Schüco vs Reynaers vs Kawneer: Which Curtain Wall System Should You Specify?
Schüco, Reynaers and Kawneer are the three system houses you'll see specified on the majority of UK curtain wall packages. All three are mature, fully tested, BBA / ETA-certified, and supported by a UK fabricator network. The differences sit in sightline options, thermal performance ceilings, fabricator depth, and what each one is genuinely good at.
Schüco
German system house with the deepest product range in the UK market. Stick: FWS 50 and FWS 60 (50mm and 60mm sightlines). Unitised: USC 65 and USC 75. SSG: FWS SG and AOC. Schüco's strength is system breadth — almost any architectural intent can be hit inside their product family without going bespoke. Thermal ceilings are class-leading (Uf down to 0.7 W/m²K on FWS 50 SI), and the UK fabricator network is the deepest of the three, which protects programme on tight tenders.
Best for: high-performance commercial, residential targeting tight U-values, projects where the architect wants specification flexibility.
Reynaers
Belgian system house with a strong design pedigree, particularly on slimline sightlines. Stick: CW 50 (50mm) and CW 50-HI (high insulation). Unitised: Element. SSG: CW 50-SC. Reynaers tends to be the architect's choice when the brief is slim sightlines and clean modular grids — CW 50 has been a UK staple for two decades. Thermal performance is competitive but slightly behind Schüco at the very top end.
Best for: design-led commercial, residential where slim sightlines matter, projects in BIM-heavy practices (Reynaers' BIM content is excellent).
Kawneer
Part of Arconic, with a strong North American heritage and a long-established UK presence. Stick: AA 100 and AA 110. Unitised: GT (Genesis) and 1600 UT. Kawneer's commercial offer is robust, with particularly strong door integration (190 and 350 series) for entrance/lobby zones that need to coordinate with the curtain wall grid. Thermal ceilings are good but not class-leading.
Best for: commercial offices and mixed-use where entrance doors need to integrate into the curtain wall grid.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Comparison |
|---|---|
| Sightline range | Reynaers (slimmest) < Schüco < Kawneer |
| Top thermal performance | Schüco > Reynaers > Kawneer |
| UK fabricator network | Schüco (deepest) > Kawneer > Reynaers |
| BIM content quality | Reynaers > Schüco > Kawneer |
| Door integration | Kawneer (strongest) > Schüco > Reynaers |
How to Choose
On most schemes the differences between any two of these three are small enough that the deciding factor becomes fabricator availability and lead time rather than the system itself. The right question is: which fabricator can give you the typical bay sign-off, factory slot, and on-site delivery dates your programme actually needs?
Where it matters: if you're chasing Passive House numbers, lead with Schüco. If the architect's signature is slim mullion sightlines, lead with Reynaers. If you need integrated commercial entrances coordinated into the same grid, lead with Kawneer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Schüco better than Reynaers?
Not categorically — Schüco has wider system breadth and higher top-end thermal performance, while Reynaers offers slimmer sightlines and excellent BIM content. The right answer depends on whether you're optimising for U-value, aesthetics or programme.
Can a curtain wall installer fabricate any of these systems?
No. Each system house licenses specific fabricators. A specialist installer like Delta Facades will work across multiple system houses by partnering with the appropriate licensed fabricator for each project.
Which system has the best fabricator availability in the UK?
Schüco has the deepest licensed fabricator network in the UK, which generally gives the most options on lead time and capacity. Kawneer and Reynaers both have strong UK networks but typically fewer fabricators per region than Schüco.