Industrial Roller Shutter Doors
Samson supplies industrial roller shutter doors to suit virtually any commercial or industrial application, made to measure, fully certified, and available in manual or electric operation across a comprehensive range of specifications. Whether the requirement is a standard steel curtain for a storage unit, a high security rated door for a warehouse, an insulated model for a temperature controlled facility, or a high-speed door for a busy production environment, the range covers it. Sizes extend up to 18 metres wide and 8 metres high, with single-phase and three-phase motor options, and almost unlimited choice on colour and finish. The sections below cover the full range in detail — or call us on 01933 448 850 to discuss your specific requirements directly.
Manual and Electric Operated Roller Shutter Doors
A roller shutter door is exactly what it says, a door which is a vertical rolling shutter by design and available in many sizes and specifications for many different purposes. A roller shutter door is possibly one of the most versatile industrial and commercial doors on the market as it can fit almost any opening, square, oblong or many other shapes, as the door curtain operates vertically and never actually swings through the opening at any point. It can also be built to many different specifications depending on the intended use and performance required.
Samson offer well over 50 different types of roller door curtains, single skin steel and aluminium and then also double skinned steel and aluminium, in either solid slats, perforated and punched or vented options. All these different slat types are used, depending on the size, specification, colour and performance required by the customer.
Industrial Roller Shutter Doors
We can supply various industrial roller shutter doors with sizes up to 18m wide and up to 8m in height for almost any application. It is so important for a customer to review the door specification and what expectations they have from the door. A door is never just a ‘door’, it has a purpose and required performance, and in an industrial application needs to also be compliant with regulations. It might just be ‘secure and electric’ in many cases, but the speed of operation, the controls, the safety, wind ratings and so on are all relevant and need some discussion.
Commercial Roller Shutter Doors
Our range of commercial roller shutters is vast and in so many commercial applications the safety and total compliance is essential, especially if the door is being used in public buildings where the general public are always exposed to the door. We can offer roller shutters for securing retail shops, offices, factories and so on. From the smallest servery shutter on a bar to the largest shutter for securing an open retail store in a shopping centre, Samson Doors have a door to suit and generally they are all made to measure and specification in every way.
Domestic Roller Shutter Doors
A wide range of high quality roller garage doors and shutters for domestic applications available in single skin steel and double skinned aluminium specifications. Manual or electric options and almost any colour can be catered for as well as being made to measure as standard.
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Electric Roller Shutter Doors
Most roller doors in industrial and commercial applications will be electrically operated, not only for convenience, but also because of the large sizes of most roller doors. The standard method of a hold to run electric control requires a person to literally hold their finger on a wall mounted button for the entire duration of the opening cycle, and if it is an older system, the same applies for the closing cycle too. This can waste a lot of precious time during an average day, so having a roller door with the required safety sensors will mean you can use your door with an impulse control, just push the button and walk away whilst the door completes its cycle.
Other control methods can include key switch operation, keypad control, card readers, magnetic loops or radar sensors and remote control with various different handsets to choose from.
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Small doors can be either single or 3 phase, with larger doors always requiring the power of three phase to operate efficiently and safely.
When is comes to specifying a new roller door for your premises we always recommend spending more on the electric motor drive and controls. They are the ‘engine’ for the door and can also enable a choice on the speed of operation for some doors, along with the retrofitting of other controls in the future if required. One of our recommended motor drive manufacturers is GFA, a renowned German manufacturer for motors and control units, who have a reputation for high quality and excellent functionality, whatever the application requires. GFA also offer the variable speed control electric motor drives, which enables you to have a higher speed roller door operating cycle.
An electric motor will drive the curtain up and down by several different methods, whether that is a chain drive and gearing, with the motor fitted externally and in various positions to suit, a direct drive motor straight onto the barrel, or an internal electric tube motor, which is super neat by fitting inside the barrel and perfect for low use and where space is limited.
