W.A. Wilson Glass

What W.A. Wilson Glass does

W.A. Wilson Glass Plus (legal entity W. A. Wilson & Sons, Inc.) is a privately held, family-led full-line glass and architectural aluminum fabricator and distributor headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia, with continuous operations since 1841. The company operates four manufacturing divisions - Star*Lite Insulating Glass (IGCC-certified, anchored by a 2017 LiSEC line and 2024 LiteSentry-Softsolution LineScanner), Temp*Rite Tempering (SGCC-certified heat-strengthened, fully tempered, and ceramic frit spandrel glass launched 2009), Star*Brite Fabricated Specialty Glass (frameless shower enclosures, all-glass entrances, beveled mirrors, polished tabletops including authorized Guardian ShowerGuard fabrication), and Fab*Rite Architectural Aluminum (custom Kawneer fabrication, 40+ year partnership) - together with distribution of flat glass from Vitro, Guardian, Pilkington NSG, AGC, and Walker Glass, Schott PYRAN fire-rated glazing, and CR Laurence hardware.

Revenue is generated through project-based commercial and residential sales of glass and aluminum, custom fabrication services tied to project specifications and bids, and logistics/fulfillment (will-call pickup at the Wheeling warehouse, regional truck delivery, and CR Laurence freight absorption from the Solon OH service center). Distribution occurs through inside sales and named estimators using Kawneer PartnerPak+, field outside-sales reps across WV/OH/Western PA/Eastern KY/Western MD/Eastern IN, the COPS/fenevision self-serve online ordering portal (launched 2000), and direct jobsite delivery. Pricing is quote-based per project rather than publicly listed.

Customers include commercial glazing contractors and general contractors building office, educational, sports, museum, and corporate facilities (featured projects include Sheetz Corporate Office, Google 2.0 Pittsburgh, Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton, WVU Engineering Building), residential builders and homeowners purchasing fabricated shower enclosures and decorative glass, and LEED-specifying architects who require the company's USGBC LEED certification plus Guardian/Vitro/Pilkington LEED documentation. Ownership transitioned out of the founding Wilson family to the Hartong family in 1974; Robert H. Hartong II is current President.

Name

W.A. Wilson Glass

Legal name

W. A. Wilson & Sons, Inc.

Website

https://wawilsonglass.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1841

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

W.A. Wilson Glass is a family-owned, 177-year-old full-line glass and architectural aluminum fabricator and distributor based in Wheeling, WV, serving commercial glaziers, residential contractors, and LEED-specifying architects across West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, and Indiana through four certified in-house manufacturing divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Glass and Architectural Aluminum Fabrication and Distribution

NAICS

Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass (327215), Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)

SIC

Glass Products, Made Of Purchased Glass (3231), Flat Glass (3211)

akta.pro primary industry

Glass Fabrication & Processing Services (Cutting/Edging/Drilling/Polishing) (IMADAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Flat Glass (Float/Sheet/Plate) Manufacturing (IMADAHAA)

Keywords

• Commercial glass fabrication
• Architectural aluminum fabrication
• Insulating glass manufacturing
• Flat glass distribution
• Tempered glass fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheeling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Glass & Architectural Aluminum Distribution and Fabrication: Core revenue stream from distributing and fabricating a full line of commercial and residential flat glass and architectural aluminum products. Mix includes Kawneer aluminum systems, Guardian/Vitro/PPG/Pilkington/AGC/Walker flat glass, Schott PYRAN fire-rated glass, and CR Laurence hardware. Mix is transactional/project-based with recurring supply relationships to commercial glazing contractors and residential customers.
2. Custom Fabrication Services: Revenue from custom fabrication services across multiple divisions: Star*Lite Insulating Glass units (IGCC-certified), Temp*Rite tempered/spandrel glass (SGCC-certified), Star*Brite fabricated specialty glass (showers, entrances, mirrors, tabletops), and Fab*Rite custom Kawneer aluminum. Service-based revenue tied to project specifications, bids, and installation support.
3. Delivery, Will-Call & Logistics Services: Revenue-supported fulfillment through a Wheeling, WV warehouse with will-call pickup (7am-3pm), truckload shipping, and equipment capable of offloading 4000 lb stock packs, steel racks, and wooden crates via overhead bridge cranes and forklifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

