Apogee Wausau Division
Origin in Harmon Glass
Since its founding in 1949, the Minneapolis-based Harmon Glass had become a successful supplier and installer of glass windows. In the mid-1960s, they expanded to outside Minnesota with a shop in Des Moines, Iowa.
With its purchase of Wausau Metals Corporation in 1968 and Viracon in 1969, Harmon Glass added more diversification into the emerging field of commercial window walls . Wausau Metals would produce aluminum windows and Viracon would fabricate architectural glass. This new family of businesses was organized under the new entity, Apogee Enterprises, Inc.
Apogee continued to diversify throughout the 1970s and 1980s, often by purchasing assets from other companies and reorganizing them into a company under the Apogee umbrella. The purchase of a non-glare glass company in 1975 led to the formation of Tru Vue to produce picture framing glass.
The Wausau Division
Marathon County became a center for many of these businesses, and over a period of a dozen years between 1976 and 1988, the Wausau Division of Apogee grew to include a dozen different companies. The Wausau-based companies included mainstays like "Milco," "Nanik," and "Linetec," but also companies that came and went over several years, like "Unifab" or "Shades Unlimited."
Like many window companies at the end of the 1980s, Apogee struggled in the face of a national recession that led to a drop in orders across the industry. In response, Apogee's Wausau Division reorganized their corporate structure. The coverings division (Nanik, The Shuttery, Window Works) were sold off, and the fabrication division was reorganized into just two companies: Wausau Metals for fabrication and Linetec for finishing. In 1998, Wausau Metals was renamed Wausau Window and Wall to reflect the wider focus of the company.
These tabs contain short explinations about a handful of smaller companies that were part of Apogee at various points. For the larger Apogee companies in Marathon County see their individual pages:
Wausau Curtainwall Systems / Custom Wall Systems
With the growing success of curtainwall systems, Apogee expanded their capacity to manufacture these types of windows with the creation of the Wausau Curtainwall Systems Group in 1983 (at the same time they established Linetec). A new 60,000 square foot facility in Wausau was opened in September of 1983.
The company was renamed Custom Wall Systems in 1985, and amid corporate streamlining the company was closed in 1986, with its production partially being reorganized into other Apogee companies.
Wausau Specialty Products (1986-1993)
In 1986, Apogee set up a number of new companies, including Wausau Specialty Products. Unlike other companies within Apogee, which manufactured a number of different styles and types of windows, WSP produced ornamental and decorative building products out of aluminum, polished bronze, and stainless steel.
In 1993, as part of the consolidation and streamlining of the Wausau Division, Wausau Specialty Products would be merged with Wausau Metals (along with Milco at the same time).
DevTech (1986)
As part of the 1986 push for new business opportunities, Apogee also set up the short-lived DevTech. It was supposed to develop ways to integrate new microprocessor technology into manufacturing operations to streamline production. It was announced, but never found its footing, and was abandoned by the end of the year, with some of its asserts being integrated into existing companies.
The Shuttery (1986-1991)
Originally "The Shuttery of Scottsdale, Arizona," the shutters manufacturer was purchased by Apogee in 1986. There were a number of companies that Apogee purchased during the 1980s that remained relatively independent, but when it became clear that things could be better, it was reorganized under the auspices of the Wausau Division in 1991.
Now "The Shuttery of Wausau," the company moved into the newly established Business Incubator (in the former location of Wausau Iron Works). The Incubator allowed for the Shuttery to rent space and share resources with other companies, allowing it to make the transition to Wausau and transition its workforce and manufacturing processes to the area before taking on the full financial burden of a shop.
By the end of the year, it moved out into its own facility. It was closely associated with the Nanik brand in the 1990s, and was eventually incorporated into the main Nanik operations in 1995, before the Nanik division was itself sold off to Spring Industries later that year.
See Also: [Nanik]
Solarium Systems, Inc. (1987-1989)
In late 1987, Apogee purchased the company Solarium Systems (originally from Mound, Minnesota). It manufactured solariums, which consisted of window walls and ceilings. Solaiums were primarily popular for fast-food chains, but by the end of the 1980s the business was not profitable enough and Apogee closed the Solarium System line in 1989.
Anogee (1987-1990s)
The need for aluminum anodizing and other finishing processes led Apogee to create Anogee in 1987. The company operated in the Wausau West Industrial Park into the early 1990s,when it was absorbed into Linetec.
Windax, Inc. (1988-1992)
The purchase of the Florida-based window manufacturer and vendor, Windax, Inc. in 1988 gave Apogee two new companies: Window Works (a well-known brand on the East Coast) and Shades Unlimited.
Shades Unlimited was sold in 1990, while Window Works remained until 1992.
Unifab (?-1994)
From the earliest days of Wausau Metals, windows were mostly made from aluminum. Although the market had largely switched to prefer the lightweight, flexible, and strong material, there was still a small market for steel windows.
And so Unifab was set up to manufacture steel windows for Apogee. It was always a small company, and was eventually absorbed into Wausau Metals in 1994 as part of the wider consolidation and streamlining of the Wausau Division.