Beginnings

In 1972, a manufacturing plant in Fort Scott, Kansas, was built and Craft Fabricators, Inc. started producing tub and shower doors. The company offered a complete line of framed bypass, hinge and pivot doors. During the late 1970s, the company introduced a line of mirrored wardrobe doors. The company saw rapid growth during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

In 1986, Craft Fabricators, Inc. purchased Diston Industries of Hialeah, Florida and the two companies were combined. During the next nine years, both companies continued to operate under their original company names. The merger between these two companies helped expand Craft Diston Industries into the southeastern and Latin American markets. The product lines of both companies were combined and streamlined. Old and out-dated product lines were discontinued and new, improved lines were introduced. During the early 1990s, a custom line of framed and frameless tub and shower enclosures were introduced. This new line, named QuikStik, provided a much needed easy-to-customize line of tub and shower enclosures. The QuikStik series is used for custom tub and shower door installations where multiple panels and doors are needed.

Emporia, VA Plant Started

In early 1994, Craft Diston Industries purchased a building in Emporia, Virginia, and a ground-up manufacturing plant was started. By the middle of 1994, the plant was producing and shipping doors to the surrounding states. Craft Diston Industries was now better able to provide tub & shower doors and mirror closet doors in the Middle Atlantic and Northeastern markets.

On January 1, 1995, the companies formally merged and the name of the companies officially changed to Craft Diston Industries. Up to this time, the companies had been known by their previous names, as well as, Craft Diston Industries.

The Purchase of The William's Shower Door Company

In September of 1996, Craft Diston Industries purchased the William’s Shower Door Company in Sarasota, Florida. The plant was reorganized and setup to produce the Craft Diston lines. This plant, although smaller than the other plants, helped Craft Diston Industries expand into the Northern and Western Florida markets.

The Purchase of Work Right Products

Work Right Products is a tub and shower door manufacturer that was founded in October, 1971. During the early 1970s, the company introduced a complete line of frameless-shower-enclosure products. Finding ready acceptance of the line, the company enjoyed rapid growth in the booming California residential market of the 1970s and 1980s. During this period, sales and administration were first conducted in the Bay Area while manufacturing moved to Finley, California. In 1989 / 1990, a modern, 68,000 square foot, office and manufacturing facility was built in Lakeport, California. This consolidated administration and manufacturing activities that were previously spread out among several inadequate and poorly-suited facilities.

In September 1997, Craft Diston Industries purchased Work Right Products and Work Right Products became a subsidiary of Craft Diston Industries with Work Right keeping the Work Right Products' name. The Lakeport plant made the fifth manufacturing plant and opened the California markets west of the Rocky Mountains to Craft Diston Industries. With the five manufacturing plants located across the United States, Craft Diston now had a solid network and the ability to ship doors quickly and easily anywhere in the U.S., Canada or Latin America.

Time Line

Time	Event	Comment
1972	Craft Fabricators, Inc.	Company founded.
June 1986	Diston Industries purchase.	tub & shower enclosure company purchase - expansion into Southeastern market.
July 1994	Emporia, Virginia start-up.	Ground-up establishment of tub & shower door plant - expansion into Middle Atlantic market.
January 1995	Name changes to: Craft Diston Industries.	Name changed to gain national name recognition and lessen confusion.
September 1996	William's Shower Door purchase.	Tub & shower manufacturer in Sarasota, FL purchased to position Hialeah operations in Florida west coast and Central- Florida market.
September 1997	Work Right Products purchase.	Frameless tub & shower enclosure manufacturer in California purchased to expand market area to west of Rocky Mountains.

 

The Craft Diston Industries' headquarters is located in Wichita, Kansas. The manufacturing plants are located in Hialeah, Florida; Sarasota, Florida; Lakeport, California; Emporia, Virginia; and Fort Scott, Kansas. Craft Diston Industries has three distribution centers located in San Diego, California; Solvang, California; and Grand Haven, Michigan.

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