- Design context
- Planar exterior cladding or interior panels; ALMINE also names separate transit and healthcare families.
- Bring to the first review
- Panel schedule, face-metal requirement, core, finish, cut sizes, joint layout and required reports.
Material guide / 01
Facade materials,
compared.
Compare ACM and MCM, exterior HPL, architectural UHPC and GFRP / GRP using the products in the Cladvera catalogue. Begin with what each material is, then identify the drawings and evidence your specification needs.
Cladvera material desk · Reviewed 9 October 2026
Construction / Context / Evidence
The first decision
Compare construction
before comparing price.
Metal composite panels combine faces and a core; HPL is a consolidated laminate; UHPC is a concrete material; GFRP is a glass-reinforced polymer. A useful comparison records the exact construction, finish, panel geometry, attachment approach and available evidence for each candidate.
The catalogue covers different material systems. Similar appearance or a shared application does not establish equivalent performance.
Decision matrix
The material
selection matrix.
Use this as a brief for a technical review. It is not a performance ranking or an approval of a proposed substitution.
| Material family | Design context | Bring to the first review |
|---|---|---|
| ACM / MCM | Planar exterior cladding or interior panels; ALMINE also names separate transit and healthcare families. | Panel schedule, face-metal requirement, core, finish, cut sizes, joint layout and required reports. |
| Exterior HPL | Exterior decorative wall cladding, with the panel grade and complete facade assembly reviewed for the exposure. | Elevation areas, board dimensions, finish reference, exposure, joints, fixing method and sample requirements. |
| Architectural UHPC | Concrete surfaces, texture, aggregate expression and cast architectural geometry. Review the selected TAKTL family and its attachment components together. | Panel layout, return geometry, finish and texture, joint dimensions, attachment approach and drawing revision. |
| GFRP / GRP | Custom molded curves, soffits and sculptural architectural components developed from the project geometry. | 3D model, unique molds and repeat quantities, visible surfaces, connection zones, mock-up scope and transport limits. |
| Interior decorative board | Interior wall and ceiling surfaces where finish, substrate, fixing method and cleaning requirements can be defined. | Room or surface schedule, board sizes, core and finish requirements, substrate, fixing and cleaning conditions. |
- Design context
- Exterior decorative wall cladding, with the panel grade and complete facade assembly reviewed for the exposure.
- Bring to the first review
- Elevation areas, board dimensions, finish reference, exposure, joints, fixing method and sample requirements.
- Design context
- Concrete surfaces, texture, aggregate expression and cast architectural geometry. Review the selected TAKTL family and its attachment components together.
- Bring to the first review
- Panel layout, return geometry, finish and texture, joint dimensions, attachment approach and drawing revision.
- Design context
- Custom molded curves, soffits and sculptural architectural components developed from the project geometry.
- Bring to the first review
- 3D model, unique molds and repeat quantities, visible surfaces, connection zones, mock-up scope and transport limits.
- Design context
- Interior wall and ceiling surfaces where finish, substrate, fixing method and cleaning requirements can be defined.
- Bring to the first review
- Room or surface schedule, board sizes, core and finish requirements, substrate, fixing and cleaning conditions.
MCM means metal composite material: metal faces bonded around a core. ACM is the aluminum-faced subset; ACP is also used for aluminum composite panel.
Before specification
Identify the face metal and gauge, core, coating, panel preparation and attachment design. The ALMINE catalogue does not identify every offered face-metal construction.
Product source: ALMINE product range (opens in a new tab)
HPL means high-pressure laminate. Compactwood describes its exterior board as resin-impregnated wood-fiber kraft layers with a decorative face, consolidated under heat and pressure.
Before specification
Confirm exterior grade, thickness, edge treatment, movement allowances, fixing layout and product-specific weathering and fire evidence.
Product source: Compactwood exterior board (opens in a new tab)
UHPC means ultra-high performance concrete. TAKTL describes its A|UHPC formulation as developed for architectural envelopes, with flat facade elements, aggregate surfaces and custom forms.
Before specification
Confirm panel construction, weight, dimensions, handling, support loads, anchorage and finish range. A general UHPC designation does not identify a complete facade system.
Product source: TAKTL architectural UHPC (opens in a new tab)
GFRP combines glass reinforcement with a polymer resin. GRP is another common name for this material family; FRP is the broader fiber-reinforced polymer term. GFRC or GRC uses a cementitious matrix and is a different material.
Before specification
Confirm resin, glass reinforcement, laminate schedule, finish, embedded connections, fire evidence and module dimensions. Resin-based GFRP and concrete-based GFRC are not interchangeable specifications.
Product source: Kinflare supplier presentation · Chinese, 2023 (opens in a new tab)
Compactwood's Paste Special Board is described as a high-pressure-cured decorative board. Its exact offered core and HPL classification remain to be confirmed.
Before specification
Confirm construction, interior grade, adhesive or mechanical attachment, substrate compatibility and relevant product evidence. The interior board is not presented as an exterior HPL substitute.
Product source: Compactwood interior board (opens in a new tab)
From selection to supply
Keep the material
and supply decisions connected.
Cladvera coordinates product inquiries as a supplier. China-sourced core ranges and the separately identified TAKTL range follow their own order and documentation review. Establish the manufacturer, origin and dispatch location alongside the technical selection.
Sourcing panels from ChinaReview product scope, origin, import planning and the information needed for an export inquiry.Build the document reviewFind manufacturer sources and request reports for the exact construction and project.Compare the quoted scopeCarry quantities, drawings, approvals and delivery requirements into the panel RFQ.
The material desk
Clear terms.
Better questions.
Facade material questions
- What is the difference between ACM, ACP and MCM?
- MCM is the wider metal composite material category. ACM and ACP usually describe aluminum-faced composite material or panels. Confirm the actual face metal, gauge and core on the offered product data sheet; the ALMINE metal composite range should not automatically be specified as aluminum-faced.
- Are GFRP, GRP and GFRC the same material?
- GFRP and GRP commonly refer to glass-fiber reinforced polymer. GFRC, also called GRC, is glass-fiber reinforced concrete. The polymer and cementitious matrices call for different specifications. Cladvera's custom molded entry is GFRP; it is not listed as a GFRC product.
- Can I substitute interior decorative board for exterior HPL?
- Do not assume interchangeability. The current Compactwood entries are separate exterior HPL and interior decorative board families. Confirm the grade, exposure, fixing method and relevant test evidence for the intended location; the interior board's exact HPL classification is unconfirmed.
- Which facade panel material is best for my project?
- Start with the application, design intent, geometry, support conditions and required evidence. Compare the exact offered constructions against the same brief. The catalogue identifies candidates, while the project design team evaluates material suitability and the complete assembly.
- Does an A2 panel designation approve the complete facade?
- The ALMINE A2 name is a manufacturer product designation. Request the classification report for the offered panel and the assembly evidence required by the project jurisdiction. The product name alone does not establish a North American wall-assembly approval.
- Are all materials in this guide supplied from China?
- No. Cladvera's China-sourcing inquiry covers ALMINE metal composite, Compactwood boards and custom GFRP. TAKTL is a separate named manufacturer that describes its architectural UHPC as made in the United States. Confirm the manufacturing origin, dispatch location and supply route for each quoted order.
Bring the candidates
into one project brief.
Use the product finder to shortlist named products. A shared comparison can help your team record open questions before requesting samples or a quotation.