How Did Genie Become One Of The Largest Garage Door Opener Manufacturers

The Genie Company was one of the first to get a jumpstart on business during World War II by building a solid reputation for delivering quality products to the market for the military.  Post-World War II they ventured into the garage door opener market and quickly became a leader with their innovative approach in delivering the best technology available.  They made sure they plenty of funding into Research and Development to be the best manufacturer in the market.  As they grew to become a worldwide company in the mid-1980’s, they were eventually bought by the Overhead Door Corporation in 1994 under Sanwa Holdings Corporation, a company that by philosophy, offers products and services that provide safety, security and convenience.  Today, Overhead Door Corporation has five operational divisions:

Access Systems Division (Overhead Door and Wayne Dalton)

Overhead door has been a pioneer in the industry inventing the first overhead door in 1921 and the first electric opener in 1926.  Overhead Door now has a nationwide network of over 450 authorized Ribbon distributors.  In 1954, Wayne Dalton, a small garage door business owner invented a wooden door that folded horizontally to store itself overhead.  That invention marked the birth of the company that has become known for developing and introducing innovative garage door design ideas and storm protection and access systems products.  Wayne Dalton has grown to serve customers across North America and Europe today.

The Genie Company

Genie’s roots go back to 1926 when the Alliance Manufacturing Company was founded as a maker of toys and motorized tools.  Since the introduction of the first Genie Screw Drive garage door opener in 1954, The Genie Company has led the industry with garage door openers, parts and accessories products recognized around the globe.

Horton Automatics

Delivers automatic entrance systems to commercial and industrial markets.  Approximately 35,000 automatic doors, revolving doors, security entrances and windows are shipped annually to restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, airports, hotels, casinos, office buildings, convenience stores, retail food stores and government buildings, etc.  The company is based out of Corpus Christi, Texas.

TODCO

The largest producer of upward acting doors for the transportation industry worldwide.  Founded in 1957, the company manufacturers and markets overhead and swing doors.  Based in Marion, Ohio, Todco serves customers from plants in Ohio and Mexico.

Creative Door Services Ltd.

Has provided door products and services to the residential, commercial and industrial markets in Western Canada for over 40 years.  Credited for completing some of the biggest commercial and industrial jobs in the industry, their reputation for delivering quality is well known in the industry.  

The parent company has strategically acquired companies that make them one of the top vertically integrated names in the garage door industry able to use their different businesses as a complement to one another.

Published by AAA Remotes

Different Ways A Garage Door Can Injure You If Not Handled Properly

Many people don't realize the potential dangers posed by their automatic garage door. They're the heaviest and largest piece of moving equipment in the home. It's important to not let children operate your garage doors at all or at least under supervision as they can lead to injury and risk of deadly consequences. Children can easily get trapped beneath a door when they try to duck under it and could easily get their small hands or arms stuck in the mechanism. They could also lower the door accidentally on themselves or someone else if they happen to push the wrong buttons. Make sure you know how to keep and your family safe. Here are some helpful tips to consider:

Keep Doors Fully Closed Or Open

Automatic garage doors should be should be left only in the fully open or fully closed positions. Keep pets and people away from the door when moving or partially open/closed. Whenever they are partially closed or open this creates an entrapment hazard. "Garage doors weigh as much as 600 pounds and can cause serious injury or even death if they're not used with care," according to Barbara Guthrie, Consumer Affairs UL Vice President. "Although UL listed residential garage door openers manufactured since 1993 have been enhanced with anti-entrapment features, homeowners should not take safety for granted," Guthrie adds.

Test Your Garage Door Monthly

The garage door must reverse on contact. Lay a 1-1/2 inch high object on the floor which could be a 2 by 4 piece of lumber laid flat. If the door doesn't stop and reverse after contact with the object, disconnect the operator and use the door manually until the operator is replaced or repaired by a qualified technician. There could be something wrong with the opener or springs of the garage door that could cause harm or injury.

Use Of The Emergency Release

Weak or broken springs are capable of increasing the rate of door closure. Use caution when using the emergency release with the door open. This is one of the major causes of injury if not treated properly.

