As we discussed in our blog: Warehouse Roller Doors - Long Term Cost Considerations, warehouse roller doors are a significant investment that shouldn't be taken lightly. In fact, it's quite the opposite - they can have a big impact on costs in the long run.

So what are all the costs that warehouse managers need to be aware of?

Your costs can be separated into three parts; that is, the short-term costs that are involved with procuring your doors, the ongoing costs that it will take you to maintain your doors, and the costs associated with ensuring safety.

1. Initial Costs

There are obvious initial costs, like installation, electrical requirements, and activation sensors. But there are also the less obvious costs, like how much it will cost your business for the time that the doors are inoperable.

For example, your current roller doors may be damaged, prompting an urgent need to purchase new ones. When your doors are out of action for too long, it will have a negative impact on traffic management and operational efficiency.

This is why speed of installation is so important to warehouse operations. Your manufacturer must be able to minimise downtime so that you can go back to operations as quickly as possible. 

2. Maintenance Costs

How durable your roller doors are will significantly impact what it will cost you to maintain them.

First of all, you will have to consider the power requirements of your roller doors, like how much voltage it needs and how much energy it will consume.

Then, it's important to know how often they will need to be repaired due to environmental factors, such as:

• High wind
• Low temperatures
• Wet weather
• Wet environment
• Chemical washdown

In thinking about your door parts, try to minimise the chances of corrosion as much as possible. For example, you can ask about stainless parts as an option.

Finally, your doors must be able to withstand impact with forklifts, as this can cost you thousands of dollars in equipment repair.

3. Safety Assurance Costs

Roller doors are large pieces of equipment that can frequently come into collisions with heavy-duty vehicles if staff are not properly trained. Investing in safety measures is a necessity for warehouse operations. Over and above the cost of equipment maintenance, you must make sure that no people get hurt.

To do to this, you have to:

• Provide up-to-date training and accreditation to all vehicle operators
• Educate staff on 'best practices' for roller door use
• Provide a visual or audible warning system for the door's operation
• Ensure that the door does not close in the event of power/brake/cable/spring failure

Pedestrians as well as personnel can be seriously hurt if the door is able to injure upon contact. Make sure your roller door manufacturers have comprehensive safety features installed to prevent such an incident occurring.

To learn more about what you should consider in purchasing roller doors for your warehouse, please download the complete buyer's guide: