FOR OVER 50 YEARS, GALE COMMERCIAL HAS MANUFACTURED INDUSTRIAL-GRADE KNITTED SHADE CLOTH AND COATED FABRICS FOR COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS.
It all began with Barbara and Harry Gale, who started a business making scarves from their home’s spare bedroom in Melbourne, Australia. They invested in a small loom, sourced quality wool, and built a modest textile business that grew steadily over two decades.
But by the early 1970s, Australian industries began facing urgent problems that would change the course of the Gale family’s business forever. Crops were failing under extreme UV exposure, outdoor work was becoming more dangerous, and traditional solutions weren't holding up to environmental extremes.
Barbara, Harry, and their son Gary saw an opportunity to apply their textile expertise in a new direction. They began experimenting with knitting techniques and testing their performance and durability under Australia's punishing heat and sun. In 1976, they created the world's first knitted shade cloth and GALE Commercial has been setting industry benchmarks ever since.
The real innovation wasn't just the product itself. It was their insistence on rigorous testing before a single meter left the facility. Every fabric had to prove it could withstand extreme conditions. Not only did those early installations protect crops and people, they established the testing protocols and performance standards that became the foundation for the entire industry.
Many installations from the 1970s are still performing today, and serve as a testament to the quality and standards set by the Gale family decades ago.
Today, our fabrics shield construction sites from desert heat in the Middle East, protect agricultural operations across the Americas and Australia, and provide architectural shade for schools and public spaces worldwide.
We serve fabricators, distributors, architects, growers, facility managers, and municipal partners who need technical textiles that perform under pressure. You'll find our fabrics in architectural shade structures, agricultural covers, water containment systems, industrial tarps, and containment applications around the globe.
With manufacturing facilities in Australia and China, sales offices across the Americas and the UAE, and distribution networks spanning multiple continents, we combine global manufacturing strength with local technical support. This is ensures consistent quality and performance standards worldwide, backed by experts who understand our customer’s regional requirements.
Vertically Integrated Manufacturing
We control every step of the production process from sourcing the raw materials to inspecting the finished products. This gives us complete oversight of quality, consistency, and delivery timelines.
Comprehensive In-House Testing
Our dedicated R&D team and accredited in-house testing facilities ensure every fabric meets exact specifications and compliance requirements. Comprehensive Field-Testing Every GALE Commercial fabric undergoes rigorous field testing in real-world conditions. Our products perform in Middle Eastern desert heat exceeding 50°C, Australia's harshest UV environments, and extreme weather events across the Americas.
Complementary Flame Redardant Product Ranges
We offer the industry's most comprehensive selection of FR-compliant shade fabrics, with identical colours available in both FR and non-FR versions for visual consistency across projects.
Industry-Leading Certifications
GALE Commercial is the only shade fabric manufacturer endorsed by Cancer Council Australia, and our Commercial NinetyFive fabric made history as the first architectural shade fabric to earn both OEKO-TEX® and GREENGUARD® certifications.
Proprietary Coating
Our Melbourne facility operates the only 3-layer co-extrusion coating technology of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, giving us precise control over performance characteristics.
PVC-Free Manufacturing
Our fabrics are manufactured without PVC and are free from PFAS, lead, and phthalates, and we don't use toxic plasticisers that leach over time.
Closed-Loop Recycling
We recycle 100% of polyolefin waste produced during manufacturing. Our monopolymer fabrics don't require complex separation. Offcuts and end-of-life products are collected, shredded, and pelletized without compromising quality. Learn More About Our Sustainability Practices.
Our regional teams understand market-specific requirements, compliance standards, and environmental conditions. We combine international manufacturing strength with local technical expertise, giving you confidence that solutions proven in one market will perform equally well in yours.
| Integrity We're honest and ethical, worthy of the trust our partners place in us. It's the foundation of every relationship we build. | Innovation Creative thinking drives everything we do. We seek out ideas that improve our products and deliver meaningful benefits to the people who use them. | Respect Respect guides how we operate at all levels – with customers, suppliers, partners, and our own team. We treat people the way we'd want to be treated. |
| People People are the heart and soul of our business. We provide a safe, supportive environment where our team can do their best work and reach their full potential. | Community We're proud to be part of the communities we operate in globally. We support local causes and operate in an environmentally responsible manner. | Collaboration We believe in the power of working together. Every function and role matters. When we collaborate, we create better solutions. |
Our global network of business development managers provides high-touch support that makes complex projects simpler.
We work alongside fabricators, installers, and specifiers to ensure successful installations from concept to completion. With GALE Commercial, you gain a technical partner who's invested in your success.
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