| Aluminium Alloy | 6063 aluminium alloy is commonly used for architectural doors and frames; 6061 is more common where higher structural strength is required. | Billets are heated, extruded through profile dies, air- or water-cooled, stretched, cut to length and artificially aged to obtain the specified temper, such as T5 or T6. | Alloy and temper certificates should be reviewed. Profile straightness, dimensional tolerance and surface quality are checked after extrusion and aging. |
| Profile Wall Thickness | Typical residential door profiles are approximately 1.2–2.0 mm; heavier commercial and entrance systems are often approximately 1.8–3.0 mm, depending on design and loading. | Engineering teams select hollow chambers, reinforcement sections and profile geometry according to door size, wind load, hardware and installation conditions. | Wall thickness should not be evaluated alone. Deflection, corner strength, screw retention and the complete system test results are also important. |
| Thermal-Break Design | Thermally broken systems commonly use glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide strips, often with widths around 14–34 mm depending on the system. | Polyamide strips are mechanically locked into prepared aluminium pockets using knurling and rolling equipment. Insulating components are installed before final frame assembly. | Thermal performance depends on frame geometry, glazing, seals and installation. Whole-window or whole-door U-value testing is more reliable than judging the strip width alone. |
| Surface Treatment | Common finishes include anodizing, powder coating and liquid coating. Anodized layers are commonly specified around 10–25 μm; powder-coating requirements vary by applicable specification. | Profiles are cleaned, pre-treated, coated or anodized, cured when required, and inspected for color, gloss, film thickness and visible defects. | Exterior projects should define color tolerance, coating class, corrosion resistance, adhesion and minimum dry-film thickness before production. |
| Cutting and CNC Machining | Computer-controlled saws and machining centers are used for cutting, drilling, routing, drainage slots, lock pockets and hardware preparation. | Production drawings are converted into cutting lists and CNC programs. Bar lengths are optimized to reduce offcuts, while machine settings control hole position and machining depth. | First-piece inspection should confirm cut length, diagonal dimensions, hardware positions, drainage paths and compatibility with approved drawings. |
| Corner Assembly | Common methods include crimped corner cleats, mechanical corner keys, screw-fixed joints and, for selected designs, welded aluminium joints. | Cut profiles are joined with corner connectors, alignment fixtures, sealant and fasteners. Thermal-break continuity and frame squareness are maintained during assembly. | Corner joints should be checked for squareness, rigidity, visible gaps, sealant continuity and resistance to racking before glazing. |
| Glazing Configuration | Typical options include 5–6 mm single glass, 20–32 mm insulated glass units, laminated glass and tempered or heat-strengthened safety glass, subject to design requirements. | Glazing beads, setting blocks, gaskets and sealants are selected to match glass thickness. Units are installed with controlled edge clearances and drainage paths. | Glass selection must consider safety, wind load, thermal stress, acoustic requirements, impact exposure and local building regulations. |
| Weather Sealing | EPDM and other compatible elastomeric gaskets are widely used. Multi-seal designs generally provide better control of air and water movement than single-seal designs. | Gaskets are cut or installed continuously around glazing and opening perimeters. Corners are joined, sealed and checked for compression and continuity. | Air leakage, water penetration and wind-load performance should be verified using a complete door assembly rather than individual components. |
| Hardware Installation | Hardware may include hinges, locks, rollers, handles, closers, restrictors and multipoint locking mechanisms, selected for the door weight and opening type. | Hardware positions are machined according to templates. Assemblers install components, adjust clearances and perform operational checks before packing. | Checks should include smooth operation, locking engagement, hinge adjustment, handle torque, cycle durability and corrosion suitability for the project environment. |
| Common Door Types | Sliding, hinged, folding, lift-and-slide, pivot, French and entrance doors are produced using different track, hinge, threshold and locking arrangements. | The manufacturer configures profiles, rollers or hinges, tracks, drainage, glazing and hardware around the approved opening schedule and operating requirements. | The selected system should match the opening width, panel weight, traffic frequency, weather exposure, accessibility needs and maintenance plan. |
| Factory Quality Control | Typical controls include incoming material inspection, first-article approval, in-process checks, final dimensional inspection and packaging inspection. | Inspectors use drawings, gauges, calipers, coating-thickness meters, diagonal measurements and functional checklists at defined production stages. | A reliable inspection plan records batch numbers, profile dimensions, finish results, glass details, hardware checks and nonconformance corrections. |
| Performance Testing | Depending on the market, testing may cover air permeability, watertightness, wind resistance, operating force, security, thermal transmittance and acoustic performance. | Test specimens are assembled using production-equivalent profiles, glass, gaskets and hardware, then evaluated by an appropriate laboratory or qualified testing facility. | Results apply to the tested configuration. Changes to size, glass, hardware, seals or installation details may affect the declared performance. |
| Packaging and Shipment | Frames are commonly protected with film, foam, corner guards and cartons or crates. Large glazed units may require reinforced, moisture-protected packaging. | Finished doors are labeled by project or opening reference, protected against abrasion, separated with spacers and loaded to limit movement and impact during transport. | Packaging should preserve frame squareness, protect coated surfaces and glass edges, identify installation orientation and include hardware or installation documentation. |
