Description
The Delta Frame Only Aluminium PanelDor is a custom-manufactured sectional overhead garage door supplied as an exposed aluminium frame without external cladding or infill panels.
Manufactured from purpose-designed 6063-T5 extruded aluminium rails and stiles, the door uses Delta’s standard 38mm PanelDor frame to create a strong, lightweight and highly customisable sectional door structure.
Supplied in Satin Black powder coat as standard, with alternative powder coat colours available, the Frame Only PanelDor is ideal for architectural applications where an open-frame appearance is required or where the customer, builder or designer intends to incorporate their own custom infill or finishing system.
🏗️ 38mm Extruded Aluminium Frame
The Delta Frame Only PanelDor is manufactured using our purpose-designed 38mm aluminium framing system.
Each sectional panel is constructed from 6063-T5 extruded aluminium components, including horizontal rails, perimeter stiles and internal vertical supports as required by the dimensions of the door.
The result is a rigid but relatively lightweight sectional door structure suitable for a wide variety of residential and architectural applications.
⬛ Satin Black Powder Coat as Standard
The complete aluminium frame is finished in Satin Black powder coat as standard.
This provides a clean and contemporary appearance while giving the aluminium framework a durable finished surface.
Satin Black works particularly well where the frame itself is intended to remain visible, creating clearly defined horizontal and vertical lines across the garage door.
Alternative powder coat colours are also available where the frame needs to coordinate with other architectural elements of the property.
🪟 Open Frame Design
Unlike our Composite PanelDor, the Frame Only PanelDor is supplied without composite sheet or other external panelling.
This leaves the aluminium framework exposed and allows the individual openings within each sectional panel to remain open.
The result is a distinctive architectural appearance that highlights the structure of the garage door itself.
The open-frame configuration can also provide the basis for a customised door where another material or finishing system is to be incorporated into the frame.
📐 Purpose-Designed Rails & Stiles
The PanelDor framework is constructed from purpose-designed extruded aluminium rails and stiles rather than general-purpose aluminium sections.
Horizontal rails form the upper and lower structure of each sectional panel, while vertical stiles provide the required support across the width of the door.
The number and position of internal vertical stiles are determined according to the overall dimensions and structural requirements of the individual door.
This creates the characteristic framed appearance of the Delta Aluminium PanelDor while providing the rigidity required for sectional overhead operation.
➕ Custom Vertical Frame Layout
Because every Frame Only PanelDor is manufactured specifically for the individual project, the internal vertical frame layout can be configured according to the size and design requirements of the door.
Vertical uprights divide each sectional panel into individual framed openings, creating a strong geometric appearance across the complete garage door.
Depending on the project, this can be used to create:
- Wide framed openings
- Narrower architectural divisions
- Symmetrical panel layouts
- Repeating vertical patterns
- Custom façade designs
Structural requirements ultimately determine the number and positioning of the internal uprights.
🚪 Sectional Overhead Door Operation
Despite its distinctive open-frame appearance, the Delta Frame Only PanelDor operates as a conventional sectional overhead garage door.
The complete door consists of multiple rigid horizontal sections connected together with hinges.
When opening, the sections initially travel vertically within the garage door opening before following the curved track and transitioning into a horizontal position underneath the garage ceiling.
This provides the space-efficient operation associated with sectional garage doors while allowing considerably greater freedom over the appearance and construction of the door itself.
⚖️ Spring Counterbalanced Operation
The finished garage door is counterbalanced using a correctly engineered spring system.
The springs offset the weight of the door, allowing it to move smoothly and reducing the amount of force required to manually or automatically operate the door.
Spring selection is calculated according to the finished dimensions and weight of each individual PanelDor.
Where additional materials are subsequently incorporated into a Frame Only PanelDor, the additional weight must be considered when determining the correct spring configuration.
🔩 Sectional Track & Hardware System
The individual door sections are guided through their movement by a purpose-designed sectional overhead track and hardware system.
Garage door wheels travel through the vertical and horizontal tracks, maintaining the alignment of the door as it transitions from the closed vertical position into the open horizontal position.
The track configuration is selected according to the dimensions of the door and the available installation space.
🎨 Alternative Powder Coat Colours
While Satin Black is the standard frame finish, the aluminium framework can be powder coated in an alternative colour where required.
This allows the Frame Only PanelDor to coordinate with:
- Window frames
- Entry doors
- Gates
- Fencing
- Façade elements
- Architectural steelwork
- Other powder coated finishes
Alternative powder coat colours are optional and may attract an additional charge.
🏡 Architectural Open-Frame Appearance
The Frame Only Aluminium PanelDor creates a very different appearance from a conventional solid sectional garage door.
With the aluminium structure intentionally visible, the horizontal rails and vertical uprights become part of the architectural design.
This makes the door particularly suitable for contemporary projects where strong geometric lines, open framing or a customised façade treatment is required.
