This section provides an overview for curtain walls as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 9 curtain wall manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked curtain wall companies as of November, 2024: 1.PortaFab Corporation, 2.Rite-Hite, 3.Republic AP.
Table of Contents
Curtain walls are non-load-bearing exterior wall systems that hang like curtains from the structure of a building. They are lightweight and designed to resist air and water infiltration, absorb sway induced by wind and seismic forces, and accommodate thermal expansion and contraction.
Constructed from various materials including glass, metal, and stone, curtain walls are manufactured off-site and assembled on-site, offering rapid installation and the flexibility to cover large expanses. Concrete curtain walls, known as precast concrete curtain walls, are pre-manufactured in a controlled factory setting, ensuring consistent quality.
Primarily utilized in commercial building facades, curtain walls facilitate the creation of visually appealing exteriors with high glass content for natural lighting and expansive views. They are pivotal in constructing high-rise buildings due to their effectiveness in enhancing building aesthetics and improving energy efficiency by controlling heat gain and loss.
Choosing the right curtain wall system is critical, depending on building requirements, aesthetic preferences, and environmental conditions.
Curtain walls significantly reduce the structural load on buildings, enabling the design of taller and more visually striking structures. They are adaptable, allowing for a variety of designs and finishes, including transparent, opaque, or translucent facades.
By separating the exterior envelope from the structural load-bearing elements, these walls facilitate faster construction timelines and can be installed in various weather conditions without the need for external scaffolding.
Despite their benefits, curtain walls can be costly due to the precision engineering and material quality required. Their performance in terms of thermal insulation and moisture resistance heavily depends on the design and quality of installation. Proper detailing and installation are crucial to prevent air and water infiltration.
Metal curtain walls, utilizing frames made of aluminum, stainless steel, or steel, offer a combination of durability and design flexibility. Panels may include glass, metal, or composite materials, allowing for a range of visual effects and thermal performance characteristics.
Precast concrete curtain walls provide the benefits of concrete, including fire resistance and thermal mass, in a lightweight, prefabricated format that simplifies installation and reduces on-site construction time.
Selection depends on architectural design, environmental considerations, and building performance requirements. Factors such as climate, building orientation, and specific use cases (e.g., energy efficiency, acoustic insulation) should guide the choice of curtain wall type. Collaborating with experienced designers and manufacturers ensures that the selected curtain wall system meets both aesthetic and functional needs while adhering to budget constraints.
Overall, curtain walls are a pivotal component in modern architecture, offering both aesthetic appeal and functional benefits to buildings.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Rite-Hite, headquartered in Wisconsin, U.S., is a manufacturer and global supplier specializing in loading dock equipment, industrial doors, safety barriers, and more. The company’s product portfolio includes vehicle restraints, loading dock levelers, industrial doors, dock seals and shelters, barrier safety systems, and more. These products are designed to enhance safety, security, energy efficiency, and environmental control across various industries. The company also offers product service, repair and maintenance, as well as product upgrade solutions.With locations in the U.S., China, Brazil, Germany and Poland, Rite-Hite serves clients in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
Republic AP, based in Lorton, Virginia, is an American manufacturer providing custom architectural hardware. The company offers storefront hardware systems, including aluminum framing and doors, customized to create cohesive interior designs. It also provides shower fixtures, such as framed and frameless glass shower doors and handles. It further offers related products like office partition, automatic folding and bi-folding door systems, standoff and base shoe railing systems, as well as curtain wall solutions.
PortaFab Corporation was established in 1980 and is a manufacturer of modular building systems based in Chesterfield, Missouri, United States. The company's product portofolio includes wall partitions, inplant offices, pre-assembled booths, modular cleanrooms, and outdoor shelters. Management systems of the company has been certified to ISO 9001:2015 by NSF-ISR. The company is open for custom design assistance service and provides contract prices. Various specs, designs, and drawings are provided by the company to help customers for specification purposes.
AmCraft Manufacturing Inc., founded in 2000, is an American manufacturer based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, offering industrial, thermal, and acoustic curtain wall solutions. The company's curtain walls provide solutions for sound-dampening and sound-blocking enclosures, temperature zones, and isolation of work or storage spaces. Product variants include acoustic and insulated curtains, single-layer curtains, and acoustic baffles, all made from materials registered as flame-rated and hazmat-safe. These products find applications in various sectors, including agriculture, automotive, food and beverage manufacturing, distribution, and sound control.
KG Constructions Group UAB,, established in 2007, and based in Lithuania, is a manufacturer of façade glass and aluminum structures. The activities of the company include design of aluminium-glass constructions and exterior facades, production and installation of aluminium-glass facades, and windows and doors. It also provides maintenance and logistics as well as the installation and use of sunlight energy and solar thermal energy systems. The company also implements its projects in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Kawneer, founded in 1906, is an American manufacturer headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, providing architectural aluminum systems and products. The company provides architectural aluminum building products and systems, including curtain walls, framing, sliding solutions, and solar shading, tailored to meet the needs of various sectors, including art and leisure, healthcare, education, office, and retail facilities. It also designs for sustainability, employing technology and recyclable aluminum to minimize environmental impact and foster eco-friendly buildings.
Elicc Americas Corporation, founded in 2015, is an American manufacturer headquartered in San Diego County, California, providing curtain wall solutions. The company offers one-stop turnkey curtain wall services, including pre-project planning, design development, construction management, and completion. Through collaboration with Mexico Curtain Wall System Engineering during the manufacturing process, the company delivers curtain walls engineered to withstand air and water infiltration, wind-induced sway, and seismic forces but also suit the aesthetic and geographic requirements of each building's structure.
Cas Facade Co. Ltd., founded in 2018, is a Chinese manufacturer and supplier specializing in custom architectural facades. The company offers facade products, including unitized curtain walls with prefabricated panels and support frames installed on building structures. It also provides balustrades made from aluminum, glass, stainless steel, and wood. The company further offers aluminum and glass doors, available in hinged, folding, and sliding options, as well as aluminum windows, offered in awning, casement, fixed and sliding options.
Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, founded in 1989 and now a subsidiary of KPS Capital, is an American manufacturer and supplier based in Dallas, Texas, providing glazing-focused interior and exterior solutions. The company designs and manufactures architectural windows, security glazing, storefronts, entrances, curtain walls, glass products, and window walls. It also develops applications and software, including SystemSelect, used to assess the thermal and visual performance of architectural glass and metal systems. The company supplies these products in residential and commercial buildings of various sizes, assisting architects, glaziers, contractors, and owners in addressing design challenges and realizing projects.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | PortaFab Corporation |
19.3%
|
2 | Rite-Hite |
15.5%
|
3 | Republic AP |
14.8%
|
4 | AmCraft Manufacturing |
11.6%
|
5 | Casfacade |
9.8%
|
6 | KG Constructions Group UAB |
8.0%
|
7 | Elicc Americas Corporation |
7.7%
|
8 | Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope |
7.0%
|
9 | KAWNEER |
6.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the curtain wall page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 4 | 80.0% |
Lithuania | 1 | 20.0% |