About Us

Karpen Steel manufactures every door and frame with the high quality standards and works to exceed customer’s expectations.

The loyal customer following is due to our high level of customer service and support. The key to our success is that we have maintained our integrity as The Custom Quick Ship Professionals. Karpen Steel serves our customers by providing a rapid and accurate response to their needs for high quality custom doors and frames. To meet this mission, we ship most products in 10 working days or less from receipt of most orders. We also have 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 day RUSH programs. Some specialty products are quoted with 3 and 4 week lead times.

We are dedicated to manufacturing dependable products that meet your critical quality standards with prompt, on-time delivery for your complete satisfaction. This is our promise to you!

Karpen Steel Custom Doors & Frames is located in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. The company was founded and created in 1977 by Morris I. Karpen, who selected Asheville for his retirement years.

However, he later decided to start another hollow metal business similar to the one he established in New York with his father, Frank Karpen. The North Carolina company differed from the original business in New York in the fact that they sold to distributors versus directly to contractors.

Morris Karpen brought over 50 years of experience in hollow metal doors and frames to Karpen Steel which he passed on to his son, Joseph Karpen, and daughter, Rachel S. Smith who managed the company together until Joe’s departure in 2005. In 2008 Rachel S. Smith welcomed Eric Henken as part owner, and they ran the company jointly through 2016 when she herself retired. Eric Henken now owns and manages the company as owner and President.

Karpen Steel Products is operated based on Morris Karpen’s experience and company philosophy. The tradition of manufacturing quality custom doors and frames continues. Karpen Steel’s then President, Rachel Smith, spoke about Karpen’s passion and commitment to quality custom work in a “Faces of DHI” article for the DHI Magazine.