Introducing CEI Materials' Ultra Panel Series: Expanding Design Flexibility in Architectural Metal Panels

When appearance, durability, and installation efficiency all matter, flexibility in panel design becomes increasingly important. CEI Materials’ Ultra Panel Series was developed to give architects and project teams more options within a single architectural metal panel family — combining multiple profile expressions, a wide finish range, and practical installation features to support a variety of project goals. Manufactured in steel, aluminum, and galvalume plus, the series is designed to support horizontal or vertical orientation, factory-formed lengths, and installation methods that can accommodate thermal movement and site conditions. 

 

Rather than treating panel selection as a one-style-fits-all decision, the Ultra Panel Series is organized around four distinct expressions: Flush, Flush RV, Contour, and Wave. Each offers a different visual effect while remaining part of the same coordinated family. Flush delivers a smooth, uninterrupted appearance. Flush RV maintains a flat panel look while introducing a more defined reveal. Contour adds depth and dimension. Wave brings a ribbed profile that creates shadow and movement across the façade. Together, these options give designers more freedom to align panel selection with both architectural intent and project conditions. 

 

The Flush and Flush RV profiles are especially suited to projects where clean lines and controlled visual rhythm are important. Both are leveled for flatness, available with up to two pencil ribs, and built with a rounded interlock leg for an improved flush fit. They also carry a 40-year limited finish warranty, can be vented, and offer optional concealed clips for added wind resistance. Flush RV adds another layer of flexibility through an adjustable reveal ranging from 0 inches to 3 inches in 1/2-inch increments, giving teams more control over expression without moving away from a refined flat-panel aesthetic.

 

For projects that call for greater shadow, texture, or profile movement, Contour and Wave expand the visual vocabulary of the series. Both profiles are designed for cost-effective installation and can be installed horizontally or vertically. They also include a 40-year limited finish warranty and optional clip installation to support expansion and contraction. Panel lengths can reach up to 30 feet for steel and 25 feet for aluminum on the thru-fastened leg, with longer lengths available on clip panels. These options make Contour and Wave strong choices when the design goal is to bring more dimensionality or linear character to the building envelope.

 

Finish flexibility is another key part of the Ultra Panel story. Across the series, CEI offers Standard, Metallic, Weathered, Textured Low-Gloss (TLG) PVDF, and Wood Grain finishes. That range allows the same panel family to support very different aesthetic directions — from clean contemporary metal looks to more rugged, matte, or wood-inspired expressions. Instead of asking teams to choose between performance and design character, Ultra Panel helps bring both together within a coordinated system. 

 

 

What makes the series especially useful is that it combines this design range with practical performance considerations. Across the family, Ultra Panel is positioned around long-length capability, cost-effective installation, and durability, with orientation options and installation methods that can respond to site conditions. In other words, Ultra Panel is not simply a finish story or a single-profile solution — it is a broader panel system designed to give project teams more control over both expression and execution. 

 

For architects, contractors, and owners evaluating façade direction early in design, that flexibility can be valuable. A single panel family that includes smooth, reveal-driven, dimensional, and ribbed profiles — along with multiple finish categories — makes it easier to tailor the visual outcome without starting over with a completely different system. From minimal and modern to textured and more expressive, the Ultra Panel Series creates a stronger platform for aligning design intent, constructability, and finish selection from the outset.