Total Door
Total Door Systems is a privately held, second-generation Michigan manufacturer of fully integrated commercial fire-rated door systems, serving architects, installers, and independent distributors globally through engineered, in-house assembled doorsets including the proprietary SafeFrame smoke containment system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersWaterford, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Total Door does
Total Door Systems is a privately held, second-generation family-owned manufacturer of fully integrated commercial door systems headquartered in a single facility at 6145 Delfield Drive, Waterford, Michigan. Founded in 1974 as General Lock Company by Leon and Christine Yulkowski and later rebranded under current leadership of CEO Patricia Yulkowski, the company designs, engineers, manufactures, and assembles all door, frame, hanging, and latching components in-house as a unified, pre-configured system rather than as a kit of parts sourced from multiple vendors. Its product portfolio centers on fire-rated steel door systems certified under ANSI/BHMA A156.32, UL EPD/HPD, and Intertek, supported by proprietary hardware including the full-height locking channel, semi-concealed 180-degree hinge, and flush exit device, as well as the SafeFrame integrated smoke containment system for elevator hoistways introduced in 2020.
The company operates a B2B go-to-market exclusively through a global network of independent distributor/installer partners, supplemented by AIA-accredited continuing education webinars, the Innovation by Design podcast, industry events such as the CSI National Conference, the Total Door Training Institute for installer certification, and the DoorBuilder configuration tool accessed via a partner portal. Its primary customer segments are architects and specifiers (reached at the design phase), building officials (code compliance), professional installers, and independent distributors. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of integrated door systems and professional services from training programs; pricing is project-quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
Operationally, the company underwent a major transformation beginning in 2010 under Patricia Yulkowski, relocating to a new facility and re-engineering around LEAN manufacturing principles to deliver a 250% efficiency increase, 68% scrap reduction, and 100% on-time delivery, with nearly 100% of materials sourced locally. The firm is WBENC-certified women-owned (2025), employs 11-50 people, and in 2025 launched an annual engineering partnership with Michigan Technological University to develop next-generation components.
Total Door firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Total Door
- Legal name
- Total Door Systems
- Website
- https://totaldoor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Total Door Systems is a privately held, second-generation Michigan manufacturer of fully integrated commercial fire-rated door systems, serving architects, installers, and independent distributors globally through engineered, in-house assembled doorsets including the proprietary SafeFrame smoke containment system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Total Door industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Integrated Door Systems
- 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)
Keywords
Where Total Door is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waterford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Total Door business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Integrated Door Systems: Total Door Systems manufactures and sells fully integrated door systems with all components engineered and assembled at their Waterford, Michigan facility. The systems include doors, frames, hanging devices, and latching mechanisms as complete integrated assemblies.
- Training Services: The company offers installation and sales training programs at their facility, including 2-day installation seminars and 3-day sales/install combo courses. Training covers installation, maintenance, electrical, and troubleshooting. AIA continuing education webinars are also provided.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Total Door product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Total Door Systems manufactures and sells fully integrated commercial door systems, including fire-rated steel doors, frames, hanging devices, and latching mechanisms that are engineered, manufactured, and assembled as a unified whole at the company's Waterford, Michigan facility. The company sells exclusively through independent distributor/installer partners and supports those partners with configuration tools, training, AIA-accredited education, and technical documentation.
Product overview
Total Door Systems is a manufacturer of fully integrated door systems, offering fire-rated steel door systems with all parts engineered, manufactured, and assembled in their Waterford, Michigan plant. Their product portfolio centers on the core integrated door system with proprietary hardware components including full-height locking channels, semi-concealed hinges, flush and standard exit devices, operating grips, levers, and concealed closers. The SafeFrame® system provides integrated smoke containment for elevator applications. Products are configurable through the DoorBuilder® tool and supported by the Total Door Training Institute® for installation education. The company also offers AIA-accredited continuing education webinars and hosts the 'Innovation by Design' podcast. Total Door Systems serve multiple applications including elevator shafts, elevator lobbies, cross-corridor, and single/pair/double egress configurations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SafeFrame: A complete integrated smoke containment system for elevator hoistways that exceeds testing and rating requirements and eliminates the need for elevator lobbies.
Products and services
- SafeFrame® A complete integrated smoke containment system for elevator hoistways that exceeds testing and rating requirements and eliminates the need for elevator lobbies. Ships with the door as a complete one-delivery system for architects, specifiers, and elevator shaft installations.
- Fire Rated Steel Door System Fire-rated steel door system following ITS/Warnock Hersey specifications with smoke and draft protection, meeting fire codes, ADA guidelines, and BHMA certification. Available in 1/16-inch increments for exact fit, for use in commercial buildings, elevator shafts, lobbies, and cross-corridor applications.
- Elevator Shaft Door System Integrated door system designed for elevator shaft applications, including elevator pair hold open and single door configurations in 90° and 180° angles. Configured for commercial high-rise and mid-rise building elevator shaft openings.
- Pair Door System Integrated door system for pair applications with hold open configurations at 90° and 180° angles. Used where paired door openings are required in commercial building projects.
