With the entry of various suppliers, the number of manufacturers has increased by more than 30% to about 400 in the past 2 years.

Capacity expansion, in the meantime, averaged 20% in 2006, with some companies increasing their production capability by rather good rates. According to a report, one supplier boosted his production capability by more than 400 % and is now capable to turn out 80,000 security doors monthly.

Similarly, the utilization is high in this sector, as the companies reply to strong demand, especially from Eastern Europe and North America. With several security door manufacturers utilizing between 75 - 100% of capability, annual production yield reaches 15 - 18 million sets. This constitutes 50 to 60 % of the total production of doors in the country.

In addition, suppliers are increasing investment in state-of-the-art technology to improve specific production processes, including pressing or stamping and surface treatment. Large companies are opting for advanced Windows NT-based metal stamping and folding system, which enable them to complete all steps prior to welding in a single production line.

Suppliers in the region are also vesting huge money in hydraulic stamping or pressing machines, which can develop the skins in one operation. Moreover, some big companies are equipped with automatic lines in their plants to carry out heat transferring. This is the most common technique used for surface treatment in China.

For improved aesthetics, an increasing number of suppliers are embracing heat transfers with a wood-grain pattern.

Mainstream material
Inspite of the impressive growth door hardware industry in China, material options mostly remain traditional. Honeycomb paper is still used to a great extent for the core, though some suppliers are also using PU and fire resistant cotton. In addition, most manufacturers keep on using cold rolled steel for certain parts, with the thickness deciding the marketing positioning of the products.

Constituting 50% of the China's total security doors production, midrange models have skins in the thickness range of 0.5 to 0.8 mm cold rolled steel. Variants of the material 1.4 to 1.5 mm in thickness are used for making the frame.

The other 50% of China's security door production is fragmented almost evenly between low- and high-end models. The low end models have skins and frames made of 0.4 to 0.5 mm and 1.2 to 1.5 mm-thick cold rolled steel.

High end models are naturally adopting superior quality materials. The cold-rolled steel is used in the thickness range of 0.8 to 1 mm for the skin and 1.5 to 2 mm for the frame.

Some suppliers are enhancing security by innovating features, which provide superior soundproofing. Some companies, for instance, have added a two layer magnetic seal strip to their models.

Most of China-made security doors, however, use 3 or 4 reinforced hinges, multiple locking points, a mechanical anti-theft lockset, a handle and more than 10 bolts.

These security doors are graded generally as A-level models, meaning they can withstand efforts to pry them open using normal hand held tools for as long as 15 minutes. Doors with a higher grading are also available.

Industry Overview
Though China has long been engaged in the production of security doors, the on-going boom started in 2005 when suppliers started boosting their production capacity by significant proportions in answer to growing demand from consumers.

In each of the last 2 years, production has increased by 10 to 15 % and now touches between 15 and 18 million sets annually. The line presently accounts for half of China's total production of doors.

About 40% of output is exported, primarily to North America and Eastern Europe, especially Europe. More than 70 % of consignments are under OEM contracts. Though many suppliers have in-house brands, these are marketed generally within China. Currently, only major manufacturers are exporting primarily security doors as OBM products.

Zhejiang province is the largest sourcing hub for security doors in China. The city of Yongkang alone scores for about 70% of the country's output and exports in the line every year.

This rapid emergence of Yongkang as a major production center of security doors in China can be attributed to easy access to major raw materials and components. The city is home to more than 100 suppliers for various door hardware products such as hinges and locksets.