Category: Vehicle Access Control
When busy mine operations intersect the local community
Since commencing operations in 2018 this central Queensland coal mine has been gearing up production and mining operations, now moving coal 24 hours a day with as many as three trucks per hour doing a round trip between the mine and the train loadout facility.
Impact of mine traffic on the township
The 75km round trip involves the haul trucks collecting coal at the mine site, travelling along the dirt access road, joining the main highway, passing through the local township, driving on to the rail loading facility then returning empty via the same route to the mine for the next load.
During peak times heavy-duty trucks leave and enter the public highway as often as every 15-20 minutes making the management of site access a high safety and security priority.
Secure Coast Solutions customised access control system has it covered
Secure Coast Solutions designed an access control system with two key objectives in mind:
- to maximise the safety of the general public, and
- to maintain the efficiency of mining operations.
Considerations for protecting the public
- The bi-directional dirt road that enters the mine site is restricted for use by haul trucks and mine employees. Preventing unauthorised people driving down the mine access road is a priority.
- The mine operators had obtained special permits allowing passage via the highway and through school zones. As the trucks run 24 hours a day, to minimise the impact on the local community, restrictions on the frequency of operations are in place depending on the time of day.
Considerations for maximising haul road traffic efficiency
- If the trucks had to stop each time they enter and exit the mine sites this would have a significant impact on haulage efficiency – increasing travel time, fuel usage as well as wear and tear on the vehicles.
- For the haul trucks to be able to access mine areas without stopping they had to be able to open the boom gates automatically before approaching the control point and automatically close behind them.
- Being dirt roads meant safety loop detectors weren’t suitable and if the road became muddy in the rain PE beams couldn’t be used either.
- In addition to the haul trucks, access was required for maintenance and other mine personnel.
- The location of the boom gates at the entrance to the loadout facility meant power was unavailable.
- For safety and vehicle management mine operators wanted to be able to monitor the location of all trucks along the haulage route.
Efficient Practical Solution in Action
- Boom Gates were installed to prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering mine access roads.
- To allow the haul trucks to pass unhindered through the boom gates they were fitted with long-range RFID tags. When a truck is within 10-15 meters of the boom gate, long-range readers mounted on card reader stands, detect the tags on the bull bar of the haul truck and opens the boom gate.
- Radar safety devices hold the boom gate open as the trucks pass when the radar is clear the boom gate automatically lowers a few seconds later.
- Rotech’s dual height card reader stands allow entry and exit for light and large vehicles not fitted with tags.
- If a truck doesn’t reach its destination within an hour after leaving the mine site the boom gate control system sends an alarm to the control centre. The mine control centre monitors the location of each truck and other traffic. Communications are achieved using 4G routers providing internet access over the mobile phone network.
- Accommodating for varying traffic flows depending on the time of day and for weekends, the Bionik AG automatic boom gate’s multi-function digital controller made set up and programming of the access control system easy.
- Six 120W solar panels were installed to provide power for the entire system. Adding 720amp/hours of battery storage means the solar panels can provide enough power for 4-5 days allowing for overcast weather.
- LED strip lighting on the boom gate arms and illuminated card reader posts provide increased visibility and safety during night works.
Why the Bionik AG Boom Gate was the best choice for the job
“This is a busy, intensive use situation requiring high levels of safety and reliable operation. The Bionik AG boom gates are low in maintenance, fast to activate and are robust and reliable.
LED lights illuminate the boom arms and the electronics are inside a well sealed enclosure protecting the components from coal dust.
All equipment chosen is 100% duty cycle and high temperature rated so it can be used as often as needed. The Bionik AG Automatic Boom Gate featured everything needed to do the job.”
Stuart Bryant – Secure Coast Solutions
For more information about this or other safety and security combinations for your site call Alan Roberts on 07 3250 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au
Bionik AG Boom Gates in Action at Daintree River Crossing
David Attenborough called the Daintree the most extraordinary place on earth.
The Daintree River ferry crossing is the gateway to this ancient rainforest, featuring incredible wildlife and pristine landscapes that encompass two World Heritage Sites.
Tourists, Crocs and Automobiles……….
The ferry provides the only sealed road access to this area for both locals and visitors. Due to increasing visitor numbers, this point of access to the area has become a bottleneck in the peak tourist season. During this time there is often a long queue of cars waiting to cross the river.
