Distribution&Production

U.S. Aluminum, AGC form Alliance
United States Aluminum and AGC Glass Co. - Building Products Fabrication Division have announced a new strategic alliance that they say will strengthen each company’s position in the commercial glazing industry. In the alliance, United States Aluminum will provide AGC with storefront, entrance systems and specialty systems (e.g. blast, hurricane impact), while United States Aluminum will represent various AGC glass products in certain markets.

“The alliance is an opportunity for both companies to expand their sales reach,” says Jim Cenname, United States Aluminum’s executive vice president. “Both companies have strong sales coverage and distribution networks in North America that will benefit from our combined resources.”

Steve Micheli, AGC Fabrication Division vice president, adds, “This program will strengthen our product portfolio and help us to drive our goal of becoming the preferred fabricator and solutions provider to our customers. It is a great opportunity to leverage the expertise and presence of the two organizations across the value chain.”
www.usalum.com
www.afgglass.com

Dorma, Sentech Form Distribution Partnership
Dorma Glas in Millersville, Md., has partnered with Sentech Architectural Systems, an Austin, Texas-based firm that specializes in pre-engineered systems for custom structural glass applications. Sentech will serve as a U.S. distribution arm for structural glass hardware manufactured by the Dorma Glas division. The Sentech team will be using Dorma’s structural glass systems to design, develop and test custom solutions and new structural glass technologies.

“About two-and-a-half years ago we decided we wanted to distribute our structural glass hardware products in the United States, which [Dorma] had already been doing in Europe,” says Scott Welch, manager, product marketing and sales operations for the Dorma Glas division. “We knew that we couldn’t distribute this type of product in the same way as our other products because of its engineering requirements.”

The partnership is being promoted as Dorma Structural Glass Systems by Sentech.

“We act as the hardware manufacturer and design arm for the United States while they provide the distribution and engineering expertise in the United States,” Welch says.
www.dorma-usa.com

USG
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