Founded as L.H. Kurtz Co., the business began by specializing in wholesale hardware and plumbing materials. This marked the beginning of what would become one of the longest-standing businesses in the Greater Des Moines area.

Martin J. Walsh III, a native of New Britain, Connecticut (once known as the “Hardware Capital of the World”), and his wife, Katie Kurtz Walsh, purchased the builder’s hardware division of L.H. Kurtz Co. Together, they established Kurtz-Walsh Builders Hardware Company, carrying forward the family legacy into a new chapter.

A point of pride in company history. Walsh hardware was selected for the doors of Air Force One, used by President George H.W. Bush, highlighting the quality and prestige of Walsh products.

Kurtz-Walsh Builders Hardware merged with Iowa-Des Moines Door & Hardware to form Walsh Door & Hardware Company. In December, the newly combined company relocated its headquarters to 2600 Delaware Avenue in Des Moines. The focus of the business sharpened: fabricating and distributing premium interior and exterior commercial doors, frames and hardware for general contractors for commercial use.

To better serve its growing customer base in Eastern Iowa, Walsh opened a branch office in Iowa City at 2918 Industrial Park Road. This strategic expansion improved service efficiency and market reach.

Recognizing the need for advanced building technology, Walsh launched a new division–Walsh Electronic Security. Specializing in access control systems and video surveillance, this division quickly became a key part of the company’s full-service offering.

Purchased a 28,000 square foot warehouse just north of our Des Moines Headquarters at 2600 Delaware to allow for stocking more products and offering storage for our customers to allow for just in time deliveries.

Walsh entered the data center market, bringing its expertise to one of the most demanding commercial sectors. In the first ten years, Walsh supplied 7,000+ doors to major data centers across the Midwest. Through partnerships with national general contractors, Walsh earned a reputation as a trusted, innovative supplier and expanded its footprint across the country. Today, data centers remain one of Walsh’s most important and specialized markets.

Walsh celebrated its 150th anniversary, employing over 80 professionals and craftsmen across two locations and managing more than 60,000 square feet of production and warehouse space. That same year, Walsh was honored as the sixth-oldest business in the Greater Des Moines area, a milestone reflecting the company’s enduring legacy and ongoing relevance.

After operating for a decade as two aligned divisions–Walsh Door & Hardware and Walsh Electronic Security–the company unified its brand under one name: Walsh Door + Security. This change reflected the integrated, collaborative approach already embedded in the company’s day-to-day operations and commitment to complete, coordinated solutions.

Walsh expanded once again with the acquisition of Metal Doors & Frame Co. in North Kansas City, Missouri, located at 1606 Burlington Street. This addition broadened the company’s reach and allowed Walsh to better serve both new and existing customers throughout the Midwest and beyond.

Walsh purchased two additional warehouses for 56,000 square feet of additional warehouse space just north of their Des Moines Headquarters to help them better serve the needs of their commercial customers.

After completing enhancements to the exterior of our Kansas City office over the prior few years, Walsh completed an interior refresh update of the facility to better meet the needs of their team members and expand their installation team to meet the needs of Kansas City end-user customers.  

After outgrowing their existing space in Iowa City, they moved to a facility on Independence Road in Iowa City. The new space provides 30,000 square feet of office, warehouse and shop space to help their growing Iowa City team which includes an expanded installation team for turnkey projects in the region. 

In addition, they enhanced three warehouses near headquarters with new roofs, insulation, lighting and climate control.  

Fun fact about Walsh:  Their fleet includes 35+ vehicles, including three semi tractor-trailers.

2026 marks their 160^th anniversary.  Established in 1866, their team has grown to over 200 full-time and seasonal team members and occupies 250,000 square feet of office, production and warehouse space across eight facilities.  

‍Thanks to their strong relationships with national and regional general contractors, commercial end-users and institutions across the United States, their team continues to grow…