Keep The Garage Door Balanced

An improperly balanced door could be the cause of frayed cables or worn spring assemblies and other hardware. Make sure your garage door is balanced. You can use level to check periodically to avoid risks. Be preventative in your approach to garage door maintenance. Check garage door parts on a regular basis and if you see a potential problem contact a local expert technician to check and repair or replace parts before they become a hazard.

Genie G3T-BX Programming Instructions (Step By Step)

The G3T-BX remote control is preset for use with the IntelliCode® 2 Access Security System but can be configured for use with the IntelliCode®1 Access Security System.  To program your opener and remote control follow these 6 easy steps:

1)  Press and hold the square program button on the opener and hold for 5 seconds.  You should see both Blue LEDs come on.

2)  Release.  You should see the round blue LED come on.

3)  Press the program button and release.  You should see the long purple LED flashing.

4)  Press the remote and release (the button you want to program).  You should see the long purple LED come on steady.

5)  Press and release the remote button again.  You should see both LEDs flash blue and go off.

6)  Press and release the remote button a third time.

Programming is complete and the remote button can now be used to operate your opener.  Repeat as necessary for other remotes or buttons on the same remote.

What Will Garages Look Like In 2030?

Ever wonder how garages will evolve in 20 years? Right now, the transition is happening. As we move into 2013, two industries have had a significant impact on almost every other industry across the board. Computer and Environmental Technologies have created a revolution and impacted affected industries across the board significantly over the past 10 to 20 years..... and they're still in their infancy with vast improvements introduced yearly. Here's some areas where we've seen these technologies impact the garage industry.

Your Phone Will Be Your New Garage Door Opener Remote

Wireless home networks have been in use for awhile now inside the home but as they apply to garages it's still a whole new turf. Mobile applications are becoming prevalent with the increased use of smartphones and tablets and will soon replace the garage door opener remote as we know it today. With the touch of a button and eventually even by voice activation, you will be able to send a variety of commands from any distance to your home. Through a series of Ethernet cords and radio transmitters, a new technology is on it's way that allows you to rapidly enter garage through one tap on your phone that will include additional safety and convenience benefits as well. One less device to carry with you or in your vehicle.

Recycle, Reuse - Who Will Know The Difference?

More and more manufacturers are starting to use recycled materials for the construction of garages. They are finding that recycled woods, metals and glass doors and can actually save them money and thus save the consumer money in the end. They're finding the materials just as reliable as other materials currently used in manufacturing garage doors and finding the recycled materials more readily available, more reliable than in the past and reasonable in cost. Refurbished garage door opener parts will be more readily available and cost effective as well.

This is just the tip of the iceberg with these industries who have yet to discover the plethora of possibilities for the future of garage doors. There is so much more to come as creative inventors and developers plunge into territories not yet explored in these industries. Their abilities are only limited by our imaginations.

Genie® Expands Into Commercial Market With Major New Product Line

MT. HOPE, OH (May 2012) – The Genie® Company announces a product line expansion with the launch of its new Commercial Line of door operators. Genie is expanding its well-known iconic brand to commercial and industrial markets with an extensive line of heavy, standard, medium, and light-duty models.

With the addition of commercial operators, Genie can now offer single source shopping to dealers and distributors who need high quality, reliable, and competitively priced operators for their industrialized markets, in addition to their residential segment.

Mike Kridel, Genie President, said, “We are extremely proud of the effort and dedication of our entire staff to get us to this point with the logical expansion of our product line into the commercial and industrial segments. I am confident that once dealers and their installers are able to work directly with our operators and experience them first-hand, the product portfolio will become a valuable and profitable asset to their overall business.”

Some of the outstanding features included in the Genie commercial line include:

MultiVoltTM Setting: Ability for the voltage to be selected on the job site. Units come either single or three phase and then can be configured for a specific voltage when they are installed.

LCD Display: Every unit comes with a 16-character display that guides the installer through the set-up of the operator. The display shows operating status and is also used for diagnostics when necessary.

EZLimitTM System: Provides for push-to-set limits directly from the LCD set-up menus. Move the door to where you want it and hit the button to set that limit.

TensiBeltTM Drive: Auto tensioning belt system that sets the proper belt tension and needs no re-tensioning over the life of the opener.

