Council for Aluminium in Building

What Council for Aluminium in Building does

The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) is a UK trade association founded in 1994 and headquartered in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, that represents companies across the full aluminium fenestration supply chain — extruders, fabricators and manufacturers, finishers (anodising, powder coating, sublimation), installers, consultants, hardware and machinery suppliers, recyclers, and testing/certification bodies. CAB provides members with technical services (INSIGHT newsletters, UKCA/UKNI/CE marking guidance, free technical enquiry service, independent site visit reporting), a Training Academy (Essential Knowledge, Building Regulations, Contract Law, Powered Pedestrian Doors), the CAB-branded CSCS Q-Card for curtain wall installers, apprenticeship resources, and the Closed Loop Recycling Scheme launched 2 July 2020. The organisation also publishes position papers and Product Data Templates developed through the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority (LEXiCON project).

CAB operates as a membership-based non-profit, generating revenue primarily through recurring annual membership fees across multiple tiers, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Its go-to-market is community-led: acquisition via the c-a-b.org.uk website, networking events (CABfest, AGM dinner, Aluminium in Building Conference & Exhibition 2026), and industry presence across the fenestration ecosystem. The association represents 'thousands of member company representatives' and engages in UK regulatory consultations including the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus, Construction Products Reform Green Paper 2025, UK CBAM implementation in 2027, and the Building Safety Act 2021. Leadership comprises CEO Phil Slinger and technical contact Justin Furness, with a 1–10 person staff footprint supported by member-led committees (restructured in July 2025).

Name

Council for Aluminium in Building

Legal name

Council for Aluminium in Building

Website

https://c-a-b.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) is a UK trade association, founded 1994, that represents extruders, fabricators, finishers, installers, and consultants across the aluminium fenestration supply chain through membership fees, technical services, training, CSCS credentialing, and regulatory advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing (3323)

SIC

Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448)

akta.pro primary industry

Aluminum Value-Added Components (Automotive, Aerospace, Packaging, Building Systems) (IMAKACAM)

Keywords

• Aluminium building trade association
• Membership trade body
• Fenestration technical services
• Construction industry training
• Aluminium recycling scheme

Headquarters

HQ city

Stonehouse

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CAB operates as a membership-based trade association. The organization generates revenue through annual membership fees from companies across the aluminium supply chain including extruders, fabricators, finishers, installers, consultants, and systems suppliers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) is a UK trade association that provides membership services, technical guidance, training, and certification to companies in the aluminium in building supply chain. It represents fabricators, installers, extruders, finishers, and consultants, while also offering dedicated services such as the Training Academy, CSCS Card certification, Independent Site Visits & Technical Reporting, and a Closed Loop Recycling Scheme.

Product overview

Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) is a membership organization that promotes the use of aluminium in building. CAB operates as a platform offering interconnected services to the aluminium fenestration industry, including Technical Services (INSIGHT newsletters, guidance notes, UKCA/UKNI/CE marking guidance), Publications (Position Papers, Product Data Templates, State of Trade Survey results), and Training (CAB Training Academy with Essential Knowledge courses, Building Regulations training, Contract Law training). Additional services include the CAB Curtain Wall Installer CSCS Card scheme, Apprenticeship Toolbox, Closed Loop Recycling Scheme, and Independent Site Visits & Technical Reporting. The organization also engages in industry consultations on regulations including UK Construction Products Regulations, Part L changes, and the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAB Closed Loop Recycling Scheme: Environmental initiative for aluminium recycling in the construction industry launched July 2020
• CAB Training Academy

Products and services

• CAB Membership Annual membership subscription for businesses in the aluminium in building sector, providing access to technical guidance, training, certification, industry representation, and the Closed Loop Recycling Scheme.
• CAB Training Academy Training programme delivering skills development and competency courses for professionals working in the aluminium in building sector, available to members and the wider industry.
• CAB Curtain Wall Installer CSCS Card Industry-recognised certification card issued by CAB for curtain wall installers, demonstrating site competency and compliance with construction industry requirements.
• Independent Site Visits & Technical Reporting Service Paid technical service providing independent expert site visits and detailed technical reporting for aluminium fenestration projects, supporting quality assurance and compliance verification.
• Closed Loop Recycling Scheme Recycling programme available to CAB members that supports the circular economy in aluminium fenestration by facilitating the recovery and reuse of aluminium materials from building projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• CAB Closed Loop Recycling Scheme launched July 2020
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and important.

• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB has partnered with CITB to provide funding for the CAB Essential Knowledge Course. This enables training and competency development for curtain wall installers and other industry professionals in the aluminium building sector.
• BNUKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB has established a partnership with BNUK for collaborative initiatives in the building industry.
• Joint Competence Initiative (JCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB participates in the Joint Competence Initiative focused on competency of people, product, and installation in the building sector. Includes Baseline Knowledge Assessment tests for industry professionals.
• Shadow Fenestration Relevant AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB is a founder-member of the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority, which develops Product Data Templates (PDTs) and standards for the fenestration industry as part of the LEXiCON project. These enable consistent product specification and support the Golden Thread in construction.
• ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB supports responsible sourcing of aluminium through engagement with the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative's sustainability standards, supporting members in meeting environmental and social responsibility requirements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Construction Products Association: UK umbrella body for construction product manufacturers. Broader than CAB in product scope but overlaps on regulatory advocacy (Construction Products Regulations, Building Safety Act) and member engagement.
• European Aluminium: Pan-European aluminium industry association with a building sector remit. Comparable advocacy and sustainability agenda, but operates at EU level and covers all aluminium end-uses, not just UK building.

Others

• British Plastics Federation (BPF): UK trade association representing the plastics industry including PVC-U fenestration — adjacent competitor material whose members compete directly with aluminium in window and door systems.
• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB): UK statutory training body for the construction sector. CAB partners with CITB to fund training, and CITB's competency and apprenticeship frameworks directly shape CAB's training product portfolio.
• Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI): Global sustainability standards body for aluminium. CAB explicitly partners with ASI on responsible sourcing; comparable sustainability/standards-setting function but global rather than UK-specific.

Direct peers

• Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF): UK trade association for the glazing industry, with substantial overlap in fenestration, installer competency, and building product standards. Closest direct peer given shared UK construction-fenestration mandate and member base.
• National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC): UK trade body for roofing contractors, including metal roofing and rooflights — overlapping member categories (installers, rooflight fabricators) and shared engagement on Building Safety Act competency.
• Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS): UK trade association representing interior fit-out and finishing contractors — overlapping on installation standards, training, and competency schemes in the built environment.
• The Aluminium Federation (ALFED): UK trade body representing the broader aluminium industry across all sectors, not just building. Directly comparable trade-association model with overlapping extruder and systems-house membership.

Regional players

• Metal Construction Association (MCA): US trade association for metal construction products including aluminium fenestration and roofing. Comparable trade-association function but focused on the North American market rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CABaluminium
• Facebookfacebook.com/CABAluminiumUK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Council for Aluminium in Building