Doors / Door panels / Door grilles

The casting of aluminum door grilles is a specialty that is almost unheard of in the Netherlands. Almost, because in Haaksbergen MPH Aluminiumgieterij performs this 'trick'. Old, high-quality craftsmanship comes to life here.

For example, ten Hagen's family business uses the first melting block material from the smelter, ensuring the highest quality aluminum.

"Door manufacturers also import aluminum door grilles from the Eastern Bloc, for example, where the primary material has not been used. This oxidizes over time, causing the coating to peel off. There is absolutely no such thing with our door grilles," Gerald ten Hagen states resolutely.

Gerald, along with his father Harry, runs the company that began in 1996. The work pieces are cast in sand in the old, traditional way, as foundries have done for hundreds of years.

"There are two more foundries that cast aluminum door grilles this way. We use aluminum because it is much lighter than cast iron and you don't bother with rust, provided you treat it properly. The advantage of the light weight is that a door manufacturer does not have to use as much heavy hardware, for example. In addition, aluminum is much easier (after) machining."

MPH pays close attention to that post-processing, such as removing the burrs. "On door grilles imported from Eastern Bloc you can often see the burrs still in place. So I really don't think that's acceptable!" thinks ten Hagen.

Custom door grilles

The market for aluminum door grilles has slumped slightly due to the economic crisis. Nevertheless, MPH can still earn a decent living. Whereas initially the Twente region served as the market, the company now has sales throughout the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Our eastern neighbors are currently catching up when it comes to door grilles. Door manufacturers recognize the high artistic and technical quality of the aluminum foundry in Haaksbergen. Harry makes the intricate motifs on a piece of wood after which the models are cut out.

"Most of the time and therefore most of the money goes into the model making," Gerald knows. "Fortunately, we can use the models more often."
In steel mold boxes, the aluminum is cast at a temperature of 1,000 degrees. Especially in monumental older buildings and renovations, grilles with specific sizes may be required.

"We can cut a new edge into the model in the sand bed. This is because the edge forms the rigidity and fastening of the door grating. Then the grating can be cast off in one pass. This is important for quality," explains ten Hagen.
At the customer's request, the grating can be blasted and powder coated in any conceivable RAL color. MPH outsources that powder coating. "That's the only thing we outsource. We take care of the process from design to post-processing."

A door grille is usually delivered in three weeks. How the grille is then mounted on the door is up to the door or joinery manufacturer.... The most attractive method of mounting is when the grille falls behind the decorative profile. Behind the grille, the swing-tilt system is usually mounted. This way, the window behind the door grille can also be kept clean.