton and Edmonton.
R-W manufactures bleachers, basketball hoops and dividing walls for gymnasiums and chalkboards for classrooms.
Richards-Wilcox manufactures huge floodgates for the power generation industry and expands its Rolltite overhead door line into the commercial industrial door market. Other heavy industry products include sliding and rolling fire doors, rolling steel doors, vertiplex and multiplex vertical stacking doors. Electric door openers are also manufactured at the busy factory in London.
After decades of establishing a strong distributor network and diverse product line, Richards-Wilcox expands Rolltite to include steel insulated and non-insulated 16, 20 and 24 gauge sectional commercial doors. They also begin importing polyurethane product as interest in insulated doors begins to grow.
Responding to the world’s need to conserve energy and recognizing the opportunity for polyurethane products, R-W relocates headquarters from London to Etobicoke, Ontario and commences development of the first Canadian continuous polyurethane line in its Winnipeg facilities. It was one of only three production lines of its kind in North America, capable of manufacturing polyurethane steel two-side sectional overhead doors.
In 1989, R-W proudly introduces Thermatite, Canada’s first continuously produced polyurethane steel insulated sectional door. With the Canadian market quickly adapting to polyurethane product and for logistical reasons, Richards-Wilcox decides to move this revolutionary polyurethane line to Etobicoke. By now, R-W has distributors in every province of Canada.
In 1992, with well-developed product and recognizing the growth potential in the global marketplace, Richards-Wilcox begins exporting sectional doors to other countries and establishes distributors first in the U.S., then Asia and Europe.
In 1993, Richards-Wilcox pioneers the Bulk Thermatite Management System (BTMS) program and begins to specialize in supplying bulk sections and components, creating a new place for R-W in the industry’s history. They move to more modern facilities in Mississauga to meet the coming technology boom.
In 1997, R-W launches the Alumatite product line and redesigns its hardware for the new linear hardware line. By 1999, Richards-Wilcox is introducing their first residential polyurethane insulated product as well as exponential growth opportunities internationally. R-W now has distributors worldwide, including Latin America.
In 1999, Raynor Worldwide, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial sectional and rolling steel door products, acquires Richards-Wilcox.
Richards-Wilcox applies commercial technology and expertise to a residential polyurethane insulated sectional door product. R-W also introduces the world’s first polyurethane residential semi-bulk program, available from a manufacturer who produces both the hardware and the sections, supported by the BTMS business software program.
In 2002, Richards-Wilcox combines offices and plants. Still located in Mississauga, Ontario, the plant is close to the Pearson International Airport and is within minutes of the continent’s great network of highways providing access to the U.S. and eastbound to Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Sales, Engineering, Production, Shipping and Receiving are all now tightly grouped, giving Richards-Wilcox greater control over quality and costs.
The Landmark residential line is launched in 2018. In 2021, a second facility in Mississauga is added to house the hardware for the expanding residential line.
The Rolltite rolling steel doors line is introduced in 2023, as well as a full line of commercial and residential operators. In 2024, fire doors were added to the Rolltite product selection.
R-W embraces its history to build its future, upholding the legacy of quality that the Richards-Wilcox name has embodied since its founding in 1912.
