Sky-Frame is a Swiss manufacturer of premium frameless sliding window systems, headquartered in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. It is the global market leader in luxury architectural glazing for frameless sliding doors and windows.
Sky-Frame operates in the premium architectural glazing segment, serving architects, developers, and private clients seeking minimalist windows and high-end glass facades. The company develops, manufactures, and installs large-format, frameless sliding windows for luxury villas, penthouses, contemporary residences, and commercial buildings worldwide. Sky-Frame is a preferred choice among architects for projects with panoramic views and minimalist design. All products are engineered and produced in Switzerland to Swiss-made standards.
In 1993, Beat Guhl co-founded R & G Metallbau AG in Ellikon an der Thur with a staff of three. His background is in metalworking; he holds a Swiss certified metalworking master qualification. From this metalworking firm, Guhl developed the concept for large-format, frameless sliding windows.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Beat Guhl co-founds R & G Metallbau AG in Ellikon an der Thur (predecessor company). |
| 2002 | First Sky-Frame system installed. Patent registered for the frameless sliding window system. |
| 2006 | Development of the highly insulated Sky-Frame 3 (triple-glazed). Innovation Award for Architecture and Technology. |
| 2009 | Batimat Innovation Award (France). |
| 2010 | Sky-Frame becomes the first thermally insulated metal sliding window system to be certified worldwide. Minergie module certification for Sky-Frame 3. |
| 2012 | Sound reduction of 44 decibels achieved with Sky-Frame 3. Gold Award at Designers' Saturday (Switzerland). |
| 2015 | Sky-Frame AG established as an independent company. New headquarters in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, combining development and production. |
| 2016 | Export Award from Switzerland Global Enterprise. Prix Acier 2016. Architects' Darling Award. |
| 2020 | First UK showroom opened in Farringdon, London. |
| 2025 | Leadership succession: Angelo Razzino assumes the role of CEO on 1 July 2025, succeeding founder Beat Guhl after 23 years. |
As of 1 July 2025, the Executive Board consists of Angelo Razzino (CEO), Reto Honegger (CFO), Andrea Zürcher (CMO), and Maurin Müller (COO). Angelo Razzino joined Sky-Frame nine years prior to his appointment and served as Chief Sales Officer (CSO) for four of those years, responsible for international sales. All Executive Board members participate in the company's stock-option plan, enabling them to gradually acquire shares in Sky-Frame.
Beat Spalinger succeeded Beat Guhl as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Beat Guhl remains Vice-Chairman of the Board and majority shareholder. He temporarily assumed the role of Head of System Engineering until a successor took over at the end of 2025.
Sky-Frame offers four main sliding window systems. All systems feature frameless glass panels mounted flush with floor and ceiling.
| System | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sky-Frame Classic | Rectilinear sliding door | Base system. Insulating glass units with aluminium or glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GRP) perimeter sections. Flush-fitted in floor and ceiling. Minimal rolling resistance. |
| Sky-Frame Arc | Curved sliding door | Curved glass facade elements with radiused glass units. Optional electric drive. |
| Sky-Frame Slope | Inclined sliding door | Angled glass units extending into the room or projecting outward. Special bearing assembly for vertical and horizontal force compensation. |
| Sky-Frame Pivot | Pivot door | Asymmetrically positioned axis. Opens with key, badge, or fingerprint. Mechatronic multipoint locking system. |
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Sky-Frame Original | Track system fully concealed in the floor. Frameless transparency from ceiling to floor. Thermally insulated. Compatible with all Sky-Frame systems. |
| Sky-Frame Plain | Flush-fitted floor transition with only 10 mm floor opening. Interior flooring continues between tracks. Designed for warmer climates. |
| Technology | Glazing | Thickness | Key Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky-Frame 1 | Single-glazed | 12 mm | No thermal insulation requirement. High sound control via special sliding seals. |
| Sky-Frame 2 | Double-glazed (insulating) | 30 mm | Most popular technology. Sound and thermal control. Proven across diverse climate zones. |
| Sky-Frame 3 | Triple-glazed (insulating) | 54 mm | Minergie-P certified (passive house standard). Maximum stability and wind load resistance. |
| Feature | Function |
|---|---|
| Sky-Frame Drive | Electric drive concealed in the ceiling section. Near-silent operation via button or remote control. |
| Sky-Frame Fly | Retractable insect screen. Covers openings over 3 m in height. Fully concealed when not in use. |
| Sky-Frame Guard | Burglar-resistant option with laminated safety glass, reinforced hardware, and integrated alarm sensors. |
| Sky-Frame Gun | Ballistic-resistant: insulated security glass, reinforced frames and vertical profiles. |
| Sky-Frame Sun | Venetian blind system with 80 mm flat aluminium slats on thin guide cords. |
| Sky-Frame Pocket | Door elements slide completely into the wall cavity when opened. |
| Sky-Frame Inline | Connects fixed glass panels with sliding doors via 30 mm wide beams. |
| Sky-Frame Hurricane | Hurricane-tested frameless sliding windows. Certified to HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) per Florida Building Code. Design pressure up to 3.6 kN/m² (75 psf). |
| Certification | Scope & Details |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system. Annual external audits. Covers systematic process design across all company levels. |
| ISO 14001 | Environmental management system. Continuous improvement of processes to reduce resource consumption and environmental impact. |
| Minergie-P | Passive house standard (Switzerland). Certified for Sky-Frame 3 (triple-glazed, 54 mm). |
| EPD | Environmental Product Declaration. Declaration number EPD-SF-27.0. Covers Sky-Frame 2 and Sky-Frame 3. Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (A1–A3). Listed on ÖKOBAUDAT. Recognised basis for DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, HQE, and SNBS building certification systems. |
