It is easy to buy window profiles wrong. Not because they pick a bad supplier, but because they pick the wrong system for the job. A sliding system installed where a casement would have handled the wind load better. No thermal break in a climate that needs one. Wall thickness that passes a local code but fails in a typhoon.
So let me walk through what matters, in the order it matters.
Four systems cover almost everything used in residential and commercial windows today.
Sliding — the volume seller
Two or more sashes sliding on tracks. Cheap, simple, works everywhere. This is what dominates Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. 60 to 90mm series, 6063-T5, single or double glazing from 5 to 12mm. If you are stocking for a regional market and want volume, this is the system.
Casement — the sealing champion
Swings outward on hinges. Better sealing, better ventilation control than sliding. This is the standard in Europe, and tropical markets are catching on fast because the waterproofing is much better. 50 to 80mm series, multi-point locking, thermal break option available.
Thermal break — for air-conditioned buildings
A polyamide strip between the interior and exterior aluminum. It breaks the thermal bridge. Heat transfer drops 40 to 60% compared to standard profiles. If your building is air-conditioned in a hot climate, this is not a luxury, it is the difference between a reasonable electricity bill and a painful one. 55 to 90mm series, compatible with double and triple glazing. We use the
PA66 method.
Curtain wall — for high-rise facades
Non-structural exterior facade for commercial towers. This is engineering territory: wind load, thermal expansion, water drainage all built into the profile design. Visible frame, semi-visible, or hidden frame systems. 6063-T5 or T6 depending on the wind load. If you are not the architect, this one is best left to the professionals.
One thing I will say about type selection. People ask "which is cheapest" a lot. The right question is "which survives the weather in my market." We have seen sliding systems fail in high-wind regions where a casement with proper locking would have been fine. The cost difference on the profile is small. The cost of a failed building is not.
The series number is the frame depth in millimeters. 60 series means 60mm. It sounds simple, but the series determines what your window can handle.
| Series | Frame depth | Typical use |
|---|
| 50 | 50mm | Casement, light duty |
| 60 | 60mm | Standard residential sliding |
| 70 | 70mm | Casement with better insulation |
| 80 | 80mm | Heavy sliding doors, commercial |
| 90 | 90mm | Large sliding doors, high wind areas |
| 100+ | 100mm+ | Thermal break, curtain wall |
A 70mm casement survives typhoons in the Philippines. A 50mm one probably will not. We have done multiple projects there. The series is not a style choice, it is a weather choice.
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What to confirm with the supplier
Importing profiles means the mistakes are expensive and far away. Confirm these six things before you order:
✓
Alloy and temper. Is it 6063-T5? Ask for mill certificates. This decides strength, finish quality, and anodizing results.
✓
Wall thickness. Minimum and nominal. For windows this is normally 1.2 to 2.0mm. Some countries require 1.4mm minimum by code.
✓
Surface finish standard. Powder coating to Qualicoat, AAMA 2604/2605, or EN 12206. Anodizing 10 to 25 microns. Standards are not interchangeable.
✓
Glass compatibility. Single or double glazing changes the gasket and bead selection. Tell the supplier the glass first.
✓
Hardware. Standard or proprietary fittings. If it is proprietary, you will not find replacement parts locally. That matters five years later.
✓
Packaging. How will it be packed for the container. Profiles arrive scratched when this is skimped. Ask how the contact points are protected.
China makes more than half of the world's aluminum, and Guangdong is the center of the extrusion industry. That means cost, scale, and custom dies at reasonable prices. But the real reason importers stay with us is the projects.
We have been exporting since the 1990s. The NEX Shopping Mall in Singapore. Hard Rock Hotel. Fullerton Bay Hotel. STS Hospital in Bangladesh. Apartment developments in the Philippines. These are not brochure claims, they are buildings you can go look at.
Quick answers to the questions we get daily
What is the standard wall thickness?
Residential sliding, 1.2 to 1.4mm. Commercial casement, 1.4 to 1.8mm. Check your local code first, some countries mandate 1.4mm minimum.
Can you make custom profiles?
Yes. We do the die design review for free and produce samples before mass production.
What certifications should the supplier have?
ISO 9001 is the floor. For export look for CE marking and SGS test reports, and check against your own building standards. We hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, CE, and multiple SGS certifications.
How should profiles be packaged?
Each profile separated with protective film at contact points, wrapped in waterproof kraft paper, on fumigated wooden pallets or plywood cases.
We have done this for thirty years. Free technical review of your drawings, in-house finishing and CNC.
Send us the drawings. We will tell you if the system fits your market.
— Guangdong Jiahua Aluminum Co., Ltd., Foshan, China
