[South Gate, CA – August 11, 2026] — Frameless Hardware Company (FHC), a leading manufacturer and supplier of architectural hardware and glazing solutions, has been named “Glazing Manufacturer and Supplier of the Year 2026” by Construction Business Outlook.
The recognition honors FHC’s rapid growth and expanding North American presence, but more importantly, the philosophy behind it: building a company around people, partnerships, innovation, and service in an industry that has become increasingly transactional.
“Being named Glazing Manufacturer and Supplier of the Year is an incredible honor, but the recognition really belongs to our people and our customers,” said Chris Hanstad, President & CEO of FHC. “Our growth has never been about getting bigger simply for the sake of getting bigger. Everything we do is centered around helping our customers grow and succeed. When they win, we win.”
Only a few years ago, FHC operated from a single location with a relatively small team. Today, the company has grown into a leading North American manufacturer and supplier serving glaziers, fabricators, architects, contractors, and building owners with architectural hardware, entrance systems, glass railing systems, shower hardware, glazing supplies, and custom solutions.
Throughout that growth, FHC has remained focused on redefining what customers should expect from a manufacturer and supplier—not simply a source for products, but a genuine industry partner.
Innovation That Starts in the Field
Central to FHC’s growth has been an approach to product development that begins by listening to the professionals who work with glass every day.
Feedback from glaziers, installers, fabricators, architects, and building owners is brought directly into FHC’s engineering and product development process. Labor challenges, installation time, callbacks, evolving architectural demands, long-term performance, and code compliance all help shape what comes out of the FHC Innovation Lab.
That approach has resulted in solutions including the ASPIRE HD™ High-Performance Thermal Entrance System, HERC-DOOR® Self-Closing Door Rail, NEXT-GEN Frameless Shower Hinge, Hydraulic Series Shower Hinge, and ACHIEVE™ Frameless Glass Railing System.
“Innovation for us isn’t about putting something new in a catalog,” said Hanstad. “It needs to solve a real problem. If we can save an installer time, improve performance, reduce callbacks, simplify fabrication, or give an architect greater design freedom, then we’ve created something meaningful.”
FHC backs that innovation with extensive engineering, testing, and validation. Products and systems throughout its portfolio carry recognized evaluations and certifications including ICC-ES evaluations, UL listings, NFRC ratings, ANSI/BHMA certifications, ADA compliance, and other applicable performance standards. Select products have also been subjected to more than one million operating cycles to validate long-term durability.
The result is a growing portfolio designed not merely to look good on installation day, but to perform throughout the life of a building.
More Than Products
The Construction Business Outlook recognition also reflects a broader FHC philosophy: even the best product loses value if customers cannot get it when they need it—or cannot get help when a project gets complicated.
As construction schedules have tightened and project requirements have become more sophisticated, FHC has invested heavily in domestic manufacturing, inventory, engineering, automation, artificial intelligence, digital tools, logistics, and technical support.
Those investments are designed around a straightforward objective: make it easier for customers to do business and keep projects moving.
FHC customers have direct access to technical specialists, engineers, project teams, and customer service professionals who understand the realities of fabrication and installation. Fast answers, dependable lead times, transparent communication, and accountability are treated as fundamental parts of the product itself.
“At FHC, reliability begins with accountability,” Hanstad added. “Our customers are trusting us with their businesses, their schedules, their reputations, and ultimately their customers. We take that responsibility seriously.”
