YKK AP America Inc. Celebrates 25 Years in the United States Glass Industry

Manufacturer honors its past and sets course toward framing the future

In honor of its 25^th anniversary milestone reached on April 24, YKK AP America Inc. (YKK AP) kicked off a yearlong celebration on Wednesday, May 11 during a special ceremony at the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dublin, Ga. The event brought together YKK AP America Inc. employees and dignitaries from the community and abroad for a celebration of the company’s past, present, and future.

The event featured recognition and reflection from employees, special guest presentations and a commemorative tree-planting ceremony to mark the occasion. Nine employees with more than 25 years of service were recognized for their tenure and two trees were planted on the Dublin facility grounds, one in honor of the company’s past and the other representing the future. YKK Corporation and YKK AP Inc. Chairman & CEO Tadahiro Yoshida, Consul General of Japan Takashi Shinozuka, YKK Corporation of America Chairman, President & CEO Alex Gregory, YKK AP America Inc. Chairman Max Mizota, YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. President John Smith, and City of Dublin Mayor Phil Best were a few of the executives and dignitaries in attendance.

“It’s extraordinary to look back at the past 25 years and see how YKK AP has evolved into one of the top façade systems producers in the United States,” said Oliver Stepe, president, YKK AP America Inc. “Starting out as a small regional supplier in the Southeast in 1991 to a national architectural products company today is a testament to our employees, our customers, and the communities in which we do business. Together, we’ve raised the bar in the architectural products industry and as we set course for the future, we will continue to focus on seeking corporate value of higher significance and measure our success by our ability to render benefit to others.”

As part of its year-long anniversary celebration, the company has adopted a theme of giving back and intends on accelerating its corporate social activities throughout the year. Recent activity included sponsorship of the AIA Atlanta High School Design Competition, and on May 18 the company will sponsor AEC Cares Project Philadelphia, during which company executives will volunteer time to help remodel the Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center.

YKK AP America Inc. also marked its anniversary with a $25,000 donation to the Heart of Georgia College and Career Academy, a program designed to prepare high school age students for entry in to the work force. The donation not only commemorated the milestone, but also the appreciation YKK AP has for the Dublin-Laurens county community.

YKK AP will continue the 25^th anniversary celebration at the AIA Convention 2016, May 19-21 in Philadelphia. Visitors are invited to stop by booth #1739.