Gardner Glass Products and Walker Glass have completed their brand integration, announcing that the two companies will now operate under a single name: Gardner Walker. The announcement, published by USGlass magazine, marks the final step in a corporate merger first disclosed more than two years ago. The combined organization operates four facilities across North America and serves architectural glass fabricators from coast to coast in Canada and the United States.
Two Legacy Brands Become One
According to the USGlass magazine article, Gardner Glass Products and Walker Glass had operated their brands separately even after the merger announcement. Now the companies are uniting under the Gardner Walker banner, consolidating two names with a combined 150 years of premium-quality mirror production experience. The existing product lines will not disappear; the well-established Walker Textures® acid-etched glass and AviProtek® bird-friendly glass brands will continue under the new corporate identity.
Montreal Facility and Canadian Reach
Gardner Walker will continue manufacturing acid-etched glass from its Montreal facility. That plant anchors the company's presence in Canada, where glass fabricators have long relied on the Montreal operation for decorative and functional glass substrates. The announcement does not go into detail about changes to Canadian distribution or pricing, but it confirms that the company serves architectural glass fabricators throughout Canada, from coast to coast.
For Canadian specifiers, bird-friendly glass and acid-etched finishes are increasingly common in commercial and institutional projects. While the announcement does not reference specific Canadian standards, performance documents such as CSA A440 remain the reference point for windows and doors in the Canadian market, governing test procedures and ratings rather than decorative etch patterns. Gardner Walker's Montreal production site keeps a key part of its supply chain within Canada, which may matter for project teams looking to source locally where possible.
Huntsville Expansion Adds Capacity and Size
Beginning in 2027, Gardner Walker will also produce acid-etched glass at its Huntsville, Texas, plant. The new operation will have the capability to produce jumbo-size full surface etched glass and bird-friendly glass in sizes up to 130 inches by 240 inches, according to the announcement. That expanded footprint is intended to meet what the company describes as growing demand for acid-etched and bird-friendly glass throughout North America.
The addition of Huntsville capacity means fabricators on both sides of the border will have access to larger etched substrates than previously available from Gardner Walker's combined operations. The announcement does not specify whether the Montreal facility will also be upgraded to match the jumbo capability, only that Huntsville will begin production in 2027.
Leadership on the Merger's Rationale
Randy Brooks, CEO and president of GW, said the brand consolidation was a natural step after the companies discovered how closely their values aligned. “Early in the process of bringing our companies together, I quickly realized how closely our values, work ethic and goals are aligned. As time went on, it became clear that combining our talented teams to pursue a shared mission was the right path forward. As I look ahead at GW, I see tremendous opportunity,” Brooks said.
Charles Alexander, vice president of sales and marketing, pointed to the expanded production capacity as a key advantage. “The combination of our strengths, along with the construction of our new acid‑etched glass facility in Huntsville, Texas, positions us exceptionally well to meet the growing demand for acid‑etched and bird‑friendly glass throughout the North American market. We will soon have the capacity to produce jumbo‑size etched and bird‑friendly substrates, supported by an expanded sales and architectural team in the field,” Alexander said. Alexander also directed customers to the new website at www.gardnerwalker.com.
GlassBuild Unveiling Details
The official unveiling of Gardner Walker will take place at GlassBuild in Las Vegas, beginning Wednesday, September 23. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. at booth 2601, according to the announcement. The event will give fabricators, glaziers and specifiers a first look at the combined brand's product lineup and the team behind it.
Product Portfolio Under One Banner
Under the Gardner Walker name, the company will offer three main product categories to the North American architectural glass market:
- Mirror glass — premium-quality mirrors backed by 150 years of combined manufacturing experience.
- Acid-etched glass — the Walker Textures® brand, encompassing custom-etched patterns and a comprehensive line of full-surface etching options for interior and exterior glazing.
- Bird-friendly glass — the AviProtek® brand, recognized as one of the first of its kind in North America to offer bird-safe glazing solutions.
The company describes itself as North America's market leader in the development and manufacture of premium-quality mirror and acid-etched glass substrates. Its bird-friendly line, AviProtek®, has been part of the portfolio since before the merger and remains a distinct offering under the new banner. The Walker Textures® range includes options for interior and exterior glazing, so fabricators can specify the same brand for partitions, spandrels, feature walls and vision glazing.
Canadian Market Implications
For Canadian glass fabricators, the merger reduces the number of supplier names to manage while expanding the product range available from a single organization. Instead of sourcing mirror, acid-etched and bird-friendly glass from separate brands, customers can now work with one entity that operates a Montreal production site and a Texas facility due to come online in 2027.
The announcement does not state whether the merger changes existing distribution agreements, lead times or pricing for Canadian customers. It also does not provide specific details about how the combined product lines will be certified under Canadian building codes or referenced in project specifications. However, the continued operation of the Montreal plant and the company's explicit commitment to serving fabricators from coast to coast in Canada signal that the Canadian market remains central to Gardner Walker's strategy. For architects and glazing contractors, having a single supplier for mirror, acid-etched and bird-friendly glass can simplify specification and procurement, especially on projects that combine multiple glass types. The merger also gives Gardner Walker greater production redundancy, with facilities in both Canada and the United States, though the announcement does not say whether all products are available from every location. Industry professionals can expect more details at GlassBuild and through the new website, www.gardnerwalker.com.