From: PROSALES 2008
Posted on: September 18, 2008 4:01:00 PM

Hurd Files Chapter 11

Window and door maker blames bankruptcy law filing on lawsuits from millwork group.

By:: Craig Webb

Hurd Windows and Doors filed on Sept. 15 for protection against creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code. Dominic Truniger, president of the Medford, Wis.-based company, blamed the need to file on the high cost of lawsuits that Hurd assumed when it bought its millwork operation.

Hurd also said it shut down its Ohio-based vinyl operation, American WeatherSeal Co. "This will allow us to focus more resources at Hurd and at Monarch Manufacturing Co.," Truniger wrote in a letter to customers.

"As part of the bankruptcy process, we will vigorously pursue every alternative to maximize value and provide certainty for our customers, creditors and employees," Truniger added. He stressed that Hurt will seek to continue shipments of products, honor product warranties, keep employees and continue operations as usual.

Craig Webb is editor of ProSales magazine.

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Comments (12 Total)

Posted by: disgustedwithhurd | Time: 5:43 PM Thursday, February 18, 2010
I built my home in 1993 and had Hurd IC66 windows installed. When the seals started failing in 2005, I was informed of the lawsuit and settlement. Of course, I was too late to get any compensation, so I had to purchase 39 new windows (glass only) and repaired the windows. At least, I would have a 20 year warranty on these windows as per Hurd. Now as those REPLACEMENT windows are starting to fail, I am told that my warranty is gone, tough luck. Now the company is owned by someone else and has no responsibility to former customers. Just walk away. What ever happened to responsibility and doing the right thing? The old company built a poor low quality product. The new company is morally bankrupt. Change is good?

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Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 6:05 Friday, January 29, 2010
I built a brand new house 15 years ago and installed Hurd LOW E windowns throughout. The windows implode from the inside and I have lost all my insulation value. What can I do?

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Posted by: usehurd absurd | Time: 12:59 Sunday, January 24, 2010
my home was built in 1992 with all Hurd windows and doors heat mirrior 88,s Most of them have lost there vapor seal between the glass making them look like some one dumped glue between the glass viewing area.Also when the widows arrived in there wooden crates for installation they had the crating nails shot up through the sills when crated at the factory great quality control.Now i,m stuck with them because there off of waranty,what am I suppose to do get new windows for the whole house again.Your products are junk and I advise anyone to stay away from this fly by night company

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Posted by: TOBY | Time: 7:07 PM Friday, October 23, 2009
HELLO TO YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE.SURE THE COMPANY HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS BUT, WHEN I WORKED FOR THEM .I DID FOR 10 YEARS .THE COMPANY WAS ALWAYS THERE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS ,WITH THIER WINDOWS AND PATIO DOORS ,BECAUSE .THE EMPLOYEES WERE THE ONES TO FIX THEM ARE YOUS SAYING THAT IT NOT THE COMPANY IT IS THE EMPLOYEES .THIS COMPANY WAS A GOOD PLACE TO WORK ,BUT I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE LET GO .SURE I HAD ALOT OF HARD FEELING FOR THIS COMPANY BUT THEY DID WHAT THEY HAD TO DO.AND IT IS NOT THE COMPANY PRODUCTS ,IT IS THE INSTALLERS .

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Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 6:55 PM Sunday, August 16, 2009
Can't find a 3rd party who has parts for HURD windows. This practice is typical for builders - They sell a lot of junk and then file bankruptcy to avoid all lawsuits. My home was built by R.L. Moore - supposed to be a really good builder in NE Ohio, but not anymore!! Using the chealest junk he can put in a house.

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Posted by: courtney0602 | Time: 2:18 PM Saturday, August 08, 2009
Has anyone found a legal a recourse...I have 15 Hurd windows with broken seals. I have letter written on Hurd letterhead which was received on 10/20/08. I plan ti file a complaint with Office of the Attorney General

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Posted by: LEM | Time: 12:21 PM Saturday, August 08, 2009
The fact is Mr. anonymous, bad economy or not we purchased a product (Alenco) not your beloved (Hurd)windows and they failed before the bankruptcy and warranty experation. No one responded. There are good companies left that stand behind there product and workmanship. Its people like you and companies like Hurd, Alenco and a few others, making excuses. We are all in this economy and it has nothing to do with poor performing product and not standing behind it. I understand the bankruptcy laws, but it does not make them right. If the original company gave a hoot about there company and its (people),and was such a great company, they they would have made some of the liabilities such as warranties included in the deal. it happens all of the time. They just hung eveybody out to dry with a product that neber lived up to its claim.

