A loading bay door automation package is an electric operator, control panel and set of safety devices fitted to an existing manual sectional door or roller shutter so it opens and closes at the press of a button. Once motorised, the door is a power-operated door, so it needs protection against trapping, such as a safety edge and photocells, and a way to be opened by hand if the power fails.
Why do sites in Lancashire choose this?
Preparing a site in Lancashire for a health and safety review is a good moment to motorise doors with proper trapping protection rather than leave staff on hand chains. Landlords upgrading manual doors across a multi-let estate in Lancashire can standardise operators and controls so every tenant gets the same reliable setup.
Operations in Lancashire with manual sectional doors in good condition can often add an electric operator for much less than the cost of a new door.
For loading bay door automation in Lancashire, we begin with a free site survey and a fixed written quote, so you know the scope and cost before committing. We take responsibility for managing the job, and specialist installation engineers carry it out under our supervision. Bays are taken out of use in a planned sequence so the rest of the dock keeps working, and evening or weekend work can be arranged. Each item is tested at handover and the documentation is left with you.
What is involved in fitting a motor to an existing dock door?
Fitting a motor to an existing dock door usually takes a few hours to a day per door, and starts with checking that the door itself is safe to automate.
- The door is checked for balance, spring condition, cable wear and track alignment.
- The operator is mounted on the shaft, ceiling rail or barrel bracket.
- The control panel is fixed in a safe position with a clear view of the door.
- A safety edge is fitted to the bottom rail and photocells are set across the opening.
- Limits, forces and controls are set, then the door is tested against the relevant safety checks.
You will need to provide a suitable isolated power supply near the door, or ask us to include it, and keep the door out of use during the work. Single-phase supplies suit many operators, but larger industrial operators may need three-phase power, which we confirm at survey.
Is my existing door suitable for automation?
An existing door is usually suitable for automation if it is structurally sound, correctly balanced and runs smoothly by hand. A motor should never be used to make up for a door that is heavy, stiff or damaged.
Signs a door can be automated:
- It lifts evenly by hand and stays put when released halfway.
- Springs, cables, rollers and tracks are in good order.
- Panels or laths are not badly dented or distorted.
Signs it may be better replaced:
- Springs are near the end of their life or have broken before.
- The door is single skin and the building is now heated.
- Parts are no longer available for the door model.
Where replacement makes more sense, we will say so and can quote for sectional loading bay doors supplied with an operator already fitted, so you can compare the two routes on cost.
Towns we cover in Lancashire
Choose a town below to see how we handle loading bay door automation in that part of Lancashire.
- Preston
- Burnley
- Blackburn
- Blackpool
- Morecambe
- Lancaster
- Lytham St Annes
- Skelmersdale
- Leyland
- Accrington
- Chorley
- Darwen
- Thornton-Cleveleys
- Nelson
- Fleetwood
- Ormskirk
- Rawtenstall
- Colne
- Poulton-le-Fylde
- Heysham
- Haslingden
Budget range for supply and fit. The written quote after a free survey is the fixed price. All guide prices.
Planning, building control and safety law in England
Powered doors and dock equipment installed in England may carry the UKCA or the CE mark, and doors are covered by the product standard BS EN 13241. We hand over the relevant documentation for each item fitted in Lancashire. Planning and Building Regulations questions are never assumed either way: we check what applies at survey, so you know before work is booked.
Questions
How long does installation take at a site in Lancashire?
It depends on the equipment, the number of bays, the condition of the dock and whether any building or electrical work is needed. We agree a programme with you after the survey, setting out which bays are out of use and when. Larger jobs are usually phased so that part of the dock stays open, and out-of-hours working can be arranged.
Do you cover Lancashire for loading bay door automation?
Yes. We take on loading bay door automation for businesses in Lancashire and across Lancashire. We survey the site, provide a fixed written quote and manage the installation, with specialist installation engineers working under our management. Visits are arranged in advance at a time that suits your operation, and the same single contact stays with the job through to handover.
How long does it take to automate a dock door?
Most automations are completed within a working day per door, once any repairs to the door itself have been done. Larger shutters, or doors that need a new power supply, can take longer. We plan the work so that only the door being automated is out of use.
Will we still be able to open the door in a power cut?
Yes, every automated door should have a manual override, typically a hand chain or a release that lets the door be lifted by hand. We show your team how to use it at handover, and it should be checked at each service visit so it works when needed.
Other services in Lancashire
Full guide to loading bay door automation · All loading bay services in Lancashire