Door Industry Journal - Winter 2014

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk powered gates WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN YOUR GATE OPERATOR? The answer to that question is likely to be two things – power and safety. Thankfully, this is the combination at the heart of the new generation of gate operators from SOMMER. The German producer has always been known for its innovation and technical expertise and these new products – the twist XL and the RUNner - are packed full of features that make them some of the safest and most powerful gate operators available in the UK. SOMMER twist XL This operator possesses a formidable combination of power and safety. The 24Vdc motor combined with the patented gear-saving-locking mechanism provides the operator with enough strength to work a gate wing up to 7m wide or 1100KG in weight, without any compromise in terms of safety. The patented gear-saving-locking-system means there is no need for an additional lock on any gate leaf under 3.5m wide, whilst the operator’s intelligent SOMMER DTA-1 control unit monitors the motor current so accurately that a sudden increase in ampere as the motor is winding will cause the gate to stop and retract. This happens within the timeframe and force limits stated in BS EN 12453 - the directive from the HSE designed to prevent trapping and crushing by electrically powered gates. What’s more, the twist XL is easy to install and extremely reliable. This reliability is due to the fact that the control unit continuously monitors the motor’s current and makes intelligent adjustments along the way to allow for a gradual increase in ampere as the motor gets older. This means the gate operator will continue to function at peak performance, and offer all the integral safety features, giving you a virtually maintenance-free operator with a long service life. You can also order your twist XL - or the twist 350 set - with the larger twist XXL control unit, which offers additional safety features. It has a lot more space inside, with cable man agent and DIN rail already fitted for additional relays, timers or induction loop detectors. The front cover is also completely removable and the IP67 box comes pre-fitted with a mains isolator switch on the side, helping you comply with the machinery directive. The twist XXL control unit also comes complete with cable entry glands. SOMMER RUNner The RUNner is another new addition to the SOMMER sliding gate range that also offers the vital combination of power and safety. It is powerful enough to reliably operate a sliding gate up to 8m wide and 600kg heavy thanks to its 24Vdc motor. Once again, this operator comes complete with an intelligent control unit that ensures safety all times. The unit monitors the current at the motor winding stage as well as the time taken between open and closed limit positions. This means the unit knows exactly where the gate is during every movement. It learns where the tighter areas of the gate are and compensates by giving a little more power exactly when it is needed. Most importantly, the control unit’s ability to monitor gate movements allows it to react extremely quickly should the leading edge come into contact with an obstacle or person, thereby preventing damage or injury. This means there is no need for an active safety edge on the travelling edges, saving you a lot of money and time. The control unit is compatible with OSE and 8k2 safety edges without the need for a special monitoring relay. The RUNner also acts as your very own guard dog. As soon as the gate starts to be forced open and it leaves its closed position, the operator springs into action and drives the gate shut under full power – literally pushing out any would-be intruders. You can back the RUNner up with a battery pack to guard against unsuspected power failure and thanks to the energy-saving toroidal core transformer this operator is not only kind to the environment but also saves you money through low running costs. “At SOMMER we know the combination of power and safety is vitally important to our customers,” says Mel Lovatt, UK Managing Director at SOMMER. “Our research technicians are constantly looking for new ways to improve our product range and this has led to this new generation of gate operators. Both the RUNner and the twist XL are not only punching above their weight in power terms – thanks to the 24Vdc motor – but the intelligent control units mean these gate operator are literally thinking about safety, meaning you don’t have to. In short, you’re in safe hands with SOMMER!” 89 THE door industry journal winter 2014 < 0,5 W STANDBY