How to Import Curtain Wall from China: 2026 Guide

🏗️ Manufacturer’s Insight

As a curtain wall manufacturer with over 10 years of experience, owning our own aluminum extrusion lines and processing facilities, I have seen every side of this industry.

This guide is not just theory. It is a compilation of best practices for overseas curtain wall procurement, designed to help you navigate the China curtain wall supply chain for contractors without the headaches. Whether you need a high-performance unitized curtain wall for a high rise, a flexible stick-built curtain wall, or a bespoke spider system, the principles of risk control remain the same.

✅ Which Projects Have the Highest Success Rate?

Generally, projects with a planned lead time of 4-6 months and a certain scale benefit most.

• ✔High-Rise Commercial Buildings: Where unitized curtain wall repetition offers massive economies of scale.
• ✔Large Residential Complexes: Using standardized stick-built curtain wall or window wall systems.
• ✔Luxury Hotels & Event Spaces: Where custom aesthetics (like the Nuvo Event Space project we managed) require high-end fabrication that would be cost-prohibitive domestically.
• ✔Public Infrastructure: Airports or stations requiring massive volumes of glass and aluminum.

📋 The 6 Key Items You Need Before You Start

• [ ] Architectural Elevations and Floor Plans (CAD/PDF)
• [ ] Wind Load / Structural requirements (kpa or psf)
• [ ] Thermal performance targets (U-value, SHGC)
• [ ] Visual requirements (Glass color, profile finish)
• [ ] Project Schedule (When is the crane coming down?)
• [ ] Budget Constraints (Target price per sqm/sqft)

💡 One-Sentence Reminder: The Hybrid Solution

If you have a strict local union installation requirement but a tight material budget, consider buying the turnkey curtain wall package from China (materials + fabrication) but utilizing a local team for the install—we call this “supply only with tech support.”

Industry Insight: According to a 2023 industry whitepaper on Global Construction Materials Flow, China accounts for over 60% of the world’s aluminum extrusion and architectural glass production. The supply chain density is unmatched.

🏢 Target Project Types

• • Commercial Complexes: High ROI on thermal performance upgrades.
• • Hotels: Benefit from high-end acoustic glass options.
• • Apartments: High volume of repetitive window wall units.
• • Office Towers: The classic use case for unitized panels.

💡 “A vague inquiry gets a vague price. To get a professional proposal, you need a professional curtain wall RFQ checklist.”

1. Lock in Curtain Wall System Type

First, understand what you are buying. Check our Curtain Wall Type Guide.

• 🏢 Unitized: Best for high-rise, fast enclosure, high labor costs onsite.
• 🏗️ Stick-Built: Best for low-rise, complex shapes, or limited crane access.
  Note: Sourcing stick-built from China saves on material but increases site labor.
• 🕷️ Point-Fixed (Spider): For lobbies/podiums requiring maximum transparency.

2. Dimensions & Design Data Required

Your tender package must include these specific inputs:

3. Writing Function & Performance Specs

Don’t just say Good quality. Be specific to avoid disputes.

⚠️ Critical Clause: “System must pass ASTM E283 (Air) and ASTM E331 (Water) before mass production.”

1. How to Quickly Find Volume Suppliers

• 🌐Online Channels: Google is a start, but look for specific keywords like “turnkey curtain wall package from China” rather than just “glass window.”
• 🤝Offline Channels: Canton Fair, Big 5 (Dubai), IBS (Vegas).

🔗 Internal Link: View our Curtain Wall Products Page

2. First Round Screening: Is This Factory Worth Talking To?

Use this curtain wall supplier prequalification checklist:

3. How to Distinguish a System Factory from a Trading Company

As a factory owner, I can tell you the tell-tale signs:

• Evidence: Ask for a video call. Ask to see the aluminum extrusion lines. A trader won’t have heavy machinery.
• Questions: Ask “How do you handle curtain wall value engineering without performance loss?” A trader will dodge; a factory engineer will propose profile optimization.
• Deep Dive: Ask about their curtain wall factory capability assessment process. Do they have in-house powder coating?

4. From Sample to Quote: Shortlisting to 2-3 Suppliers

5. From Quote to Contract: Clauses That Must Be Dead Locked

• 🔒Brands: Specify Dow Corning 995 for structural silicone glazing sealant specification, not just “market standard sealant.”
• 🔒Testing: Include a curtain wall mockup testing plan.
• 🔒Responsibility: Define who owns the curtain wall shipping terms responsibilities (Incoterms).

1. Writing Specs for Profiles, Glass, and Hardware

2. Ensuring Compliance with Destination Codes

• 📋Testing: Does the project require ASTM E1105 field water test for curtain wall? Put it in the contract.
• 📋Reports: The curtain wall laboratory test report review checklist should verify that the tested sample matches your production drawings.

3. Mockups: When are they Mandatory?

For any project over 5,000 sqm or above 10 stories, a curtain wall mockup requirements in RFQ is essential.

1. Critical QC Nodes in Production

• 🔍 Incoming Material: Check glass flatness and profile coating thickness.
• 🔧 Assembly: Check the “bites” of the sealant.
• ⚙️ Function: Test operability of vents.

