Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal Inc.

What Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal Inc. does

Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal Inc. is a privately held manufacturer and distributor of commercial door openings founded in 1983 and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The company produces custom and stock hollow metal door frames and doors, distributes architectural wood doors and commercial-grade door hardware, and provides on-site locksmith and keying services. Its primary customer base consists of commercial construction contractors in the Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin region, with capability to ship custom hollow metal products nationwide.

The company operates a 43,000+ square foot manufacturing facility equipped with multiple CNC punch presses (accurate to .001 inches), four CNC-programmed brake presses (precision to 1/16 inch), and four MIG welding stations, enabling custom hollow metal production in days rather than weeks. It distributes hardware from category leaders including Assa Abloy (Ceco, Graham), Allegion (Steelcraft and 25+ security brands), Algoma Hardwoods, Hager, Marshfield, Harring, Bobrick, Bradley, and Air Louvers. Its service portfolio includes bidding and quoting, project management, specification writing, hardware sizing and procurement, fire-rated door labeling, installation prep, and on-site installation remediation, supported by a full-time locksmith with a mobile key laboratory.

The business model is project-based: the company quotes, fabricates, and delivers door, frame, and hardware packages to commercial contractors, generating revenue from hardware/door/frame sales and ancillary services such as locksmith keying and installation remediation. Distribution combines a physical Will Call window, a local delivery fleet in SE Wisconsin, and national shipping for custom hollow metal. The company grew its customer base by approximately 50% since 2016, expanded to an additional facility, and was acquired by LaForce in 2024.

Name

Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal Inc.

Legal name

Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal, Inc.

Website

https://bh-hm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal is a privately held manufacturer and distributor of custom commercial hollow metal door frames, doors, architectural hardware, and locksmith services, serving commercial construction contractors in the Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin region from a 43,000+ square foot Menomonee Falls facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Door Frames and Architectural Hardware

NAICS

Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321)

SIC

Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442), Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Industrial Doors (Sectional, High-Speed, Fire, Security) (IMADAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architectural Hardware & Door Controls (Hinges, Locks, Closers, Panic Devices) (IMADAIAI)

Keywords

• Hollow metal frames
• Commercial door hardware
• Wood doors
• Hollow metal doors
• Locksmith services

Headquarters

HQ city

Menomonee Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hollow Metal Products Sales: Sale of custom and stock hollow metal door frames and doors manufactured in-house, along with custom configuration capabilities including fire-rated labeling, lite kit installation, and lead-lined doors.
2. Commercial Door Hardware Sales: Distribution of architectural door hardware including locksets, closers, exit devices, hinges, and accessories from major manufacturers such as Schlage, Yale, Sargent, Hager, Von Duprin, and Corbin Russwin.
3. Wood Door Sales: Sale of architectural wood doors from partner manufacturers, with in-house machining for hardware preparation.
4. Locksmith and Keying Services: On-site locksmith services including master security key schedule design, laser-cut keying, and electronic fob/hardware support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal manufactures custom hollow metal door frames and doors in-house using CNC punch presses, brake presses, and MIG welding, while also distributing architectural door hardware (locksets, closers, exit devices) and wood doors from major manufacturers. The company complements these products with locksmith and keying services, project management, bidding, and specification assistance for commercial construction contractors in the Milwaukee and SE Wisconsin region.

Product overview

Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal Inc. is a premium manufacturer and distributor of custom commercial door frames, doors, and architectural hardware serving the Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin market. The company operates a 43,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Menomonee Falls, WI with in-house production capabilities for hollow metal frames and doors, complemented by an extensive stock of wood doors and door hardware from major manufacturers. The core product portfolio consists of four main categories: Hollow Metal Frames (custom and standard door frames with CNC manufacturing precision), Hollow Metal Doors (fire-rated and standard commercial doors with lite kit options), Wood Doors (stock and custom with in-house machining for hardware prep), and Door Hardware (architectural hardware from Schlage, Yale, Sargent, Hager, Von Duprin, and Corbin Russwin). These products are supported by a comprehensive suite of services including locksmith/keying, project management, bidding/quotes, specification assistance, hardware sizing/procurement, fire-rated door labeling, installation prep, and installation remediation. The company has manufacturing expertise in CNC punch presses accurate to .001 inches, brake presses with full CNC programming, and four MIG welding stations, enabling rapid custom frame production in days rather than weeks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hollow Metal Frames Standard and custom hollow metal door frames including Arch Top, Lead Lined, Oversized, and various profiles. Manufactured in-house using CNC punch presses accurate to .001 inches and CNC brake presses, with capacity ranging from single openings to thousands of frames. Sold to commercial construction contractors.
• Hollow Metal Doors Broad range of standard hollow metal doors and custom production to any specifications, including fire-rated labeling (WHI), lite kit doors with multiple lite configurations, and lead-lined options. Distributed from manufacturers including Ceco, Curries, and Steelcraft. Sold to commercial construction contractors.
• Wood Doors