A Unique Location Presents Unique Challenges
After the major flooding earlier this year Douglas Shire Council crews have been working to improve the facilities and amenities heading into tourism season. Much of the focus has been to reduce congestion at the ferry crossing.
3 important objectives for the Council were to:
- improve the efficiency of the ferry services, reducing queuing and wait times
- improve the tourist experience while keeping people safe from crocodiles and traffic incidents during loading and unloading vehicles
- minimise disaster recovery time after annual floods.
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Rotech’s Boom Gate Solution
The Douglas Shire Council have recently installed Rotech’s Bionik AG Automatic Boom Gates.
Designed for high-volume traffic control situations, these boom gates are ideal for locations without mains power and offers many advanced features providing smooth operation, instant reversing, superior safety sensing, tough 100% duty cycle and low power consumption.
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1. Facilitate more efficient traffic flow
Faster loading and unloading of vehicles and pedestrians is now safely managed by the ferry master without leaving his cabin.
- Access to the ferry is controlled using four Bionik AG Automatic Boom Gates. Two gates are each positioned either side of the river.
- The dual boom gates spanning the wide ferry boarding entrance remain in the closed position preventing vehicles and people entering the landing area.
- After lowering the vehicle ramp the ferry master then opens the boom gates via a long-range radio transmitter. This provides faster and greater control over the movement of vehicles on and off the ferry.
- Battery back-up allows the boom gate to continue to function for up to 300 operations ensuring vehicles can exit in the event of power failure.
- Mechanically tough and durable construction prevents damage from vandalism. Machined steel gears, high-quality bearings, strong gearbox add a higher level of security and safety – the self-locking mechanism means the pole cannot be forced open.
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2. Creating a safer environment for pedestrians
With safety high on the Council’s agenda the Bionik AG Automatic Boom has all bases covered:
- Highly visible Red LED flashing warning lights on top of the cabinet and along the length of the boom pole indicate the gates are about to close. 30 seconds after the warning lights are activated the boom gates come down.
- The LED lights also make the boom gate highly visible at night clearly indicating where to stop, even on the darkest nights.
- Gates are fitted with a fence below each boom pole as a safety precaution to restrict pedestrians from ducking underneath and walking down to the river’s edge or entering the landing and vehicle loading area.
- A safety loop detector prevents the vehicle access gates from closing if there is any obstruction across the roadway.
- Superior in-built safety sensing features and motor design enables instant reversing of the boom pole if any safety devices are activated or if the pole is obstructed.
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3. Providing flexibility in dealing with environmental conditions
The whole boom gate system is relocatable during flood season.
- All the automatic boom gate equipment is mounted on specially designed portable frames, bolted together on-site, allowing the gates to be relocated when the river is in flood.
- Relocatable solar panels power the boom gates. Able to provide 200 plus operations per day and 5 days standby with no sun, the solar panels bolted to a removable 4-metre post.
- The boom gate’s waterproof rugged construction features a 3mm thick cabinet reinforced with 6mm steel bracing making it ideal for this harsh environment.
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Rotech are leaders in automated access control. Our boom gates are tough, reliable, cost-effective and easily configured for different locations. For more information about this or other safety and security combinations for your site call Alan Roberts at ROTECH on 07 3250 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au
Mansfield State High School – Not Your Average Construction Site
With 2800 students currently enrolled and expectations for this to soar to 3,000 in 2020, Mansfield State High School has embarked on a significant expansion of its facilities to accommodate current and anticipated future growth.
Student safety during construction
Health & Safety is always a top priority during any construction project but never is this more important than during a build in an active school environment.
The new multipurpose hall being built on the school grounds presented a significant safety challenge for the developers:
- 2,800 students needing access to the sports field
- many loads of materials and heavy machinery requiring access around the edge of the sports field to get to the construction site.
As a new build, the groundwork was a key aspect of the project and requires a lot of heavy machinery. Additionally, construction deliveries, are a frequent and unavoidable part of any construction project. Eliminating risk isn’t easy.
Rotech was tasked by specialist access control company Que Access to provide a temporary safe crossing for students and teachers while facilitating Contractor access/exit requirements from the street to the construction site.
Boom gates pair up to manage traffic flow
An intelligent automatic boom gate system was installed by Que Access to manage vehicle and pedestrian access where they intersect.