Most Popular Electric Industrial Roller Doors
Light Electric Roller Door
- Steel Continuous Curtain manufactured from 0.45 guage steel
- Up to 5000mm wide x 4900mm high
- Uses single phase 240v electric operator
- Ideal for when daily use is less than 20 operations a day
- Prices from £792+ VAT
Seceurodoor 77
- Heat transmission performance for 77 mm single slat profile 4.01 W/(m2 K)
- Max width 6000 mm
Max area 20 m2 - Your choice of motor
- Can be powder coated any colour
- Choice of 4 guide arrangement options
- Standard guide angle is 75mm x 50mm
- Price from £688
Seceurodoor 95
- Heat transmission performance for an operational door unit 3.9 W/(m2K)
- Acoustic reduction rating of 27dB
- Max size 7000mm x 7000mm
- Your choice of motor
- Choice of guide arrangement options
- Standard guide angle is 100mm x 50mm
- Vision options available
- Wind class rating: Class 3
- Price from £1,733
Safety and Compliance on Electric Roller Doors
It is imperative that any new commercial or industrial roller shutter door used in any environment is built to a minimum safety standard and when electrically operated has the necessary safety detection systems incorporated to comply with BS EN 12453:2017.
Simply put, a roller shutter door with manual operation has to have a safety system to prevent the door curtain from ever just free falling if a major component fails. This is to stop it taking on a guillotine action and damaging people or objects beneath it.
For any electric door the same applies, but also depending on the controls used there has to be detection systems in place to prevent closure onto any object or person. This is a requirement if the door is either ‘impulse’ controlled or radio controlled, meaning that in either scenario the door can be closing or opening without anyone monitoring the door movement.
If an electric door is using a ‘hold to run’ system then the operating person has full control over the door and has to stay with the door until fully open or closed so there is no need for any safety detection system.
This simple logic applies to ANY electric door and not just roller doors, but the larger the door is and how close it might be to the general public activities might dictate some additional safety measures being adopted for total peace of mind and compliance.
Entrapment is also a big consideration with any open vented roller shutters and grilles, requiring a robust detection method to stop the door opening if someone is hanging into the curtain either by accident, or for fun perhaps.
Infra red beams of varying kinds, radar detection systems and light beams built into rubber bottom seals are just some of the safety systems.
High Speed Roller Shutters
Many customers ask for a high speed roller door and in reality we find most customers are just after a faster roller door than the one they currently have. So many lower specification roller doors have old 3 phase electric motor drives with basic gearing and therefore you can easily find an average 5 metre high door will take up to 2 minutes to open fully. This is like a lifetime for the operative and worse for closing, so usually the doors are left open, leaving heat or cold in and out and so on...
With some extra thought and not too much more cost a modern 3 phase electric roller door can be built with a high speed motor drive and you can obtain a high quality double skinned steel door which at 5 metres could open in around 20 seconds or even less.
We also offer super high specification roller doors which can open up to around 2 metres a second!!
The traditional method for many factories and warehouses to utilise high speed ‘fabric’ doors is a primary steel door and the fabric high speed roller door situated behind this primary door. The primary roller or sectional door is used as a security external door and the fabric high speed door is the product keeping out the heat, cold, wind and rain along with dust and unwanted pests. It is a great solution for ultra high traffic and more relevant to the food industry or any factory where the internal atmosphere must be kept as constant as possible.
This is still a relevant solution for so many food and other factories where keeping the internal climate and atmosphere constant is important, but it does require 2 doors always maintained.
Modern technology in electric motor drives and materials has now meant those high speeds can be achieved with a steel or aluminium roller door which then acts as the security and the climate monitor, along with other benefits like insulation and security too.
Take a look at our latest High Speed Roller Shutter Doors and what they can offer for your building and operation.
SeceuroDoor 77 Fast | Hormann HS 5015 | Hormann V 6030 SEL | SeceuroDoor 95 Fast | Samson ThermoTeck Speed
Insulated Roller Shutter Doors
Such a massive topic, with the cost of energy rising all the time. It is in fact difficult to get a traditional rolling shutter type door specified and 3rd party tested with any real U values, mainly because of the sheer volume of gaps in and around the roller door curtain itself.
Samson can offer a range of insulated roller doors with tested U values on the curtain sections and they will provide insulation, just not always certified and tested. The benefit of a double skinned insulated roller door curtain is in its strength and durability, quite often over and above the insulation itself. For the higher speed roller door operation you need a strong curtain to take the stresses of the motor drive power and this means a double skinned lathe build.