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Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 2:06 PM Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Seven years ago we put new Hurd windows in our home in northern Mi and for sven winters I have done some kid of fixit to stop the air/wind leaks where the bottom sash meets the stoop all I got from Hurd was adjustmentsparts for under the locks and oversize seals for the sashes did they work only partially would I use Hurd again not on your best day as a salesman. When you argue symantics such as the spelling of a name you have lost the arguement as far as this writer is concerned, if you want to stay in business you must furnish your customer a product that will DO what is expected for the timeline that you advertise.

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Posted by: ramey3 | Time: 9:09 PM Monday, March 23, 2009
Lousy is a nice word for what I would like to call this company. Like obviously many others we too have had faulty, leaking and poor quality windows that have caused extreme damage to our new home costing us thousands to repair. We also received the to bad so sad attitude from this company after reporting to them several times asking to honor their warranty that clearly states we stand behind our product. What they should have printed for their logo is we stand behind no one not even the companies selling our products. We also wonder if the CEO of this company can see out of his heat mirrored glass windows clearly or wether he's had them all replaced at no cost to him--oh by the way that part of their product failed also and they no longer make replacement windows to match the rest of the windows in your less than 5 year old home. Maybe if Hurd would like to maintain their highly respected name they should take care of the average family who purchased their product-- after all is it really our fault the company selling Hurd windows went bankrupt.

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Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 11:56 Saturday, February 28, 2009
Both of the above comments are uneducated and ignorant of the facts. Hurd Windows & Doors was purchased out of bankruptcy, and the new owners purchased only the assets of the old company, including the brand, physical plants and equipment. As of Dec 11, 2008 the old company ceased to exist, and the new company HWD Aquisitions, Inc took over ownership and formed a new company, using the Hurd brand which is highly respected and well known in the industry. The new owners did not take on the liabilities of the old company including pending lawsuits and warranties, and as such are not obligated to honor any of the old warranties. Unfortunate, but a fact of life in any circumstance involving bankruptcy and new ownership obligations. Hurd continued to operate through the bankruptcy issues from Septemeber 15 through the purchase December 12, now has new and improved warranties as well as being one of the most well capitalized in the window and door business today. Saying you will go buy windows from another company that honors it's warranties (by the way, it's spelled Andersen, not Anderson, which is interesting that it was spelled wrong by emis)is silly since you cannot predict who will be effected by this economy, and anyone who goes into bankruptcy and is lucky enough to be purchased can just as easily encounter the same issues. No one is immune in this economy. It's interesting the lack of appreciation for the fact the Hurd product and brand is still here and although parts are no longer covered under old warranties, the parts are at least available. Had new owners not seen the value in Hurd windows, it's people and future, you might not be able to get parts for your windows at all. Also, bryeana1's problem with the nail flange breaking loose and splitting sounds like an installation problem with the contractor, not a quality problem with the window. Not sure what is 'costly' but a nail flange amounts to about $2 to replace. Emis is complaining about vinyl windows which were not produced by Hurd but by another company owned by parent Monarch Holdings, some of which had Hurd labels applied, and that company, American Weatherseal closed in September due to a bad economy, the housing slump and of course virtually no business, as so many other companies are these days. Unfortunately there are no parts because there is no company left! Check your facts folks!

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Posted by: bryeana1 | Time: 2:31 PM Friday, January 30, 2009
Hurd is a lousy company.I think it is bad business to offer 20 year warrantys and file chapter 11 and not be responable for their products. I am having trouble with my windows leaking and damaging my home.The flange that holds the window from leaking has broken loose and split.This is very costly to our family and Hurd just turned their back on all warrantys. Lousy windows

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Posted by: emis | Time: 7:10 PM Sunday, October 05, 2008
Hurd is a LOUSY company. They refuse to honor their warranty on all vinyl products. A "too bad" attitude! All of us who bought Hurd products will receive no warranty parts. I was told that I had to go to a 3rd party and buy any replacement parts. No, thanks. I'll go to Anderson and get a quality rpoduct with a warranty that will be honored.

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