National Custom Hollow Metal

What National Custom Hollow Metal does

National Custom Hollow Metal (NCHM) is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of custom hollow metal doors and frames founded in 1974 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The company builds made-to-order doors and frames in stainless steel (304, 316) and galvanneal (A-60, G-90) across gauges 12-16, employing AMADA fiber laser cutting for precision fabrication. Its product portfolio is organized into six branded lines targeting distinct end uses: DefendDoor (stainless steel box doors for sterile environments), TrustShield (lead-lined radiation protection for X-ray, CT, and MRI rooms), Safe Shot (UL 752 Level 3 ballistic doors), Sound Safe (STC-rated acoustic doors up to STC 51), Windstorm (Florida Building Code and TDI hurricane-rated doors), and Therma Hold (thermal efficiency doors). The company holds third-party certifications from UL, Warnock Hersey (Intertek), the Florida Building Code, and the Texas Department of Insurance, with fire ratings available from 20 minutes up to 3 hours.

NCHM operates a direct sales model via a toll-free phone line and online quote forms, with an industry-leading commitment of 2-hour quote turnaround times. The company sells primarily to distributors and commercial contractors and ships nationwide across the United States. Three delivery tiers are offered: standard Quik Ship (frames in 1 week, doors in 2 weeks, included at no charge), Hot Rush (frames in 1 day, doors in 2 days), and Walk Thru (next business day). Pricing is project-based and quote-only with no public price list; billing is transactional per order. End-customer verticals include healthcare, food service, pharmaceutical and research facilities, coastal commercial construction, and general commercial buildings.

The business is small, with 11-50 employees, and is controlled by the Mathews family, with Shea Mathews serving as Vice President. In April 2025, the company expanded manufacturing capacity by installing a second, significantly larger AMADA fiber laser cutting machine. The firm maintains industry association memberships with the Door and Hardware Institute (DHI) and the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM), and employs DHI-trained staff. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, no institutional funding has been raised, and the company has remained independent and family-controlled throughout its five-decade history.

Name

National Custom Hollow Metal

Legal name

National Custom Hollow Metal

Website

https://nationalcustomhollowmetal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Custom Hollow Metal is a family-owned, Little Rock-based custom manufacturer of stainless steel and galvanneal hollow metal doors and frames, serving healthcare, food service, pharmaceutical, coastal, and commercial construction customers nationwide with branded specialty lines and rapid custom delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Hollow Metal Doors and Frames

NAICS

Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321)

SIC

Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Doors (IMADAIAB), Exterior Doors (IMADAIAA), Weatherstripping, Thresholds & Door/Window Seals (IMADAIAL)

Keywords

• Hollow metal doors
• Custom door manufacturing
• Stainless steel frames
• Commercial door fabrication
• Fire-rated doors

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Hollow Metal Doors & Frames: One-time sale of custom-built stainless steel and galvanneal hollow metal doors and frames. Products are made to order based on customer specifications. Includes various types: DefendDoor stainless steel, galvanneal, lead-lined (TrustShield), ballistic (Safe Shot), STC acoustic doors, thermal doors, and hurricane-rated (Windstorm) doors and frames.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

National Custom Hollow Metal custom-manufactures hollow metal doors and frames in stainless steel (304/316) and galvanneal steel (A-60/G-90), with specialty variants including DefendDoor stainless steel box doors, TrustShield lead-lined radiation doors, Safe Shot Level 3 ballistic doors, Sound Safe STC acoustic doors, Windstorm hurricane-rated doors, and Therma Hold thermal doors. Every order is built to the customer's exact specifications (not mass-produced), with fire ratings from 20 minutes to 3 hours certified by UL and Warnock Hersey, and a standard 1-year warranty.

Product overview

National Custom Hollow Metal is a custom door and frame manufacturer offering a portfolio of branded product lines centered on hollow metal doors and frames. Core brands include DefendDoor™ (stainless steel box doors), TrustShield (lead-lined radiation protection), Safe Shot (ballistic/Level 3), Sound Safe (STC acoustic doors), Windstorm (hurricane-rated), and Therma Hold (thermal). The company manufactures doors and frames in stainless steel (304/316) and galvanneal (A-60/G-90) in gauges 12-16, with fire ratings from 20 minutes to 3 hours via UL and Warnock Hersey. Products are built to order with Quick Ship, Hot Rush, and Walk Thru delivery options. Additional offerings include Kerf frames for energy efficiency, box doors for sterile environments, and pocket/arched frames for custom architectural applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DefendDoor: Stainless steel doors and frames brand meeting requirements for pharmaceutical, food service, medical, government, and education facilities. Features high-quality center seamed box doors with superior strength and craftsmanship.
• TrustShield
• Safe Shot
• Sound Safe
• Windstorm
• Therma Hold

