About Us . . .
How It All Got Started
"It was 1980 at a wedding dance," said Schweiss Door owner, Mike Schweiss. "A friend commented, 'Mike, you build lots of different things. Why not a door that folds up?' Ironically, that very person died of a heart attack that same evening. But his idea didn't!" The first Schweiss door manufactured was a 12' x 12' bifold installed on a Renville County Highway shed. The door is still in operation today. At that time Schweiss and his three employees were manufacturing various farm equipment and something called the Schweiss Chicken Plucker! It was the Chicken Plucker that gave Schweiss name recognition; and then it was off to manufacturing doors.
Flexibility
We're proud to offer three styles of custom-made doors that we manufacture in sizes ranging from 6' width to 140'. They are the newly designed Liftstrap Bifold door, the "One-Piece" Hydraulic door, and our architectural Designer Door lines. Schweiss Doors has been known through the years for its flexibility by establishing new trends in the door world.
Bifold Liftstrap Doors
The Schweiss Patented Lift-Strap design has virtually revolutionized the bifold door industry and made us a leader in the bifold door market. It utilizes nylon web material rated for 29,000 lbs. that quietly and smoothly lifts and lowers the door. Straps are quiet, clean, faster, rust-free, durable and longer lasting than steel cables. Schweiss doors are custom-made to precisely fit your opening without loss of headroom. We can also do custom cuts to follow your roofline to gain more headroom.
Retrofit Existing Cable Doors
For years, bifold doors all around the country have been lifted and lowered by the conventional means of steel cables. Schweiss Doors has figured out a way to convert and modernize those existing cable bifold doors manufactured by other companies with its innovative liftstraps conversion kit that has easy to follow do-it-yourself install instructions. Schweiss Doors has been happy to accommodate all these requests.
Hydraulic One-Piece Doors
Schweiss Doors leads the construction industry with its one-piece Hydraulic doors. Builders like the clean, yet rugged design of these sturdy, yet smooth and quiet-operating doors. What sets us apart and makes us stand out in the market is our patented robust wrap-around hinge design with grease zerks; double push tubes, spherical bearings, hydraulic windpins and heavy-duty cylinders that provide super stability. These big doors are in demand for agricultural buildings, aircraft hangars, residential designer door use and more. As one builder commented, "Hydraulic doors with the Schweiss name, it doesn't get any better!"
The Leader in the "Designer Door" World
Schweiss created a new world of interest from architects and builders throughout the country.
Our philosophy is: "You Think It, We'll Build It."
Ask any Schweiss Designer Door owner: Chances are very good that they'll say purchasing a Schweiss bifold or hydraulic door of any style was one of the best investments and smartest decisions they ever made. Schweiss door aesthetics are one factor, but what really matters is quality of construction and door longevity with reliable, efficient performance for years to come.
Schweiss glass designer doors enhance the interiors and exteriors of homes and offices; blending in so well that sometimes you have to look twice to see it's actually a door, room divider or moving glass wall. There are many choices of decorative door coverings that can be clad with siding to blend in with adjacent walls. You may also want to choose from glass, metal or vinyl siding, decorative wood, translucent panels, decorative and custom windows and trim, stucco, rock face material and more to make your door one of a kind with its own unique style.
Whether it be a hydraulic or bifold style door our outstanding long line of Designer Doors are used on homes, restaurants, stadiums, museums, RV garages and more.
Schweiss Ships Globally
Doors manufactured at our facility are shipped throughout the country on semi-loads, shipping containers for overseas, or they can also be picked up directly from our factory. Our doors are easy-to-install by the owner or by our skilled installation crews. Wherever you may want doors delivered to, we can arrange for local, national and international shipments.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU BUY AN EXISTING HANGAR!
Picture this scenario: You are in the market for an existing hangar or hangar home. The neighbor on the left has a nice place with a hangar door from one manufacturer; the neighbor to the right has an equally nice hangar or hangar home. Which of these properties do you think has more value or resale value?
Before you make your decision on which hangar door to buy, take the time to do your homework on the reputation and quality of the door brand on the hangar or building; the door can play a large role on which home has more value. The door can be the deal breaker!
The door on it should be more than just a door. It should compliment your property as a whole and blend in with its surroundings. It should be a door that your neighbors and friends envy and compliment you on.
Important Considerations:
• What kind of door is on the hangar structure?
• Find out the age of the door and how much use it has seen.
• Is it a bifold door with liftstraps or cables?
• Is it a one-piece hydraulic door?
• How old is the door, are there still parts available?
• Is there a door company willing to service the existing door?
IS THE HANGAR DOOR SIZED FOR YOUR AIRCRAFT?
Verify the door width and height when the door is fully open. Will it be large enough for your aircraft or for larger aircraft you may consider buying in the future? If you trade up - can you get the door to open up further? It's important to measure the door opening when the door is fully opened.
PARKING ISSUES IN FRONT TO THE HANGAR DOOR
Bifold doors allow you to park close to the door and allow more room in front of the door. Hydraulic doors, when opening, swing out away from the hangar and take up more space in front of the door opening. Which door will fit you best?
Keep This In Mind . . .
Hydraulic
Don't Park Too Close!