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Assa AbloycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssa Abloy provides a full range of doors, access control technologies, hardware components, sustainability solutions and aesthetic options for all end-user applications. Builders Hardware represents Assa Abloy's Ceco hollow metal doors and frames, and Graham architectural wood doors. Listed as a key partner with a dedicated logo section on the company website.
• AllegioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAllegion specializes in security around the doorway and beyond with more than 25 brands sold in almost 130 countries. Builders Hardware represents Allegion's hardware product lines and Steelcraft hollow metal doors and frames. Listed as a key partner with a dedicated logo section on the company website.
• Algoma HardwoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlgoma Hardwoods produces and distributes architectural wood doors in North America. Builders Hardware serves as a partner for Algoma wood doors, one of several wood door manufacturers represented by the company.
• Hager Hinge CompanysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHager Hinge Company is a manufacturer of door hinges. Builders Hardware stocks and sells Hager products as part of its broad architectural hardware offering.
• Marshfield Door SystemssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarshfield Door Systems produces architectural wood doors. Listed as one of the wood door manufacturers represented by Builders Hardware.
• Harring DoorssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHarring Doors produces architectural stile and rail wood doors. Listed as one of the wood door manufacturers represented by Builders Hardware.
• BobricksupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBobrick manufactures washroom accessories. Builders Hardware distributes Bobrick products as part of its broad product offering.
• BradleysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBradley produces washroom accessories and toilet partitions. Builders Hardware distributes Bradley products as part of its product range.
• Air LouverssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAir Louvers produces window and louver kits. Builders Hardware carries Air Louvers products for use with their door and frame offerings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Allegion: Global manufacturer of door security and access solutions with brands including Schlage, Von Duprin, and Steelcraft; both a key channel partner for Builders Hardware and a broad incumbent in the same product categories it distributes.
• Assa Abloy: Global leader in door opening solutions; Builders Hardware is an authorized distributor for its Ceco and Graham brands, making it both a critical channel partner and a broad incumbent whose specification tools compete for the same contractors.
• LaForce: Parent company of Builders Hardware since the 2024 acquisition; a national commercial door openings distributor and hollow metal fabricator with overlapping product lines (hollow metal doors and frames, architectural hardware, wood doors) and project management services across multiple states.

Direct peers

• Curries (Assa Abloy brand): Assa Abloy hollow metal door and frame brand; competes with and is distributed alongside Builders Hardware's own fabricated frames, making it a directly comparable specialty manufacturer in commercial openings.
• Hager Companies: Architectural hardware manufacturer that Builders Hardware stocks and sells; comparable as a building products supplier focused on commercial door hardware categories like hinges, locks, and closers.
• Algoma Hardwoods: Architectural wood door manufacturer whose products Builders Hardware distributes and configures; direct comparable in supplying commercial wood doors to non-residential contractors with overlapping customer relationships.
• Mesker Door: Independent hollow metal door and frame manufacturer with comparable product range to Builders Hardware's fabricated frames and doors, serving commercial construction with custom and standard options.
• Steelcraft (Allegion brand): Allegion-owned hollow metal door and frame manufacturer that Builders Hardware represents and distributes; comparable core manufacturing capability in commercial-grade steel doors and frames with overlapping customer base in commercial construction.
• Ceco Door (Assa Abloy brand): Assa Abloy hollow metal door and frame manufacturer whose products Builders Hardware distributes; directly comparable as a commercial steel door and frame producer serving non-residential construction.

Emerging players

• Total Door Systems: Specialty integrated door and frame systems provider for commercial and institutional projects; overlapping capability with Builders Hardware's value proposition of integrated openings solutions rather than loose hardware and frames.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hollowmetalMKE
• Facebookfacebook.com/hollowmetalMKE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/builders-hardware-and-hollow-metal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Builders Hardware and Hollow Metal Inc.