Products and services

• DefendDoor Stainless Steel Doors & Frames Custom stainless steel box doors and frames in 304 or 316 #4 finish, featuring seamless construction for sterile environments, with fire labeling options (20-minute to 3-hour Warnock-Hersey). Designed for pharmaceutical, food service, medical, government, and education facilities.
• TrustShield Lead-Lined Doors & Frames Radiation-shielding doors and frames with continuous sheet lead lining from 1/32" to 1/8" thick, reinforced with high-density polystyrene. Built for X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and radiation therapy rooms in healthcare facilities.
• Safe Shot Ballistic Doors & Frames Level 3 ballistic doors and frames meeting UL 752 labeling requirements, capable of stopping a .44 Magnum round. Built with 12 gauge stainless steel frames for security-sensitive applications.
• Sound Safe STC Doors & Frames Sound Transmission Control doors and frames with proprietary acoustic cores achieving STC ratings up to 51. Designed for recording studios, auditoriums, conference rooms, and other noise-sensitive spaces.
• Windstorm Hurricane Doors & Frames Hurricane-rated doors and frames meeting Florida Building Code (FBC-2014 FL#14584) and Texas Department of Insurance (TDI-DR-495) specifications, with Wind Zone 4 labeling, 150 mph wind speed rating, and large missile impact resistance for coastal construction.
• Therma Hold Thermal Doors & Frames Thermal-efficient doors and frames designed to reduce heat transfer and improve energy efficiency in buildings. Combines thermal door construction with Therma Hold technology.
• Galvanneal Doors A60/G90 galvanneal steel doors in 16, 14, and 12 gauges, offering cost-effective durability for commercial and industrial applications. Available in standard and custom sizes with fire-rated options.
• Metal Door Frames (Variable, Stick, Drywall Series) Custom hollow metal door frames in 16, 14, and 12 gauge across three configurations: Variable (interlocking mitered corners), Stick (field-fabrication), and Drywall (Surlock corner connection). Available in stainless steel and galvanneal.
• Pocket & Arched Door Frames Custom-configured frames for pocket door installations and arched openings, providing design flexibility for space-saving applications and unique architectural requirements.
• Stainless Steel Spats Protective stainless steel spats for door frames, designed to prevent damage from carts, equipment, and high-traffic use, extending frame longevity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2-hour quote turnaround time
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Underwriters Laboratories (UL)coreOthersUL certification partner providing fire door and frame testing and certification. NCHM products carry UL labels for fire-rated applications.
• Warnock Hersey (Intertek)coreOthersWarnock Hersey certification partner for fire door and frame labeling. Offers up to 3-hour fire rating labels for NCHM products.
• Door and Hardware Institute (DHI)coreOthersIndustry association membership providing professional training for staff. Company references DHI-trained professionals and attends DHI CoNEXTions Convention annually for industry networking and feedback.
• National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM)coreOthersIndustry association membership providing access to current industry standards and specifications for hollow metal doors and frames.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Steelcraft (Allegion brand): Allegion's hollow metal door and frame brand — direct competitor in standard and custom stainless/galvanneal hollow metal doors. Closest large-scale analogue to NCHM, with much greater scale and broader distribution.
• Curries (ASSA ABLOY brand): ASSA ABLOY's hollow metal door and frame brand for commercial/institutional openings. Competes head-on in custom hollow metal with deep specification presence.
• Ceco Door (ASSA ABLOY brand): Hollow metal door manufacturer also owned by ASSA ABLOY; offers comparable fire-rated, galvanized, and custom steel door and frame products for commercial construction.
• Mesker Door: Independent hollow metal door manufacturer producing standard and custom steel doors and frames for commercial, educational, and healthcare verticals — same product category with mid-market scale between NCHM and the Allegion/ASSA ABLOY mega-brands.
• Deansteel Manufacturing: Texas-based custom hollow metal door and frame manufacturer serving Gulf Coast commercial construction. Closest geographic/scale peer to NCHM and a direct alternative for hurricane- and custom-rated doors.
• Republic Doors: Hollow metal door and frame manufacturer focused on commercial and industrial applications; competes with NCHM in standard and custom hollow metal offerings.
• AM Industries Hollow Metal: Specialty hollow metal door and frame manufacturer producing custom and standard products for institutional and commercial construction — direct mid-sized competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Allegion: Global building-safety parent of Steelcraft, Republic, and other door brands. Competes with NCHM through multiple product lines and channel relationships far broader than hollow metal alone.
• ASSA ABLOY: Global access solutions parent of Curries, Ceco Door, and other hollow metal brands. Represents the broadest competitive threat given scale, R&D, and integrated specification capabilities.
• Mesker Openings Group (parent): Holding entity for Mesker Door plus other architectural openings brands; broader portfolio incumbent competing in custom hollow metal, fire-rated assemblies, and related openings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about National Custom Hollow Metal