Pedestrian Access
Pedestrian access was controlled by two Bionik AG Automatic Boom Gates fitted with a fence on each pole to prevent students from ducking underneath. Under normal circumstances, the pedestrian access boom poles remain open allowing students/teachers to move freely in and out of the sports field.
Vehicle Access
Vehicle access is also controlled by two Bionik AG Automatic Boom Gates which remain in the closed position until activation. Construction traffic travels along a temporary fenced roadway, on reaching the pedestrian access gates the driver pushes a button to gain entry through the intersection.
Automated Access Procedure
When construction vehicles reach the pedestrian access gates the driver pushes a button which initiates the following automated procedure:
- Red LED lights flash on the pedestrian boom pole and a siren sounds a warning to pedestrians that the gates are about to close
- 15 seconds later, if all students/teachers have cleared the intersection, the pedestrian access boom gates close
- Safety PE beams prevent the vehicle access gates from opening and closing if there is any obstruction such as a person in the intersection.
- Once pedestrian gates are fully closed the vehicle access boom gates automatically open allowing traffic to move through the intersection.
- When pedestrians are clear of the pathway an electrical interlock sends a signal to the controller to close the vehicle access gate.
- Once the intersection is empty and the vehicle access gate is fully closed the pedestrian access gate re-opens.
- The LED lights turn green indicating the intersection is safe for students/teachers to pass through.
The automatic boom gates were mounted on 20 mm thick steel base to keep them stable while allowing for relocation when required.
If you have a difficult access control situation where safety is a priority, we have the products and expertise to develop tailored solution, whether permanent or temporary. Call Alan Roberts on 07 3250 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au
Control Vehicle Access to your Waste Facility
Rotech are leaders in automated access control
Our boom gates are tough, reliable, cost-effective and easily configured for different locations
Customisable for all types of weighbridges
Can be controlled using push buttons, transmitters, tokens and access tags
Relocatable for temporary entry areas around the facility if required
Optional solar power available for areas without access to mains power
Automatic emergency opening of the boom gate triggered by fire alarm
Reliable, efficient and cost-effective
High operational efficiency: 100% duty cycle, the revolutionary brushless motor is more efficient – allows up to 4000-5000 operations per day with economically ultra-low power consumption.
Lower maintenance costs: the brushless motor saves time and money in maintenance. The mechanical quality of the Bionik boom gates is exceptional.
Quality is unsurpassed: European manufactured using only the highest quality materials and components available has produced a product that is strong, robust and designed to last.
Site safety a priority
Rotech Bionik automatic boom gates include many safety features as standard:
Manual opening: easily opened using the release key which disengages the drive system without having to open the cabinet. No danger to personnel from contact with electrical equipment or drive mechanism.
Increased control of safety sensing: means all aspects of safety can be accurately managed. The motor design enables instant reversing of the boom pole if any safety devices are activated or if the pole is obstructed.
Battery back-up: the boom gate will continue to function for up to 300 operations in the event of power failure allowing vehicles to still exit.
Essential safety features: strategically placed warning lights on the top of the cabinet are standard. Boom pole lights, loop detectors and safety beams options are also available ensuring vehicles and pedestrians alike are protected.
Security features
Prevent tailgaters creeping through behind other vehicles: intelligent control panel software prevents a second vehicle tailgating by instantly lowering the pole to half-way. The gate will not open until the second vehicle has been allowed access or presented an access card.
Mechanically tough and durable construction prevents damage from vandalism: featuring machined steel gears, high quality bearings, strong gearbox and a self-locking mechanism means the pole cannot be forced open.
For a Wide Entrance
Bionik AG 3 to 8 Metre Boom Gate for Harsh Industrial Conditions
- Rugged construction
- 3 mm thick cabinet reinforced with 6 mm steel bracing
- Heavy duty springs
- Strengthened pole support operates in 90 Km/h winds
- Up to 5,000 operations per day
- Brushless DC motor with multifunction digital controller for precise control
Short on Space
Bionik BK Compact Boom Gate designed for Commercial and Industrial Sites with limited space
- Cost effective solution for sites with tight spaces
- Compact design
- Tough 100% duty cycle
- Up to 5000 operations per day
- Fast opening speed
- Instant reversing
- Superior safety sensing.
Want to know more about how Rotech products can help you manage vehicle access to your waste facility?
Call us on (07) 3205 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au.
Want More Reach from your LX Transmitter?
