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The Client Brief
A manufacturing client based in Warwickshire reached out to us with a frustrating issue that many industrial sites face. Their main factory entrance was fitted with an ageing single skin roller shutter and a clunky, small width inset pedestrian door. Over time, the pedestrian access had become a daily hassle for staff, who struggled with a stiff mechanism and an awkward trip hazard at the threshold, let alone the width being less than 700mm when opened fully makeing it hard to walk in and out with boxes and other items. On top of this, the main shutter was starting to fail mechanically, which is a familiar story when cheaper roller doors reach the end of their lifespan.
While the opening was wide enough for occasional vehicles, it was rarely used for that purpose. Instead, it acted as a high traffic pedestrian route for staff walking in and out of the building all day. The client clearly needed a more reliable, energy efficient replacement that prioritised foot traffic without losing the ability to open the full width when necessary.
Why the Adone Door
After assessing the site, our team suggested the Samson Adone insulated steel folding door as the perfect solution. Manufactured in Italy by Breda, the Adone is highly versatile and offered several distinct advantages for this specific factory environment.
The thick insulated steel panels offer thermal and acoustic benefits that an old roller shutter simply cannot match, helping the client lower heat loss and cut energy costs across the production area. Because the door operates entirely on a top track, we eliminated the need for a floor track completely. This created a clean, trip free threshold for the staff walking through it during their shifts. We also integrated a highly practical cut wing pedestrian door right into one of the main leaves, providing effortless daily access without having to open the entire unit.
To top it off, large vision windows in every leaf now flood the production floor with natural daylight, noticeably cutting down on daytime artificial lighting. With fewer moving parts than a standard roller shutter, the entire system is incredibly easy to maintain and perfectly suited for a busy industrial environment.
Improving Fire Safety
Because the client manufactures products with a higher fire risk profile, planning safe escape routes is very important. We capitalised on this by fitting the new pedestrian door with a push bar panic handle on the inside face for fast exit when required. This simple but highly effective design choice instantly upgraded the building fire strategy, giving the workforce another clearly identifiable and fully compliant emergency exit.
A Seamless Installation
Our installation team managed the entire changeover in just a single working day. We safely removed the failing shutter, cleared the opening, fitted a new aluminium sub frame, and fully installed the four leaf Adone door. This swift turnaround ensured the factory experienced minimal disruption to its daily manufacturing operations.
The Final Result
The client is thrilled with their new entrance system. They now have a highly functional, insulated, and naturally lit folding door that genuinely supports how their factory operates day to day. By prioritising pedestrian access and bolstering their fire escape routes, this project perfectly illustrates why so many manufacturers across the West Midlands are choosing folding doors over traditional steel roller shutters.
Looking for a bespoke solution for your bar, restaurant, or commercial premises? Contact the expert team at Samson Doors today to discuss your project requirements.
