One of the most commonly asked questions to this website relates to information and advice about the Schuco and Origin bifolding door and what is the better door. Since we first wrote this article in 2016, both Origin and Schuco continue to be compared. However, since 2016, both Schüco and Origin have brought out new products.
For lead times, personalisation options and marginally cheaper than Schuco, Origin is hard to beat. For design and engineering, brand status and reputation, size capability and the positive association anything German-designed has, Schuco is better. Here’s our guide updated for 2025, to choosing between Schuco and Origin bifold doors to help you choose the best door.
Origin vs Schuco: Which is the better bifold door?
If the steel look, price and delivery times are not your primary concern, then in virtually every respect, the Schüco bifold door is the better bifold.
Better made, superior in it’s design and engineering, larger panel sizes, smoother sliding, more and better track options, and brand reputation. All these factors make it better than any of Origin’s bifold doors. To the novice, you only need to slide and fold a Schüco bifold to feel how much better this door is moves, feel, locks and works, compared to an Origin.
Schüco bifolds are better than Origin internally too. Study the profile drawings of both doors and you’ll see how simple Origin profiles are compared to Schuco. Schüco profiles have more chambers, more seals, thicker aluminium in most profile areas and the over-engineering of Schüco bifold doors suich as the AS FD 75 and AS FD 90 are obvious even to the untrained eye.
The Schüco bifold is by far the most reliable and proven door for heavy duty applications and commercial installations. Whilst Origin doors are used commercially, they are essentially doors designed for residential use.
But as with any “best” product, it depends on several factors. First is how it is made and fitted. Both these doors need to be well made and professionally installed.
Where Origin can be better than Schüco
We’ve listed the many design and engineering advantages of buying a Schüco bifold over any of the Origin offerings. But that doesn’t mean Origin bifolds are bad bifolds. Far from it. Origin is one of the best known brands in the UK and any of their products will serve you brilliantly.
Origin bifolds are more widely available around the UK than Schüco. The manufacturing lead times are also faster on Origin bifolds than they are with Schüco.
For 2025, Origin now has three models in it’s lineup. These are:
- The OB-72
- The OB-49
- The OB-36+
Origin is the better ‘steel-look’ bifold
With the OB36+ bifold door, you get a product designed from the outset as an industrial or heritage style bifold. Schüco doesn’t presently have such a product.
As alternatives to the OB-36+, you can also check out Aluco, our product of the year 2024, for it’s steel look bifold, the Visofold 6000 with the heritage sash, or the Sheerline bifold, althout it’s styling is in our view not that appealing.
Better personalisation options with Origin bifolds
Without question, Origin offers more handle styles, textures and colour options than Schüco bifolds, including colour matched seals. If these features matter in your choice of bifold doors, then Origin will give you more than the standard colour offering of silver, black and white that Schüco bifolds come with.
Why Schüco bifolds are better than Origin
Larger panel sizes, slimmer sightlines, better thermal performance, more low track options and the enhanced design and engineering. All of these features that remain important in your choice of bifold door are better with the Schüco bifold.
Schüco has two models now available for 2025.
- The AS FD 75
- The AS FD 90
The Schüco AS FD 75 and AS FD 90.HI are folding sliding systems with several key differences:
- Frame depth: The AS FD 75 has a depth of 75 mm, while the AS FD 90.HI has a depth of 90 mm.
- Thermal insulation: The AS FD 90.HI offers superior thermal insulation compared to the AS FD 75.
- Vent height: The AS FD 75 supports heights up to 3000 mm, while the AS FD 90.HI accommodates up to 3500 mm.
- Airtightness: The AS FD 90.HI provides greater airtightness, achieving U-values as low as 1.0 W/m²K.
- Face width: Both systems have a slim 90 mm face width.
- Opening types: Both systems offer a variety of opening configurations, including a side-hung door option.
- Threshold types: Each system includes three threshold options.
- Sealing: Both feature an improved sealing system with two continuous gasket levels.
- Security: Both meet burglar resistance standards of RC 2.
The AS FD 90.HI is the more advanced option, delivering better thermal performance and accommodating larger vent heights.
Whether you choose the Schüco AS FD 75 or the AS FD 90, both these doors come with advantages over the Origin products and all of these are to do with technical capability.
Similarities of Schuco and Origin Bifolding Doors
There are a number of similarities between both Origin and Schuco bifolding doors. Both are bottom hung doors meaning that the weight of the bifolds is at the bottom. This is generally the accepted type for most bifolding doors. Other features both doors offer include:
- A choice of cill sections and installation with or without a cill.
- Glass upgrades such as integral blinds
- The provision of a trickle vent where required.
- An open corner post arrangement
- A choice of configurations and designs
- Doors made to order
Schüco and Origin Bifolds, helping you choose.
The best way to experience both these brands is to see them. Get in touch with us as we can help with showrooms having both these products on display.
If it’s aesthetics that matter, Origin bifolds are more classically styles, Schüco bifolds are more contemporary in appearance. Both these bifolds are great and will be reliable, and great to live with every day. And they all come with todays essential bifold features and benefits.
The Schüco standard track is bigger and more prominent as is the head of the doors for the trickle ventilation that will invariably be required.
Handle choices, colours and styling, are of course, personal. Origin does offer more choices and options, but you may prefer the minimalist styling of the Schüco product.
You’ll notice on Schüco bifolds that the locking the doors invovles a different method to Origin bifolds. This is the German way of locking the doors. However, it is possible to get the same lift to lock system with Origin. Again you can get in touch for more information.
Guarantees
If you’re looking for a door with a peace of mind guarantee and a consistent quality then Origin is the door for you with a 20 year guarantee. You’ll typically get a 10 year guarantee with a Schuco door, although some installers will offer their own terms. Do read the small print of the Origin guarantee. It’s not a 20 year guarantee in that everything is coverered. It’s not.
Security
Origin also feature an 8 point locking system. Schuco doors offer five locking points, but both are exceptionally well tested for security and meet the required British and European Standards. Many of these standards work alongside each other. So whilst one product may not be Secured By Design, the equivalent European standard is just as good.
Bifolding Door Thresholds.
Origin offer a low or standard threshold option but only their standard threshold is weather rated. Origin recommend their low threshold is only used in internal applications.
Schuco offer several threshold options to suit the application and their own low threshold is weather rated. The low threshold on Schüco bifolds make these better for accessibility and commercial high-traffic use.
More information about Origin and Schüco bifold doors.
The Door and Window Experts Website can give you more information about these two excellent bifold doors and any other brand. If you’re interested in seeing both these doors under one roof in your local area, contact us and we can put you in touch with an approved Origin installer and a provider of Schuco bifolding doors.
We hope this article helps you with your research on these two exceptional bifolding door brands. Please contact us if you have any specific questions or need further information.