Australia’s vast distances and many locations where there is a lot of radio interference presents a challenge for long range transmitters.
LX Long Range Wireless, Open Air, Waterproof, Wall Mount Transmitters and Receivers
Frequently used by large property owners, quarries and mines, plant operators, commercial businesses and industrial organisations. The LX transmitters and receivers are often used for safety, security and access control applications such as:
- Controlling gates, garage and industrial door entry systems
- Arm and disarm alarm systems
- Switch on/off all types of electrical equipment including lights, generators, water pumps, industrial fans and other machinery
- As a door-release button or under-counter panic button.
Rotech’s wireless, waterproof, wall mount, long-range transmitters produce a strong signal able to break through radio traffic that would typically swamp a signal from conventional transmitters.
Designed for fixing to a wall or post the WMTX Wireless Long Range Wall Mount Transmitter is powered by a 3V long-life lithium battery and is good for 60,000 activations – no wiring necessary. The weatherproof housing means the transmitter can be mounted externally.
The 1 channel receiver can handle up to 80 transmitters and the 4 channel can handle 256. Each transmitter has 1,2,4 or 6 individually programmable buttons.
Get another 800m on top of the standard 500m line of sight with the RPLX Wireless Repeater Unit.
Teamed up with a long-range wireless repeater unit, which effectively boosts signals around large areas, the range of our waterproof LX transmitters can be extended from 500 meters up to1.3 kilometres line of sight.
Rotech’s transmitter and/or repeater unit provide the perfect solution for domestic, commercial and industrial environments where distance or interference is an issue.
More information about our LX Long Range Wireless Transmitters and Receivers
Next Generation AG and BK Automatic Boom Gates
Rotech’s Sentinel AG Boom Gates were the first automatic boom gates to feature a revolutionary brushless motor and state-of-the-art digital control unit.
The recently introduced Sentinel BK series provided a price competitive compact version of the highly successful AG. Its small footprint making it perfect for sites where space is limited.
Now, we are excited to be able to give you advanced notice of further enhancements in the pipeline:
Remote access interface: The AG and BK series is being updated to include an interface that will enable installers to connect with the boom gate digital control unit using a mobile or tablet via its dedicated website.
This web interface will allow installers to access all functions and parameters of the control panel including; gate speed, damping, flashing lights, attending to firmware updates etc, making set-up and maintenance of the gate much faster and simpler.
Able to withstand 90 km per hour winds: An increased strength of the pole mounting will provide boom gate with the ability to reliably function in extreme weather conditions.
New 8 metre boom gate: Providing you with even more choices we will be introducing an 8m boom gate option which will be 100% duty cycle and include 90k/hr wind feature.
Fast 1 sec opening for a 3 metre pole: We will be offering a version of the Sentinel BK which will be able to open a 3 metre boom pole in one second.
We anticipate these new functions and features will be rolled out between November and early 2019.
For more information about these new product features and estimated availability call us on (07) 3205 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au.
New Sentinel BG30 Series Industrial Sliding Gate Operators
Designed for super intensive use
BG1804 opens a 1800 kg gate at 18 m/min for up to 800 operations per day
BG2204 opens a 2200 kg gate at 10 m/min for up to 100 operations per day
Whatever your site’s requirements the Sentinel BG30 Series has an operator to suit with advanced technology that offers maximum performance and lower power consumption than other motors.
A few of the Sentinel BG30 Series many features include:
Easy to program, wide range of inputs: the multifunction digital display with 6 function keys offers a wide range of inputs for management and connection of all accessories and safety devices, making it easy to change parameters, check error messages and input status.
Superior safety sensing: the highly sensitive digital encoder delivers accurate control of speed and end stop positions. The motor design allows instant reversing of the gate if an obstacle is detected.
Mechanically tough, strong and robust: manufactured using titanium alloy the BG30’s high strength body easily tolerates the forces created by heavy high duty cycle gates. Precision engineered, high-quality steel worm shaft, bronze gears with double-shielded ball bearings guarantee durability and reliability.
Battery back-up and solar power options: battery back up is available for situations where mains power is unreliable as well as giving peace of mind during storms or other power failure situations. For locations where power is not available at all BG30 is configured to operate on solar power without any modifications to the controls.
Have a query about how this product can be used to suit your situation call us on (07) 3205 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au.
