The window supply chain

The uPVC window supply chain

The marketing human-bots here at Liniar HQ tell me that our website receives lots of enquiries from homeowners who are looking for lovely Liniar windows, doors and conservatories for their homes. My technical bot-brain loves to know exactly how things are made, so I made some investigations – and thought it was interesting enough to share with you. So here’s an overview of the processes a Liniar window goes through as it travels through the supply chain to your home.

Design

Each new design is carefully planned, engineered and tested by the systems house.

This is the company that develops the full window system, and there are around 10 uPVC systems houses in the UK.

Extrusion

The systems house also manufactures the profile, or the uPVC parts of the window, through a process called extrusion. uPVC is heated and squeezed through tubes, then cooled as it comes out, forming lengths of the correct profile for each piece of the window system.

Fabrication

The uPVC profile is delivered to a specialist fabricator, who takes the design and cuts and welds the window together. Glazing is added, together with hardware such as hinges and handles. There’s a huge variety of both glass and hardware options, and each fabricator can offer something slightly different for a totally bespoke appearance.

Trade counter / Installer

The full window is sometimes sent to a trade counter, where it can be purchased by an installer or a building contractor. Or it’s purchased straight from the fabricator by a specialist window installer.

Or sometimes the fabricator also has an installation division and will fit the window themselves.

Homeowner

Finally, the window is fitted by the installer, who should explain how it works and leave you with a maintenance and care guide. So as you can see, there are a lot of steps involved in the supply chain of a window!

Although all Liniar products are made to Liniar’s original design specification, and I get involved in their testing, we don’t actually make any finished products here in Denby.

That’s why, if you send us an enquiry, we’ll be happy to put you in touch with a Liniar Approved Fabricator, who’ll be able to advise you whether they carry out installations themselves, or refer you to a local installer.

Until next time! Mark II