Insulated roller doors will be a lot quieter than a single skin steel curtain roller door, not only in the wind, but also during operation. They all generally have higher wind ratings, so are better for exposed locations and with this strength of course they will be more resilient to a forced attack of any kind, so they are more secure.
Popular Electric Insulated Industrial Roller Doors
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| SeceuroDoor 77t | Seceurodoor 95 | Seceurodoor 100 |
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Extra Large Industrial Roller Shutter Doors
For many modern industrial and logistics projects, “standard” roller shutter sizes are no longer enough. Extra large openings are now common on distribution hubs, manufacturing plants and agricultural buildings, and these require carefully engineered doors rather than simply scaled up versions of smaller shutters.
Samson can supply and specify larger industrial roller shutters well beyond the typical 6 m x 6 m range, using double skinned steel or aluminium lath, strengthened guides and higher wind class configurations where required. With the right design, openings of around 10 m wide x 7 m high – and even larger combined openings using sliding centre posts – can be achieved safely and reliably
Because structure, wind exposure and usage all become more critical as door size increases, extra large roller shutters are always designed on a project specific basis. For detailed guidance on options, limits and structural considerations, please refer to our Extra Large Roller Shutter Doors information or contact us with your opening sizes and site conditions.
Security and Certification for Industrial Roller Shutters
Many industrial roller shutters only need a good level of everyday security, but some sites in the UK now require tested security ratings as part of their specification or insurance conditions. In these cases, Samson can supply industrial roller shutters that are tested and certified to LPS 1175, with options such as SR1 and SR2 security ratings available on selected models.
These security rated shutters are usually electric, with specific installation methods, guide arrangements and locking details that must be followed to maintain certification. They are typically used for higher risk sites such as high value retail, plant and equipment rooms, critical infrastructure and public buildings where documented resistance to forced entry is required rather than a general security claim.
Spiral Roller Door
Our high speed insulated spiral roller doors offer the insulation levels you might require if U values are part of the requirements for a building and there is a defined specification. The Hormann HS7030 PU is really a cross between a sectional overhead door and a roller shutter door, with almost no parts making contact during the operation, for a super smooth and low maintenance daily performance.
These spiral type roller doors are perfect for high volume traffic in buildings where the internal or external separation and exposure to a different atmosphere has to be minimal.
Prevention of heat or cold loss and exposure to outside particles can be kept to a minimum with a door which opens and closes in seconds but also offers high levels of insulation and also provides the security for the building too. The price tag might be higher but make a comparison to lost time as well as the costs of other solutions and it suddenly looks like value for money over a period of time.
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 The non-contact roll-up technology pulls the sections into the spiral bracket at a high speed and without any wear |
High Security Roller Doors
It is amazing how many people simply don’t realise that most roller doors don't have any kind of locking mechanism which actually locks the curtain when closed. The locking is performed generally by the motor and barrel holding the curtain closed in place, but that depends on the specification and build of the door as most don’t even have that. They are effectively just a curtain ‘hanging’ in guides and can be actually just lifted up. Many cheap roller doors are in fact very insecure indeed and offer very little performance in other areas too.
For any external roller door surely security is important? Warehouses, factories, storage units and so on all need a door they can rely on, also preventing casual intruders from entering.
The tested security roller doors we can offer at various levels are LPS1175 rated and we offer levels 1, 2 and 3 for security in most cases. The security and locking is a combination of a high quality steel lath with a thicker guage steel than standard along with a direct drive motor with direct connection to the axle assembly. Along with a high quality motor and internal bullet locks you will have very good security when closed.
We offer other locking methods where patented self locking technology is used and this locks the curtain in the guides if force is applied.
Security Shutter Range | Security Shutters and Grilles
How to Choose the Right Roller Shutter Door and Specification
Choosing the right roller shutter door is straightforward once the right questions have been asked, but those questions matter more than most buyers initially appreciate. A roller shutter door is not simply a roller shutter door. The generic term covers an enormous range of products, from a basic single skin steel curtain on a small storage unit to a high speed, insulated, security rated industrial door cycling dozens of times a day on a 24-hour logistics site.
What all roller shutter doors have in common is a job to do. Whether that job is to close off an opening, provide a thermal barrier, resist forced entry, or keep a production facility running at speed, the specification needs to match the purpose.