2. Remote Quality Control

We provide clients with a curtain wall dimensional inspection record template filled out for every batch.

• 📸 Photos/Videos: Request daily footage of the structural silicone glazing sealant specification application process (the most critical bond).
• 📹 Live Video: Do a live walkthrough for curtain wall trial assembly inspection checklist.

3. Third-Party Inspection

For high-stakes projects, hire a third party inspection for curtain wall manufacturing (like SGS, Intertek, or a dedicated facade consultant). Define their scope using a curtain wall manufacturer audit checklist.

4. Pre-Shipment Checklist (Before Doors Close)

• 📦 Packaging: Verify anti-damage crating for curtain wall units. Are they A-frames?
• 🏷️ ID System: Use a curtain wall panel ID tracking system. Each panel must be labeled to match the curtain wall installation sequence labeling.
• 📄 Documents: Ensure the curtain wall packing list template matches the physical count perfectly.

1. Breakdown of a Curtain Wall Quote

• 🏗️ Materials: Aluminum, Glass, Accessories.
• ⚙️ Fabrication: Labor and machine time.
• 📐 Design: Shop drawings and engineering.
• 🚚 Logistics: Curtain wall ocean freight planning for project deliveries.

2. Incoterms: EXW vs FOB vs CIF

• EXW (Ex-Works): The customer picks up the goods directly from the factory. (High risk for you).
• FOB (Free on Board): The factory loads goods onto ships at the designated ports according to customer requirements.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): The factory handles shipping to the port designated by the customer. This is the easiest option for first-time buyers. But it is also the most expensive.

3. Logistics and Clearance

4. Payment Terms for Risk Control

• 💰Deposit: Usually 30%.
• 💰Interim: Payment upon material arrival at factory (optional).
• 💰Balance: Safe T/T payment structure for curtain wall projects often links the balance payment to the Bill of Lading or a successful curtain wall pre-shipment inspection checklist.
• 💰L/C: Letter of credit for curtain wall procurement is good for very large projects but adds bank fees.

1. Defining the Warranty

• 📋 Scope: Differentiate between curtain wall warranty clauses for international suppliers (materials) vs. installation (usually the local contractor).
• ⏳ Duration:
  • 10-20 years for PVDF coating and Glass.
  • 5-10 years for gaskets.

2. Support from China

• 💻 Remote Tech Support: We use Zoom/Teams to guide site teams.
• 👷‍♂️ Onsite Support: For complex projects, we send engineers.

🏗️ Case Study: Nuvo Event Space

For the Nuvo Event Space project, we didn’t just ship the glass. We dispatched a team of technical supervisors to the site to oversee the installation of the oversized folding door systems and curtain wall interface.

🔗 View the Project Case Study

3. Contractual Protection

Include a defect liability period for curtain wall contracts (usually 12 months post-installation) where a small retention money is held to ensure performance.

1. Green Building Requirements

If your project is LEED or BREEAM certified:

• ♻️Materials: Ask for recycled aluminum documentation for curtain wall procurement.
• 🧪Chemicals: Ensure low VOC sealant requirements for curtain wall projects are met.
• 📄EPDs: Request EPD requirements for curtain wall components early.

2. Reducing Long-Term Risk

• 🚀 Pilot Projects: Start with a smaller building to test the curtain wall supplier due diligence questions.
• 📂 Records: Keep every email. Use a shared CDE (Common Data Environment) for curtain wall revision control best practices.

1. The Master Checklist (From “Finding” to “Landing”)

• 1️⃣ Define Scope: Use the curtain wall scope of work definition for procurement.
• 2️⃣ Shortlist: Run the curtain wall supplier comparison matrix.
• 3️⃣ Audit: Perform the curtain wall factory capability assessment.
• 4️⃣ Spec: Finalize aluminum curtain wall profile alloy grade specification and glass specs.
• 5️⃣ Test: Execute ASTM E283 curtain wall air leakage test on mockups.
• 6️⃣ Inspect: Follow the curtain wall factory inspection checklist.
• 7️⃣ Ship: Manage curtain wall customs clearance documents checklist.

💡 Best Time to Involve the Supplier?

Design Stage (DD). Engaging us during Design Development allows for curtain wall value engineering without performance loss. We can optimize cuts, reduce waste, and suggest standard dies that save $50/sqm.

✅ Immediate Next Steps (If You Have Drawings)

If you have your CAD files ready, here are the 7 things to do right now:

• ✔ Isolate the facade scope.
• ✔ Define your U-value and Wind Load targets.
• ✔ Determine if you need Unitized or Stick (or ask us).
• ✔ Set your budget target.
• ✔ Prepare your curtain wall technical submittal checklist.
• ✔ Draft your RFQ using our curtain wall RFQ checklist.

We are not just a factory; we are your facade partner. With our own extrusion lines, 10+ years of export experience, and a track record of onsite support (like at Nuvo Event Space), we bridge the gap between Chinese manufacturing capacity and Western construction standards.

Contact Us Today for a Free Project Assessment and Quote