Glass Businesses Discuss what CRL’s Purchase of U.S. Aluminum Could Mean for the Industry

The commercial glass and glazing industry has continued to speak out about last Friday’s news that Los Angeles-based C.R. Laurence Co. Inc. (CRL) had acquired U.S. Aluminum. And while many say their first reaction was one of surprise, they also expect the move to be a positive one for the industry, though it has also raised some questions about CRL’s plans for its new architectural metals business.

John Shum, executive vice president of Sierra Glass & Mirror in Las Vegas, says his reaction was certainly one of surprise.

“Beside the fact that I am not receptive to large companies taking too big a share of the market, I am excited that U.S. Aluminum can be saved,” says Shum. “I have been using U.S. Aluminum’s products for more than 25 years and I was sad to see them go. I think this will be a good fit for CRL because they provide good service, which U.S. Aluminum surely lacked in recent years.”

“I was initially surprised, but not after I had time to think about it,” says Craig Carson, vice president of A-1 Glass Inc. in Englewood, Colo. Carson points out that CRL has been aggressive over the course of the last several years with its acquisitions, “so it does seem natural that they make this leap into the aluminum supplier fray.”

Carson continues, “It will be interesting to see what market position they will target. Will it be the standard product, on-the-shelf, ready for shipment to the storefront market? Or will they also try to become involved in the engineered curtainwall market?”

John Linder, president and chief executive officer of Orange, Calif.-based Calibre Door Closers Inc., brings a unique perspective, as U.S. Aluminum was founded by his father.

“It was with some sorrow, and greater disappointment, when the earlier news that [the parent of] U.S. Aluminum filed for Chapter 7 was announced. Though my initiation into the storefront industry began with my family’s ownership of U.S. Aluminum, the recent sorrow was totally for the many good, and extraordinary employees who seemingly went down with the ship,” says Linder. “Calibre maintained excellent relationships with many of these employees that went beyond the typical supplier-customer relationship.”

Taking a closer look at the industry, Linder adds, “The dynamics of the storefront industry have changed more in the past 18-months than probably in the past ten-years. In fact, the dynamics of most of what we have long taken for granted in our daily lives has changed, and is presently undergoing change of some sort on an almost daily basis.

“CRL is a well-established, well-run company, and the acquisition of U.S. Aluminum by CRL should fit in well to the vertical integration path that CRL seems to be pursuing,” says Linder, who adds, “The announcement by CRL that they intend to re-establish relationships with former U.S. Aluminum employees, sits well with me, and I sincerely trust some good will come out of it.”

At press time representatives from CRL had not responded to USGNN.com™’s requests for additional comments. Stay tuned for more updates as they are made available.