Consolidation is proceeding on two axes at once: volume manufacturers buying regional installers, and component suppliers moving downstream into finished product. The result is a supply chain with fewer, larger, more integrated participants.
Why the installers went first
Installation capacity is the constraint on demand, and acquiring it is faster than building it. Several buyers have paid prices that only make sense with volume.
Component suppliers moving downstream
Glass and profile suppliers are buying assembly capacity to control the performance number end to end. It is a reasonable hedge and it removes margin from the middle of the chain.
What it means for specifiers
Fewer, larger suppliers means more consistent product and less local availability. Both are trade-offs, and both are being accepted.