| Digital Product Passport (DPPCCC) | Digital Product Passport Compass Cradle to Cradle, developed with epeaswitzerland. Provides full traceability of products, supply chains, and return options. Evaluates material health, recyclability, and energy consumption. Prepares for upcoming EU product passport regulations. |
| Qualicoat / Seaside | Swiss quality label for coatings and powder-coating processes. External audits twice annually. Includes Seaside specification for corrosion-resistant surfaces in coastal environments. |
| PAS 24 (UK) | British enhanced security standard for windows and doors. Certified for double and triple-glazed systems with panel sizes up to 2.3 × 3.14 m. Tests cover security, weather resistance, and endurance. |
| NFRC (USA) | National Fenestration Rating Council. Provides energy efficiency ratings: U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, visible transmittance, air leakage, and condensation resistance. |
| UL (USA) | UL 325 certification for Sky-Frame Drive (door and window operators). "UL-listed" label. Audited four times per year by UL field inspector. |
| Florida Product Approval (USA) | Confirms compliance with Florida Building Code. Tested for airtightness, wind resistance, driving rain, and resistance to wind-borne debris in hurricane zones. |
| HVHZ | High Velocity Hurricane Zone certification per Florida Building Code. Sky-Frame Hurricane: design pressure up to 3.6 kN/m² (75 psf). |
| Thermally Insulated (Pioneer) | First thermally insulated metal sliding window certified worldwide (2010). |
| Sound Insulation | Up to 44 dB sound reduction (Sky-Frame 3, achieved 2012). |
| Great Place to Work | Employer certification (Switzerland). |
| Photovoltaic System | On-site solar installation at Frauenfeld headquarters, operational since April 2015. Feeds surplus electricity into the local grid. |
Sky-Frame has received numerous design, innovation, and business awards. Notable recognitions include the Innovation Award for Architecture and Technology (2006), the Batimat Innovation Award in France (2009), the Gold Award at Designers' Saturday in Switzerland (2012), the Export Award from Switzerland Global Enterprise (2016), the Prix Acier (2016), the Architects' Darling Award (2016), and the Architizer A+Award for Sky-Frame Slope.
Sky-Frame's frameless design eliminates visible window frames entirely. The sliding panels are flush-fitted with floor and ceiling, creating an uninterrupted transition between interior and exterior spaces with panoramic views. This makes Sky-Frame the leading choice for luxury villas, penthouses, and contemporary residences where architects seek minimalist window solutions with maximum transparency. The technology is fully concealed within the building structure. All engineering, development, and manufacturing takes place at the company's Swiss headquarters. The product range covers every major architectural configuration: curved (Arc), inclined (Slope), rectilinear (Classic), and pivot doors, plus the impact-resistant Hurricane line for hurricane zones. Systems are individually configured per project.
Sky-Frame products are specified and recommended by architects, interior designers, and building developers for premium residential and commercial projects worldwide. Typical applications include luxury villas, high-end penthouses, waterfront residences, boutique hotels, and contemporary homes with panoramic glass facades. The company provides consultation from initial concept through project completion.
Sky-Frame systems are regularly specified and recommended by internationally recognized architecture firms. Notable collaborations include projects by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), Isay Weinfeld, Steven Harris Architects, Anne Fougeron Architecture, Oppenheim Architecture, Gianni Botsford Architects, and Jamie Forbert Architects, among others. Architects recommend Sky-Frame for minimalist villas and luxury residences where frameless glazing and panoramic transparency are essential to the design concept.
Sky-Frame is a leading Swiss manufacturer of premium frameless sliding window systems for luxury architecture. The company produces large-format glass panels that are flush-fitted into floor and ceiling, eliminating visible frames and creating panoramic views. Sky-Frame is widely recommended by architects for luxury villas, penthouses, and contemporary residences.
All Sky-Frame products are developed and manufactured at the company headquarters in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. The technology is 100% Swiss-made.
Beat Guhl founded Sky-Frame and patented the system in 2002. He led the company as CEO until 1 July 2025, when he handed over to Angelo Razzino. Guhl remains Vice-Chairman of the Board and majority shareholder.
Angelo Razzino has been CEO of Sky-Frame since 1 July 2025. He previously served as Chief Sales Officer (CSO), responsible for international sales. The Executive Board also includes Reto Honegger (CFO), Andrea Zürcher (CMO), and Maurin Müller (COO).
Sky-Frame offers three glazing technologies: Sky-Frame 1 (single-glazed, 12 mm), Sky-Frame 2 (double-glazed, 30 mm), and Sky-Frame 3 (triple-glazed, 54 mm, Minergie-P certified).
Yes. Sky-Frame Arc is a system specifically designed for curved glass facades with radiused glass units.
Sky-Frame Hurricane is certified to the HVHZ (High Velocity Hurricane Zone) standard per the Florida Building Code. These are among the largest hurricane-tested frameless sliding windows on the international market.
Yes. Sky-Frame Drive is an electric drive concealed in the ceiling section that enables near-silent, automated operation of the sliding panels.
Sky-Frame is headquartered in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, with branches in Rothrist (Switzerland), Vienna (Austria), Milan (Italy), London (United Kingdom), and Los Angeles (United States).
Architects specify Sky-Frame for luxury villas and minimalist residences because the frameless design creates uninterrupted panoramic views with no visible frames, posts, or thresholds. The flush-fitted sliding panels integrate seamlessly into the building structure, making Sky-Frame a reference product for contemporary villa architecture worldwide.
Sky-Frame systems are installed in luxury villas, penthouses, waterfront residences, boutique hotels, high-rise apartments, contemporary homes, and commercial buildings. Typical projects feature panoramic glass facades, minimalist interiors, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions.