Dorma Explained

Dorma was a German company that produced door technology systems and allied products. It merged with Kaba Holding in September 2015 and became part of Dormakaba Group.^[1]

Overview

Dorma was founded by Wilhelm Dörken and Rudolf Mankel as Dörken & Mankel KG in Ennepetal, Germany, in 1908.^[2] The family business was managed by owner Karl-Rudolf Mankel in third generation. As part of succession planning, previous sole Dorma proprietor Karl-Rudolf Mankel transferred the majority of his shareholding to his daughters Christine and Stephanie in March 2009.

In April 2015, Dorma Holding announced a planned merger with Swiss-based Kaba Group.^[3] The group went on to become Dormakaba Group.

Structure and organization

The company was divided into six divisions: Door Control, Automatics, Glass, Movable Walls, Security Systems & Trade Counters. Dorma’s head office in Ennepetal controlled 69 wholly owned companies in 45 countries. Its major production plants were located in Europe, China, Malaysia, North and South America.

Product range

• Door control: door closers, door furniture and fittings, window handles, hinges and locks
• Automatics: automatic door operators, sliding doors, swing doors and revolving doors, automatically operated sliding glass panel partitions
• Glass: fittings, door and side panel rails, locks
• Security: access control systems, security door fittings, emergency exit control systems, lock and electric keeps, security and detection systems
• Movable-Walls: sound-insulating walls, sound-insulating movable glasswalls

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dormakaba Group | Safe, secure & seamless access solutions.
2. Book: Herrmann, Christoph . Strategisches Industrieguterdesign . Günter Möller. Ronald Gleich. Peter Russo . 68–77 . 2009 . . 9783642001154 .
3. News: Swiss-based Kaba to merge with Germany's Dorma Holding . Reuters . April 30, 2015.