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Industrial garage doors have one thing in common – they experience a lot of wear and tear compared to residential garage doors. Doors used in commercial spaces also tend to be heavier and require suitable industrial garage door openers to properly open and close.
While manual operation can be done, giving a person the task of being under the weight of a commercial garage door is unreasonable. Industrial doors are best left to automatic door operators.
This saves a person’s time and effort and functions more safely and securely. There won’t be any fear of a door crashing down because someone can’t withstand its heavy weight.
Types of Industrial Garage Door Openers
Garage door openers are divided into two main categories: residential and commercial.
For commercial and industrial use, you can opt for the following types:
Trolley Operator
A commercial garage door uses a trolley operator primarily for standard lift sectional doors. The door opener (trolley) is suspended from the ceiling at the end of a rail. The trolley is attached to the sectional door and operates along the rail to open and close the door.
Trolley operators work well on standard lift industrial sectional doors because it pulls the door horizontally and requires a good space for installation. This is a good option if you don’t use the ceiling headspace for storage.
Jackshaft Operator
As opposed to the overhead door opener placing of the trolley, a jackshaft operator is mounted on the wall. A jackshaft is a common commercial garage door operator found in many establishments due to its easy set-up and installation.
The best thing about using a jackshaft opener is that you can utilize it for all types of lifts: standard lift, high lift, inclined track, full vertical lift, and low front/rear headroom. It works well in most general industrial applications. To operate, it uses a torsion bar to move the garage door up or down.
Hoist Operator
The hoist operator is a garage door opener similar to a jackshaft. It is also mounted on the wall but specifically meant for larger, high-lift sectional garage doors. You can install a hoist door opener for grilles and rolling doors at the front of the hood instead of the wall.
Hoist operators most likely have an emergency hand chain that allows anyone to assist in the manual operation of the garage door, as seen on several Genie and LiftMaster Garage Door Openers.
Slide Operator
The rarest type of industrial garage door opener is the slide door operator. This door opener is mainly reserved for slide doors and fire doors. But even if it is not a popular commercial garage door opener, its superior functionality is very much convenient where it applies.
Determining the Drive System
Industrial garage door openers use different drive systems to function. Understanding the driving utility each uses makes choosing which works well for a commercial garage door easier.
Chain Drive
Affordable and popular, chain drive openers are fairly common in commercial openers. The downside of this drive system, however, is its noise. It uses a metal chain to control the trolley up and down.
Using this in generally noisy places won’t make a huge difference, but it gets distracting if used in garages close to offices and residential homes.
Belt Drive
Some sectional overhead doors have belt drive openers. They use a rubber belt to move the door up and down. Since rubber is softer than metal, a belt drive commercial door operator has fewer vibrations and less noise compared to one with a chain link. This ensures a smoother and quieter operation. Moreover, it also has lower maintenance costs than chain link drive operators.
Direct Drive
A direct drive industrial operator doesn’t require a chain or a belt to lift or lower the garage door. Instead, the motor itself moves the door on its own. This door drive system is the easiest, smoothest and less fuss of all drive systems.
Screw Drive
Screw drive door openers are rarely seen in industrial settings. But for the unversed, screw drive operators use screws to move the trolley. They are quieter and smoother than chain drives because they do not involve many metal parts.
Choosing the Right Horsepower for Door System
The perfect industrial garage door openers must have the correct horsepower (HP) to function well. The HP is the driving force that lets the door open and close. The HP of the opener you choose should be in unison with the size and weight of the garage door.
A low HP opener cannot hold a door of massive size, while a high HP on smaller, lighter industrial doors may cause damage to the door and the opener.
For starters, know your door size and weight. Each brand has its specific capacity as to how much its openers can hold. Check the specifications of the door opener that you like and see if it has the power to lift your garage door.
No matter how affordable or how much you love the features of industrial garage door openers, don’t get one incompatible with the door size.
Considerations Before Buying
Door openers are not made equal. Here are the things you need to look for when narrowing down your options for a reliable industrial garage door opener:
- Look for safety features such as safety sensors, timer-to-close, door reversal, and emergency manual release sash.
- Consider warranties. Most brands have a 2-year warranty period for their commercial and industrial openers. However, some LiftMaster commercial door operators let you enjoy a commercial warranty of up to 5 years.
- Factor in noise level, maintenance, and repair costs.
- Know the smart security features included. All automatic garage door openers have security features that enable users to properly secure their properties from unwanted access.
- Always get the right horsepower according to the door size and weight.
Industrial Garage Door Openers
There is no limit to how you can upgrade your business’ security and safety features. Starting with a trustworthy industrial garage door opener. It can maximize business operations while safeguarding protective interests.
Are you looking for the right garage door opener? Check us out at All Security Equipment!
All Security Equipment is a legit and reliable home and business security equipment dealer. We have a wide range of products from great brands to safeguard your personal and business properties!