A door that is underspecified for its environment will underperform from day one, and often fail well before its time.Before any model or price can be meaningfully discussed, a set of straightforward questions needs answering. These are not complicated, but they are the difference between a door that works reliably for years and one that creates problems from the outset. Work through the questions below to determine the right specification for your building and application.
How to Choose the Right Industrial Roller Shutter Door
Selecting the correct roller shutter door specification matters far more than most buyers realise. The wrong choice leads to slow operation, premature failure, inadequate security, or a door that simply cannot do the job asked of it. Work through the questions below before specifying, or contact our team and we will guide you through each one.
1. Manual or Electric Operation?
Manual roller doors are spring-balanced and suitable for smaller openings or low-frequency use, typically where the door is operated only a few times per day. For anything beyond light-duty use, electric operation is the practical choice. Modern single-phase electric motors are compact, affordable, and straightforward to install, which is why manual doors now account for fewer than 5% of roller shutter sales in the UK.
Choose manual if: the opening is small, usage is infrequent, or no power supply is available at the aperture.
Choose electric if: the door is used multiple times daily, the opening is large, or operational speed matters.
2. Single Phase or Three Phase Electric?
For most commercial and light industrial doors, a single-phase (240V) motor is sufficient. However, three-phase (415V) operation is necessary when:
- The door exceeds a certain size or weight threshold where single phase motors lack the torque
- The door operates at high frequency, dozens of cycles per day or around the clock use
- A high-speed motor drive is specified, as these almost always require three-phase power
If only single-phase power is available on site, this will narrow your options. Flag this early so the correct motor and control system can be specified from the outset.
3. What Are the Door Dimensions?
Width and height determine almost everything else: motor type, whether single or three phase power is needed, the size of the barrel and endplates, and how much headroom is consumed when the door is open. Measure the clear opening width and height carefully. Also note:
- Fixing position: face fitted internally, between reveal, or externally fitted, each affects overall size and structural requirements
- Available headroom: the barrel and hood must fit within the space above the opening; on low headroom sites this can dictate which models are viable
- Guide depth: guides require a minimum surface space for positioning either side of the opening
For extra large openings, up to 18 metres wide and 8 metres high — specialist models are available. Contact us with dimensions for a direct recommendation.
4. How Many Operations Per Day?
Cycle frequency is one of the most overlooked factors in roller shutter specification. A door opened once a day has very different requirements to one cycling every few minutes across a production shift or 24 hour logistics operation.
Undersizing the motor for the duty cycle results in slow opening speeds, overheating, premature motor failure, and excessive maintenance costs. Give us an honest estimate of daily cycles, even a rough figure, and we will match the motor duty rating accordingly.
- Low use (1–10 cycles/day): standard rated motors are adequate (even tube motors)
- Medium use (10–50 cycles/day): uprated motors with thermal protection recommended
- High use (50+ cycles/day or 24-hour operation): high cycle industrial motors or high-speed drive systems required
5. Single Skin or Double Skin Insulated Curtain?
The choice between a single-skin steel curtain and a double-skin insulated curtain is not purely about thermal performanc, though that matters too. A double skin curtain is structurally stiffer and significantly stronger, which is why it is the right choice for:
- High-speed operation
- High-usage or heavy-duty industrial environments
- Buildings where improved security, wind resistance, or acoustic performance is required
- Any site where improved thermal retention will reduce energy costs
Single skin steel doors remain a practical choice for non insulated buildings with low usage and modest security requirements. Security ratings — including LPS1175-certified options — are available across both curtain types.
6. Are There Site or Aperture Restrictions?
Site constraints often determine which motor configuration is feasible before any other consideration. Key factors to check:
- Side room: motor positioning is either inboard (motor sits within the barrel width, requiring less side clearance) or outboard (motor projects beyond the endplate, requiring more side room but offering direct-drive benefits for larger or high-speed doors). Measure the available side room on both the drive side and non-drive side.
- Headroom: the barrel diameter increases with door size. On sites where maximising clear drive-through height is critical, the barrel and hood depth must be calculated precisely. In some cases this influences which curtain type or door model is viable.
- Structural fixing surface: confirm whether the surrounding structure is masonry, steel frame, or timber, as this affects guide and lintel plate fixing options.
Photographs of the opening and its surrounding, with approximate dimensions annotate, allow us to identify restrictions before any site visit is needed.
