- Home
- Customization
- Frames Shafts And Ribs
Frames Shafts And Ribs
The part of the umbrella that decides whether it survives the season
Why This Decision Matters
Everything a buyer notices about an umbrella is the canopy, and everything that breaks is underneath it. The frame decides whether the umbrella comes back from a gust, how heavy it feels, and how small it folds. These are the frame materials and formats available across the Levoo range.
Frame And Shaft Materials
Fibreglass
Flexes under gust load and returns to shape, and does not conduct. The default for golf canopies and for any umbrella used on open ground.
Steel and iron
Stiff and economical, used on smaller folding canopies where the loads are lower and unit cost matters.
Aluminium
Light for its stiffness, used where weight is the constraint.
Carbon fibre
The lightest and stiffest option, specified when weight is critical and budget allows.
Wood
Used for shafts and handles on straight umbrellas where the material is part of the product's positioning.
Resin
Moulded components used in handles, tops and tips.
Formats And Sizes We Build
- Folding formats in two, three and five sections, for bag-sized and pocket-sized umbrellas.
- Stick and straight formats where a single-piece shaft gives rigidity and a cleaner line.
- Canopy sizes from 19 inch through 21, 23, 25, 27, 30 and up to 34 inch.
- Opening mechanisms in manual open, auto open, auto close and full auto open and close.
How We Match Frame To Use
- Shared or loaned umbrellas get manual open, because the spring is the first component to fail
- Large canopies get fibreglass, because a bent metal rib never comes back
- Bag-carried folding umbrellas get steel or mixed frames to keep folded size and cost down
- Umbrellas leaned on for support get a solid iron shaft rather than a telescopic one
- Wooden shafts are specified for positioning, and the rib material is chosen separately to carry the load
Where You Can See This In The Range
Golf UmbrellaAuto Open Double Layer Golf UmbrellaFull fibreglass construction with a vented double canopy in three sizesView specification →
Folding Umbrella3 Section Auto Open Close Vented UmbrellaFull auto open and close with a vented double canopy in a 21 inch foldView specification →
Cool UmbrellaAuto Open Walking Stick UmbrellaA support handle and a reflective edge in one 23 inch canopyView specification →Industries And Guides That Use This
Frames Shafts And Ribs Questions
Is fibreglass always better than steel?
No. Fibreglass is better on large canopies because it returns to shape. On a 21 inch folding canopy the loads are lower and steel gives a stiffer, cheaper frame that folds smaller.
Can you build a canopy size that is not in the product list?
Sizes from 19 inch to 34 inch are available across the formats we build. Tell us the size and format you need and we will confirm.
What is a five-folding umbrella?
A shaft that collapses into five sections instead of three, giving a much smaller folded package at the cost of some rigidity.
Do you publish a wind rating?
No. We do not publish tested wind ratings for these models. What we can tell you is the material and construction, which is what actually differs between them.
Ask Us Before You Commit To A Specification
It costs nothing to check, and it is a great deal cheaper than finding out at delivery. Email the details and we will come back within 48 hours.