When Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana Basin the destruction was the stuff of biblical proportions.  Nearby Keesler Air Force Base sustained significant damage, especially to the  Active Duty Base Housing community.  Even though the base was already slated for rebuilding as part of the military’s Privatization program, the storm bumped the project to the top of the list.  Hunt/Yates Construction won the contract to rebuild and was looking for specialized products to meet the demands of the new DOD military codes (http://www.ofee.gov/gp/gppstrat.pdf).  Building GREEN was a must, but they also needed to comply with codes requiring protection against Extreme Weather prone to the area as well as post 9/11 Security mandates.  When the windows originally specified for installation failed to meet the Design Pressure Ratings (DP) of the Gulf Coast location, the engineers were in a bind and needed to solve the problem fast.

The solution turned out to be only a short drive East along the coast to Panama City, FL, home of Shwinco Industries and “The World’s Most Elite Windows & Doors”.  Shwinco’s impressive windows, are easily the strongest, most energy efficient products in the entire industry and proved to be the perfect match for Keesler Air Force Base’s storm ravaged Housing community.

Shwinco’s entire product line is specifically designed to stand up to the extreme weather conditions found in Coastal Communities.  Searing heat, salt air, high winds, sand and extreme weather like Thunderstorms and hurricanes.  Shwinco’s windows and doors are able to handle the wind forces and flying debris generated by the most powerful Category Five hurricanes.  Beyond that, the windows installed in the Base Housing community meet GSA Bomb Blast Certified standards, protecting our troops from not only extreme weather but potential terrorist attacks.

The project called for over 17,000 windows to be installed over a two year period or 164 windows a week, individually crated for ease of installation at the job site.  Not an easy task, but one that couldn’t come at a better time in the company’s history.  “We had just recently acquired a second manufacturing plant in Dothan, Alabama.” explains Craig Shipp Sr., CEO of Shwinco, “The new plant was three times larger and we had thankfully found our stride there.  We had also invested in a new shipping system that was perfect for the specific needs of this project”

3/4th of the project is now completed and everybody is quite pleased with the windows.  Not only do our Troops have beautiful windows, but they can rest easy knowing that they have the most elite Storm Protection Windows in the World, offering unprecedented strength, protection and energy efficiency.

Craig Shipp Sr., sums it up best, “Shwinco is proud to have had the opportunity to supply our troops with our windows.  While they are working hard protecting us from the enemies of freedom, the least we can do is protect their homes and family with a product that is as beautiful as it is strong!”