Many consumers confuse aluminum frame manufacturers with aluminum profile production companies (extruders). In this article, we will examine what aluminum frame manufacturers do, what aluminum profile production companies (extruders) do, what certified aluminum frame manufacturers mean (e.g., certified Europa aluminum frame manufacturers), and how to choose the most suitable frame manufacturer for our home’s frames (doors and windows).
ALUMINUM FRAME MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
Frame Manufacturers
To construct an aluminum frame (door or window), several materials are required, such as:
- aluminum profiles
- glass panes
- mechanisms – accessories
- gaskets – rubbers, etc.
Aluminum frame manufacturing companies – aluminum frame manufacturers, purchase these products from various companies and subsequently create (cut – assemble – install) them to the required dimensions.
ALUMINUM PROFILE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES – EXTRUDERS
Aluminum profile production companies (extruders) are the companies that design and produce aluminum profiles in six-meter bar form. Aluminum profile production companies do not manufacture windows but the profiles for their creation, and in several cases, shutters and screens. There are several aluminum profile production companies (EUROPA, ALUMIL, ETEM,ELVIAL, EXALCO, etc.). Here we should note that most aluminum profile production companies (EUROPA, ALUMIL, ETEM, ELVIAL, EXALCO, etc.) are Greek companies with a strong international presence, as aluminum is our country’s 2nd most exported product, and the profiles they produce are globally considered among the best in the world (see relevant information from the Aluminum Association of Greece – Greek frames).
In Greece, aluminum profile production companies certify and select specific frame manufacturers (certified frame manufacturers Europa), who purchase aluminum profiles in six-meter bar form and subsequently manufacture the aluminum frames in their final form (doors, windows, balcony doors). It should be noted here that certified aluminum frame manufacturers are obliged to strictly adhere to the technical specifications defined by the aluminum profile production companies – extruders, so that the manufactured frames meet the technical specifications regarding thermal insulation, sound insulation, watertightness, etc. (see more about frame certificates and technical characteristics).
Finally, we should note that aluminum profile production companies (extruders) do not supply aluminum manufacturers with glass panes and mechanisms, which frame manufacturers procure from other companies.
QUALITY OF ALUMINUM FRAME CONSTRUCTION
The most important issue for someone replacing their home’s frames is the quality of the frame construction. Most people believe that a good name for an aluminum series (e.g., Europa, Etem, Alumil) guarantees them the best quality, but this is not true. Extrusion companies provide the raw material (aluminum bars), but the quality of frame construction is primarily determined by the manufacturer (e.g., Fenestral). Thus, we encounter cases where an aluminum frame manufacturer buys aluminum profiles from a well-known company but does not manufacture frames according to the technical specifications defined by the designer-extruder. Conversely, another manufacturer might buy aluminum profiles from a less known company but, with proper manufacturing methods, produce higher quality frames than the first.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ALUMINUM FRAME MANUFACTURER, AND WHAT ARE YOUR BENEFITS
Replacing the frames in our home is a costly investment, so we must be very careful in our choice. There is a wide range of options regarding the type of frames, their quality, and their price. We therefore conclude that we must be particularly careful to make the best choice of manufacturer and the appropriate frames that meet our needs.
But how do you choose the right manufacturer for the aluminum frames in your home?
- Initially, the aluminum frame manufacturer you trust must be a certified frame manufacturer (e.g., certified Europa frame manufacturer). This will ensure that the installed frames meet the required specifications. Certified aluminum frame manufacturers are continuously informed and trained by extrusion companies on the appropriate method of frame construction and installation. On the websites of aluminum profile production companies (e.g., Europa, Alumil), you can find out which of their manufacturers are certified, by region, and if their certificate is valid (see frame certificates).
- Subsequently, request quotes from certified aluminum frame manufacturers, compare these quotes, and choose the most suitable one. However, caution is needed when evaluating and comparing offers. The offers must be comparable, meaning they refer to the same type and number of frames and to the same or similar series (cold frames, thermally broken frames). Furthermore, the types of shutters (polyurethane aluminum shutters or heavy-duty shutters), their operation (manual or electric), and their supplier must be specified. The same applies to glass panes, as it is important to state their cross-section, type, and supplier. It is also important to list the mechanisms to be used in the offers, and from where the manufacturer procures them. Finally, to compare two aluminum frame offers, they must refer to the same color, and the exact color code and the paint shop where the frames will be painted must be specified.
- Additionally, what you should do to choose the right aluminum frame manufacturer is to see and evaluate some real projects they have completed, as well as read reviews from their previous customers (search online, ask an extruder). So, ask the manufacturer for a list of their recent projects to evaluate the quality of their work.
- Another very important point is that the manufacturer you choose should be close to your area, so they have direct access to the project and can easily and quickly provide any service you may need.
- Find out about the guarantees provided by each manufacturer, which differ depending on the professional, and choose the appropriate one. Every product sold in the European Union must include a minimum 2-year warranty. All aluminum extrusion companies provide written guarantees for aluminum profiles, but these are not enough. Request written guarantees for the other parts of the frame as well (glass panes, accessories, mechanisms). It is the responsibility of each aluminum manufacturer to provide guarantees for the frames they produce and to provide service when needed. The customer must evaluate how many years of warranty are provided by the manufacturer for the proper functioning of the frames, screens, shutters, electrical mechanisms, glass panes, as well as the aluminum profiles and their paint. Because aluminum frame manufacturers use materials from different companies (aluminum profiles, mechanisms, accessories, glass panes), all companies from which the manufacturer procures materials must be listed, along with the guarantee provided for the proper functioning of these materials. See frame guarantees
ALWAYS PROCEED WITH PRIVATE AGREEMENTS WITH THE MANUFACTURER YOU HAVE CHOSEN
Once you have chosen an aluminum frame manufacturer and entered into an agreement with them, there are some additional steps you need to take to ensure both parties are covered regarding the implementation of your agreement’s terms.
A. Proceed with a written record of the agreement’s terms. These will detail the type of frames – aluminum to be installed, when they will be delivered, and how they will be paid for.
B. Subsequently, the customer pays an advance, a portion of the agreed amount, to the manufacturer, so that the latter can proceed with ordering the profiles and accessories needed for the construction of the aluminum frames. This amount should not exceed 40% of the final amount (usually 30-40% is the amount of the advance payment).
C. Stipulate in the agreement that before the final payment for the frames, a technical inspection of the frames will be carried out by the aluminum profile design and production company (e.g., Europa, Alumil).
INSPECTION OF RECEIVED FRAMES – TECHNICAL INSPECTION
When the installation of aluminum frames is completed, the customer has the right to check – confirm whether the installed frames meet the quality characteristics – technical specifications previously agreed upon with the manufacturer (certified Europa frame manufacturers). Caution is needed, as many aluminum frame manufacturers, in order to reduce costs and offer more competitive prices, use accessories (gaskets, corners, rollers) that do not meet specifications. However, these accessories are unsuitable as they reduce the performance of the frame (thermal insulation, sound insulation, watertightness, etc.), and in some cases, can even be dangerous.
Extrusion companies offer the possibility of technical inspections after the completion of aluminum frame installation by certified Europa frame manufacturers. EUROPA allows the customer, before the final payment of the project, to call an engineer from the company at a cost of approximately 38 euros to certify whether the frames were manufactured and installed according to the company’s specifications, as well as the authenticity of the materials used. See an example of a technical frame inspection
