7 Types of High Speed Doors and Their Benifits

In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency is key. This is especially true in various industries like manufacturing, warehousing, and pharmaceuticals. Here, high-speed doors are making a significant impact.

Designed for quick operation, these doors are changing how businesses manage spaces. They are essential in places like manufacturing plants and large-scale warehouses. Their role in facilitating smooth operations is invaluable.

What Are High-Speed Doors?

High-speed doors are not your average doors. They are specialized for fast opening and closing. This design enables efficient traffic flow within industrial settings.

Unlike traditional doors, these operate at much higher speeds. This reduces the time the door is open, minimizing energy loss. It’s a crucial feature for controlled environments like clean rooms.

But speed isn’t their only advantage. These doors come with advanced safety features. They are also durable, and designed to withstand the harsh conditions of industrial use.

Types of High-Speed Doors

PVC High-Speed Doors

PVC high-speed doors are ideal for indoor applications where temperature control and noise reduction are essential. They are lightweight, easy to operate, and offer excellent visibility through transparent sections.

Spiral High-Speed Doors

Spiral doors are known for their speed and durability. They are constructed with interlocking slats that spiral up very quickly, making them suitable for high-traffic areas. These doors are also highly secure, making them a popular choice for commercial and industrial settings.

Insulated High-Speed Doors

Insulated high-speed doors are designed to maintain temperature within a facility. They are commonly used in cold storage, food processing, and pharmaceutical industries. These doors are energy-efficient and help in reducing energy costs.

Stacking High-Speed Doors

Stacking doors are designed for large openings and are ideal for industrial environments. They stack up vertically, allowing for quick access while saving space. These doors are often used in warehouses and hangars.

Self-Repairing High-Speed Doors

Self-repairing doors are designed to reinsert themselves in their side guides if dislodged due to impact. This feature minimizes downtime and is ideal for high-traffic areas where the door may be hit or bumped.

Horizontal High-Speed Doors

Horizontal high-speed doors open sideways rather than upwards. They are ideal for situations where ceiling space is limited. These doors are made from durable materials like PVC, aluminum, or steel and come with advanced control systems and safety measures. They are energy-efficient and customizable, making them versatile for various industrial settings.

Rubber High-Speed Doors

Rubber high-speed doors are made from durable rubber materials and are designed for fast and reliable operation in high-traffic environments. They offer rapid operation, robust construction, and energy conservation. These doors are versatile and suitable for a wide range of industries, including warehouses, manufacturing plants, and cold storage areas.

Each type of high-speed door offers unique features and benefits tailored to various industrial needs. When choosing a high-speed door, consider factors like the intended application, dimensions, performance requirements, safety features, and customization preferences.

10 Benefits of Using High-Speed Doors

Increased Security

High-speed doors offer enhanced security features, deterring unauthorized access. Their quick open and close times minimize the risk of intrusion, making them ideal for secure environments.

Employee Safety

Designed with safety in mind, these doors feature motion sensors, obstacle detection, and intuitive signaling technology. This helps prevent accidents and injuries, especially in hazardous areas.

Energy Efficiency

These doors are energy-efficient, with a tight seal on all four sides that minimizes heating and cooling loss. Some models are even wind-resistant, further enhancing their energy-saving capabilities.

Airflow Control

In industries like pharmaceuticals, controlling airflow is critical. High-speed doors can form airlocks to maintain pressure-sensitive environments, reducing contamination risks.

Enhanced Productivity

The fast open/close cycle of high-speed doors facilitates smoother logistical flows. This is particularly beneficial in businesses where material handling and transport are priorities.

Easy Maintenance

High-speed doors are known for being incredibly easy to maintain. Repairs often take just 15 minutes or less, reducing business downtime and keeping profits flowing.

Cost Savings

Quick operation results in various cost savings, including reduced HVAC maintenance costs, lower energy bills, and fewer repair costs from collisions or door-related injuries.