Related Blog Topics:
What you ought to know before choosing a sliding gate operator
What are Boom Gates doing in the Desert?
Despite the odd appearance of a boom gate seemingly in the middle of nowhere, this barrier plays a vital role in protecting the lives of workers accessing a remote mine site in central Queensland.
Queensland’s Bowen Basin has the largest coal reserves in Australia. The 37 open-cut mines account for over 85% of saleable coal production and employ over 28,000 workers.
Requiring a large workforce and oversized heavy machinery, excavating in harsh remote locations makes mining high-risk and presents a wide range of potential dangers.
However, the most common form of fatal hazard is vehicle interactions. Between 2001 to 2017 mobile equipment and light vehicle accidents accounted for almost half (46%) of fatalities in coal mines – 21% of incidents occurred at an intersection and a further 22% occurred on a haul road.
Trucks the size of a small apartment vs light vehicles
The operators of a major open cut mine in the Bowen Basin, employing over 900 workers and contractors, had a situation where a newly constructed light vehicle access road needed to cross a busy haul road.
Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulations require “a coal mine’s safety and health management system to provide for safe access to, and egress from, fixed and mobile plant used at the mine, including each part of the plant that is routinely accessed.”
This mine runs 40 x 250 tonne dump trucks 7 days a week along wide haulage roads, constantly moving mine waste and coal to and from the coal handling and train loadout facilities.
The location of the new entrance road meant that light vehicles must cross the area where the haul roads are in order to get into the mine site. A dangerous situation, even for trained safety conscious mine workers, the mine operators wanted a barrier which would prevent public and unauthorised people getting into this area but allow approved personnel access.
The challenges
- The location of the boom gate, 5 kilometres away from the plant, meant there was no mains power or access control communication available.
- The movement of vehicles entering and exiting the mine site had to be strictly controlled allowing only authorised people to enter.
- The boom gates had to be relocatable so they could be moved as the mine’s road infrastructure changes.
Safety high on the agenda
Secure Coast Solutions installed Rotech’s Sector 12vdc Automatic Boom Gate with solar power. This boom gate is designed for high-volume traffic control environments, particularly in situations where it is difficult to get mains power.
- The boom gate’s ability to operate on 12 volt DC meant it could be powered using the same solar panels and batteries as the Wi-Fi access control system.
- The batteries also power the lights which illuminate the gate and card readers at night making the entrance clearly visible in the dark.
- The Sector provides additional safety and security with large battery back-up installed allowing the boom gate to operate for up to 5-7 days in periods
where there is no sun. - Rotech’s dual height card reader stands house the access control system which wirelessly links to the mine’s administration permitting site entry to
authorised personnel. - All equipment was mounted on a purpose-built steel base enabling the boom gate, stands and solar system to be easily relocated.
Why Rotech Products
Stuart from Secure Coast Solutions said he chose Rotech’s Sector Boom Gate because “the Sector was the right fit for the project as the WiFi and access control system also ran on 12vdc it meant that everything was compatible and made it more economical when running on solar power.“
Stuart also said the thing he liked about the Sector was “even with a 6 metre pole the Sector boom gate still has a fast opening speed and the customer loves it.”
Since the installation, the system is working well – helping the mining company keep its employees and visitors from harm and preventing accidental or unauthorised entry into a very hazardous area.
If you would like further information about this or other safety and security combinations for your premises call Alan Roberts on 07 3250 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au
New technologies are changing our parking experience
Reliance on a few security personnel and manual collection of payments for busy car parks is becoming a thing of the past. In addition to being difficult to manage and, in many instances, uneconomical, the need to improve vehicle security and customer safety are key issues for car park operators.
Operators are turning to new technologies to provide cost-effective solutions to manage and accurately record vehicle movement in, out and around parking facilities.
Common technologies being adopted
On-line car park booking systems provide customers with the convenience of booking a parking space ahead of time. For car park operators, this allows more efficient management of variable parking rates in-line with peak or slow periods.
Licence plate recognition is now a common feature in major shopping centre car parks. Used to control and enforce timed parking limit policies, the system permits fast, hands-free car park access, minimising congestion and providing expedient entry/exit flow at parking gates.
Facial recognition technology is also receiving attention as an effective method of improving public safety. Similar to licence plate recognition, authorised access is achieved without the need for cards or other forms of identity. The advantage of facial recognition is the ability to manage access by individuals driving the vehicle rather than the vehicle itself.
