The Metal Construction Association has created a new group focused on increasing awareness of Metal Composite Material (MCM) for the architectural building envelope. The MCM Alliance supports product performance testing, initiates research, and promotes education and actions to influence public policies for the utilization and growth of MCM in the marketplace.

Introduced more than 40 years ago as aluminum composite materials (ACM), this product category has evolved to metal composite material (MCM), reflecting the inclusion of natural metal skins such as zinc, copper, stainless steel and titanium. Because it can be painted nearly any color, aluminum is still the predominant MCM skin material.

MCM is formed by joining two thin metal skins to a polyethylene or fire-retardant core and then bonded under a precise temperature, pressure and tension. This unique process makes MCM lighter and more versatile and flexible than a solid metal of similar thickness. The MCM Alliance includes technical and marketing committees which include 6 MCA member companies that manufacture MCM and 11 fabricators that engineer and fabricate MCM.

"MCM has transformed modern architecture," says MCM Alliance Director, Jeff Irwin. "Building owners and architects wanting to make a design statement can look to the current generation of MCM for a wide range of interior and exterior options. This is the ultimate goal of the MCM Alliance."