Reduced Cold Loss

These doors are excellent at minimizing cold loss, making them ideal for industrial freezers and refrigerators.

Hygiene

High-speed doors can be designed to have air locks that create a neutral air pocket, preventing the transfer of contaminants from one side of the curtain to the other.

Speed

High-speed doors can fully open as fast as 2 m/s, minimizing cycle time and thus decreasing energy costs. This speed improves productivity significantly.

Applications of High-Speed Doors

Warehousing

High-speed doors are invaluable in warehousing for quick movement of goods. They are essential for efficient inventory management and shipping processes, reducing waiting times and accelerating logistics.

Food and Beverage Industry

In the food and beverage sector, high-speed doors offer intelligent airlock solutions. They help control pressure and temperature differences, ensuring a smooth operating procedure and reducing the risk of airborne contamination.

Pharmaceutical Processes

Pharmaceutical industries require strict environmental constraints. High-speed doors provide a structure made of materials like stainless steel to prevent corrosion and reduce the risk of airborne contamination.

Automotive Industry

High-speed doors are vital in the automotive industry for logistics processes. They ensure optimum production by facilitating high-speed and low-maintenance operations, especially in high-volume car production settings.

Refrigeration

High-speed doors are essential for maintaining comprehensive temperature control in refrigeration units. They enable easy temperature transition from zone to zone, optimizing energy efficiency.

Chemical Factories

In volatile and flammable environments like chemical factories, high-speed doors meet design requirements for explosion-proof electrical equipment, ensuring complete safety.

Supermarket Sector

High-speed doors in supermarkets meet the minimum requirements of hygiene and protection of unauthorized personnel, safeguarding both products and customers.

Hangar and Naval Zones

In large openings like airports and naval ports, high-speed doors provide an easy, quick, and safe passage from inside to outside, ensuring 100% uptime.

7 Tips for Choosing the Right High-Speed Door

Speed

Speed is a critical factor, with some doors operating at over 500mm/second. The speed should align with your industry’s specific needs.

Material

Material choices include PVC, aluminum, and steel insulated sections. Each material has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, making it crucial to choose wisely.

Industry-Specific Needs

Consider any industry-specific requirements, and choose the right type for your business.

Factor in The Size

Local wind speeds and the doorway’s specific measurements will help determine which type of door best suits your requirements. For example, larger openings or wind-prone areas may require a Rapid Fold PVC door or a steel version.

Consider the Costs

Purchasing high-speed roller doors involves initial costs, maintenance costs, and training costs. Make sure to factor in all these elements when making your decision.

Reliability

Ask your roller shutter supplier about the door’s operational capacity per hour and per day, safety features, and the make of the motor. This will give you an idea of the door’s reliability.

Maintenance and Repairs

High-speed doors require regular maintenance. Under the Health & Safety Act, mechanical doors should be checked at least every 12 months. Consult your supplier for a maintenance schedule tailored to your usage.

Common Misconceptions About High-Speed Doors

Not Energy Efficient

One common myth is that high-speed doors are not energy-efficient. In reality, their quick operation minimizes energy loss, especially in temperature-sensitive environments.

Expensive to Maintain

Another misconception is that these doors are costly to maintain. However, their durable construction often requires lower maintenance and repair costs.

Limited to Industrial Use

Some people think high-speed doors are only for industrial applications. They are also used in supermarkets and even in some residential settings for enhanced security and efficiency.

Unsafe

The notion that high-speed doors are unsafe is incorrect. They often come with built-in safety features like motion sensors and obstacle detection.

Conclusion

High-speed doors are not just a modern convenience; they are a necessity in today’s fast-paced industrial world. They offer numerous advantages, from energy efficiency and safety to improved workflow and hygiene. These doors are versatile, serving various industries like warehousing, food processing, and automotive manufacturing.

Choosing the right high-speed door can significantly impact your operations, making it crucial to consider factors like speed, material, and industry-specific needs. With their advanced features and durable construction, high-speed doors are an investment in efficiency and safety.