Merillat Cabinet
Merillat cabinets are one of the most successful lines of cabinets in the U.S. In fact, Merillat claims to be the number one choice among homebuilders and home remodelers when looking to buy cabinets for their clients. The moat attractive feature of the Merillat cabinets is the variety of price range offered by this manufacturer. Apart from that, it also comes in different styles and finishing as well.
How it all began
The Merillat cabinets enjoy a rich and long history of being a prominent player in this industry. It began in 1946 when the company was founded in Adrian, Michigan by Orville&Ruth. It started of as Merillat Woodworking Company and focuses on the manufacture of custom kitchen cabinets. The first line of product introduced into the marketplace was the Merillat Kitchen of Birch. The design was sold primarily to local customers around the area.
The Rapid Expansion
The mid 1950’s showed a significant improvement in the demand for Merillat cabinet. Merillat market share rising dramatically and the company had to move to a new production space which is also located in Adrian. This is a new 15,000 square foot of raw space targeted specifically for the production of the successful cabinets range.
With the introduction of the new marketing strategy, the revenues for Merillat cabinet soon surpass one million dollars in 1959.
With this astounding success, Merillat cabinet continues to make its mark of excellence among the American consumers It soon expanded its product range to include bath cabinet with the new self-close hinge, complete with glossy laminates and the revolutionary aluminum drawer glides. Merillat was known for its innovative designs and in fact, the company received a patent in 1962 for its hinges which was a new invention at that time. The new hinges replaced magnetic hinges and this revolutionary move made Merillat a respected player in this industry and a force to be reckoned with by its competitors.
New Designs
Merrilat cabinets made its second breakthrough in this industry with its revolutionary line of reversible door and drawers which actually feature two different and interesting grained designed laminates. There is also the new hollow core laminated doors which actually steer away form the Birch and moving into the more lightweight and highly durable alternative. The rising demand saw the expansion of the Merillat woodworks organization into its new 135,000 square feet plant in Adrian in 1964.
Another Patent
In 1968, Richard Merillat, the son of the founder secured another patent for the company with the newly designed romance cabinet line. The new series was awarded a special patent for its innovative way of using the injection molded plastic doors. This is considered the first invention in the industry. With this technology, it delivers the special look and feel of wood without the hassles of expensive materials which can be less durable.
In 1971, along with the 25th anniversary of the company, the company was renamed as the Merillat industries. The new breath of life soon transformed the production of the cabinets into new and diverse range which include cabinets made from solid oak; vinyl laminates panels and the revolutionary double doweled fronts. The Forest oak was introduced in the 1970’s which focuses on the use of solid oak with raised panels as it s main design theme. The solid oak frame cabinets were manufactured in the new production plant in Jackson and it soon became a tremendous success.
The company was taken over by Masco in the 1980s but the tradition of excellence remains part of the Merrilat group. The company continues to evolve with new plants built to facilitate the production of the Merillat cabinets.
Warranty
The superior quality materials are used on the production of the Merrilat cabinet and the company stands firmly behind it product by offering a solid warranty for all of it products. In fact, Merillat has three types of warranty; the lifetime warranty, the classic 5 year warranty and the Merillat essential which offer a limited one year warranty.
Today the Merillat cabinets and the Merillat industry are wholly owned by Masco Corporation. It is generally recognized as the largest and biggest manufacturer of kitchen m bath and home cabinets in the U.S. The company focuses on a diverse range of products from the high end solutions to the more humble cabinets which makes it ideal for every home. It controls 11 production plants in the U.S which makes up a key component of Masco Corporation and responsible for more than a quarter of Masco billion dollar yearly revenues.