The history of Metaflex; from MF1 to MF7

Mr. W. Wolterinck and Mr. G. Keltering started their company in 1976 under the name EMS bv in a large oversized garage. Keltering came from door supplier EMS Isoliertüren GmbH, and Wolterink previously worked at a refrigeration and freezing warehouse. They began by selling doors from the German brand EMS in the Netherlands. Soon, technicians were hired and the garage became full, leading to the establishment of a small office with a workshop in Lichtenvoorde. There, they cautiously started some construction work and the production of their own swing doors, which had previously also been purchased.

Growth under the name Metaflex

Two years later, the idea to make their own sliding doors emerged, and the location became too small, prompting a move to Aalten under a new name: Metaflex. Two halls of about 1000 square meters each were built there, initially focusing on the production of swing doors and sliding doors for the refrigeration industry. The MF1 sliding door was created but soon replaced by the improved version, MF2.

At the Lichtenvoorde location, now under the name EMS Isosystems, complete buildings were supplied with purchased panels and doors from their own production. The MF2 was soon replaced by the MF3, and many customers, due to expanding their businesses, kept returning. The automation of the sliding door systems also began; initially pneumatic and later electrically driven doors were introduced.

Innovations in foam technology and special applications

Around 1990, a foam machine was purchased, and they began discontinuous foam production of panels. This allowed Metaflex to deliver much faster than the competition. They could also incorporate piping and reinforcements into the foam, making it suitable for cleanroom applications or for panels with hook connections (Metabox).

At that time, the MF-4-40 sliding door was developed, a unique product suitable for hospital operating rooms. The airtight properties of the cooling and freezing doors were combined with the stringent hygiene requirements for an operating room. The first medical doors were equipped with electric automation, type MF4 II.

A year later, EMS Isosystems also moved to Aalten, and from then on, everything operated under the name Metaflex. A new hall and a large office building were constructed across the street. Around the same time, the MF7 was introduced, a large robust cooling or freezing sliding door, nowadays known as Polaris.

Expansion of the product portfolio

In the mid-90s, in collaboration with the University of Twente, their own door automation system, SDA-03, was developed. This was applied to their own hospital doors and cooling and freezing doors but also sold to other door manufacturers due to its extensive functionality and reliability. In 1999, Mr. P. Ruigrok, Mr. H. Haan, and Mr. T. Hoenderdos took over the company from the founders. Later, a range of doors for hospitals, named Markus Hermetic Doors, was added to the company. The production of the Markus doors was moved to Aalten and was standard equipped with Metaflex automation. In 2010, this production branch, under the leadership of Mr. Hoenderdos, split off and continued independently.

The MF-4-40 door had by then been further developed into the MF-5 sliding door, now known as the Medicare door. This door is supplied to hospitals in the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as in Sweden, France, Norway, England, Russia, and many other countries.

International expansion

In 2006, Mr. Haan and Mr. Ruigrok saw opportunities in the rapidly growing economy in India and started a new factory there. Not to outsource current production, but aimed at sales in India; Metaflex Doors India (MDI) was established.

While Metaflex in India grew significantly, in 2011, Metaflex Doors Europe (MDE) in the Netherlands underwent a strategic reorientation, leading to the divestiture of various business units. This also resulted in a complete focus on the development and production of door systems in the Netherlands. Various innovative products were introduced, such as 30 and 60 minute fire-resistant doors for both Healthcare and Cold Chain applications and the Metaflex Intelligence for improving processes in operating rooms.

Since November 1, 2022, Metaflex has been part of ASSA ABLOY. After more than 40 years as a family business, we are now part of a global leader in access solutions with more than 60,000 employees worldwide. This collaboration brings together ASSA ABLOY’s global knowledge with our hermetic sliding doors, significantly strengthening our market position in Europe and beyond.