Bifold
Parking Not A Problem
Stay back
Space saver
More swing
Less swing
HYDRAULIC DOOR OBSERVATIONS:
• Does the door seal tight?
• Does the door creep open overnight?
• Listen for high squealing noises coming from the pump.
• Do the cylinders have spherical bearings?
• Does the door have velocity fuses and counter- balance valves?
• Research to see if the door is only using restrictors ... will the door come down if a hydraulic line breaks?
• Are there any hydraulic leaks coming from the cylinders or the pump?
• Is there oil leakage on the floor?
• Do the door hinges have grease zerks?
• Does the hydraulic system have an oil filter and important easy to read gauges?
• Does the hydraulic door have a window near the control station to check if the area outside is clear before opening?
BIFOLD DOOR OBSERVATIONS:
• Does the door seal tight?
• When operating the door verify that the door stops when you push the stop button.
• Are there safety shields on the lift drum and chain drive components?
• Do cables need replacing because they are frayed or overwrapped?
• Does it have a working automatic or manual latching system?
• Is there a remote opening system on the door?
DON'T BUY INTO THOSE CABLE STORIES
On a bifold door, if someone tells you that cables are as good as liftstraps - they're not. They don't have the lifting capability of straps and straps don't require the maintenance or replacement like cables that can overwrap, fray or break. Liftstraps have taken over the outdated cable door market.
DOOR COMPANY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS . . .
There is a particular brand of hydraulic door that is no longer in business, and getting service is almost impossible.
Or you thought you found the perfect hangar, only to find out after you made the purchase that the door that came with the hangar is a lemon. The company who manufactured the door is no longer in business. No Technical Support, No Service, No Parts . . . No One To Go To ! ! !
In some cases when a company has gone bankrupt its name has been changed or acquired through a new ownership process. But still they may not be able or willing to provide parts or service of any kind on that particular brand door that is out in the field and still in use today! Service can be a real issue for the party considering purchase of a hangar with a door that nobody is willing to service!
Schweiss has had calls from customers reporting they were in need of replacement parts. Others reported their hydraulic door had failures and no one was returning their phone calls when they needed repair or help with their broken door! Identify the door you are about to purchase; it gets costly to replace a door, so find out who manufactured the door!
Research The Company Who Manufactured The Door:
• Are they still in business?
• How long have they been in business?
• Call the door company and see if they can find the door you are about to purchase to verify they have a record on file of the door and can provide parts or service in the future!
• Are they able and willing to service that particular door?
• Have the existing door owner provide you with phone numbers and contact information for who may offer service to your door.
Have A Qualified Technician Inspect The Hangar Door
When homes are sold most states require a certified home inspection. The same quality inspection should be performed on the door especially to see if it is equipped with the proper safety features required. It may save you dollars down the road.
Test Operate The Door
Does it open and close smoothly; does it lock in tight to the building? Does it have a weathertight seal to eliminate water or rodents from running into the hangar? How fast does it lift and close? Is the motor big enough for the weight of the door? What condition are the hinges in? Does it creak and groan and show frailty under strain? Does the door open all way to the top and close all the way to the bottom? From inside the hangar, can you see streaks of daylight peeking through the top, bottom and sides of the door?
Safety First
The most important factor to consider is safety. An unsafe door can cause damage to property and even life itself.
A safe door also gives you peace of mind. Does the hangar door need updated safety features added? Know what safety precautions should be built into, or may need to be added to the door, to keep it safe and with the quality to
operate safely for years to come.
Does the door have the necessary safety and compliance features such as photo eyes, safety edge, limit switches that work to stop the door on open and closing settings?
BACKUP SYSTEM
Does the door have one or more backup systems in place to open or close it if you experience a loss of power to the hangar? Is this even an option on the door that's in place? Check into it!
Fulfill Your Dreams For Your Next Door
Schweiss Doors looks forward to the opportunity to design and manufacture a custom-made bifold, hydraulic or
designer door system that is best suited for your needs.
Eventually, your property will change hands. By putting a quality "name brand" bifold or hydraulic door on your building, your resale value will multiply and your chances of selling your property will take the fast track. The quality of a door can compliment or ruin a sale.
Door owners, architects and contractors often want to put a stylish designer door look on residential and commercial doors. This may call for a myriad of cladding options such as glass, wood, stucco, etc. Schweiss is aware of the intricacies involved on how to design these type of doors. Schweiss Doors helps their customers bring their dreams to the table and Schweiss is able to make those dreams come true by caring for each and every fine detail and by listening to their clients needs; we are not just a company that is only an "order taker." Schweiss Doors has an extensive website that can answer most of your questions and experienced and knowledgeable personnel that can answer any and all questions put before them. We are committed to serving our customers long after the sale.
Reputation
An established, thriving business like Schweiss Doors speaks for itself treating its customers with respect, offering
a fair price, and most of all, with a quality product that is built to last the ages . . . and they have a track record that goes back many years! Schweiss is a company that offers the whole turnkey package and stands by its product with service after the sale. Testimonials from past customers are a good ruler to measure the Schweiss reputation and service they have offered over the years.
"The Best Bifold and Hydraulic Doors on the Market
have the Schweiss Name on Them.
You Think It . . . We'll Build It!"
When Customers need a door they can Trust...
They Come To
