The commercial manufacturing world collided with the residential domain on August 28 with the sale of EFCO Corp.-which produces architectural aluminum window, curtainwall, storefront and entrance systems-to the primarily-residential door and window manufacturer Pella Corp. in Pella, Iowa.
With the current slump in the residential construction market, it may seem like a smart move for a residential manufacturer to expand into commercial construction.
"I know some people have tried it in the past," says Bill Carter, vice president of sales of Carter Glass Co. in Kansas City, Mo. "TRACO, I think, is one that went from more of a residential-type aluminum market … [to commercial market]."