Start-Up Stories

by Norman K. Miller

“Making your world a safer place”

The experiences of a traumatic childhood along with enlistment in the armed forces helped shape the character, and later the company, of Miller Edge founder, Norman K. Miller.

Born Norair K. Dermenjian in 1914 on a haycart escaping the Armenian genocide, he spent several years in an orphanage for refugees. In 1935, he immigrated to the United States, changed his name to Norman Miller and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to live with his uncle who inspired him to work hard.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941, serving in the Guadalcanal Campaign during World War II. Miller became known for inventions and improvements using the resources available. He was instrumental in developing interior cushioning for war tanks and field modification of the Reising rifle. During his service, Miller received several awards and recognitions. He was granted U.S. citizenship for his honorable military service.

Miller and his two brothers formed The Miller Brothers, located in Pennsylvania, and manufactured purses and coin holders. He received a call from Army General Burnside who was aware of Miller’s ingenuity for developing safety solutions. He requested Miller’s assistance in developing a product to prevent workers from being severely injured by aircraft hangar doors at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

In 1957, Miller was granted the first U.S. patent for an electrically activated safety edge. Since then, the company has been granted over 100 patents that stand as evidence of their inventive spirit.

Another patent was issued to Miller in 1966 for the electric mat switch.

The original plant built in 1967 in Concordville, Pennsylvania, expanded from 8,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet in 1978 to accommodate the growing company.

Following the passing of Miller’s two brothers, the business name changed to Miller Edge, to reflect the core mission of giving customers the edge on safety. His five children, Karl, Norman, Jr., Ginny, Bearge, and Flossie contributed to the evolution of Miller Edge, helping expand the product line while upholding their father’s values of working hard, the importance of education, and providing safety.

“For decades, my father designed and manufactured sensing edges, helping facilities in need of safety for their doors and gates,” explains Flossie Miller, senior vice president of business development and marketing. “The challenges he experienced during his childhood including the absence of security were driving forces for him to create and manufacture products that helped ensure the safety of others. He always wanted to make the world a safer place.”

In the 1990s new locations were built in Jennersville, Pennsylvania and Tempe, Arizona.

Over the years, the ingenuity continued as additional patents were issued including one for the first UL-recognized edge sensor designed for residential garage doors, and one for bi-directional sensing edges for gates.

Miller passed away in 2009, leaving a legacy of service that continues today through his family and his business. His vow to help make the world a safer place is the foundation of Miller Edge.

The Miller Edge product line includes both touch sensitive and non-contact sensing devices as well as related controls and accessories. “Our products can be found on driveway gates, storefront grills, mass transit vehicles, and in automated manufacturing plants,” Flossie says. “We continue to implement my father’s vision for safety with innovative customer solutions and continuous quality improvement.”

Those on the outside may think owning and growing a business is glamorous. They see the current building, the staff, the equipment and the profits. What they don’t see are the startups. The small beginnings, the ever-present worry, the dreams and the everyday decisions that can either make it or break it.

Fence News honors those who put their hat in the self-employment ring and built their business one small step at a time.