Our Story
Our history began in 1947, when Alside founder, Jerome J. Kaufman, invented America's first residential baked enamel aluminum siding. Today, we continue to innovate through continuing efforts to upgrade and enhance our products and solutions.
1947
After observing how paint bonds to aluminum fuselages on World War II planes, Jerome Kaufman, owner of one of the largest retail home improvement dealers in the United States, invents the first residential baked enamel aluminum siding, forming Alside.
1950's
Alside enters the distribution business when it opens its first company-owned supply centers in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.
1960's
- A new modern facility that houses Alside’s manufacturing and corporate offices is constructed in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. This facility still serves as the corporate headquarters today.
- 1967: Gentek goes back to the inception of Alcan Building Products, a division of Alcan Aluminum Ltd., a mining and aluminum manufacturer company headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
- 1969: Alcan opened the Lambeth, Ontario, manufacturing facility and began producing commercial aluminum storm windows and doors as well as bus windows.
- 1969: Alcan leases the Woodbridge, N.J., plant building.
1970's
- Alside enters the aluminum replacement window business with the opening of a manufacturing plant in Wadsworth, Ohio.
- Alside enters the vinyl siding business with the construction of a new manufacturing facility in West Salem, Ohio.
1980's
- William W. Winspear purchases Alside and two other companies from U.S. Steel to form Associated Materials Incorporated.
- Due to increasing demand, Alside adds a plant in Ennis, Texas, solely dedicated to producing vinyl siding and accessories.
- An additional vinyl window manufacturing plant opens in Kinston, N.C.
1990's
- Alside opens its Central Window Plant in a portion of the manufacturing facility in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
- 1995: Genstar Capital purchases Alcan Building Products, bringing with it the Pointe Claire manufacturing facility and Vycan Building Products. The company changes its name to Gentek.
- The Gentek manufacturing facility celebrates its grand opening in Burlington, Ontario, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the city’s mayor.
2000's
- Alside purchases Alpine Window of Bothell, Wash., gaining a West Coast presence.
- Associated Materials acquires the Gentek and Revere brands, joining Alside to create an expanded presence in the U.S. and Canada.
2010's
Alside introduces Mezzo and Fusion windows in the Eastern and Central United States.
2020's
2022:
- Alside parent company Associated Materials is acquired by Strategic Value Partners, LLC, a global investment firm.
- Jim Drexinger is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Associated Materials, LLC.
2024:
- The Central manufacturing facility transforms into the Regional Distribution Center.
2025
- Associated Materials, LLC, announced that it will operate as three distinct businesses under the Associated Materials, LLC, umbrella—Associated Materials Innovations, Alside® and Gentek® Building Products.
- Dan Watkoske is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Alside, a distributor of exterior building products.
- Frank Natoli is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Associated Materials Innovations, a manufacturer of exterior building products.