There’s real value in starting small and building from the ground up. Staying personal. Staying accessible. Keeping boots on the ground while strengthening a business alongside the contractors it serves. That’s exactly how MBCI got its start.
Founded by A.R. Ginn in July 1976, MBCI opened its first sales office and manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. The company began by producing essential metal building components including roofing, siding and light‑gauge secondary structural systems that are focused on reliability, availability and performance for growing construction businesses.
Since its origin, MBCI has focused on one thing: helping customers keep their projects moving. To be competitive, MBCI began supplying quality metal building components at a competitive price with better service than others. By simplifying systems, improving speed, and reducing coordination risk, MBCI aimed to make it as easy as possible to deliver on schedule without adding unnecessary complexity. To do this MBCI built “service after the sale” by initiating three-day delivery for custom-manufactured products, a service that in 1976 was unheard of.
As MBCI grew stronger, it joined with Houston-Based NCI Group, Inc in 1998. Driven by in-house design MBCI has maintained a leading position in the metal construction industry. Its integrated approach to reduced handoff risk, fewer coordination gaps, and smoother execution is exactly what allowed MBCI to become a pioneer in customer service in the industry.
As the years passed and MBCI grew larger and more successful, the company began offering many new and innovative products. Ultra-Dek® and Double-Lok®, two of MBCI’s standing seam roof panels, were new systems developed by MBCI to compete with existing SSR systems manufactured by other companies. NuWall® was created by MBCI to be used for retrofit and new construction.
The creation of the SuperLok® panel came a bit later, and was specifically designed to meet the needs of customers in South Florida and the Gulf Coast areas. This development highlights that, despite our growth and success, we remain grounded in the core qualities and behaviors that originally brought MBCI success to begin with. Saying connected to our roots and attentive to what benefits our customers most. For us, it is not just a new product; it is a direct reflection of our commitment to authentic, customer-focused innovation.
Developing new panel profiles is not the only innovative quality of MBCI. MBCI worked with our roll former manufacturer to develop the first double-high roll formers and the instantly adjustable purlin line we use today. MBCI was also the first in the industry to offer Single Source Weathertightness Warranties, which provide day-one responsibility by the manufacturer. These are but a few examples of MBCI’s continuing effort to improve our product offering and the processes, as well as providing assurance to the contractor and end owner that our products will perform as intended.
50 years later, what started as a small, relationship-driven business has grown into a North American metal building components partner trusted by its customers to deliver consistency, responsiveness, and control across regions and project types.
Looking ahead, MBCI remains focused on what matters most to its customers: simplifying processes, improving speed, and making it easier to take on larger scopes, tighter timelines, and greater complexity without increasing risk.
That’s how MBCI honors its first 50 years and continues supporting the people responsible for delivering projects on time.