Innovations in boom gate design making it all possible
Enabling the implementation of these modern access control technologies are new hi-tech automated boom gates which have evolved to become smaller, smarter, faster and tougher.
A product meeting this challenge is Rotech’s Sentinel BK Automatic Boom Gate. A new state-of-the-art solution, the BK’s unique compact design is the latest automatic boom gate with digital processing.
Advanced features accommodate a large list of requirements including:
Situations where space is a premium
The Sentinel BK boom gate’s performance and features are equal to larger boom gates while its small footprint makes it perfect for apartments, commercial premises, industrial sites and residential areas.
Fast, precise speed control making entry and exit a breeze
The BK’s control unit constantly checks the speed and position of the boom pole, accurately adjusting the speed on opening and closing, enabling precise speed control and ultra-responsive performance.
Automated access control
The BK’s sophisticated controller is compatible with all access control systems and validation methods including; key card, ticket, cash or credit card payment, number plate or facial recognition software.
Higher security
BK’s intelligent control panel software works to manage illegal entry and exit. In the instance, a second vehicle attempts to enter, or exit, by tailgating behind another the boom pole will instantly lower to half-way and will not open without proper validation. Theft of cars and other vehicles from the car park is minimised as offenders are unable to get out of the car park without validation. The strong gearbox and self-locking mechanism mean the boom pole cannot be forced open preventing damage from vandalism.
Superior safety sensing capability protecting people and vehicles
Monitoring its safety sensing circuit 100 times a minute the innovative encoder ensures all aspects of safety is precisely managed. If any of the safety devices are activated or the pole is obstructed the motor will instantly reverse the boom pole. Strategically placed high-viz warning lights on the boom gate cabinet and along the pole, loop detectors and safety beams ensure vehicles and pedestrians alike are protected.
Unsurpassed efficiency
The revolutionary low maintenance brushless motor is extremely reliable and efficient allowing up to 4000 operations per day with ultra-low power consumption.
If you are interested in finding out more about how our Sentinel BK Automatic Boom Gate or any of our other boom gate products may be used to improve safety and security in your car park call us on (07) 3205 1123 today.
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When School Safety Goes ‘Boom’
BOOM gates can be an effective solution to control who enters a school.
Rotech director, Alan Roberts, says boom gates are increasingly sought to prevent parents driving into restricted school areas. Commenting in a recent article “Parents behaving badly at school” published in “School News” magazine Alan said:
“The real problem is parents driving where they are not meant to, with boom gates you can keep parents out so they are not driving their children into the staff carpark and creating safety problems.
We recently supplied a boom gate for Mooloolaba State School on the Sunshine Coast because parents were ignoring the designated drop off area and driving through the main gates to the teachers’ car park. The teachers’ car park was a restricted zone and despite being designated ‘out of bounds’ for students and unauthorised vehicles there was nothing to prevent access to this area.
What was needed was the ability to strictly control the access into the teacher’s car parking area during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-ups. The school’s new boom gate remains closed during the school drop off period between 8.30am and 9.30am and opens afterward to enable contractors and other visitors through.
The boom gates give control to schools over who can enter and leave the property. I think schools will definitely be installing more boom gates in the future”.
Rotech offers a choice of automatic that enable fast and secure vehicle access. Solar-powered boom gates are another option for sites that do have easy access to electricity.
The gates can be opened by a number of methods such as remote radio transmitter, a pin code pad or intercom to ensure only authorised vehicles can enter. It takes about three seconds for the lightweight aluminium pole to raise, ensuring prompt access. The gates can also be timed to remain closed during certain hours of the day.
We have been providing fast, safe and secure vehicle and pedestrian access controls to industry since 1999 and is now servicing schools.
Want advice about how boom gates and access control systems can use for your school please call us on (07) 3225 1123 or email: info@rotech.com.au.
Cost Saving Advice for Powering your Automatic Security Gate
For many commercial properties, automated gates are not just an optional extra, they are essential. Automated gates are secure, convenient and make your premises appear professional.
However, a downside for many businesses is the expense associated with getting 240v power to the perimeter of their property to operate the gate, particularly if the distance is great or covered with concrete.
Fortunately, there is a way around this which saves power and running costs while significantly reducing the cost of installation, without having to compromise on security.
