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Automated Luxury, Security, and Safety for Scottish Properties
Bespoke Gate Automation Installed by Lanarkshire Experts
An automatic gate is more than just an impressive entrance to your property; it is the first line of defence in your security strategy and a significant upgrade to your daily convenience.
- SSAIB-aligned installs
- Fully insured
- Local Lanarkshire engineers
- 5★ rated
Based locally in Lanarkshire, we are specialists in the professional design, supply, and installation of high-quality automatic gates. We understand that automating an entrance is a significant investment that requires careful consideration of aesthetics, functionality, and, above all, safety. We do not simply bolt generic motors onto existing structures; we design compliant, bespoke access solutions tailored to the unique topography of your driveway and the specific traffic requirements of your premises. Our commitment is to deliver reliable, secure, and safe automated systems that stand the test of time in the challenging Scottish climate.
Why Professional Installation Is Essential
The Dangers of DIY: Safety, Reliability, and Wind Loading
It is a common misconception that gate automation is a simple DIY task suitable for a weekend project. In reality, an automatic gate is defined legally as a piece of machinery operating in an uncontrolled environment. Without professional design and installation, these systems can pose severe risks to pedestrians and vehicles. In the UK, all automatic gates must comply with strict regulations under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
Managing Safety Risks & Impact Forces
A poorly installed gate motor can exert tremendous crushing or shearing forces. A professional installer's primary duty is to ensure these forces are managed to non-hazardous levels. We use specialist, calibrated equipment to measure the closing force of the gate at various points.
Essential Safety Devices & Compliant Design
A professional installation involves integrating multiple layers of safety that go beyond simple photocells. A compliant system is "safe by design."
Long-Term Reliability & Scottish Weather
Selecting the wrong motor for the weight and wind loading of a gate is a recipe for premature failure. In Scotland, wind resistance on large, solid timber or composite gates is a major factor.
Types of Automatic Gates
Tailored Solutions: Swing, Sliding, and Commercial Systems
We supply and install a diverse range of gate automation types to suit different property layouts, aesthetic preferences, and security levels. We can automate existing manual gates or provide a complete new system including bespoke metal, timber, or composite gates.
Automatic Swing Gates
The classic choice for residential driveways, offering an elegant aesthetic. Swing gates open inward (or occasionally outward) like doors.
Best For
Residential properties with ample driveway space behind the gates to accommodate the opening arc.
Advantages
- We can use robust articulated arm motors mounted on the rear of the pillars for existing gates
- Most discreet finish, powerful underground motors
- Hidden in foundation boxes flush with the driveway surface.
Automatic Sliding Gates
Sliding gates are an excellent solution where space is at a premium or where the ground dictates it. The gate slides horizontally along a ground track or a cantilever system, retracting behind a boundary wall or fence.
Best For
Properties with short driveways where swing gates would hit a parked car, or where the driveway slopes sharply upwards towards the house.
Advantages
- They offer very high levels of security
- Extremely difficult to force open manually
- They are generally less affected by high winds than swing gates.
Commercial Barriers and Bollards
For business premises requiring high-frequency traffic management rather than perimeter security
Best For
Automated traffic barriers provide rapid lift times to control vehicle flow in car parks and industrial estates.
Advantages
- High-security applications requiring anti-ram protection
- Install automated rising bollards
- Ground to allow authorised access
Installation & Handover Process
A Structured Journey to Your New Secure Entrance
We follow a rigorous process to ensure your automatic gate system is installed efficiently, neatly, and safely, with minimal disruption to your property.
Site Survey & Design Consultation
We visit your property to conduct a feasibility study. We inspect ground conditions, measure gradients, assess wind exposure, and discuss your aesthetic preferences and access control needs (e.g., intercoms, keypads, mobile app control).
Proposal & Specification
We provide a detailed proposal specifying the correct gate type, motor rating, and necessary safety devices. We explain clearly what groundworks will be required, such as trenching for cables or concrete pads for motors.
Civil Works & Installation
Our team, or our approved groundwork partners, carry out necessary preparations. This includes laying cable ducts, pouring concrete foundations for underground boxes, or installing sliding gate tracks. Once cured, the gates are hung, and automation equipment is mechanically fixed with precision.
Decibel Testing & Commissioning
Once installed, we don't just hope it works; we prove it. We test the sound pressure levels (decibels) to ensure the alarm is loud enough (typically 85dB at the bedroom door) to wake sleeping occupants. We test the interlink function to ensure that triggering one unit triggers them all.
Commissioning & Safety Setup
This is the crucial phase where motors are wired to the control panel and safety devices are connected. We program the operational logic—how fast the gates open, how long they pause before closing automatically, and the sensitivity of the obstacle detection.
Force Testing & Handover
We use calibrated test equipment to physically measure the closing forces of the gate, documenting that they are within safe legal limits. We then provide a full handover tutorial, showing you how to use the system, how to operate the manual release in a power cut, and hand over the keys and compliance documentation.
Safety & Compliance: Our Top Priority
Meeting British Standards and Protecting Users
Safety is not an optional extra when it comes to gate automation; it is a legal mandate. As a professional installer, we adhere strictly to guidance from the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) and relevant British Standards, specifically BS EN 12453 and BS EN 12604.
Before any installation begins, we conduct a full risk assessment of your specific entrance. We identify potential crushing, shearing, impact, and drawing-in zones. We then design these risks out of the system using a multi-layered safety approach:
Photocells (Light Curtains)
Infrared beams that span the entrance. If the beam is broken by a car, person, or pet while the gate is closing, the gate will immediately stop and reopen.
Safety Edges
These are pressure-sensitive rubber strips fitted to the leading edges of gates and on stationary posts. Upon physical contact with an obstruction, they send an immediate signal to the motor to reverse direction.
Inherent Force Limitation
We program the state-of-the-art control boards to detect obstacles via increased electrical resistance in the motors, causing them to reverse before dangerous force levels are reached.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about our Automatic Gates installation and maintenance services.
Yes. Every system we install includes a manual release mechanism designed for emergencies. This is typically a secured key-operated lever on the motor itself that disengages the gearbox, allowing you to push the gates open manually by hand. We will demonstrate exactly how to do this during the handover.
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Like any machinery with moving parts, automatic gates require regular maintenance to ensure continued safety and reliability. For standard residential use, we recommend an annual service to check safety devices, lubricate hinges and rams, and check for wear and tear. Commercial high-usage gates may require six-monthly inspections.
Yes. If you have bought a property with existing electric gates and are unsure of their safety history or compliance, we can conduct a comprehensive safety audit and force test. We will provide a report detailing their condition and any upgrades required to bring them into compliance with current standards.
Absolutely. We can integrate modern GSM switches or Wi-Fi controllers into most gate systems. This allows you to open your gates via a secure app on your smartphone from anywhere in the world, or even call the gate to open it. This is ideal for letting in deliveries when you are not home.
This varies depending on the complexity of the groundworks. Automating existing gates with surface-mounted motors may take 2-3 days. A full installation involving new gates, concrete foundation work for underground motors, and running new power supplies may take a week or more. We will provide a clear schedule during the proposal stage.
Yes, all our installations come with a standard warranty on both equipment and workmanship. We also offer ongoing maintenance packages that can extend warranty periods and ensure priority call-outs in the event of an issue.