Automated Cantilever Gate Around Storage Facility

Background and Context

Project Scope

This was an urgent requirement for the customer following a large number of local car thefts and burglaries in the run-up to Christmas. The customer wanted to secure his vehicles and offer a visible deterrent to thieves.

What Industry is it?

The goods were supplied to one of our trade customers who was carrying out the full installation at a new self-storage site for a nationally known self-storage brand. At these types of sites, perimeter security is paramount to ensure their clients’ goods are safe and secure 24/7. As First Fence are a member of the Self Storage Association, our expertise helped both parties.

Initial Challenges

The end client has several sites under construction at the current time, with different-sized openings and, as such, different-sized gates required. We were tasked with keeping lead times down for all options to ensure that when a site is near completion, we could effectively put that site’s gate into production.

Objectives

Project Benchmarks

Having previously used a different supplier for some of the client’s other sites, our customer had a set design to match to keep all sites uniform. Working with our design team, we were able to match the exact style, despite it not being a regular offering of ours.

Time Frame

The customer gave us 6 weeks from them confirming the date the site would be ready to accept the gates and fencing.

Limitations

No specific limitations on this project other than keeping a tight schedule.

Key Challenges

The initial design work was to ensure the end client was happy with the product, as well as supplying a pedestrian gate and run back fencing to match. Then, being able to specify the correct hardware and automation to match the client’s needs.

Approach and Strategy

How did we approach this?

Once images of existing gates were received, we worked on drawing up the same style, whilst working on the specification of the cantilever system used to ensure the frame and overall build of the system was perfectly specified.

Any bespoke requirements

The infill bracing bars had to run in the same direction and be of a certain box section size to match previous designs. The client picked a specific brand of automation, so we had to specify the right one. Fortunately, our automated gates can come with a host of well known automation brands, so we had it covered.

Who was responsible?

Our specialist automated gate team handled the initial enquiry from our client. Then further work was carried out by our design team, working alongside both our customer and their client.

Key Resources

Our project Manager of Gates & Automation was heavily involved from the start, helping to specify the correct build dimensions and also the automation used to ensure a 100% duty cycle for the busy entrance/exit gate.

Solution

What did we supply?

We supplied a custom built FFL 130 automated cantilever gate. This was hot dip galvanised and PPC in RAL 9005. The infill used was a 358 anti-climb mesh for additional security. This was supplied with a manually operated pedestrian gate with matching infill and finish, and run back fencing the same. All our automated gates comply with BS EN 12453, but the run back fencing further enhances the safety aspect.

Lessons Learnt

No lessons to be learnt on this one. We supply a lot of these automated cantilever gates to our installer customers and also for our installation team to install for the end user clients, so everything ran rather smoothly.

Also, as members of the SSA (Self Storage Association), we have lots of experience dealing with this kind of site, meaning our expertise was incredibly valuable to both our customers and the end client.

Expectations

The end client required the goods to be supplied as soon as possible, so our customer could carry out the installation. Luckily, our standard lead times are around 6 weeks from drawing sign off on mesh infill gates, so this was easily achieved.

Client satisfaction

“The ease of install with the plug and play system made this a really straightforward job from start to finish. We installed the full cantilever gate, pedestrian gate and the run back fencing and had it signed over to our customer in less than 2 days. Delivery via HIAB was great too, as the driver hung around while we got fixings in the ground and then repositioned the gate for us.’’ Karl - MD Gate Systems Ltd