Total Door

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.

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

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

• Commercial door systems
• Fire-rated steel doors
• Integrated door assemblies
• Smoke containment systems
• Architectural building products

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterford

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, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Michigan Technological UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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)coreOthersCertifying 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@totaldoorsystems8975
• Xx.com/totaldoorsystm
• Facebookfacebook.com/TotalDoor1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/totaldoorsystems

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Total Door