A Guide To Keeping Production Moving Remove Internal Bottlenecks With The Right High Speed Door Upgrade
Every minute of lost throughput has a cost impact for production facilities. This could include a forklift waiting at an internal door, a controlled zone losing temperature, or a production line being interrupted by slow or unreliable access. The solution can often be simpler than a full operational or facility refurbishment. In many production buildings it is the doors that are the bottleneck.
How Slow Doors Disrupt Production
Internal doors in manufacturing, warehousing and logistics facilities open and close sometimes thousands of times every day. When these doors are slow, susceptible to faults or are not suited to high traffic environments, there is a cumulative impact on workflow and therefore production.
A traditional roller shutter or sectional door operating slowly leads to vehicles and people waiting to complete tasks. Over a full shift or 24 hour period, these pause times add up. When you then consider the temperature loss from a door staying open too long, as well as the energy and maintenance costs of an ageing mechanism, the door may need upgrading for optimum production efficiency.
What The Right High Speed Door Upgrade Does
Fitting a high speed door in the right facility location creates speed and tightens your whole operation. Here is what a well specified upgrade tends to deliver:
- Faster throughput & reduced wait times - our spiral doors open at up to 4 m/s
- Reduced energy loss can cut heating & cooling costs by up to 30% annually
- Fewer interruptions - up to 500,000 operating cycles per year
- Lower maintenance with spiral mechanisms - fewer call outs & downtime
- Quieter operation
- Higher levels of door safety
Choosing The Right Door For Internal Use
Not every opening has the same needs and so the right door type depends on your facility’s layout, traffic, and environmental requirements.
Spiral doors are typically the best choice for high traffic internal openings where speed and durability are the main priorities. The vertical spiral mechanism saves headroom, reduces wear, and closes quickly to maintain zone separation. This is ideal if you are managing temperature for deep freeze areas, dust in cleanrooms, noise or security.
Fabric doors offer a cost effective option for internal warehouses where traffic flow is regular, but the environment is less challenging. They are strong, reliable and well suited to spaces that need reliable access without a spiral mechanism.
EFAFLEX’s Next Generation doors have the speed and insulation of our spiral range with a modular design, standardised maintenance and advanced technology in four door types, Therm, Clear, Flex and Alux. Each model is suited to different conditions and specifications.
Identifying Internal Bottlenecks
Before specifying a new door it is worth working out where delays are occurring in the building. Common internal bottleneck points to look at are:
- Transfer zones between production & despatch
- Points between temperature controlled & ambient spaces
- High frequency forklift routes on warehouse floors
- Cleanroom or pharmaceutical entry and egress points
Any opening that experiences traffic queuing, unplanned heat exchange or repeated interference is a strong candidate for a high speed door upgrade or replacement.
A Long Term Investment In Operational Efficiency
A correctly specified high speed door reduces the total cost of ownership over its lifespan. The initial investment is offset by energy savings, reduced maintenance, improved throughput and a space that is safer and easier to manage.
At EFAFLEX we have been designing, supplying, installing and maintaining high speed industrial doors for over 25 years in the UK alone. Every client we work with starts with a comprehensive site assessment to assess the requirements for the most appropriate door, accurate sizing, and correct specifications. Talk to our specialist team to discuss which high speed door is right for your facility or arrange a free site visit.
