In 1954, Joe LaForce, in partnership, bought a hardware supply business in downtown Green Bay. Three years later, Joe bought out the partnership and formed LaForce Builder's Hardware. During the next 12 years, LaForce Builder's Hardware expanded its product line to include commercial hollow metal frames.
By 1969, it became apparent that in order to sell with consistent quality and make timely deliveries, LaForce would need in-house door and frame production capability. Fortunately, well-timed acquisitions of bending and cutting machinery provided LaForce with the necessary assets to manufacture its own line of innovative custom frames. To reflect the added capabilities, the company name was changed to LaForce Hardware & Manufacturing Corporation. With modern machinery and corrosion resistant galvanneal as a standard for all LaForce frames, LaForce manufactures top quality doors and frames.
Shortly after the manufacturing process was first expanded, LaForce began to expand from a regional supplier to southern Wisconsin and the Chicago area. In 1988, a sales office was established in Chicago and year later an office opened in Milwaukee. Today these offices are located in Vernon Hills, Ill. (Chicago area) and Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Milwaukee area). In 1993, a third office was established in Madison, Wis. The acquisition of ALCO Building Products in 2001 brought LaForce into Cincinnati, Oh., becoming the fourth branch office. To service the needs of customers in southern Chicago, a branch office was opened in Willowbrook, Ill., in 2004. Our newest branch office is located in Auburn Hills, Mich. Each location offers expanded office and shop space as well as expanded inventory storage.
In the last ten years, LaForce has expanded its operations to include residential and security hardware. In 2000, LaForce acquired Nicolet Lock & Alarm Inc., adding security and access control capabilities to the company. The residential hardware portion of the business has grown greatly. LaForce now has decorative hardware showrooms in Green Bay, Madison, and Menomonee Falls.
