AB Glass
AB Glass is a privately-held UK architectural aluminium manufacturer and installer, founded 1991 in Swansea, designing, fabricating and fitting windows, doors, curtain walling, facades and access control systems for commercial contractors, architects, and homeowners across the UK and Channel Islands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersSwansea, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AB Glass does
AB Glass (Doors & Windows) Ltd is a privately-held UK architectural aluminium manufacturer and installer founded in 1991 by Alan Brayley and headquartered in a 14,000 sq ft purpose-built facility in Swansea, Wales. The firm designs, manufactures and installs aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling, facades, structural glazing, brise soleil systems, and fire-rated and Passivhaus-certified envelope products using core supply partnerships with Kawneer, CORTIZO, Technal, and Saint Gobain glass. It is the only architectural aluminium manufacturer in the UK employing a full-time, highly qualified in-house specifier, supported by a CAD-led design department.
The company operates two principal go-to-market motions: (1) an enterprise field-sales channel working with main contractors such as ISG, Willmott Dixon, Bouygues UK, Kier Group and Morgan Sindall on commercial and public-sector projects across the UK and Channel Islands, evidenced by reference projects including St Sidwell's Point Exeter (world's first Passivhaus leisure centre), Fusion Student Swansea (£40m, 19-storey high-rise), Newport City Campus (£1.8m), Liberty Stadium and the Royal Mint Visitor Centre; and (2) a direct-to-consumer domestic channel serving homeowners, fitters and project managers using CORTIZO products. A third division, AB Access Control, provides integrated CCTV, door entry, automated gates, PA and intruder alarm systems alongside the door and window business.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time project commissions on a quote-based pricing model, with a smaller recurring professional services revenue stream from access control maintenance. The firm holds multi-layered regulatory credentials including ISO 9001:2015, Green Dragon Level 5, ADSA approval, BSEN16005, PAS24, BSEN12101-2 smoke vent certification, and Passivhaus product certification, creating prequalification advantages on public-sector and sustainability-led tenders. Owner-operated by founder Alan Brayley with no external equity, the firm recorded a six-figure capacity expansion in May 2021 that increased production floor space by 35% to accommodate a growing order book.
AB Glass firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AB Glass
- Legal name
- AB Glass (Doors & Windows) Ltd
- Website
- https://abforglass.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- AB Glass is a privately-held UK architectural aluminium manufacturer and installer, founded 1991 in Swansea, designing, fabricating and fitting windows, doors, curtain walling, facades and access control systems for commercial contractors, architects, and homeowners across the UK and Channel Islands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AB Glass industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Glazing Systems
- NAICS
- Glass and Glazing Contractors (238150), Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass (327215), Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321)
- SIC
- Glass Products, Made Of Purchased Glass (3231)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural & Building Glazing Systems (Curtain Wall/Storefront/Canopies) (IMADAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Windows (IMADAIAC), Custom Window & Door Fabrication & Replacement (HSAPAJAI), Fire-Rated Glass & Glazing Assemblies (IMADAHAH)
Keywords
Where AB Glass is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Swansea
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
AB Glass business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architectural Aluminium Products: Design, manufacture and installation of aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling, facades and structural glass assemblies for commercial and domestic markets across the UK.
- Access Control Systems: Design, installation and maintenance of access control, CCTV, door entry/intercom, automated gates/barriers, PA and intruder alarm systems. Offers full technical sale, installation and follow up service.
- Private Domestic Commissions: Domestic and commercial projects with bespoke glass, aluminium and uPVC windows and doors solutions, working directly with homeowners, fitters and project managers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Commercial Projects |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
AB Glass product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AB Glass designs, manufactures and installs architectural aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling, facades and structural glass assemblies for commercial, public-sector and domestic customers across the UK and Channel Islands. The company operates a purpose-built production facility in Swansea supplying Kawneer and CORTIZO-based systems, Passivhaus-certified products, fire-rated and smoke-vent systems, and an integrated access control division (AB Access) covering CCTV, intercoms, automated doors and intruder alarms.
Product overview
AB Glass is a manufacturer and installer of architectural aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling, facades, and structural glass assemblies for commercial and domestic markets. Their product portfolio centres on Kawneer aluminium systems (windows, doors, curtain walling including AA100, 1202S, 451PT series), supplemented by AB Access Control division for automated access systems, smoke ventilation systems certified to BSEN12101-2, and CORTIZO products for domestic applications. They also offer fire-rated systems (AA100FR, AA720FR), brise soleil, structural glazing, secondary glazing, and UPVC replacements. The company operates from a purpose-built production facility in Swansea, serving customers across the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AB Access: Access control division of AB Glass providing design, installation and maintenance of access control, CCTV, door entry/intercom, automated gates/barriers, PA and intruder alarm systems. ADSA approved installer.
Products and services
- Kawneer Architectural Aluminium Windows, Doors and Curtain Walling Architectural aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling systems from Kawneer supplied and installed for commercial and public-sector construction projects across the UK, offering thermal-broken and capped framing options.
- AB Access Control Systems Design, installation and maintenance of integrated access control, CCTV, door entry and intercom, automated gates and barriers, PA and intruder alarm systems for commercial and domestic customers.
