About Us

From the beginning our vision has been to earn a reputation of providing a high level of service to our customers and to continually offer products that are innovative, durable, energy efficient and of the highest industry standards. Dedication to our vision has allowed us to provide a broad yet concise range of residential and commercial sectional overhead doors and operating systems.

Family owned and operated since 1973, Upwardor continues to improve and add new products that are BUILT STRONG. BUILT RIGHT. A brief glance at the milestones in our history:

  • 1973
    		• Upward Garage Door Services established as a small installation/service company in Toronto, Ontario
  • 1975
    		• Upward Garage Doors incorporates as Upward Garage Doors Limited
  • 1976
    		• Introduce the AL976™ Aluminum Framed Full View Door
  • 1979
    		• Upward Garage Door moves into first manufacturing plant located in Mississauga, Ontario
  • 1982
    		• Introduce the Solalite™ Polycarbonate Door (car wash), which is the only door in the market with a continuous hinge and a thermally broken frame.
  • 1985
    		• Upward Garage Doors pioneers the development of first foam-in-place steel polyurethane doors. The Thermalex door series was born
  • 1986
    		• First shipment to the United States, Kansas City, Kansas
  • 1987
    		• First shipment over seas to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 1990
    		• Pow'AIR'Dor™ Pneumatic Door operating system (car wash) is formally introduced and patented (US Patent # 4,891,908 Canada 1,327,056)
  • 1992
    		• Upward Garage Door divides into two companies and becomes Upward Door Systems Limited, a service/installation company and Upwardor Corporation (UDC). The split enables UDC to dedicate itself and future growth exclusively to manufacturing and wholesale.
  • 1993
    		• UDC builds first continuous process line to manufacture Thermalex product.
  • 1994

    • Thermalex series begins being manufactured on new fully automated Continuous Foam-in-Place line process.
  • 1996

    • UDC begins bulk/slab program with dealers in Canada & USA.
  • 1996

    • UDC establishes first over seas branch, Upward Door Systems Ltd. In Malta, Europe.
  • 1999

    • UDC designs and begins to build second fully automated continuous process line for residential pinch-resistant doors
  • 2000
    		• UDC moves into new 65,000 sq.ft. state of the art manufacturing facility in Milton, Ontario
  • 2001
    		• UDC purchases majority of the roll forming equipment from local door manufacturer including track equipment and pan type non-insulated door.
  • 2001
    		• UDC designs and patents Stylistic Pinch Resistant Residential Garage Door (US Patent # 6,363,993)
  • 2002
    		• UDC releases Stylistic residential garage door.
     

    All of these developments occurred "in-house" through progressive design. At present Upwardor occupies over 90,000 sq.ft. of modern production facilities. The main plant contains two continuous foam-in-place lines along with a full range of roll forming and stamping machinery.

    Upwardor has experienced tremendous growth and development since our humble beginnings three decades ago. We take pride in building lasting partnerships with our dealers who specialize in the installation and service of overhead products that meet the diverse demands of end users both in domestic and export markets.