Anthony Manufacturing Company to ANTHONY INTERNATIONAL -
A History of over 45 Years of Market Leadership
The Anthony story began with two enterprising young men who were in the right place, at the right time, with the right product. The continued success of the company, however, has been based on a combination of hard work, excellent employees, good business sense, innovative ideas, and the ability to meet the demands of the marketplace. Anthony's quality products and excellent after-sale service are what later established it as the world's largest manufacturer of glass doors and display equipment. Here's a look back at Anthony's 49 years of quality and service:
1958: Anthony's Refrigerations Service Company was founded by Gerald Anthony Linglebach and Michael Stromquist, who manufactured an aluminum/glass refrigerator door, unique in design with the first self-closing mechanism.
1960: Anthony's Manufacturing Co., Inc. was opened in Glendale, CA with increased sales across the western U.S.
1965: To meet the growing demand for Anthony doors, a larger facility was built in San Fernando (Sylmar), CA. A new glass division, Anglass Industries, was formed, and within 2 years was producing tempered insulated glass units and a proprietary heated glass - making Anthony the only door manufacturer to possess this high-tech process.
1974: With rising U.S. energy costs, Anthony developed a new Retrofit program, fitting multideck open cases with glass doors, and reducing in-store energy usage by up to 60%. Anthony also introduced a line of Gravity-Feed shelving, offering store owners big reductions in labor costs for merchandising.
1986: Anthony was sold to The Northern Group. With new ideas for energy efficiency emerging in the industry, Anglass began production of its heat-reflective glass, further reducing energy requirements for Anthony doors.
1987: Anthony introduced its Reversible door - another industry first.
1989: Anthony offered a new economically priced 401 Series cooler/freezer package.
1993: Anthony introduced its unique "2100 Designer Series". Cooler/freezer doors with an "all glass" appearance were offered in a variety of border colors to coordinate with store and product design. Also introduced that year was its Electronic Lighting System (ELS) which permanently revolutionized the industry's lighting standards.
2001: AI introduced the first completely energy-free "Eliminaator" door line. Its low temp glass pack met CRMA conditions, with quick clear time - making it the most energy-efficient door & frame system in the refrigeration industry.
2002: Anthony International acquired Ardco and DisplayRite from Carrier Corp.
2005: AI acquired Pike Door Products in Elizabeth, NJ. Maintaining their existing plant, Pike added a wider variety of PVC sliders to the AI product line. AI also developed and introduced a revolutionary lighting system for commercial refrigeration - "OptiMax" LED Lighting, currently available on most AI door lines.
2006: A new low-energy door & frame system, "Eliminaator2" was introduced, contributing to AI's new EPA designation as Energy Star Partner. This inspired the combination of "the best of the best" of Anthony products and technology - in the new "E-S-P" System: the world's first ENERGY-FREE aluminum cooler and freezer door system to meet ASHRE/CRMD conditions.
2007: AI installed an automatic sealed glass unit production machine - LISEC - using soft-edge glass technology for low-energy and energy-free doors.
August 1 - SOVIS, North America became part of the AI corporate family, giving AI customers the options of tempered bent and curved glass in custom shapes and finished edges.
November 1 - Introduction of a new generation of the "AI OptiMax "LED Lighting system with lower cost and lower energy use, specifically designed for Anthony International door lines!
November 16 - AI acquired Flying Glass Co. in Shanghai, the largest high-end glass door producer in China. Specializing in insulated glass doors with tempered flat or curved glass (heated and non-heated), Flying Glass serves the commercial refrigeration markets in China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, S. Korea, Singapore, and some Western European countries.
2008: Introduction of AI's newly developed and patented "OptiMax2" LED lighting - with higher quality and performance and lower cost. This system available in two versions: High Output for maximum brightness, and Low Output for maximum energy savings.
Anthony International remains the world's leading manufacturer of commercial glass refrigerator and freezer doors, lighting systems, and display equipment - focusing on continued customer support and product development, and poised for significant future growth!