# History of Artcraft

# Timeline

## 1920s 

1924 - In 1924, Joe Trabucco arrived in Canada from Quinto, Italy by way of Ellis Island.

1927 - A carpenter by trade, he settles in Niagara Falls, Ontario and opens a door and sash mill on Ferguson Street.

1932 – Joe expands the front of the shop into Glenview Hardware, a neighborhood hardware store.

(Photo 1 – Joe portrait)

## 1960s

1962 - Joe retires and his son, Danny Trabucco, takes over the hardware store. Danny had grown up in his father’s shop and loved woodworking. He established Artcraft Woodwork Co. as a division of Glenview Hardware for custom picture framing and manufacturing frames.

Danny experiments with different product lines, including furniture for hotels, desks and chairs for schools and framed kitchen cabinets.

(Photo 2 – Danny with frames)

1965 - In the winter of 1965 the shop at the back of the hardware store was destroyed by a fire. Rather than rebuild, Danny purchased one of the first industrial buildings in Niagara Falls, at 4417 Kent Ave.

1967 – The new factory became a modern shop for cabinets, with new technology for finishing wood and laminated doors.

1968 – Danny is a founding member of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association (CKCA).

**(Photo 3 – Fire Sale & Photo 4 – Kent Ave 1969)**

## 1970s 

1970 - He pioneered the manufacture of European frameless cabinets in North America. In 1970, he participated in a Canada Trade Mission to Europe and has continued to lead the industry in process and product development

1971 – Daniel assists in the creation of a performance standard for kitchen cabinets. The standard is the result of two years of discussions and research by the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association, and is largely inspired by the methods the association saw on their trip to Europe.

1978 – Betty, Danny’s wife, is the first female director of the CKCA.

**(Photo 5 – 70s Display & Photo 6 – Old Brochure & Photo 7 – Betty CKCA Director)**

## 1980s 

1983 – Danny’s son, Daniel, joins the family business, bringing his interest in the new computer industry with him.

1987 – Artcraft Kitchens celebrates 25 years in business.

**(Photo 8 – Junior and Senior)**

## 1990s

1991 - The company erects a new building to serve as a permanent showroom for kitchen and bath displays. Artcraft expanded into the American market in the early 90s, building a network of kitchen showrooms and designers who buy directly from the Canadian factory.

1993 – Artcraft joins the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), cementing their entry into the American market.

1997 – Production begins on AKOLADES, an online order entry system that reaches the entire network of Artcraft dealers.

**(Photo 9 – Naples Kitchen 1995)**

## 2000s 

2001 – AKOLADES order entry system becomes web-based, which effectively digitized the price book. The system gives Artcraft designers and dealers more control, and allows for a higher level of customization for their cabinetry orders. It

2006 – Artcraft purchases a new edge banding machine with software that is customized specifically for our assembly line, an important milestone in the automation process.

2009 – A major building expansion joins the two buildings into one and expands the back of the factory, allowing space for newer, larger machines and more complex processes.

**(Photo 10 – 2004 Kitchen)**

2010s

2011 – Danny is inducted into the NKBA Ontario Chapter’s Hall of Fame for his work pioneering the manufacture of frameless cabinetry in North America and manufacturing innovation.

2017 – Another significant building expansion is completed in 2017.

To present – Throughout the last two decades, Artcraft continues to invest heavily in machinery, technology, and process automation.

**(Photo 11 2018 Staff Photo & Photo 12 G2 2019)**