US Development
In 1930, Frederick C Crawford and some investors from Thompson Products of Cleveland, Ohio founded the Crawford Door Company. A small operation began in Detroit, Michigan making Garage doors; and later, industrial door production is added to the portfolio. In 1962, Frederick Crawford sold the domestic operation of Crawford Door.
International Development
1956 Fred Bengtsson obtains the rights to resell the Crawford product range in Europe.
1960's
1960 Crawford Door European Co AB is formed
1962 Own hardware production starts. Sales subsidiary in Finland and distributor agreement in Norway
1964 New technical concept of overhead sectional doors are sold to Swedish motor vehicle inspection in Sweden. A unique production technique with a first production line is introduced at Torslanda factory, Sweden
1966 Sales subsidiaries in Denmark and The Netherlands
1968 Sales subsidiary in Great Britain.
1970's
1970 50% Share in Norwegian distributor Noractor
1971 Sales subsidiaries in Germany and Belgium
1973 Sales subsidiary in France. Production in The Netherlands
1974 Jim Walter Company, Beijerinvest becomes 100% shareowner in Crawford European Co AB
1975 Sales subsidiary in Norway
1976 Distributor agreement in Iceland
1977 World’s first process laminated industrial door launched. Sales subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates.
1978 New door process lamination facility in Torslanda
1979 Distributor agreement signed in Austria and Kuwait.
1980's
1981 Distributor agreements in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia with a new door assembly plant
1982 Crawford Group acquired by Swedish industrial group Sonessons
1983 Docking is part of Crawford’s core business
Acquisisiton of Swedish Utec-porten, later (1988) renamed to Megadoor. Sales subsidiary in Switzerland. First in the world with electronics-based door automatic system, dveloped in Strömstad, Sweden
1984 Acquisition of German Krueger
1985 Part acquisition of French Clever. Remaining part acquired in 1989
1986 Sales subsidiary in Italy. Acquisition of Austrian distributor Blasnik. Sales subsidiary in Singapore, distributor agreement in Greece. Rapid roller door introduced, addtional plant for docking opened in torslanda, Sweden. Volvo acquires Sonessons and the Crawford operations are included in the group which later became Cardo.
1989 Acquisition of Danish Faltec. Distributor agreements signed in Cyprus and Taiwan. Sales subsidiary in Spain. Joint ventrue in Saudi Arabia for a door factory.
1990's
1990 Acquisition of Swedish Igelfors, acquisition of 25% of German Sommer. Crawford first to exclude freons from manufacturing processes for insulated doors.
1991 Distributor agreement in Estonia. Acquisition of Finnish Matin Hissi
1992 Acquisition of French Hymeca. Distributor agreements in Hungary, Poland, theCzech Republic, Slovakia, Portugal, Turkey, Malaysia, Brunei and Hong Kong. Start of cooperation with Chamberlain, US for residental garage doors
1995 Distributor agreement in China. Asia coordination office in Hong Kong.
1996 Residential garage doors introduced. Acquisition of Dutch Alsta, Swedish Carpro and service operation of Danish Windsor.
1997 Acquisition of Swedish Allhabo and German Nornstahl including Abon. Crawford largest garage door manufacturer in Europe. Distributor agreements in Latvia and Lithuania. Sales subsidiary in Poland. Joint ventrue with Chineese Shenyang Liming
1998 Acquisition of German Hafa
1999 Sales subsidiary in China.
The New Millenium
2000 Acquisition of British P C Henderson, Danish Miflex and Frensh Quest Fermetures
2001 Sales subsidiary in Hungary
2002 Acquisition of Amber Doors in the UK
2003 Acquisition of FrenshSEA. Distributor agreement in Romania
2004 Acquisition of distributor in Portual B Geyssel. Distributor agreement in Croatia
2006 Acquisition of Finnish MNC and Spaish Combursa. Acquisition of a Romanian company. Assembly unit in Turkey established.
UK Specific Development
1968 Crawford begins operating in the UK
1991 Acquisition of Faltec Doors
1998 Acquisition of German company, Hafa
1999 Company name changed to Crawford Hafa Limited
2002 Acquisition of Amber Doors
2003 Company name changed to Crawford Amber Limited
2005 Restructure of company, closure of production plant in the UK and centralisation of Service branch network to two offices in Stoke-on-Trent and Livingston. Primary Head office relocated to Sheffield.
2006 Company name changed to Crawford UK Limited
2007 Sales operation in Ireland commences
2008 England & Wales Service operation relocates to Sheffield.
2011 ASSA ABLOY acquires Cardo and Crawford becomes part of the division ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems.