Curtain Wall Systems & Aluminum Cladding Panels — China Supplier Evidence

How to choose a curtain wall or cladding supplier in China

1. 01

   Split system fabricator from panel maker before you shortlist

   A curtain-wall fabricator assembles extruded framing profiles, glass, structural sealant, hardware and gaskets into an engineered facade system — stick-built (assembled on-site) or unitized (pre-assembled cassettes). A cladding panel maker produces flat or folded aluminium panels — ACP, solid veneer, honeycomb — for dry-cladding or rain-screen fixing onto a separate subframe. These are different production lines and different scopes of supply. Confirm what your project actually needs before shortlisting; a panel mill is not automatically a system fabricator and vice versa.

2. 02

   Confirm shop-drawing and engineering depth

   A project-grade curtain-wall order requires the fabricator to work from — or produce — shop drawings, coordinate with the structural and glazing engineer, verify wind-load and thermal performance for your zone, and test the system to the applicable facade standard (e.g. EN 13830 in the EU; local equivalents elsewhere). Ask specifically: does the manufacturer produce shop drawings in-house, or do you supply fabrication drawings? Does their system have a test report under the standard your specification requires?

3. 03

   Verify fire classification for the exact panel and core ordered

   For cladding panels, fire-class requirements are strict and specific to the actual core material. A non-combustible mineral core can achieve A2 (non-combustible) under EN 13501 or equivalent; a standard polyethylene (PE) core will not, and a fire-retardant (FR) core sits in between. A passing report on a different SKU or core grade does not cover your project — always request the fire-classification test report for the exact core and coating combination you are ordering.

4. 04

   Specify coating type, dry-film thickness and warranty

   PVDF (Kynar-grade, minimum 70% PVDF resin) is the industry standard for exterior longevity — applied in a primer-plus-top-coat system with a specified dry-film thickness (DFT). FEVE is a comparable fluoropolymer alternative. Ask for DFT inspection records and a coating warranty from the coating manufacturer, not just a verbal commitment from the panel mill. Powder coat suits interiors but is not the standard for commercial exterior facade exposure.

5. 05

   Define the glass, hardware and gasket scope in writing

   For a curtain-wall system, the boundary of supply is rarely self-evident: does the manufacturer's scope include glass panels, structural silicone, back-up rod, anchor brackets and thermal-break strips, or only the aluminium framing extrusions? Partial scope is common and creates accountability gaps when problems arise. Define every element in the RFQ and confirm it in the proforma invoice before ordering.

Is the price right? Check before you commit

Benchmark a quote against today's mill price, then estimate the all-in landed cost to your port before you negotiate. A workable price is a pre-condition for an RFQ — not an afterthought.

Matching the right mill

You already know the product — use these to confirm a shortlisted mill can actually make what your project needs.

Common alloys

For sourcing: ask for the mill test certificate (chemical composition + temper) for the exact alloy — a spec sheet alone isn't proof. Re-melt-heavy mills can drift out of spec batch to batch.

Governing standards

Industry-applicable standards that govern this product type — not a certification claim for any individual mill.

GB/T 21086

Chinese national standard for building curtain-wall systems (JGJ 102 is the companion design code for glass curtain walls)

GB/T 23443

Aluminium veneer panels for building decoration — thickness, coating, flatness, fold radius

GB/T 17748

Aluminium composite panels (ACP/ACM) — core type, peel strength, flatness and bending resistance

GB/T 5237

Extruded aluminium profile standard — applies to curtain-wall framing members

EN 13830

European curtain-wall system performance standard — ask for test reports if your destination project requires CE-compliant facade performance

For sourcing: request a project-specific test report against these standards — not a generic certificate. A standard that governs the product type is not proof a given mill's output was tested to it.

Sourcing questions

What is the difference between aluminium veneer and ACP?

Aluminium veneer is a single solid aluminium sheet (typically 2–4 mm) folded and stiffened into a finished panel. ACP (aluminium composite panel) is two thin aluminium skins (typically 0.3–0.5 mm) bonded to a core — PE, FR or mineral. Veneer is heavier, stiffer and fire-class-favourable; ACP is lighter and cheaper. The core's fire behaviour determines compliance in most markets — confirm fire class against your destination code before specifying.

Can Chinese manufacturers meet our local facade fire code?

Export-grade factories can supply A2-core and mineral-core panels with fire-classification test reports. The right question is whether the specific product — the exact core and coating you are ordering — carries a test report under the standard your project requires (e.g. EN 13501-1 in the EU, or the local equivalent). Always request that specific test report in your RFQ, not a generic certificate for a different panel.

What should a curtain wall or cladding RFQ include?

Include: shop or reference drawings; system type (stick / unitized / panel-only); panel type (ACP, veneer, honeycomb, or framing-only); required fire classification and applicable standard; coating system (PVDF / FEVE / other), colour and finish; panel or profile thickness; wind-load design criteria; destination country and standard; quantity (m² or linear metres); inspection requirements; and project timeline. MOQ, lead time and price are confirmed by the supplier for the actual project — they are not published here.

Is unitized curtain wall better than stick-built?

Unitized systems (factory pre-assembled cassettes) allow faster site installation and better factory quality control, but require higher fabrication investment and close coordination between manufacturer, contractor and schedule. Stick-built is more flexible for complex geometry, smaller quantities and tighter budgets. Both are widely sourced from China — choose based on project scale, site programme and contractor capability, not a general preference.

What standards govern Chinese curtain wall and cladding products?

GB/T 21086 is the national standard for building curtain-wall systems; JGJ 102 is the companion design code for glass curtain walls. For panels: GB/T 17748 covers ACP and GB/T 23443 covers aluminium veneer. If your destination requires EN 13830 (European curtain-wall performance standard) or another code, ask the manufacturer whether their system has been tested to it and request the report.

Can this page confirm MOQ, price or lead time?

No. For curtain wall and cladding these figures are highly project-specific — they depend on panel size, quantity, coating, fire class, system complexity and port of delivery. Use the supplier evidence results to narrow candidates, then confirm all commercial and schedule terms through a structured RFQ.