4 minute read
Railing as Strong as it is Beautiful
SwedgeLock Aluminum Fence and Railing was the first patented no-screw aluminum system introduced to the market in the early 90s. The company’s original focus was supplying commercial balcony railing for the high-rise market in South Florida, but by 2002, SwedgeLock had evolved into a global supplier offering a full line of fence and rail products with over 600 dealers worldwide. Over the past decade, the company has concentrated mostly on multi-family business needs, offering over a dozen different styles of balcony railings.
The company uses a proprietary swedge locking process that eliminates screws, brackets, and the instability that comes with them. The original creator of the SwedgeLock system was Vern Haglund. Haglund had already made a name in the curtain wall industry, but he could see the huge demand for a non-welded aluminum railing product. Unfortunately, Haglund was killed in a private plane crash in 2002 and SwedgeLock was sold to APG Meridian. The economic turndown of 2008 forced APG to shut down its operation. In 2010, Ron Allen, purchased the assets. Allen had been a SwedgeLock dealer since 1995 and already knew the product very well. His extensive background in the installation of both fence and railing products led to a redesign of the entire product line, focusing on ease of installation and overall quality. SwedgeLock is now located in a 60,000 square-foot building in Greenville, South Carolina.
“SwedgeLock is continually improving and innovating our operation,” says Allen. “We are committed to creating quality custom aluminum fence and railing products with the highest standards of integrity and craftsmanship. Every SwedgeLock product is built to provide years of maintenance-free service - and look good doing it!”
He says SwedgeLock recently introduced a noscrew residential fence product built exclusively by the company’s patented automated panel assembly machine, The Swedgemaster 2000. This fully automated workhorse, with one operator, can build up to 150 no-screw fence panels in a single shift. Its capabilities boast a product line including 105 different styles of fence from 36-inch to 72inch in height, and only requires minutes to switch between the setups.
“We have recently aligned ourselves to sell and license the Swedgemaster 2000 and our SwedgeLock product line to manufacturers, distributors, and independent fence companies all over the world,” says Allen. “Overcoming the challenge of hiring competent, long-term employees is continually getting harder and automation in the fence industry is the only way to stay relevant and competitive in the future.”
Another new product on the horizon for SwedgeLock is the 2023 debut of a new railing in a box that can be marketed on the internet as well as to wholesalers and retailers all over the world. The system includes a uniquely efficient patented locking system that allows rail panels to be level or rackable for stairs and ramps. “We are really excited about this launch,” says Allen. “This new system is sure to make an impression in the market as a quality, low-cost alternative to what is currently available.”
Learn more at www.SwedgeLock.com.
VANGUARD
American-Made, In-Stock and Ready to Ship THIS BEAUTY IS A BEAST
BUILT TO LAST A LIFETIME
Our products are made at our state-of-the-art facility and rigorously tested to ensure the highest degree of quality.
• TGIC powder coating meets AAMA-2604 standards to ensure fi ve years of UV exposure in Florida, and 3,000 hours of humidity and salt spray.
Minimum 2 mil cured thickness for color uniformity, and resistance to impact, abrasion and chemicals. • Complies with strength requirements of the IRC 2018 building code. • Available as Standard Railing with a more narrow top rail and post, or Bold Railing with a wider and taller top rail and post. In Gloss Black, a textured Matte Black, White or Bronze.