W.A. Wilson Glass is a full-line glass and architectural aluminum fabricator and distributor operating four manufacturing divisions — Star*Lite Insulating Glass, Temp*Rite Tempering, Star*Brite Fabricated Glass, and Fab*Rite Architectural Aluminum — out of its Wheeling, WV headquarters. The company distributes and fabricates flat glass (Vitro/PPG, Guardian, Pilkington NSG, AGC, Walker), Kawneer architectural aluminum systems, Schott PYRAN fire-rated glass, and CR Laurence hardware for commercial construction contractors and residential customers across WV, OH, Western PA, Eastern KY, Western MD, and Eastern IN.

Product overview

W.A. Wilson Glass operates a multi-division, platform-plus-modules architecture centered on a single unified Full-Line Glass and Architectural Aluminum Fabricator/Distributor business, organized around four proprietary manufacturing divisions - Star*Lite Insulating Glass, Temp*Rite Tempering, Star*Brite Fabricated Glass, and Fab*Rite Architectural Aluminum - that sit on top of a common Wheeling, WV operating base. The Star*Lite division anchors insulating glass unit production using a 2017 LiSEC line with a 2024 LiteSentry-Softsolution LineScanner, while Temp*Rite handles SGCC-certified heat-treated and ceramic frit spandrel glass, Star*Brite produces specialty fabricated products (frameless shower enclosures, all-glass entrances, beveled mirrors, polished tabletops) including Guardian ShowerGuard, and Fab*Rite fabricates Kawneer aluminum. Across this manufacturing platform, W.A. Wilson distributes Kawneer Architectural Aluminum products (entrances, doors, storefronts, curtain walls, hurricane- and blast-resistant framing, TRACO windows), Schott PYRAN Platinum F fire-rated glass, and flat glass from Vitro, Guardian, Pilkington NSG, AGC, and Walker Glass, with CR Laurence hardware and accessories as the standard finishing system. Supporting services include the Customer Online Ordering System (COPS / Fenevision), Delivery & Will Call from Wheeling, and LEED green design documentation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Star*Lite Insulating Glass: Star*Lite Insulating Division producing one of the highest quality insulating glass units in the industry, with IGCC certified polyisobutylene primary and silicone secondary sealed units and Chromatech Ultra Stainless Steel Warm Edge Spacers.
• Temp*Rite Tempering Division
• Star*Brite
• Fab*Rite