7. How Will the Door Be Controlled?
Control requirements range from a simple wall-mounted push button to fully integrated access control systems. The main options are:
- Hold to run: the door operator holds the button for the full duration of travel. The simplest and most cost effective system; no safety edges or devices are required. Best suited to lower usage doors where speed is not critical.
- Impulse control: a single button press initiates the full open or close cycle, freeing the operator to move away. Safety devices (safety edges, photo-cells) are required for compliance. Recommended for any frequently used door.
- Remote handsets: radio frequency remote controls for vehicle or pedestrian access without a fixed panel. Can be combined with impulse control.
- Keypad, card reader, or fob access: for controlled entry, audit trails, or multi-user access management.
- Induction loop or radar activation: hands free opening triggered by approaching vehicles, ideal for loading bays and high frequency logistics environments.
Consider who will be operating the door, how often, and whether any access restriction or logging is required. We will advise on the appropriate safety devices for each control type.
8. Is High Speed Operation Required?
Many older industrial buildings operate roller doors with overgeared motors that take 60 seconds or more to open a standard 5 metre door. This is both a productivity problem and an energy problem, doors left open to avoid the wait allow heat, cold, dust, and noise to migrate freely let alone frsutrate the users
High speed operation dramatically changes the operational case:
- Opening speeds from 0.3 m/s (standard) up to 2.0 m/s (high speed spiral models)
- A well-specified door on a 5-metre opening can open in 15–20 seconds rather than 60+
- High speed doors are particularly effective for cold stores, food production, logistics, and any high-frequency environment where heat retention matters
High speed drives require three phase power and double skin insulated curtains. View our high-speed roller door range for models and specifications.
9. What Level of Security Is Required?
Security performance on a roller shutter door varies enormously between the most basic and highest rated models. An unrated, unmotorised single skin door with no bottom bar locking offers virtually no resistance to forced entry, the curtain can be lifted manually with minimal effort.
Security can be enhanced at several levels:
- Standard locking: bottom rail locks and guide locks provide basic deterrence
- Motor torque locking: the drive motor itself holds the curtain under tension when closed, significantly increasing resistance
- Certified security ratings: LPS1175 SR1 and SR2 rated doors are independently tested for resistance against attack. SR1 is appropriate for most commercial and industrial applications; SR2 for higher-risk sites
- Higher security ratings: SR3 and above are available for specialist applications, contact us to discuss requirements
For any external door on a commercial or industrial building, we recommend specifying at minimum a motor-locked electric door. View our security-rated roller door range.
10. What Colour and Finish Is Required?
Finish choice affects both appearance and cost. The main options are:
- Plastisol-coated steel: a durable factory applied coating available in a defined range of standard colours. Cost effective and resistant to chipping.
- Powder coat: available in any RAL or BS colour reference, applied after manufacture. A wider colour choice but adds cost and, on some models, extended lead times.
- Galvanised finish: standard on many industrial models where colour is not a requirement. Highly durable and corrosion-resistant.
If a specific brand colour or precise RAL match is required, confirm this at the enquiry stage. Some door models have limited finish options, and a very specific colour requirement may rule out certain products.
11. What Is the Budget?
Roller shutter doors vary widely in price and that variation reflects real differences in quality, specification, and long-term performance. A low cost, underspecified door on a demanding industrial site is a false economy: with many moving components under repeated stress, poor quality materials and motors fail early, incur disproportionate repair costs, and often need replacing entirely within a few years.
Samson supplies properly built, certified, and compliant roller shutter doors at competitive prices across the full specification range, from cost effective standard steel models to high security, high speed industrial doors. We will always recommend the most appropriate product for your actual requirements, not the most expensive option available.
If budget is a constraint, tell us. We can often find a specification that meets the core requirements within a tighter range without compromising safety or reliability.
Ready to Specify?
Once you have worked through the questions above, the fastest way to get accurate pricing is to send us:
- A photograph of the opening and its surroundings (existing door or bare aperture)
- Approximate width and height dimensions
- The fixing position (face-fixed, between-reveal, or built-in)
- For new builds: architect or structural drawings if available
With this information we can discuss the right specification and provide indicative pricing, for supply and delivery, or supply and installation including site survey. Call us on 01933 448 850 or send your details online.
