Viracon Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Employees at Viracon celebrate the groundbreaking of the company by forming the shape of a "V" 40 years ago on April 23, 1970.

The company opened its doors in Owatonna, Minnesota in 1970 with 20 customer service-focused employees as a local Midwest glass fabricator. Forty years later, dedication to customer satisfaction, innovation and quality has made Viracon one of the largest architectural glass fabricators in the country.

The company is a leader in providing energy efficient solutions for buildings with enhanced glazing products. Even Viracon’s name, which is derived from the words “environmental control,” has as much significance today as it did forty years ago.

Carolyn VonRuden, inside sales representative, has been with Viracon for 40 years, after joining the company’s customer service staff in 1970. She reflects fondly on her many years with the company, recalling, “We started out as a family-type atmosphere and that feeling still exists 40 years later. But it’s our customers that make working at Viracon special. We still work with many of the same companies we did 40 years ago, and we celebrate their successes like they were our own. It’s like they are our extended family.”

Innovation has been a key component in the company’s success, and it has focused on offering customers custom fabricated glass solutions with a focus on high performance coated glass, a critical feature in today’s sustainable building designs. Other fabrication capabilities include silk-screen designs and laminated glass technologies for safety, hurricane and blast applications. In the past 12 years, the company has also added new fabrication facilities in Statesboro, Georgia and St. George, Utah to expand its market capacity.

From its modest Midwestern start, Viracon has grown to become one of the premier glazing fabricators in the world. In fact, the company has supplied glass to five of the world’s 10 tallest buildings and worked on groundbreaking projects from The New York Times building, the Pentagon, One World Trade Center and Cowboys Stadium.

Throughout the wide variety of projects over the years, Viracon’s focus has remained on its customers. “Viracon’s 40 years of success was created by a dedicated team of employees, block and tackling every day to serve the needs of our customers,” says Viracon founder and current board member James L. Martineau.

The company will be celebrating its 40th anniversary all year long at www.viracon.com with project features, testimonials, videos and more. Check back often for the latest content.

For additional information, call 800-533-2080, email glass@viracon.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.viracon.com 

About Viracon

Viracon is based in Owatonna, Minnesota, and has facilities in Statesboro, Georgia and St. George, Utah. The company is an international company of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. Viracon produces high-performance glass products, including tempered, laminated, insulating, silk-screened and high-performance coatings. Apogee Enterprises, Inc. is a leading fabricator, distributor and installer of value-added glass products and systems. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company’s stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol APOG.

Contact Information: Christine Shaffer, Marketing Manager Viracon 800-533-2080 ext. 53490 cshaffer@viracon.com

Janet Ryan Ryan Public Relations 314-822-8860 janet@ryan-pr.com