- Double Egress Door System Integrated door system for double egress applications with hold open configurations at 180°. Used in corridor separation applications in healthcare, commercial, and institutional facilities.
- Single Door Application Single door application with hold open configurations for single LR and RR configurations at 90° and 180° angles. Used in single-leaf commercial door openings.
- DoorBuilder® Proprietary door configuration tool that can produce a completely configured opening in seconds. Available to distribution partners through the partner portal for specifying and configuring Total Door systems.
- Total Door Training Institute® Comprehensive maintenance and installation training at the Waterford, Michigan facility or online, covering installation, maintenance, electrical, and troubleshooting. Includes 2-day installation seminars and 3-day sales/installation combo courses for installers and distribution partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95.2% on-time delivery rate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Total Door
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Total Door technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Total Door partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Michigan Technological UniversitycorePartnership launched in 2025 with Michigan Tech engineering students to design next-generation parts and products using existing patents, components, and processes. Results were so impressive that the collaboration has been committed as an annual initiative. Students visit the plant to kick off projects, bringing fresh ideas and technical insight.
- Great Lakes Women's Business Enterprise Council (Great Lakes WBENC)coreCertifying body for WBENC certification. The certification recognizes women-owned businesses and is the gold standard for women-owned business certification in the United States. Total Door earned certification through this organization.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Total Door competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mesker Door: Mesker Door is a US commercial hollow metal door and frame manufacturer serving institutional and architectural projects. It competes directly with Total Door in the fire-rated and architectural commercial openings segment.
- Curries (AADG, an ASSA ABLOY company): Curries manufactures integrated hollow metal doors and frames packaged as complete openings with hardware preps and reinforcements. This is the closest direct comparison to Total Door's integrated door systems approach within the fire-rated commercial door category.
- Ceco Door / ASSA ABLOY: Ceco Door is a commercial steel door and frame brand offering integrated openings for healthcare, education, and commercial buildings. It directly competes with Total Door in fire-rated and architectural commercial door systems.
- Republic Doors: Republic Doors manufactures commercial steel doors and frames, including fire-rated and specialty openings. It competes directly with Total Door in the integrated commercial door segment serving architects and contractors.
Broad incumbents
- ASSA ABLOY Door Solutions: ASSA ABLOY is one of the largest global manufacturers of door opening solutions, including commercial steel doors and integrated access solutions. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Total Door's integrated commercial door and fire-rated hardware offerings across a much larger portfolio.
- Steelcraft (Allegion): Steelcraft is Allegion's hollow metal door and frame brand, offering commercial steel doors and frames. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Total Door's integrated door system approach, though Steelcraft typically supplies components separately rather than as a fully integrated, factory-tested assembly.
- dormakaba: dormakaba is a global provider of access and door solutions including commercial door hardware, automatic doors, and integrated access systems. It competes with Total Door in the commercial integrated opening and access technology space, particularly for institutional and high-traffic applications.
- Allegion plc: Allegion is a major US-listed commercial door hardware and access solutions company (owns Steelcraft, Schlage, Von Duprin). It serves architects and distributors with integrated commercial opening solutions, making it a broad incumbent against Total Door's integrated door system business.
Emerging players
- Overhead Door Corporation: Overhead Door Corporation is primarily a garage door and commercial door manufacturer that supplies commercial and industrial openings, including commercial door systems. It is an emerging player relative to Total Door's fire-rated integrated elevator shaft and lobby applications, where it has partial overlap through commercial sectional and rolling doors.
Others
- Fire-Rated Door Specialties (generic peer concept): FM Global (Factory Mutual) does not manufacture doors but is a research and certification body for fire-rated building products including commercial doors. It is adjacent to Total Door because its approvals, listings, and standards shape the regulatory environment in which integrated fire door systems compete and qualify.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Total Door social profiles
Digital presenceTotal Door compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Total Door financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Total Door leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Total Door funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Total Door M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Total Door
What does Total Door do?
Total Door Systems manufactures and sells fully integrated commercial door systems, including fire-rated steel doors, frames, hanging devices, and latching mechanisms that are engineered, manufactured, and assembled as a unified whole at the company's Waterford, Michigan facility. The company sells exclusively through independent distributor/installer partners and supports those partners with configuration tools, training, AIA-accredited education, and technical documentation.
Is Total Door a public or private company?
Total Door is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Total Door founded?
Total Door was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Total Door based?
Total Door is headquartered in Waterford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Total Door make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Integrated Door Systems are the primary driver. The others are training Services.
Who are Total Door's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mesker Door, Curries (AADG, an ASSA ABLOY company), Ceco Door / ASSA ABLOY and Republic Doors. Broad incumbents are ASSA ABLOY Door Solutions, Steelcraft (Allegion), dormakaba and Allegion plc. Overhead Door Corporation is listed as an emerging player. Fire-Rated Door Specialties (generic peer concept) is listed as an others.
Does Total Door have an API?
No public API is recorded for Total Door.
What industry is Total Door in?
Total Door's product category is Commercial Integrated Door Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAIAF, Commercial & Industrial Doors (Sectional, High-Speed, Fire, Security). Its NAICS code is 332321 and its SIC code is 3442.