Rapid roll doors operate in some of the busiest parts of an industrial facility. Forklifts, pallet movers, delivery vehicles and pedestrians may all pass through the same opening, often with limited visibility from the other side.
Choosing a door with the right safety features can help reduce the risk of collisions, impacts and unexpected door movement. However, the strongest solution will depend on the doorway, traffic type, operating environment and how the door is configured.
Rapid roll door manufacturers known for safety features
Remax Doors – Movidor Rapid Roller Doors
Remax Doors designs and manufactures the Movidor Rapid Roller Door range in Australia for industrial, warehousing, food-processing and cold-storage applications.
Movidor doors can be configured with several features designed to improve safety around busy openings:
- Integrated LED traffic lights built into the door columns
- Radar, laser or other activation sensors selected for the site
- A highly visible yellow soft bottom edge
- Automatic obstruction detection
- Variable-speed operation with controlled starting and stopping
- A flexible curtain designed to release from the guides when impacted
- An automatic curtain-relocation system
- Clear vision panels to help users see approaching traffic
The integrated red and green LED lights are particularly useful where forklifts and pedestrians share an access point. Because the lights are positioned vertically in the door columns, they remain visible at different eye levels and in low-light environments.
The Movidor’s soft-edged, self-relocating curtain can also reduce the consequences of an accidental forklift strike. Rather than relying on a rigid lower rail, the curtain can release from its guides and relocate during the next operating cycle. This helps reduce damage, sharp hazards and the time a damaged door remains out of operation.
Different Movidor models are available for different opening sizes and traffic levels, with opening speeds of up to 2.0 metres per second.
Which safety features should you compare?
A long list of sensors does not automatically make a door suitable for every industrial site. The controls need to match the way people and vehicles actually approach and use the opening.
Presence detection
Presence sensors monitor the area around or beneath the door. Light curtains provide coverage across multiple points, while photocells usually monitor a single beam.
The appropriate system depends on the opening size, direction of travel and the risk of a vehicle or person stopping within the doorway.
Traffic control
Where users cannot see approaching traffic on the other side, red and green traffic lights can provide a clear indication of when it is safe to proceed.
Facilities may also require warning beacons, audible alarms, stop signs or controls linked to nearby intersections.
Activation controls
Radar, laser sensors, induction loops, pull cords, remote controls and access-control devices each suit different applications. Sensor fields should be configured to identify the intended traffic without repeatedly opening the door for people or vehicles passing nearby.
Soft-edge design
A flexible bottom edge can reduce the risk associated with contact and minimise damage if a closing curtain encounters an obstruction.
Ask whether the edge contains rigid components and how the door responds when the safety system is activated.
Impact recovery
Forklift strikes remain a common risk around industrial doorways. A breakaway or self-relocating curtain can reduce repair requirements following a minor impact.
However, an impact-tolerant door is not a substitute for traffic separation, barriers, bollards or safe operating procedures.
Visibility
Vision panels help pedestrians and drivers identify traffic approaching from the opposite side. Their position should account for the different viewing heights of pedestrians, forklift operators and truck drivers.
Emergency operation
Sites should consider how the doorway will operate during a power failure, emergency or control-system fault. Depending on the application, this may involve a manual release, emergency opening system, battery backup or connection to another site system.
Look beyond the product specification
The safety of a rapid roll door also depends on its installation, commissioning and ongoing condition.
When comparing suppliers, ask:
- Will the supplier assess traffic from both sides of the opening?
- Are pedestrians and forklifts using the same route?
- Which safety features are included in the quoted configuration?
- How will the sensors be positioned and commissioned?
- Can the door integrate with traffic lights or site access systems?
- Is local technical support available?
- How quickly can replacement parts be supplied?
- What preventative maintenance schedule is recommended?
- Will the supplier provide operator guidance and service documentation?
A well-specified door can still become a risk if sensors are poorly positioned, safety devices are bypassed or maintenance is neglected.
Which manufacturer is the best choice?
Remax Doors offer rapid door products with established safety features. The best choice will depend on the site rather than a single feature or brand comparison.
For Australian industrial facilities, Remax’s Movidor range offers a strong combination of integrated traffic control, flexible soft-edge construction, configurable sensor technology and impact recovery. Local manufacturing and access to Australian technical support can also be important when doors operate continuously or form part of a critical production area.
Before selecting a door, arrange for the opening and surrounding traffic movements to be assessed. This allows the safety controls, opening speed, curtain design and activation method to be matched to the real risks on site.
Need help improving safety around a busy industrial doorway?
Arrange an on-site assessment with Remax Doors to discuss the traffic, environmental conditions and safety controls required for your facility.
