YKK AP Acquires Erie Architectural Products Group

Glass Magazine

YKK AP America Inc. has acquired high-performance facades solutions provider Erie Architectural Products Group, according to a Dec. 9 company announcement.

Founded in 1981 by Ron and Nellie Stronks, Erie AP has grown to become a leader in the curtain wall industry with over 250 employees in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada, Erie AP engineers, manufactures and distributes its Enviro|Facades curtain wall systems across the United States. It provides design assist collaboration services, in-house engineering services, performance validation, state-of-the-art manufacturing and technical support to glazing contractors.

This strategic acquisition demonstrates the significance of where the construction market is trending, according to YKK AP. Increasingly tight schedules and rapid building close-ins along with a shortage of skilled labor have created a demand for fabricated, pre-assembled products, an area of specialization for Erie AP, and an area of focused growth for YKK AP. 

“Through YKK AP’s decade-long relationship as a supplier to Erie AP, we have learned that the companies share tremendous synergy when it comes to our core values and customer and employee centric philosophies,” says Oliver Stepe, president of YKK AP America Inc. “As we looked to the future of our business, it was clear that we needed to grow our offering for prefabricated, pre-assembled products. By bringing Erie AP under the YKK AP umbrella, we are making a progressive move to meet what we see as a growing market demand for unitized products. At the same time, YKK AP’s broad product line will help enhance Erie AP’s position in the market and allow them to further serve their customers. I am excited for this opportunity, and I feel confident that these two great brands will come together as one great company.”

Erie AP’s Ron Stronks, who founded the company, continues to run it today along with his sons Chris and Dan and a highly experienced leadership team. He will remain integrally involved in the business and continue to lead Erie AP as its president with a steadfast commitment to growth, quality and service for both employees and customers.

“As we explored what was next for Erie AP and what would bring long-term stability and continued growth to our customers and employees, we knew we wanted to take on a strategic partner that could help take our company to the next level.  A decade of experience in working with YKK AP affirmed our belief that it was the right partner—and the only partner—for Erie AP,” says Stronks. “YKK AP will provide our employees with a rich pathway for career development and growth. In addition, the powerful combination of a quality product company like YKK AP working together with a specialized facades business like ours will open up tremendous opportunities for growth for our customers, for our employees, and for the industry at large.”

With the acquisition of Erie AP, YKK AP grows to over 1,000 employees in North America. In addition to its manufacturing facilities in Dublin and Macon, Georgia, Cincinnati, Ohio and Dallas, the company will acquire Erie AP’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Lakeshore.