Which industrial door has the lowest maintenance costs?

When you are looking for an industrial door, maintenance costs are an important factor. Low maintenance costs mean lower operating costs and therefore a more affordable door without incurring extremely high maintenance costs. In this knowledge article, we answer the question: Which industrial door has the lowest maintenance costs?

Why do industrial doors require maintenance?

Industrial doors are used intensively in warehouses, factories, garages, and other locations. Daily opening and closing can cause wear and tear on parts such as hinges, springs, guides, and motors. Maintenance is therefore essential for many types of industrial doors.

Maintenance is necessary to:

• Prevent malfunctions and defects.
• Ensure safety for employees and vehicles. Employers are therefore obliged to provide a safe working environment in accordance with the Working Conditions Act.
• Extend the service life of the door.
• Maintain efficiency, for example with automatic doors.

The type of industrial door also often determines what kind of maintenance is required and to what extent.

Maintenance of a roller shutter door

A roller door consists of narrow slats that roll up above the opening into a roller. Important maintenance points for a roller door are:

• Roll-up mechanism and spring system:

The spring or motor of the roller door ensures that the door rolls up and down smoothly. It must be checked regularly for wear and tear to prevent malfunctions or dangerous situations.

• Slats and guides:

Slats can wear out or become damaged, especially with intensive use. The guides must be free of dirt and well lubricated to ensure smooth movement.

• Motor and electronics (for automatic roller doors):

Electric roller doors require maintenance to keep the motor, brakes and sensors reliable.

Maintenance of a sectional door

Sectional doors consist of panels that slide horizontally along the ceiling via rails and are often supported by torsion springs or balance springs. Important maintenance points for a sectional door are:

• Torsion springs or balance springs:

These springs bear the weight of the door. They must be checked regularly for tension and wear, otherwise the door will no longer open or close properly.

• Hinges and rollers:

The hinges connect the panels and the rollers run in the rails. Lubrication and inspection prevent wear and noise.

• Rails and guides:

Guides must be clean and free of obstacles to ensure smooth operation.

In general, a sectional door requires more maintenance than a roller door. This is because a sectional door has a slightly more complex system than a roller door.

The Rolflex Compact door: a low-maintenance alternative

An excellent alternative to maintenance-sensitive industrial doors is the Compact industrial door from Rolflex. This door is designed with durability and minimal maintenance costs in mind. Like a sectional door, the Compact door uses sandwich panels, but the Compact door is much more versatile because the panels fold up above the door opening. This makes the Compact door an excellent option because it does not take up any ceiling space.

Key advantages of the Compact door:

• Low-maintenance design:

The door has no balance or torsion springs, making it much cheaper to maintain than other types of industrial doors.

• Space-saving folding mechanism:

No top rails required, ideal for areas with crane tracks or installations around the door.

• Customisation options:

The doors are fully customised and fit perfectly in both commercial and industrial environments. There are also many options, such as a wicket door or full-vision panels.

• Aesthetic and functional:

Invisible hinges and sleek finish for a professional look.

Comparison: why the Compact door reduces maintenance costs

Characteristic	Traditional sectional door	Compact door by Rolflex
Balance springs	Yes, regular maintenance required	Minimal, low maintenance
Hinges	Lubricate regularly	Invisible, durable hinges
Average annual maintenance costs	High, due to springs and wear	Lower, up to £260 savings per year
Use of space	Top rails required	No top rails, saves space
Sustainability	Average	High, long service life

These features make the Compact door a smart investment for companies looking to minimise maintenance costs. It allows your company to make a future-proof choice that can also prevent significant maintenance costs.

Conclusion: Which industrial door is the most maintenance-friendly?

In general, roller doors require less maintenance than sectional doors because they have fewer hinges and springs. For maximum maintenance savings, the Compact door from Rolflex is an excellent choice, thanks to its low-maintenance folding mechanism without balance springs.