SafeWood Designs

What SafeWood Designs does

SafeWood Designs, Inc. is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of bullet-resistant wood and millwork products, headquartered and produced at a single facility in Fridley, Minnesota. The company designs and builds custom UL752-certified ballistic doors, wall panels, windows, transaction windows, glass, counters, and entry/storefront systems in Levels 1-8 (and Levels 1-10 for glass), along with patent-pending products including the SafeShutter whiteboard/shield, the SafeShutter Window, and the Mobile Safe Shield. Its core technology combines fiberglass ballistic cores with proprietary wood framing and a 'Thresholds of Defense' three-zone methodology (primary exterior threshold, secondary interior, secured interior/safe room) to deliver protection while preserving interior aesthetics and historical architectural replication.

The company sells exclusively through direct enterprise field sales and consultation, with no public e-commerce, targeting facility managers, architects, school administrators, healthcare administrators, and government procurement officers. Pricing is custom quote-based per project, with multi-year contract cadence typical for institutional and government buyers, and revenue is generated from one-time hardware sales plus adjacent professional services for consultation, threat assessment, historical replication, and project implementation. It holds 13 patents on its bullet-resistant wood storefront system and maintains endorsements including ASPP and 2020 Minnesota Manufacturer of the Year, and serves five declared verticals: Education (primary), Government (primary), Healthcare, Commercial, and Residential.

SafeWood is founder-owned and operated by a small team (approximately 5-10 key personnel including President Jason Horner and Owner/Accounting Heather Horner), with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or external institutional investment, and no subsidiaries. Distribution is regional with national visibility through earned media and federal (GSA) historical registry projects, and it partners with 3D Response to position its products within a broader active-shooter response ecosystem.

Name

SafeWood Designs

Legal name

SafeWood Designs, Inc.

Website

https://safewooddesigns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SafeWood Designs is a privately held Minnesota-based manufacturer of custom UL752-certified bullet-resistant wood and millwork products — including doors, wall panels, windows, and the SafeShutter and Mobile Safe Shield systems — sold via direct enterprise field sales to schools, government, healthcare, commercial, and high-end residential buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ballistic Security Manufacturing

NAICS

Wood Window and Door Manufacturing (321911)

SIC

Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineered Wood Siding, Trim & Mouldings (IMAMACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wood Coatings & Finishes (IMADAKAD)

Keywords

• Bullet resistant products
• Ballistic wood solutions
• UL752 certified doors
• Active shooter protection
• Security millwork manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnesota City

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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bullet-Resistant Product Sales: Custom manufacturing and sale of bullet-resistant doors, wall panels, windows, transaction windows, and other ballistic products. Products are custom-measured and cut to specification, shipped ready for installation. Revenue generated through one-time product sales with potential for repeat orders from institutional clients.
2. Consultation and Implementation Services: Security analysis consultations, threat assessment services, and project management for custom installations. Includes virtual learning events for architects and facility managers, tactical analysis during design phases, and ongoing support for government projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SafeWood Designs is a custom manufacturer of bullet-resistant and forced-entry resistant wood products, including doors, wall panels, windows, transaction windows, SafeShutter whiteboards, and the Mobile Safe Shield. Products are UL752-certified (Levels 1-8 for most offerings, 1-10 for glass) and engineered to blend ballistic protection with warm interior aesthetics, supported by historical replication and retrofit installation services.

Product overview

SafeWood Designs offers a comprehensive portfolio of bullet-resistant wood products designed to enhance safety and security while maintaining aesthetic appeal. The product line centers on UL752-rated ballistic protection in Levels 1-8, featuring core offerings including Bullet-Resistant Doors with patented wood frame assemblies, Wall Panels (fiberglass-based in various finishes), the patent-pending SafeShutter (dual-purpose whiteboard/shield) and SafeShutter Window, Transaction Windows in multiple configurations (Natural Voice, Speak Through, Baffle, Slider styles), Bullet Resistant Glass (Types: Laminated, Insulated, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, Glass Clad in Levels 1-10), Windows, Counters, Entry & Storefront systems, and the Mobile Safe Shield for portable protection. Supporting services include Historical Replication (used by GSA) and Retrofit solutions to add ballistic protection to existing furniture. Products are designed to blend with interior décor using any wood species, plastic laminate, or custom finishes, avoiding the 'prison-like' aesthetic common in security products. The company serves Education, Healthcare, Commercial, Government, and Residential markets with a three-zone approach to facility security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SafeShutter™: Patent pending bullet resistant whiteboard that serves as both a protective shield and teaching tool, can be swung 180 degrees to block doors or windows
• Mobile Safe Shield™
• Thresholds of Defense

