Commercial Aluminium Façade Systems: Technical Specification, Global B2B Procurement, Engineering Standards, and Future Industry Trends

The primary structural difference lies in fabrication, assembly, and load distribution. Stick-built curtain wall systems (such as our SBC-60 series) are shipped as long extruded profiles (mullions and transoms) and assembled piece-by-piece directly on the building structure. Glass and gaskets are installed sequentially on site. Stick systems offer lower freight volume and high flexibility for complex geometries, making them ideal for low-to-mid rise buildings.

Conversely, Unitized Curtain Wall systems (UCW-75 series) consist of full story-height aluminum frame cassettes that are entirely pre-assembled, factory-sealed, and pre-glazed in our controlled manufacturing facility. These unitized panels are hoisted from the floor slab using cranes and interlocking split-mullion hooks. Unitized systems allow dramatically faster site installation, eliminate external scaffolding, provide superior weather-seal reliability under factory ISO conditions, and easily accommodate high-rise structural floor-slab deflections (up to ±15 mm).

Wind-load engineering is performed in accordance with international standards such as EN 1991-1-4 (Eurocode 1) or ASCE 7. Our engineering team calculates the required moment of inertia ($I_x$ and $I_y$) for vertical mullions based on building height, terrain roughness category, structural span, and regional design wind pressure (e.g., 1.5 kPa up to 4.0 kPa in coastal hurricane zones).

We select extruded profile depths (ranging from 100 mm up to 250 mm) and wall thicknesses (2.0 mm to 3.5 mm structural wall thickness in 6063-T6 alloy). Where necessary, we integrate internal structural steel reinforcement sleeves inside the aluminum mullion cavities to satisfy deflection limits of $L/175$ or $L/240$ under full design wind load without exceeding profile stress yield points.

To eliminate thermal bridging between exterior cold air and interior air-conditioned spaces, our commercial aluminum profiles utilize precision-engineered Polyamide (PA66 GF25) thermal struts reinforced with 25% glass fiber. These structural thermal breaks isolate the exterior aluminum extrusion from the interior section.

By pairing 24 mm to 34 mm wide multi-cavity polyamide struts with low-emissivity insulation foams (such as expanded polyolefin foam inserts within the profile chambers) and high-performance double or triple Insulated Glass Units (IGUs with Argon gas fill and Low-E coatings), our commercial systems achieve overall system thermal transmittance ($U_{cw}$) values as low as 0.80 W/m²K, meeting aggressive energy performance requirements worldwide.

Yes. Our commercial façade packages are fully compatible with integrated concealed opening vents. We manufacture structurally glazed parallel-opening vents (POVs), top-hung projection vents, and inward tilt-and-turn windows that seamlessly fit into the structural curtain wall grid without disrupting the external flush glass aesthetic.

All opening sashes feature multi-point locking mechanisms, heavy-duty concealed friction hinges, double EPDM perimeter weather gaskets, and optional electric chain actuators tied directly to your building's BMS (Building Management System) for automated natural ventilation and smoke evacuation.

We provide two industrial surface treatment routes certified to rigorous international standards:

1. Architectural Powder Coating (Qualicoat & Qualicoat Seaside Class): Applied up to 60–80 microns thickness, available in any standard RAL color, metallic finish, or custom textured architectural tone. Super-durable polyester powders offer exceptional resistance to UV degradation, chalking, and salt-spray corrosion.

2. Anodizing (Qualanod Certified): Electrochemical surface oxidation creating an integral protective aluminum oxide layer (ranging from 15 to 25 microns for aggressive coastal or marine environments). Available in natural silver, bronze, champagne, black, and stainless-steel optics.

Commercial structures experience inter-story drift caused by seismic activity, wind sway, and live-load slab deflections. Our unitized and semi-unitized curtain wall profiles incorporate dynamic expansion joints and interlocking female/male split mullions with continuous EPDM gasket sliding channels.

These sliding gasket interfaces absorb vertical movement (up to ±15 mm) and horizontal seismic racking without inducing stress on glass lites or breaking structural weather seals. System structural performance is validated against ASTM E330 and EN 13830 testing criteria.

Every commercial export package supplied by Afes Aluminium comes complete with a full technical documentation dossier, including:

• CAD/BIM Shop Drawings & Connection Details
• Structural Profile Inertia & Wind-Load Calculation Reports
• Thermal Transmittance Simulation Reports ($U_f$ and $U_{cw}$)
• Mill Test Certificates (EN 10204 3.1) verifying alloy chemical composition
• Qualicoat / Qualanod Surface Coating Quality Guarantees
• Certificate of Origin (EUR.1 or Form A where applicable)
• Detailed Shipping Packing Lists itemized by container, bundle, and floor level

Standard profile series with stock tooling are typically extruded, surface-finished, and prepared for shipment within 3 to 4 weeks post-drawing approval. For bespoke architectural profiles requiring new matrix tooling die creation, die trial and sample approval add approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Complete factory unitized panel fabrication lead times depend on project square meterage, but average 6 to 8 weeks for standard multi-story commercial packages.

Export packaging is engineered for rough international ocean transit. Extruded aluminum profiles are interleaved with protective polyethylene film, bundled in heavy-duty moisture-proof wrapping, and packed inside reinforced steel-banded wooden crates or ISPM-15 heat-treated timber boxes.

For unitized curtain wall panels, custom steel A-frame transport racks are used inside High-Cube containers, securing glazed cassettes in a vertical position with rubber protective spacers. Every bundle and rack is clearly tagged with floor level, elevation reference, and unit number to streamline site sorting and erection.

To initiate a technical evaluation, simply share your architectural tender drawings, window/façade schedule, specifications (including target U-values, glass build-ups, and surface finishes), and destination port location. Our export engineering office in Kadıköy, Istanbul will review the drawings and issue a comprehensive commercial bid and preliminary profile evaluation within 48 to 72 hours.

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