Eclipse Architectural is a division of A.K. Draft Seal Ltd., the largest and most successful manufacturer of weathersealing products in Western Canada. 2010 will mark their 50th year in business!
From humble beginnings
Founded in 1960 by Anton Kamensek and operated out the basement of the family home, The Draft Seal Company was the realization of Anton’s vision of starting his own weatherstripping installation company. Business increased rapidly and led, not only to a necessary relocation out of the family home, but to Anton’s first major contract as well. In 1964, Draft Seal Co. was contracted to install the interlocking weatherstripping for all 825 windows at the historic Hotel Vancouver and 41 years later, the original weatherstripping is still keeping the cold air out!
Continued growth
Incorporated in 1973 as A.K. Draft Seal Ltd, named after its founder, the company began to manufacture its own window and door weatherstripping products. In 1990 Anton retired, leaving his son Chris Kamensek in charge. Chris had been working with his father since the early 1970’s.
In 1991, shortly after Chris purchased the business, Kristrack Manufacturing Ltd., the first division of Draftseal®, was formed. Kristrack manufactures and supplies sliding and bifold door track and pocket door frames with the accompanying hardware and accessories. It was a perfect supplement to the already very successful Draftseal line of products, servicing the same industry and existing customer base.
Keys to success
One of the primary keys to Draft Seal’s success is our dedication to continually looking forward for more product opportunities and ensuring these products meet current market demands. We do this utilizing crucial customer feedback, as well as ensuring all new products complement our existing line.
A new company is born
In 2001, Kristrack Manufacturing found and exciting new product that we definitely felt would enhance our existing product line. It was a new generation of hardware systems for exterior folding doors and windows from Centor Architectural out of Australia. The response to this product was so positively overwhelming that barely after the first year, a third division Eclipse Architectural, was formed to market this innovative product. This hardware has been one of the most popular to hit the wood door industry in years. The system is double weather-sealed with a water return sill system designed and manufactured by Eclipse Architectural.
The story continues
The Draftseal, Kristrack, and Eclipse Architectural head office and manufacturing plant is located in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, with a second warehouse/manufacturing plant in Toronto. We have sales offices in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Oregon, and Hawaii staffed with fulltime sales people as well as numerous sales reps throughout North America. We’ve grown from one employee to a company that now employs over 60 people.
“The key to our success is being surrounded by a team of people who are knowledgeable, passionate, and care about what they do. We have maintained a loyal customer base by providing quality products and great customer service. We listen to our customers and believe that they have played a large part in our success, and we are thankful for their comments and continual support.”
Chris Kamensek, President
What started out as a humble enterprise in a basement has grown into a company that gives their customers an entirely different point of view.