Products and services

• Star*Lite Insulating Glass Division IGCC-certified division producing high-quality insulating glass units with polyisobutylene primary and silicone secondary seals plus Chromatech Ultra Stainless Steel Warm Edge Spacers, anchored by a 2017 LiSEC IG production line with 2024 LineScanner integration; supplies commercial and residential IG units.
• Temp*Rite Tempering Division SGCC-certified division producing heat-strengthened, fully tempered, and ceramic frit spandrel glass with quick turnaround on small and large projects for commercial and residential customers.
• Star*Brite Fabricated Glass Division Specialty fabricated glass division producing all-glass entrances, frameless shower enclosures with CR Laurence hardware, beveled mirrors, polished tabletops, and 3/8" and 1/2" Guardian ShowerGuard glass (authorized fabricator).
• Fab*Rite Architectural Aluminum Division Custom fabrication of Kawneer architectural aluminum systems including Standard Entrances, Heavy Wall/Flushline/Thermal Doors, Trifab 450/451/451T/451UT and Encore Storefronts, 1600 Wall I & II systems with Sunshades and Versoleil Sunshades, InLighten Light Shelf, Hurricane Resistant Framing, Blast Resistant Framing, and TRACO windows.
• Flat Glass Distribution Distribution of flat glass from leading manufacturers including Vitro (formerly PPG), Guardian Commercial Glass, Pilkington NSG, AGC Architectural Glass, and Walker Glass, supplied as monolithic, float, laminated, tempered, or insulated units.
• Frameless Shower Enclosures Fabricated and tempered 3/8" and 1/2" frameless shower doors using CR Laurence hardware and Guardian ShowerGuard glass, with complete glass-and-hardware packages sized via the CR Laurence Showers OnLine tool for residential and commercial projects.
• All Glass Entrances All-glass entrance systems using CRL Door Rail Systems, panic and deadbolt handles, with patch and door rail configurations for commercial storefront applications.
• All Glass Railings and Windscreens Glass and aluminum railings and windscreens using 3/8" or 1/2" tempered glass with CRL architectural hardware and the CRL Taper-Loc System, designed for code-compliant commercial or residential applications.
• Fire Rated Glazing (Schott PYRAN Platinum F) Fire and safety rated glass-ceramic products distributed under the Schott PYRAN Platinum F brand, supported by dedicated product data, maintenance, warranty, and cleaning instructions for commercial fire-rated applications.
• Fireplace Glazing Specialty glazing products cut and tempered for residential and commercial fireplace applications.
• Glazing Supplies Sundries stocked by W.A. Wilson including Sika silicone and Dymonic caulking, J Channel, Stylemark showcase hardware, tapes, shims, anchors, setting blocks, plus the full CR Laurence product line picked up at the Solon, OH CRL service center for competitive pricing.
• LEED Green Design Support LEED documentation and credit guidance for commercial glass and glazing projects, with company LEED documents for Guardian SunGuard, Pilkington, Vitro, and GANA Recycled Content; W.A. Wilson itself is LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
• Delivery and Will Call Services Wheeling, WV warehouse will-call pickup (7 AM - 3 PM) plus regional freight shipments supported by overhead bridge cranes, slings, and fork trucks capable of offloading 4,000 lb stock packs, steel racks, and wooden crates across the six-state trading area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Family-owned and operated continuously since 1841, with 175+ years of continuous operation.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, operational, flagship and minor.

• LiSECmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017W.A. Wilson installed its 'State of the Art' Lisec Line in 2017 as its insulating glass production backbone, later augmented with the LiteSentry-Softsolution LineScanner in 2024.
• LiteSentry-SoftsolutionmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016W.A. Wilson Glass Plus invested in the LiteSentry-Softsolution LineScanner in 2024, integrated into the LiSEC IG production line for real-time monitoring of surface quality, edge defects, and dimension control. This represents an expansion of an existing Softsolution partnership that began in 2016.
• Wilson Glass and Aluminum (Columbus, OH)operationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Sister company to W.A. Wilson Glass, opened in Columbus, Ohio in 2004 to expand aluminum fabrication and distribution footprint.
• KawneerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Kawneer has partnered with W.A. Wilson for over 40 years to provide inventory and application guidance throughout the trading area. W.A. Wilson stocks Kawneer products in clear, bronze, and bone white finishes, with estimators trained on the Kawneer PartnerPak+ software for bidding storefront and curtain wall systems. The Fab*Rite division specializes in custom fabrication of Kawneer architectural aluminum.
• Guardian (Commercial Glass & ShowerGuard)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerW.A. Wilson distributes Guardian Commercial Glass and is an authorized Guardian Industries fabricator/temperer of ShowerGuard glass (3/8" and 1/2"). Guardian is one of the marquee product brands carried by the company, with manufacturer qualification and LEED documentation published on the website.
• Vitro (formerly PPG) Flat GlassmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerW.A. Wilson offers Vitro/PPG flat glass and was approved as a PPG Certified Fabricator in 2015; manufacturer qualification documents and Vitro coating warranty documents are published on the website.
• Pilkington NSGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilkington NSG is one of the marquee flat glass brands offered by W.A. Wilson; Pilkington LEED documentation is published on the LEED services page.
• AGC Architectural GlassmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGC Architectural Glass is among the flat glass brands distributed by W.A. Wilson; AGC Energy Select manufacturer qualification and AGC coating warranty documents are available.
• Walker GlassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalker Glass is one of the named flat glass brands offered by W.A. Wilson to its customer base.
• CR Laurence (CRL)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorW.A. Wilson has partnered with CR Laurence to offer their complete line of hardware and accessories for shower enclosures, all-glass entrances, and railings. W.A. Wilson trucks pick up products at the Solon, OH CRL service center to resell at competitive prices without additional freight charges. CRL Showers OnLine software is used to size glass and hardware packages.
• Schott (PYRAN Platinum F Fire-Rated Glass-Ceramic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerW.A. Wilson offers Schott PYRAN Platinum F Fire and Safety Rated Glass-Ceramic as one of its specialty products, with product data, maintenance, warranty, and cleaning instructions published on the website.
• Sika SealantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerW.A. Wilson stocks Sika silicone and dymonic caulking and publishes Sika Sealants Technical Data and Inventory documents on the Glazing Supplies page.
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 57 (Carnegie, PA)operationalOthersAll W.A. Wilson warehouse employees and drivers are union members of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 57 (Carnegie PA), supporting safety and labor standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tubelite Inc. Manufacturer and distributor of architectural aluminum storefront, curtain wall, entrance, and window systems. Most directly comparable to W.A. Wilson's Fab*Rite Kawneer aluminum fabrication division; competes for the same glazier and general contractor specifications.
• Glasswerks: Mid-Atlantic and national architectural glass fabricator/distributor offering tempered, insulated, laminated, and fabricated glass. Closely comparable product mix to W.A. Wilson's Star*Lite, Temp*Rite, and Star*Brite divisions, with overlap in regional commercial accounts.
• Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions: National fabricator and distributor of architectural aluminum, glass, and storefront/curtain wall systems. Directly comparable to W.A. Wilson's combined glass + Kawneer aluminum fabrication/distribution model, though with broader geographic reach and more production capacity.
• C.R. Laurence (CRL): Leading manufacturer and distributor of architectural hardware, shower door systems, and glazing supplies. CRL is both a W.A. Wilson supplier (hardware picked up in Solon, OH) and a competitor on frameless shower enclosures and all-glass entrance systems.

Broad incumbents

• Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope: Largest North American architectural glass and aluminum fabricator/distributor (subsidiary of CRH). Competes with W.A. Wilson across IG units, tempered glass, architectural aluminum, and custom fabrication, but at national scale with much larger capital, R&D, and footprint.
• YKK AP America: Major manufacturer of commercial architectural aluminum storefront, entrance, curtain wall, and window products. Comparable to W.A. Wilson's Kawneer distribution and Fab*Rite fabrication business, with overlapping products but broader national scale.
• Guardian Glass: Global float and architectural glass manufacturer and a key W.A. Wilson distribution partner. Comparable at the glass-product level (SunGuard high-performance coatings, ShowerGuard residential), though Guardian operates as a manufacturer while W.A. Wilson is a regional fabricator/distributor.
• Vitro Architectural Glass: One of the largest architectural glass manufacturers in North America (formerly PPG Flat Glass). W.A. Wilson distributes Vitro products and is a PPG Certified Fabricator, but Vitro is also a supply partner — overlapping in coated and monolithic glass categories for commercial facades.

Regional players

• Dillmeier Glass: Specialty architectural glass fabricator offering decorative, safety, and high-performance glass for commercial and institutional projects. Comparable to W.A. Wilson's specialty fabricated glass (Star*Brite) and fire-rated glazing offerings, with similar project-based commercial focus.
• M3 Glass Technologies: Regional architectural glass fabricator serving the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast U.S. with insulated, tempered, and fabricated glass. Comparable product mix to W.A. Wilson's manufacturing divisions, though with a different regional focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wawilsonglass
• Facebookfacebook.com/WA-Wilson-Sons-Inc-Glass-Plus-142311495838437

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about W.A. Wilson Glass