Who is Ekena Millwork? It’s a valid question. Until recently no one had heard of this national millwork brand. Ekena has been around for over 15 years, yet if you asked the most notable millwork specialists in the country, I can guarantee you that they would have had no idea who Ekena is (much less how to pronounce it). That was to say, until the middle of 2011. Then it all changed.

In July 2011 Ekena became a household name (to millwork and lumber companies anyway) when they presented FiberThane balustrade to the world. FiberThane is their new balustrade system that turned the railing and balustrade market upside down.

Traditionally, millwork supply companies provided urethane balustrade, and that is simply the way it’s been done for the last 30 years. There are many fundamental flaws to urethane balustrade (it can only span 8’ lengths, it can warp, it dents easily, and so on) but I won’t go into those. Let’s just say that urethane is not really the best material to use for a structural product like balustrade… but that is all that has existed for the last 30 years. Until FiberThane balustrade.

Ekena’s introduction of a balustrade system that has the look of urethane balustrade, but the structural capabilities and durability of fiberglass, rocked the market and (in my opinion) made urethane balustrade obsolete. FiberThane’s patent-pending design utilizes structural fiberglass for the top/bottom rails as well as the newel post. This allows it to span 16’ lengths. Really. 16’ lengths. FiberThane is really certified for 16’ lengths. I checked into it.

Why is this a big deal? Because the next closest composite balustrade system is only certified for 8’ lengths. Yep, the next closest competition to FiberThane can only span half the length of FiberThane.

This simple fact is what put Ekena on the map six months ago. Until then, they were the little-known urethane millwork company that sold $20 ceiling medallions to lighting shops. Now they are a force to be reckoned with in the column and balustrade market.

Now, the average millwork specialist knows the name Ekena Millwork because that is who they are now using for balustrade. In the last six months, Ekena’s FiberThane balustrade has spread like wildfire with displays showing up in local Texas retailers, and quickly spreading both east and west faster than I have ever seen a new millwork product line spread.

If you still haven’t heard the name Ekena Millwork or FiberThane balustrade, check them out at www.ekenamillwork.com. If you are in the millwork, decking, or railing industry, you need to know about Ekena Millwork.