Kawneer
Encyclopedia
Kawneer is a manufacturer of architectural aluminum systems and products for the commercial construction industry. Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia
, Kawneer has offices in 13 countries in North America
, Europe
, North Africa
, and Asia
. Kawneer is part of Alcoa
's global Building and Construction Systems (BCS) business unit.
Kawneer’s architectural aluminum product range includes windows and doors, framing systems, curtain wall
systems, railings, shutters and conservatories. Kawneer products are used on high- mid- and low-rise non-residential buildings such as stadiums and sports facilities, office buildings, schools, colleges and universities, retail construction and healthcare facilities.
and was awarded its first patent in 1906. The first Kawneer plant in Niles, Michigan
opened in 1907.
During the 1920s, Kawneer became the first manufacturer to use aluminum in architectural products. By 1937, Kawneer was doing about 75 percent of its store front business in aluminum and was the largest American user of aluminum for architectural purposes. During the war years, Kawneer dedicated its resources to produce war materials including aircraft parts and made no store fronts from 1942 to 1945.
Norcross, Georgia
As of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white , 19.8% black or African American , 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races...
, Kawneer has offices in 13 countries in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Kawneer is part of Alcoa
Alcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
's global Building and Construction Systems (BCS) business unit.
Kawneer’s architectural aluminum product range includes windows and doors, framing systems, curtain wall
Curtain wall
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...
systems, railings, shutters and conservatories. Kawneer products are used on high- mid- and low-rise non-residential buildings such as stadiums and sports facilities, office buildings, schools, colleges and universities, retail construction and healthcare facilities.
History
In 1906, Francis Plym, Kawneer’s architect founder, invented the first metal molding for storefronts. Kawneer began as a sheet metal shop in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and was awarded its first patent in 1906. The first Kawneer plant in Niles, Michigan
Niles, Michigan
Niles is a city in Berrien and Cass counties in the U.S. state of Michigan, near South Bend, Indiana. The population was 11,600 at the 2010 census. It is the greater populated of two principal cities of and included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
opened in 1907.
During the 1920s, Kawneer became the first manufacturer to use aluminum in architectural products. By 1937, Kawneer was doing about 75 percent of its store front business in aluminum and was the largest American user of aluminum for architectural purposes. During the war years, Kawneer dedicated its resources to produce war materials including aircraft parts and made no store fronts from 1942 to 1945.