What architectural facade systems does

Architectural Facade Systems LLC, doing business as Xkelex, is a privately held building-products manufacturer founded in 2020 and headquartered in Denton, Texas. The company designs and produces extruded aluminum rainscreen cladding substructure systems used to mount exterior facade panels on commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings. Its product portfolio includes the X-CS19 and X-CS25 cladding rail systems, the X-H19 and X-V25 horizontal and vertical rails, and the X-BK-H and X-BK-V thermally broken substructures, engineered for higher-performance code jurisdictions.

Xkelex operates a B2B, specification-driven go-to-market model, targeting architects, contractors, and building owners through industry association memberships (USGBC, ASTM, Raina) and engineering support in collaboration with Rice Engineering. The company earns revenue primarily through project-based sales of its substructure systems, with revenue mechanics tied to commercial construction cycles rather than recurring contracts. Component compatibility is supported by integration partnerships with Fischer Anchors and SFS Intec.

The company operates a dual-country footprint, manufacturing and distributing in the United States through its Denton, Texas base and a U.S. distribution agreement with AFS, while extending production into Mexico via a manufacturing partnership with HQP. Five co-founders bring over 100 years of combined rainscreen cladding experience, which underpins the company's technical specification credibility with design professionals.

Name

architectural facade systems

Legal name

Architectural Facade Systems LLC

Website

https://xkelex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Xkelex, the trade name of Architectural Facade Systems LLC, manufactures extruded aluminum rainscreen cladding substructure systems for commercial, institutional, and multifamily building projects, selling specification-driven through architects, contractors, and building owners across the U.S. and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Building Products

NAICS

Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro primary industry

Facade & Cladding Systems (Rainscreens, Panels, EIFS, Siding) (IMAFAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components) (IMADACAM)

Keywords

• Rainscreen cladding systems
• Architectural panel substructure
• Extruded aluminum profiles
• Building envelope solutions
• Concealed fastening systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Denton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Rainscreen Substructure Product Sales: Sale of extruded aluminum substructure systems and components including brackets, clips, profiles, rails, thermal break pads, and vent screens. Products sold directly and through distribution partners.
2. Professional Services: Project take-offs based on architectural drawings, shop drawing services, and installer training. Fees determined by project size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Architectural Facade Systems (Xkelex) manufactures and distributes extruded aluminum architectural-grade rainscreen cladding substructure systems and components, including concealed and exposed fastening systems, thermally broken bracket systems, profiles, brackets, clips, rails, thermal break pads, and vent screens. The company also provides project take-offs, stamped shop drawings through Rice Engineering, and installer training services for use with fiber cement, HPL, composite stone, UHPC, and ceramic cladding panels.

Product overview

Xkelex is a manufacturer of extruded aluminum rainscreen cladding substructure systems designed for architectural panel applications. The product portfolio includes four main substructure system categories: concealed fastening systems (X-CS19 and X-CS25), exposed fastening systems (X-H19 and X-V25), and thermally broken systems (X-BK-H and X-BK-V). These systems are complemented by a comprehensive component line including horizontal and vertical profiles (Hat, Zee, J, L, and T profiles), brackets, clips, rails, thermal break pads, and vent screens. The systems are manufactured from 6063-T5 architectural grade aluminum with black powder coating and are designed for use with fiber cement, HPL, composite stone, UHPC, and ceramic panels. The company also provides value-added services including take-offs, shop drawings with engineering support, and installer training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• X-CS19 Concealed Fastening System Horizontal concealed fastening system using a 3/4-inch perforated Zee profile (40% perforation) for airflow and drainage, eliminating the need for vertical substructure and reducing installation costs. Designed for architects and contractors installing fiber cement, HPL, composite stone, UHPC, and ceramic panel rainscreen cladding.
• X-CS25 Concealed Fastening System Traditional 1-1/2 inch depth concealed fastening system using vertical Hat, Zee, or J profiles with a horizontal rail for back-attached panel clips, suitable for many cladding types and high-rise construction.
• X-H19 Exposed Fastening System Visible/exposed horizontal fastening system with 3/4-inch depth using perforated Hat or Zee profiles at 16 or 32 inches on center, eliminating vertical girts and backing plates.
• X-V25 Vertical Substructure System Vertical Hat or Zee profile system providing 1-inch depth air cavity for exposed fastening or concealed systems, supporting continuous insulation and thermal breaks.
• X-BK-H Thermally Broken Horizontal System Horizontally oriented thermally broken system accommodating up to 7-1/2 inches of continuous exterior insulation with adjustable cavity depth from 4-5/16 to 7-1/2 inches.
• X-BK-V Thermally Broken Vertical System Vertical thermally broken system with depths up to 11-1/2 inches for continuous exterior insulation applications.
• Take-Off Services Professional service that calculates substructure requirements based on architectural drawings, including wind load and construction type analysis, with a 2-4 week lead time.
• Shop Drawing Services Professional shop drawing services supported by Rice Engineering (nationally licensed structural engineering firm) for nationally stamped engineering calculations and shop drawings.
• Installer Training Installation training programs to help installers learn correct installation methods for Xkelex rainscreen substructure and panel systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% perforation on profiles meets many cladding manufacturer airflow and drainage requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Architectural Facade Systems (AFS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSA-based distribution partner handling product distribution throughout the United States. Located in Denton, Texas with phone contact at 940-323-2343.
• HQP (Mexico Distribution)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMexico-based distribution partner located in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Handles distribution for Mexican market at Av. Pablo Neruda 2278, Jardines Providencia.
• Rice EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNationally licensed structural engineering firm used to support customers with engineering calculations and stamped shop drawings. Engineering fee based on project scope and size.
• RainaminorOthersProud member of Raina industry association for rainscreen professionals.
• United States Green Building Council (USGBC)minorOthersUSGBC member and affiliated organization. Xkelex products designed to meet USGBC requirements for LEED certification projects.
• ASTM InternationalminorOthersASTM International affiliate member. Products designed to meet ASTM International design standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Knight Wall Systems: Knight Wall Systems manufactures rainscreen cladding attachment systems (CI, exterior insulation, sub-framing), the most direct head-to-head competitor to Xkelex's concealed, exposed, and thermally broken substructure systems for fiber cement, HPL, and other panel types.
• Cladding Corp: Cladding Corp designs and supplies engineered rainscreen substructure and cladding support systems, including horizontal-rail and thermally broken bracket products that closely mirror Xkelex's X-BK and X-CS product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Centria (NCI Group): Centria is a long-established architectural metal wall systems manufacturer offering concealed and exposed fastener wall panels plus substructure, serving the same architects and contractors as Xkelex but with a broader portfolio and deeper specification footprint.
• ATAS International: ATAS manufactures architectural metal wall panels, roofing, and rainscreen systems used across commercial and institutional construction, overlapping with Xkelex's downstream panel-and-substructure category across multiple cladding types.
• AEP Span: AEP Span (part of ASC Profiles) produces architectural metal wall panels and rainscreen systems for commercial construction, a broader alternative to Xkelex's pure substructure focus, often competing for the same rainscreen project specifications.
• Berridge Manufacturing: Berridge produces architectural metal roofing and wall panels with concealed and exposed fastener systems, a longer-tenured incumbent in metal rainscreen products serving the same commercial/institutional segment as Xkelex projects.
• Morin (Kingspan): Morin, a Kingspan brand, manufactures architectural metal wall systems including concealed fastener rainscreen panels and integrated substructure options, targeting the same high-performance commercial building envelope market as Xkelex.
• Sto Corp: Sto Corp offers a broad building envelope portfolio including EIFS, stucco, and rainscreen ventilation systems; while not a substructure specialist, it competes for architectural specification of high-performance facade assemblies in similar projects.
• Hohmann & Barnard: Hohmann & Barnard manufactures a wide range of masonry and building envelope accessories including anchors, ties, and rainscreen components, an adjacent incumbent that competes in similar facade construction projects though with a different product mix.

Others

• SFS Group (SFS Intec): SFS Intec is a listed partner whose TUF-S rivets are integrated into Xkelex's clip systems, and as a major European facade fastener manufacturer, it is an adjacent enabling supplier to the rainscreen substructure category Xkelex serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/XkelexUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/architectural-facade-systems-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/xkelexusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 architectural facade systems