a process is disclosed in which a rectangular spacer frame for insulating glass is automatically manufactured in that a tubular bar is repeatedly bent in a common bending plane and its free ends are joined . one or both end portions of the tubular bar are deflected out of the bending plane during the final bending operation so that the free ends are moved to such positions that said extremities are laterally spaced apart and extend alongside each other . the end portions of the tubular bar are then gripped and moved to positions in which they are axially aligned and spaced apart . the free ends of said end portions are subsequently joined to each other to form the spacer frame , which is subsequently transferred to an overhead conveyor in an automatic operation .