Author: Gladiator Window & Doors Manufacturing Team — Jacksonville, FL factory specialists in custom aluminum door and window systems since our founding. We design, fabricate, and ship every unit directly from our own production floor.

Custom doors shipped nationwide are made-to-order at the manufacturer's own factory — cut, welded, glazed, and quality-checked to your exact project specs — then freight-shipped directly to the job site. At Gladiator Window & Doors, that entire process happens under one roof in Jacksonville, FL, with no dealer network adding cost or delay. Lead times run 6–10 weeks for most configurations, and freight is included at no extra charge anywhere in the contiguous U.S.

What Does "Made to Order" Actually Mean for Custom Aluminum Doors?

Made-to-order means your door is not pulled from warehouse inventory — it is engineered and fabricated from raw extrusions after your order is placed. Every Gladiator unit starts as a project-specific cut list: frame profiles are cut to your exact rough-opening dimensions, corners are machine-welded and internally reinforced, and the thermal-break insulation is pressed into the frame cavity before glazing. No two units are identical unless you order duplicates.

This matters for contractors and builders because it eliminates field modification. A true custom door arrives at the site sized correctly, pre-assembled (panels ready to hang), and glazed with the specified glass package — typically our standard 6mm tempered or laminated impact glass. You are not shimming, trimming, or re-sealing a nominal-size unit. You are setting a manufactured-to-dimension door system.

• Frame material: Extruded 6063-T5 aluminum with continuous thermal-break polyamide
• Glass standard: 6mm tempered or laminated; dual-pane IGU with argon fill available
• Panel widths: Bi-fold panels up to 36 in. each; sliding panels up to 72 in. each; pivot slabs up to 48 in. wide × 120 in. tall
• Finishes: Matte black, dark grey RAL 7016, white RAL 9010, bronze anodized — all powder-coated, not painted
• Warranty: 15 years on frames and hardware

How Does the Manufacturing Process Work Step by Step?

Gladiator doors move through six sequential production stages from order confirmation to crating — each with a documented quality checkpoint before advancing.

1. Engineering & cut list: Project specs are converted into extrusion cut lists and glass orders. Any Miami-Dade or Florida Building Code impact requirements are flagged at this stage so the correct PVB interlayer or laminate grade is specified.
2. Extrusion cutting & machining: Aluminum profiles are cut to length on CNC saws, then milled for hardware pocket locations, drainage weep slots, and corner key seats.
3. Welding & frame assembly: Corners are friction-stir or MIG welded, then internally corner-keyed. Thermal-break polyamide strips are pressed and crimped into the frame cavity.
4. Hardware fitting: Stainless-steel rollers, multi-point locks, concealed hinges, and pivot hardware sets are installed and adjusted on the bench before glazing — not on the job site.
5. Glazing: Glass lites are set into the frame with EPDM glazing tape, structural silicone, and snap-in aluminum beads. Every unit is water-tested before advancing.
6. Crating & freight prep: Finished door systems are wrapped in foam and polypropylene film, corner-protected, and loaded into custom wood crates rated for LTL freight. Crate dimensions and weights are logged for the freight manifest.

How Are Custom Doors Shipped Across the Country?

Gladiator ships all custom door systems via LTL (less-than-truckload) freight carriers, fully crated, to any address in the contiguous United States — and freight is included in the product price with no hidden add-ons. Most residential and commercial deliveries are curbside or dock-to-dock; liftgate service is available on request for sites without a loading dock.

Transit time from Jacksonville typically runs 3–7 business days depending on destination. We provide tracking numbers as soon as a bill of lading is issued, and our project support team coordinates delivery windows with your site superintendent or GC. For large commercial orders — think storefront systems or multi-opening residential builds — we can coordinate dedicated freight or phased delivery to match your installation schedule.

Key shipping details for contractors and builders:

• Freight included (no upcharge) to all 48 contiguous states
• Crates are forklift-ready and labeled by opening/unit number
• Glass is packed in vertical orientation to minimize breakage risk
• Damage claims are handled directly with Gladiator — no third-party insurance maze
• Reseller accounts receive priority scheduling and dedicated freight coordination

How Does Factory-Direct Compare to Buying Through a Dealer Network?

Factory-direct ordering removes one full margin layer and one full communication layer from your project — you deal with the manufacturer, not a rep who calls the manufacturer on your behalf. The table below compares the factory-direct model against the two most common alternatives contractors encounter.

What Door Systems Can Be Custom-Made and Shipped Nationwide?

Every product line in the Gladiator catalog is available as a fully custom, made-to-order system — not just the flagship sizes. Whether a project calls for a single residential pivot door or a multi-opening commercial storefront run, the manufacturing and shipping process is the same.

• Aluminum bi-fold doors — 2 to 10+ panels, openings up to 40+ ft wide, interior and exterior configurations
• Multi-slide sliding glass doors — 2- to 6-panel stacking configurations, low-profile flush threshold, up to 10 ft tall
• Pivot doors — oversized single slabs, floor-to-ceiling configurations, custom slab widths and heights
• Folding passthrough windows — bar and servery openings, counter-level sill height, custom widths

For builders and developers running multiple openings across a project, Gladiator's wholesale account structure offers consolidated ordering, phased delivery scheduling, and dedicated project support. See our related guides on bi-fold door specifications for contractors and multi-slide door system selection for deeper spec guidance. Architects and designers specifying aluminum pergola covers alongside door systems can also explore our aluminum pergola line, which ships under the same factory-direct model.

How Do I Place a Wholesale or Trade Order for Custom Doors?

Trade and wholesale accounts apply once through Gladiator's Reseller & Wholesale Application and receive factory pricing, priority lead times, and a dedicated project coordinator. The application takes under five minutes; approval is typically within one business day. Once approved, you submit project specs — rough opening dimensions, configuration, glass package, finish, and hardware set — and receive a factory quote with a confirmed production week.

Builders managing multiple projects can batch orders to align production runs with construction schedules. There is no minimum order requirement for approved trade accounts, and all orders ship with the same included freight regardless of order size.

Sell Gladiator doors at a wholesale price. Factory-direct aluminum sliding, bi-fold, and pivot doors — premium aluminum, 6mm glass, low-profile tracks, no upcharges, shipped nationwide. Contractors, builders, designers, and retailers get trade pricing and real support.

Apply for a Reseller & Wholesale Account · Call 904-822-1078