Safti First Parent Company Celebrates Over Eight Decades of Business

Safti First has been in business for 44 years, but its parent O’Keeffe’s Inc., which started in the skylights business, has been in business for 86 years. As Glass Magazine celebrates its own 75th anniversary this year, we're taking a look at other companies who have surpassed their own milestones in this industry.

Glass Magazine Associate Editor Rachel Vitello asked President and Owner of Safti First Bill O’Keeffe some questions about what it takes to be successful in business for so long:

Glass Magazine: What does it take to stay in business for as long as you have?

O'Keefe: It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. Staying in business this long means constantly adapting, maintaining strong control over your materials, and continuously innovating—always with a sharp focus on the needs of the market you're serving.

GM: What were the major milestones of Safti First’s business development? 

We are fortunate that our story is marked by several key milestones. A major turning point was the development and patenting of innovative, U.S.-made fire-rated glass and framing products starting in the early 1980s. We were the first to manufacture these types of products domestically, with successful patents for products such as SuperLite I, SuperLite I-XL, SuperLite II-XL, SuperClear, and GPX FireFloor. To this day, we remain the only manufacturer of fire resistive glass and framing products in the U.S.

Beyond product innovation, we made significant capital investments beginning in 2010 to expand our manufacturing operations to become the only single-source, vertically integrated manufacturer of fire-rated glass, framing, doors, walls, and floors in the U.S. Another major milestone was our instrumental role in the 2003 IBC code change, which mandated the use of safety-rated glazing in doors, sidelites, and other hazardous locations.

We’re also proud to be the only fire-rated glass and framing manufacturer included in the NFRC’s CMAST database with both glass and framing components listed, supported by an in-house NFRC ACE. Recently, we hold the unique distinction of being the only fire rated glass manufacturer to successfully attain IGCC certification.

GM: What kind of historical events has the company survived through?

In 1978, O’Keeffe’s, our parent company, overcame a crippling labor strike that tested the resilience of our operations and team.  Then in 1994, a subcontractor with millions of dollars in committed work to both O’Keeffe’s and SAFTI FIRST, suddenly went bankrupt, leaving us to take on the entire job ourselves. Both situations were challenging, but they pushed us to become more self-reliant and adaptable.

GM: Can you tell me the role these different tenets of business have played in your company’s longevity: Leadership, workforce development and investments?

Leadership has been fundamental to our longevity, and we've had the good fortune to bring in people who were deeply dedicated to the company’s well-being—some of whom have stayed with us for over 35 years. As for investments, we've consistently focused on both cutting-edge automated equipment and our people. That naturally ties into workforce development, where we’ve emphasized training and long-term growth, helping us build a strong, loyal team over time.

GM: What advice would you give to other business leaders when it comes to thriving and adapting throughout the years?

My advice is to always keep an eye on where the industry is headed—not just where you are today. Staying ahead means anticipating your customers’ future needs and developing solutions before your competitors do. It’s that forward-thinking mindset that keeps a business relevant and resilient over time.