- Smoke Ventilation Systems
Quantifiable outcome
- 95.99% in-house recycling rate achieved in 2016
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AB Glass
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AB Glass technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
AB Glass partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- KawneercoreMain supplier of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling. Market leaders in use of recycled materials - 100% of their billet is reused through various media with only 5% of initial energy needed to recycle. Supplied products for numerous major projects including Passivhaus-certified systems.
- SE ControlscorePartnership for BSEN12101-2 certified smoke vent systems. AB Glass has renewed certification with SE Controls and now offers expanded tested solutions and wider range of options for fire safety applications.
- Saint GobaincoreGlass supplier via Ravensby unit manufacturer for Royal Mint Visitor Centre project. Saint Gobain structural glazing used for Fairyhill by Oldwalls project.
- CORTIZOcoreWindows and doors solutions manufacturer for domestic market products, manufactured using latest technology from their purpose-built facility.
- TechnalcoreAluminium extrusion supplier alongside Kawneer for commercial market products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AB Glass competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kawneer (Alcoa): Arconic-owned global aluminium systems brand and AB Glass's core product supplier (AA100, AA720, AA190). Comparable as both a peer (offering similar certified systems) and a supplier-side partner, defining the technical envelope AB Glass fabricates against.
- Technal (Hydro): Global aluminium building envelope brand owned by Norsk Hydro, offering curtain walling, windows and doors systems. Comparable as an upstream systems supplier that AB Glass uses, and competes with Kawneer, the firm’s primary dependency.
- Schüco UK: German-headquartered global player in aluminium and steel window, door and façade systems with established UK fabrication network. Comparable at the high-performance/energy-efficient end of the market where AB Glass competes for Passivhaus and education sector tenders.
- Sapa (Hydro Building Systems): Former Sapa brand now part of Hydro Building Systems, supplying aluminium curtain wall, window and door systems globally. Comparable as a wide-portfolio aluminium systems supplier whose products appear on UK construction tenders in competition with AB Glass' preferred Kawneer/Technal range.
- Reynaers Aluminium: Belgian-headquartered global manufacturer of aluminium windows, doors, curtain walls and sliding systems with UK fabrication partner network. Comparable as a premium European aluminium systems supplier pursuing UK commercial specification work similar to AB Glass's positioning.
Emerging players
- Selectaglaze: UK specialist in secondary glazing for heritage, listed and acoustic applications. Comparable to a specific slice of AB Glass's product portfolio (secondary glazing, thermal/acoustic upgrades) and provides a relevant specialist reference for retrofit and heritage-focused glazing work.
- Aluprof UK: Polish-headquartered aluminium systems supplier with a growing UK specification presence across commercial glazing, curtain walls and insulated panels. Comparable as a fast-growing systems brand seeking UK fabricator partners in market segments AB Glass already addresses with domestic and Passivhaus offerings.
Direct peers
- Senior Architectural Systems: UK-based manufacturer of aluminium windows, doors, and curtain walling systems for commercial and domestic markets. Most direct head-to-head competitor of AB Glass in the UK architectural aluminium fabrication market with comparable product breadth and tier-1 contractor relationships.
- Metal Technology: Northern Ireland-headquartered manufacturer of architectural aluminium systems including curtain walls, windows, and doors. Closely comparable in product range and UK/Ireland contractor-focused go-to-market, competing for similar commercial specification work.
Others
- Cortizo UK: Spanish aluminium systems manufacturer whose products AB Glass uses for its domestic CORTIZO range. Comparable as a key supplier-side partner rather than direct competitor, defining the technical baseline of AB Glass's residential offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AB Glass social profiles
Digital presenceAB Glass compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
AB Glass financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AB Glass leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
AB Glass funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AB Glass M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AB Glass
What does AB Glass do?
AB Glass designs, manufactures and installs architectural aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling, facades and structural glass assemblies for commercial, public-sector and domestic customers across the UK and Channel Islands. The company operates a purpose-built production facility in Swansea supplying Kawneer and CORTIZO-based systems, Passivhaus-certified products, fire-rated and smoke-vent systems, and an integrated access control division (AB Access) covering CCTV, intercoms, automated doors and intruder alarms.
Is AB Glass a public or private company?
AB Glass is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AB Glass founded?
AB Glass was founded in 1991. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is AB Glass based?
AB Glass is headquartered in Swansea, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does AB Glass make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Architectural Aluminium Products are the primary driver. The others are access Control Systems and private Domestic Commissions.
Who are AB Glass's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kawneer (Alcoa), Technal (Hydro), Schüco UK, Sapa (Hydro Building Systems) and Reynaers Aluminium. Emerging players are Selectaglaze and Aluprof UK. Direct peers are Senior Architectural Systems and Metal Technology. Cortizo UK is listed as an others.
Does AB Glass have an API?
No public API is recorded for AB Glass.
What industry is AB Glass in?
AB Glass's product category is Architectural Glazing Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAHAB, Architectural & Building Glazing Systems (Curtain Wall/Storefront/Canopies), with a secondary code of IMADAIAC, Windows. Its NAICS code is 238150 and its SIC code is 3231.