DC Disc Brake with Progressive Braking: Adjustable braking rate set via the LCD allows for the door to come to a smooth stop.

Advanced Radio: Set up is done via the LCD display. Learn up to 50
Intellicode® I transmitters, get unique identification number assigned to each, and have the ability to delete individual transmitter I.D.s by using the display. Once a transmitter is learned every time it activates the door the identification number will be displayed and logged.

Ralph Angiuli, Commercial Product Manager, noted, “The Genie Commercial Line is feature-laden to meet the market demands of a commercial operator. Its combination of brand and design will set our dealers apart with a great opportunity for them to build their sales and profits. Our comprehensive product offering includes all the most popular commercial models ranging from light to heavy duty.”

Product models in the Heavy Duty category include: GCL-GH (Hoist) and GCL-GT (Trolley); in the Standard Duty category: GCL-J (jackshaft), GCL-H (hoist), and GCL-T (trolley); in the Medium Duty category: GCL-MJ (jackshaft), GCL-MH (hoist), and GCL-MT (trolley); and in the Light Duty category: GCL-GCX (rolling counter doors).

As part of the product launch, Genie is including in-depth materials on how to properly select the right operator for the job based on criteria such as duty cycle, door type and size, and voltage. Extensive dealer education is in process, and the company also offers a well-trained staff of customer and technical service support to ensure dealers have many different resources at their disposal for questions and guidance.

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Choosing Your Next Garage Door Opener: Genie Vs. Liftmaster

It’s not always easy to choose, especially when you’re making a long-term choice, like a new garage door opener. Liftmaster and Genie both have reputations for being leaders in garage door openers and remotes. So, which company do you choose?

It’s important for consumers to have choices when shopping, so weigh the pros and cons of both companies. Make a list of what’s great about each, and then see if that doesn’t help you to determine which company to purchase from. Both Genie and Liftmaster have their merits, but you can only install one garage door opener. When choosing between two companies, always look at the convenience and service, the quality and the price.

The length a company has been in business speaks volumes about their customer service practices. Previous good customer service is an excellent indicator that your account will be treated with the same respect. A company cannot remain in business without loyal customer and loyal customers are only bred through good business practices. Being that Genie has been in business for nearly 90 years, since 1923, it’s clear they’ve established themselves as a business consumers can trust. Similarly, Liftmaster has seen a lot of business in its 40 years.   

More people use Liftmaster garage openers than they do Genie, but this doesn’t necessarily indicate that Liftmaster garage door openers are higher quality than Genie’s. In fact, Genie’s commercial openers were voted #1 Hottest New Product at Expo 2012. Plus, their next-generation garage door opener remote control, the Closed Confirm, is a major hit with consumers and industry specialists alike. It seems Genie has won the quality round, as their innovations have resulted in some of the most desired garage openers and remote controls on the planet.

When it comes to pricing, both companies are competitive. Both Liftmaster and Genie offer sales, promotions and pricing that’s budget friendly, for the customer who can’t afford to pay more. Genie does offer their ultra-quiet PowerMax 1500 for an incredibly budget friendly price and customers also save on installation, by installing this user-friendly piece of garage equipment themselves. Starting at around, $250.00, Genie’s PowerMax 1500 certainly fits the budget of most modern homeowners. Plus, it will more than pay for itself as the years progress and it’s still working. AAA Remotes is the largest online retailer that stocks a wide variety of Genie and Liftmaster garage door openers.

When it comes to quality product, nothing is more telling than a review. Both Genie and Liftmaster have product reviews for their many garage door openers and remote controls. These reviews range from the ultra-positive to the not-so-good. In order to compare two similar products, you’ll want to comparatively read their reviews. If you’re shopping at Home Depot, or another retailer, you could also ask an associate what they think. Genie is very popular among Do-It-Yourself specialists, so don’t be surprised if your Home Depot associate directs you to their brand of garage door openers.

When it comes to garage door openers, no two companies are as widely known and debated as Genie and Liftmaster. These competing brands both have their pros and cons. At the end of the day, Genie’s commitment to excellence, good customer track record and commitment to a fair price are all viable reasons to choose their garage door openers for your garage.