Under Leon Silverstein leadership, SMI Aluminum Systems acquires SMI Systems

SMI Aluminum Systems LLC, led by Leon Silverstein, purchased SMI Systems based in Medley, Fla., according to a Sept. 23 release. The transaction was completed Sept. 17 through an asset purchase agreement between the two parties.The prior SMI management team and all of their employees led by Jim Pande will remain with the new company.

Joining Leon Silverstein as partners in his first acquisition back in the industry following 30 years at Arch Aluminum & Glass Co., Tamarac, Fla.,is his brother Richard Silverstein and Manny Valladares. Both held key positions at Arch as chief operating officer and director of productdevelopment.

SMI Systems is a manufacturer of high-performance storefront entrances and window walls created to meet high design pressures for blast and hurricane protection. “The existing product line at SMI is a perfect start to creating a broad product line to meet the needs of the glazing contractor. This is one piece of the puzzle to become that premier supplier for the industry,” Richard Silverstein said in the release.

“The new company will now benefit from the years of knowledge and expertise that the new group brings to the table in the form of purchasing, product enhancements, manufacturing, and selling strategy,"said Jim Pande, who has been owner of SMI for the past eight years. “Also I have been watching during that time how they treated their customers and employees. I could never sell a loyal customer of Arch. There was a strong family culture that ran throughout the organization, that’s what led to the former Arch’s success under the Silverstein family and I wanted to be part of that as they start over. They are a family that has been in the industry for over 100 years.”

Looking forward, the company is already active in developing new products and services to fill the gaps in SMI’s present product line. “Even though the economy is terrible, I still remember my dad starting his business in 1978, and the economy back then was not much better than today,” Leon Silverstein said in the release. The company believes that with hard work, a strong culture, employee buy in, and existing long-term relationships with customers there is no better time to grow a business, according to the release.