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An innovative change in the structure of production floor doors can prevent drafts and heat loss, while protecting against personal injury and collision damage.

Hoermann KG International

In the light of rising energy costs and the growing demand for a reduction in drafts when doors are open, high-speed doors are increasingly being used as interim closures. They not only reduce heat loss, but also prevent cold air and drafts (which can allow dust and dirt to swirl up in the middle of the production process and can prove detrimental to the health and well-being of personnel).

The objective of a production floor door is to optimise opening and closing speeds to such an extent that a fast, effective flow of traffic is achieved. It also has to exclude possible complications caused by collisions, which may result in damage to the load, or even injury to personnel. If such incidents should occur, then they should be, for the most part, without any serious consequence.

Newly developed SoftEdge Door

Hoermann's newly developed SoftEdge Door meets these requirements. As the name indicates, it is incredibly flexible in the vertical direction and, thanks to a rib-reinforced profile, offers a high degree of strength and stability in the horizontal direction. As a result, it is virtually impossible to sustain injury on coming into contact with the moving door, and despite collisions with the load or a forklift truck the door will remain practically undamaged. The robust multi-chamber profile can withstand wind pressures of up to 30km/h, and is also suitable for outdoor applications as it features an integrated closing edge safety device. If a forklift truck drives into the bottom profile, or the door is impacted in any way, it bends to accommodate the pressure, (or in extreme cases it is pressed undamaged out of the side guides, and the door stops open immediately). Afterwards, the SoftEdge profile can be easily reinserted, by hand, into the side guides and the door is ready for operation again. Assisted by brushes, the curtain will automatically feed itself back into the side guides during the next closing cycle.

This new technology will ubdoubtedly reduce costs and increase safety. As an additional safety device, the SoftEdge high-speed doors include traffic path monitoring via a photocell or, alternatively, a light grille safety device.

Hörmann's door ensures that collisions do not result in damage to the door, freight or personnel

The SoftEdge profile is flexible in the vertical direction, with a high degree of stability in the horizontal direction

SoftEdge profile displaying the integrated closing edge safety device

Company profile

For six decades, Hoermann KG has been well known throughout the food industry as a supplier of industrial door systems. With its highly diverse and evolving range of doors, frames, operators and loading equipment, Hoermann has gone from strength to strength over the past 60 years, positioning itself as one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of doors for both industrial and commercial buildings. By boosting sales in many European markets at the same time as developing the potential of new markets in the USA and China, Hoermann has been able to achieve steady growth on the international stage.

For further information contact Hoermann at info@hoermann.de

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