Crystal Windows Kicks Off 25th Anniversary Year Celebration
FLUSHING, NY, November 3, 2014 – Crystal Window & Door Systems announced today the start of its 25th Anniversary celebration year. Launched in May 1990, the vinyl and aluminum window and door manufacturer has grown from very humble beginnings in a New York City garage into one of the largest fenestration manufacturers in the nation.
Crystal Windows Honored by Building Association
-Manufacturer’s Dedication to Construction Industry Recognized- FLUSHING, NY, December 9, 2015 – Closing out its 25th Anniversary year, national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems was honored at a gala awards dinner for its dedication to the construction industry by the Queens & Bronx Building Association (QBBA). Headquartered in the New York City borough of Queens, Crystal Windows has supplied thousands of construction projects throughout the metropolitan area over the past quarter century and counts many of its fellow QBBA members among its customers. “This award from the Queens & Bronx Building Association is truly an honor,” said Steve Chen during his award acceptance remarks. “We are proud to play a role in the construction industry, which is a critical component of the economy of our city, by supplying American made energy efficient vinyl and aluminum windows and doors for every type of building.” Chen noted that several of the projects earning awards at the QBBA event used Crystal windows, including luxury 40-story highrise apartment property Bklyn/Air and 143-unit apartment building Macedonia Plaza. “Other recent notable projects Crystal has supplied in New York are the new and tallest Holiday Inn in the world in Manhattan’s Financial District and the expansive Glen Oaks Village 20,000 window replacement project in Queens,” said Chen. “”The QBBA honor for Crystal Windows caps what has been a momentous 25th Anniversary year for the company,” said Chen. “During 2015, Crystal hosted several major gala Anniversary celebrations for its employees and top customers, its products and executives have been featured in several local and national TV shows, and we premiered an outstanding corporate promotional video that has gone on to win two national awards. Most recently, Crystal has acquired a large major new production facility and property in Northeast Pennsylvania as part of our national expansion plan. When this facility comes on line early next year, it will give us much needed expanded production capacity to grow and meet the demands of our customers here and across the nation for years to come.” The Queens & Bronx Building Association Awards were presented at the well-attended Annual Building Awards and Holiday Party on December 5, 2015 at Douglaston Manor. In addition to Crystal Windows being honored, Architect Gino Longo was named Associate of the Year. Awards were presented to QBBA member firms in several new construction and renovation categories, recognizing the architects, builders, developers and suppliers who make the built environment of New York truly noteworthy. QBBA is the local chapter of the New York State Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
Crystal Windows Pennsylvania Celebrates First Anniversary
Manufacturer Now Employs 49 Workers and Plans Hundreds More- BENTON TOWNSHIP, PA, October 6, 2016 – Coinciding with National Manufacturing Week, Crystal Window & Door Systems PA celebrated its first full year in Northeast Pennsylvania with an Anniversary Open House on October 5, 2016. During the past year, the company has renovated a significant portion of the building, started producing windows and hired almost 50 employees. Over 75 guests including members of the local business community, government officials, suppliers and trade customers gathered at the large 336,000-ft2 facility in Lackawanna County to learn of the manufacturer’s plans for future expansion and to tour the facility. The Crystal event was covered by local TV news. “Since acquiring the property a year ago, we have accomplished so much and we wanted to share this with the community that has welcomed us to the area,” said Steve Chen, Crystal COO. “This facility is Crystal’s largest expansion yet, and it has been a resounding success.” Crystal purchased the former Owens Corning building, the interior of which was less than half completed, and surrounding 226-acre property on October 1, 2015. Since then, 70,000-ft2 of factory space has been renovated, equipment purchased and installed, and three of Crystal’s aluminum window and patio door product lines are now manufactured there. Crystal PA has hired 49 employees, all from the local area, and engages local vendors and contractors for its operations. To date, almost 12,000 windows and doors have been made at the location since production began in February. Crystal also reported that in the first nine months since the property was purchased, the company has expended over $1 million on renovation construction, new production equipment, materials, services, employee labor, and other items. This has been a huge regional economic stimulus since the company estimates that over 50% was expended locally (within 50 miles of the factory) and another ⅓ in other areas of Pennsylvania. Guests at the Open House listened as Steve Chen and company executives presented plans for further renovation and fit-out of the rest of the building. “Over the next five years, all of Crystal’s 20 product lines will be made at this plant, from start to finish,” said Chen. “This includes extruding the aluminum and vinyl profiles, painting and finishing them, and fabricating the insulated glass units for the windows and doors. A significant investment in equipment is planned, and of course hiring and training the employees for the operation. We expect as many as 350 to 400 employees when everything is fully up and running.” Robert Durkin, President of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, in his address to the Open House guests said, “We are pleased to see the progress made by the Crystal team in establishing their base operations here at the Benton facility. We look forward to working with all parties as further capital investments allow the company and our community to realize the full job creating potential of this project.” The Chairman of the Benton Township Board of Supervisors, Larry Seymour, also spoke, commending Crystal’s plans to grow carefully, with investments and hiring determined by sales and demand. Final speaker Pennsylvania Senator John Blake congratulated Crystal founder Thomas Chen and COO Steve Chen on the vision and entrepreneurial spirit that has made Crystal a national manufacturer from a small start-up company over 25 years ago. The Senator expressed gratitude for Crystal locating in northeastern Pennsylvania and he looked forward to continued expansion, investment and hiring. After a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, guests toured the factory floor to see windows and doors being assembled, and then got a sneak peak at the expansive unfinished space that will house the future operations. Throughout the day, many of Crystal’s window dealer, installer and building products trade customers from the region continued to visit and tour the factory. “This is a great opportunity for our customers to see how committed we are to providing quality energy efficient products and keeping order lead times to a minimum. With the huge additional production capacity this facility has added and will continue to add to our national manufacturing capabilities, and the investments we are making for the long term, we will be able to serve our growing customer base well into the future,” said Chen.