Typical applications include:
- Contemporary residential homes
- Custom-built residences
- Architectural garages
- Open or ventilated garage areas
- Carports requiring sectional closure
- Custom façade applications
- Projects incorporating customer-supplied finishing materials
🧱 Ideal as a Base for Custom Finishes
The Frame Only PanelDor can also provide the structural foundation for projects requiring a custom external finish.
Rather than being limited to a predetermined garage door panel design, the aluminium framework can form the basis of a bespoke architectural concept.
Depending on the proposed design and engineering requirements, this may allow architects, builders or customers to develop a customised appearance around the sectional door structure.
Any material added to the door must be suitable for a moving sectional door and must be considered when calculating the finished door weight, structural requirements and spring balance.
📏 Custom Manufactured for Each Opening
The Delta Frame Only Aluminium PanelDor is custom manufactured for the dimensions of each individual project.
The system can be manufactured up to:
- Maximum Width: 8000mm
- Maximum Height: 3660mm
This allows the PanelDor system to accommodate everything from conventional residential garage openings through to very wide architectural garage doors.
Final availability at larger dimensions depends on the design, structural configuration, finished weight and installation conditions.
📐 Suitable for Large Garage Openings
With widths available up to 8000mm, the Frame Only PanelDor can provide a solution for openings considerably larger than a conventional residential garage door.
Potential applications include:
- Wide double garages
- Triple garage openings
- Large residential garages
- Architectural garage openings
- Custom vehicle storage areas
- Oversized sectional door applications
As the size of the door increases, additional structural support may be incorporated into the aluminium framework to maintain the required rigidity.
⚙️ Suitable for Automatic Operation
The Delta Frame Only PanelDor can be automated using an appropriately selected sectional garage door operator.
The required operator is selected according to the dimensions, finished weight, balance and operating requirements of the completed garage door.
Larger doors may require a higher-capacity residential or commercial garage door operator.
Regardless of the power of the operator selected, the garage door itself must remain correctly spring balanced.
🛠️ Custom Manufactured by Delta
Each Frame Only PanelDor is manufactured specifically for the individual garage door opening and project requirements.
Rather than adapting a standard steel sectional panel, the door is constructed from Delta’s purpose-designed extruded aluminium framing system.
This provides greater flexibility over dimensions, frame layout, appearance and finishing options while retaining the practical operation of a sectional overhead garage door.
Key Features
- Delta Frame Only Aluminium PanelDor
- Model DFO
- Custom sectional overhead garage door
- Supplied as an aluminium frame only
- No external composite cladding as standard
- Purpose-designed 38mm aluminium frame
- 6063-T5 extruded aluminium construction
- Extruded aluminium rails and stiles
- Internal vertical supports as required
- Satin Black powder coat as standard
- Alternative powder coat colours available
- Distinctive open-frame appearance
- Suitable as a base for compatible custom finishes
- Spring counterbalanced operation
- Sectional overhead track system
- Suitable for automatic operation
- Custom manufactured for each project
- Maximum width up to 8000mm
- Maximum height up to 3660mm
- Suitable for contemporary architectural applications
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Delta
- Product: Frame Only Aluminium PanelDor
- Model: DFO
- Door Type: Sectional Overhead Door
- Frame Thickness: 38mm
- Construction: Extruded Aluminium
- Aluminium Grade: 6063-T5
- Frame Construction: Purpose-Designed Extruded Aluminium Rails & Stiles
- Standard Frame Finish: Satin Black Powder Coat
- Optional Frame Finish: Alternative Powder Coat Colours
- External Panelling: None – Frame Only
- Maximum Height: 3660mm
- Maximum Width: 8000mm
- Operation: Sectional Overhead
- Counterbalance: Spring Counterbalanced
- Automation: Compatible with an Appropriately Selected Garage Door Operator
Construction
The Delta Frame Only Aluminium PanelDor is made up of a number of rigid horizontal sections constructed from purpose-designed 6063-T5 extruded aluminium components.
Each section incorporates horizontal rails and vertical stiles to create the required structural framework.
The individual sections are hinged together and travel vertically within the garage door opening before transitioning through the track system and travelling horizontally underneath the garage ceiling.
The door is counterbalanced using springs selected according to the dimensions and finished weight of the individual door.
⚠️ Please Note
The Delta Frame Only Aluminium PanelDor is supplied as an aluminium framed sectional garage door without external composite panelling or other infill unless specifically included in the quotation.
Every door is custom manufactured for the individual project.
The stated maximum dimensions of 8000mm wide and 3660mm high remain subject to the individual door design, structural requirements, finished weight and installation conditions.
If additional cladding, infill or other materials are to be added to the door, these must be considered during the design stage. Additional weight can affect the required frame construction, spring selection, hardware and automatic operator.
Alternative powder coat colours, automation and other custom options may attract additional charges.
Final specifications should be confirmed during quotation and site assessment.