Products and services

• Bullet-Resistant Doors Wood bullet-resistant doors with patented wood frame assemblies designed to prevent forced entry, protect against invasion threats, and capture projectiles to reduce ricochet risk. Available in UL752 Levels 1-8 for schools, government, commercial, and residential facilities.
• Wall Panels UL752 bullet-resistant fiberglass wall panels in Levels 1-8 designed to create safe areas within buildings. Standard 4' x 8' size with plastic laminate, veneer, or paintable MDF finishes to integrate with interior décor.
• Mobile Safe Shield Moveable bullet-resistant shield for active shooter events with 360° swivel castor wheels, steel handlebar, and UL752 Levels 1-8 options. Customizable with glass, whiteboard, tackboard, veneer, or plastic laminate finishes.
• Bullet Resistant Transaction Windows Aluminum and wood-framed bullet-resistant transaction windows for secure face-to-face interactions in Natural Voice, Speak Through, Baffle, Vertical Slider, and Horizontal Slider styles. UL752 Levels 1-8.
• SafeShutter Patent-pending bullet-resistant whiteboard that obstructs attacker's line of sight, swings 180° to impede attacker progress, and serves as both a teaching tool and defensive position in classrooms.
• SafeShutter Window Patent-pending bullet-resistant window shield that installs over existing windows, allows natural light, swings 120° for cleaning, and serves as a defensive position in emergencies.
• Bullet Resistant Windows Bullet-resistant windows with patented wood frames and jambs available in UL752 Levels 1-8, from modern to historical designs in any wood species.
• Bullet Resistant Glass Bullet-resistant, safety, assault, extreme weather, and fire-rated glass in Traditional Laminated, Insulated Ballistic, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, and Glass Clad types at UL Levels 1-10.
• Bullet Resistant Counters Bullet-resistant counters available in plastic laminate, wood species, solid surface, or stainless steel, with integrated deal trays and ADA-accessible configurations in UL752 Levels 1-8.
• Entry & Storefront Bullet-resistant wood storefront systems built on 13 patented technologies, providing maximum security that is virtually undetectable and accommodating any locking hardware including low voltage and magnetic systems, UL Levels 1-8.
• Prisoner Detention Benches Restraint prisoner detention benches for police stations, correctional facilities, and courtrooms, with solid steel frame and standard 3/4" handcuff rail in multiple colors and ADA lengths.
• Historical Replication Service that reuses historic materials, recreates mouldings and profiles, and modifies existing historic materials while incorporating bullet-resistant security upgrades; used by GSA in historical registry projects.
• Retrofit Service that transforms existing furniture and walls with ballistic protection, offering decorative transformation and UL Level 8 protection with shorter construction timelines than new installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products meet UL752 Level 8 requirements, protecting against AR-15, AK-47, and M-14 military-grade rifles
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 3D ResponsecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafeWood Designs is described as 'an integral part of the 3D Response System.' The partnership provides a critical component for the 3D Response System's comprehensive active shooter response solution. SafeWood's concealed safety features integrate with 3D Response's life-saving protocols to create a complete protection ecosystem.
• ASPP (American Society of Protection Professionals)minorOthersSafeWood Designs displays the ASPP Endorsement Seal on their website, indicating official endorsement and alignment with professional security industry standards.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• DefenseLite: Retrofit bullet-resistant security film and glazing systems for schools and commercial buildings. Adjacent technology approach (film overlay) targeting the same K-12 and active-threat retrofit market.
• Riot Glass: Manufactures retrofit ballistic and forced-entry glass systems for schools, government, and commercial properties. Comparable retrofit value proposition versus SafeWood's wall panel and furniture retrofit service.

Direct peers

• Total Security Solutions: Direct competitor offering bullet-resistant barriers, doors, windows, and transaction windows for schools, government, and commercial customers. Closely comparable product portfolio and UL752-certified offerings, though TSS leans more toward steel/aluminum framing than wood aesthetics.
• Bullet Guard: Producer of UL752-certified bullet-resistant fiberglass panels and security products. Closely matches SafeWood's wall panel and door substrate offerings for school and government customers.
• U.S. Bullet Proofing: Bullet-resistant door, window, and partition manufacturer serving government, financial, and educational facilities. Similar custom manufacturing and installation model.
• National Bullet Proof: Manufacturer and installer of bullet-resistant doors, frames, windows, and security enclosures. Competes directly with SafeWood across education, government, and commercial verticals with similar custom integration services.
• ArmorCore by Waco Composites: Manufactures UL752-certified bullet-resistant fiberglass panels — the same core ballistic substrate used by SafeWood. Comparable product category for wall panels, doors, and transaction counters serving the same institutional buyers.
• Insulgard (Graham Architectural Products): Manufactures ballistic and forced-entry resistant windows, doors, and transaction systems for schools, courthouses, and government. Directly competes in the same UL752 product tiers as SafeWood.

Others

• 3D Response: Strategic partner rather than direct competitor — 3D Response is described as SafeWood's integrated active shooter response system, making it a channel and ecosystem partner rather than a peer.

Broad incumbents

• ASSA ABLOY (TGP / Security Metal Products): Global security and door conglomerate with ballistic-rated storefront and door divisions. Overlaps with SafeWood's entry/storefront and government product lines as a broad portfolio incumbent rather than a niche specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SafeWoodDesigns
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC78WKroTuWcLjSn0yamkQjw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safe-wood-designs
• Instagraminstagram.com/safewood_designs
• Pinterestpinterest.com/safewooddesigns

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 SafeWood Designs