Is It Time to Replace Your Industrial High Speed Door? (Signs You’re Paying For Outdated Door Performance)
High speed doors are one of the hardest working parts of an industrial facility. On a busy loading dock or in a temperature controlled manufacturing facility, a well specified door could cycle thousands of times per month. Over years of high usage, wear is inevitable. However there are differences between a quality, well designed door with a long life cycle versus one that experiences frequent downtimes and services.
If your current industrial high speed door was installed more than ten years ago, or if you are calling out engineers frequently, it is worth considering whether you are maintaining an asset or propping up a potential liability. In this article we will look at the signs it is time to replace your industrial door.
The Cost Implication Of An Ageing Door
Older high speed doors were not intended for the current energy prices or modern operational demands. Old door models can experience seal degradation, guide wear and inefficient motor technology which all impacts upon efficiency and energy bills. A manageable maintenance spend can add up quickly when you factor in downtime, heat loss and the cumulative cost of reactive repairs. Take time to evaluate how much your door is costing you to keep it opening and closing over a set timeframe.
Signs Your Industrial Door Needs Replacing
If you recognise more than one of the following issues then a replacement high speed door is more than likely required.
- Increasing repairs for the same recurring faults - you are spending money on a problem not solving it
- Old doors that cycle slowly compared to new spiral or Next Generation models affect throughput, productivity & temperature control
- Visible seal & guide wear let in air, dust & noise – this is essential in cleanroom, chill & deep freeze facilities
- No safety reset - doors should reopen automatically on contact & reset without manual intervention for safety & productivity
- Outdated controls - newer controls have diagnostics, remote monitoring & integration with access control & management systems
- Rising energy costs - target temperatures failing near the door could mean thermal performance deterioration
What Do New High Speed Doors Models Offer?
EFAFLEX’s spiral, fabric and Next Generation high speed doors are engineered to meet high efficiency, durability and safety standards. Spiral doors, for example, operate with minimal downtime due to their design, construction and materials used. Cycle speeds of up to 5 metres per second come as standard on our premium models, offering a significant improvement on older and more outdated equipment.
Fabric high speed doors have also advanced in technology with improved seal systems and tensioned curtains that are able to handle wind pressures and incidental impact much better than older industrial doors.
Getting A Full On Site Assessment
If you are still unsure whether door repair or replacement is the right choice, we offer out free consultation visits across the UK. An expert independent assessment by our team will look at your door's current condition, how it fits your current operational requirements and if a high speed door replacement would deliver a return on investment. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with our specialist team who can advise on the next step.
