Sliding gates
Tracked and cantilever gates driven by rack-and-pinion motors — the usual choice for wide commercial openings.
Perimeter access
Gate Automation
An automated gate is powered machinery on a public boundary. Safety devices are not an optional extra.
Automated gates control vehicle access to yards, car parks, compounds and managed estates. Access Opening Solutions installs, services and repairs sliding and swing gate automation across Dublin, including controls, safety equipment and integration with access control systems.
Gate faults are frequently traced not to the motor but to safety devices, ground conditions or worn running gear — which is where our diagnosis starts.
Gate types and drives
Swing gates
Ram or articulated arm operators for double-leaf entrances where space allows the leaves to open.
Barriers and bollards
Rising barriers and bollards for car parks and controlled traffic routes.
Existing gate automation
Automating suitable manual gates after assessing structure, hinges, running gear and ground condition.
Safety devices and why they matter
- Photocells across the opening to detect people and vehicles in the gate's path
- Safety edges on closing and shearing points
- Force limitation set so the gate stops on contact rather than pushing through
- Warning signage and, where appropriate, warning lights
- Manual release accessible for use in a power failure
- Risk assessment of trap, shear and crush points around the gate and its supports
Common gate faults
- Gate opens but will not close — most often a photocell obstruction, misalignment or lens contamination
- Gate judders or stalls part way — worn rollers, debris in the track or ground movement
- Motor runs but the gate does not move — rack, pinion or coupling wear
- Intermittent operation after rain — water ingress into control gear or ground loops
- Intercom or reader failure preventing entry, with the gate itself working perfectly
Access and entry integration
- Fobs, cards, keypads and remote handsets
- Video and audio intercom to reception or a gatehouse
- Induction loops for free exit and vehicle detection
- Number-plate recognition where traffic volumes justify it
- Integration with site access control so gates and doors share one credential set
Questions we are asked
Gate Automation — FAQs
Can our existing manual gate be automated?
Sometimes. It depends on the gate's structure, weight, hinges or running gear and the ground condition. We assess these before recommending automation.
Why does our gate open but not close?
That pattern almost always points to a safety device — usually a photocell that is obstructed, dirty or out of alignment.
Do automated gates need servicing?
Yes. Running gear, safety devices and force settings should be checked periodically, as gates are powered machinery in publicly accessible locations.
Can gates be linked to our access control system?
Yes, so that the same credentials work at vehicle gates and pedestrian doors.
24/7 Emergency Response
Gate stuck open, stuck closed or unsafe?
Call us — an unsecured or unsafe gate on a commercial boundary is treated as urgent.
Call 01 877 5206Request an Emergency Call-Out
Or email info@accessopeningsolutions.com with photographs of the shutter and its location.