Solar gate openers are now more efficient and affordable than ever, and they are the ideal choice for many Australian businesses and rural property owners.
Here are a few benefits of using solar for your automated gate opener:
Gate openers can be installed in remote locations. If you want to enhance security in a remote area that doesn’t have access to mains electricity, a solar gate opener is the easiest and most affordable way to do this. Because they don’t require connection to an external power supply, you won’t need to dig the ground up to run cables. Using solar you can have a functional, operational security gate up and running very quickly, with the minimum of disruption to the surrounding environment.
Improved security. Solar gate openers work even when there is a power blackout, so you can feel confident that your business won’t be vulnerable in the event of an outage. Battery back-up provides independence from the grid and gives everyone greater security, particularly after hours when your employees or visitors might otherwise be required to get out of their vehicles and manually open the gate.
Save money on installation and operation. Once you’ve bought and installed your solar gate opener, it costs virtually nothing to run. Solar power is readily available in Australia, and even on cloudy days, your opener will still be operational. With power bills rising year on year, many businesses are looking for ways to reduce their electricity usage and switching to solar for your gate opener is a simple and effective way to save costs.
Reducing your environmental footprint. Across all industries, businesses are very conscious of their environmental footprint these days and are taking proactive steps towards sustainability. Switching to solar is a great way to reduce your consumption of fossil fuels and create a more environmentally sustainable business.
Solar technology has gone through so many advances in the last few years, and there has never been a better time to make the switch. Using the power of solar for your automated gates you can save money, be environmentally friendly and improve security at your premises.
The electricity savings alone mean solar power is worth considering. But as you can see, there are many other benefits too. If you’d like to discuss installing solar gate openers in domestic, commercial or industrial settings, give us a call to find out more about the options.
Case Study | Deflating Experience for Rental Car Thieves
NEWS REPORT: A man is in hot water after allegedly driving a rental car at speeds up to 126kph in a wild police pursuit across the Mid North Coast. The car, a rental which had allegedly been stolen from Rutherford, was extensively damaged. Bellingen Shire Courier-Sun 23 Nov 2016
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too familiar for many Australian rental car companies.
Profit-motivated theft for scrap rackets and the black market trade in car parts account for around half of all non-recovered stolen vehicles. Car theft has become commonplace with rental car companies being prime targets – one company reported it lost as many as 40 vehicles a year from one of its sites.
In many cases lack of access control and/or effective supervision contributes to high theft rates in car parking areas. These deficiencies are principally due to economics however the cost of vehicle repairs, replacement and loss of future rental earnings now far outweigh any cost of securing their cars.
How some operators are defending their rental car fleet against thieves
Theft prevention involves controlling the parking area’s points of entry and exit – typically that means gated entrances and exit lanes manned by security guards, however some businesses are turning to automated vehicle access control technologies to provide a more efficient and cost-effective alternative.
For example, in an effort to curb car park theft several airport car rental operators have taken tough measures to discourage even the most brazen thieves. This has involved installing a combination of boom gates and tyre spikes in vulnerable locations:
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- Vehicle storage carpark and car detailing area
In this area boom gates and tyre spikes are controlled by staff using remote radio transmitters.
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- Airport car pick up exit – the rental car pick up process involves the customer collecting the car from the vehicle bay and driving to the exit where the attendant checks drivers licence and vehicle details. Once satisfied that the driver is the renter and the correct car has been collected the attendant uses a transmitter to lower the tyre spikes which automatically raises the boom pole when the spikes are fully closed.
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Rotech has been supplying the Automatic Boom Gates/Sentinel CW Tyre Spikes combo for Australian rental car operators since 2012 – they have proven to be extremely effective in protecting vehicles from theft and a highly efficient method of controlling vehicle access to all types premises.
Sentinel CW Tyre Spikes are high security, high volume, fast acting barriers
- Featuring a high-torque DC motor these tyre spikes boast greater reliability and efficient operation for up to 2,000 operations a day.
- Made from heavy duty galvanised steel the robust Sentinel CW Tyre Spikes are built to disable even heavy vehicles, such as 20 tonne trucks.
- Manufactured to the highest quality, multiple interlocks stop spikes rising out of sequence and high vis bright yellow spikes provide increased safety.
Rotech Pedestrian Safety Recommendation
While the tyre spikes are highly visible, in situations where there are also people walking around the area where the spikes are, it is important to ensure additional safety measures are undertaken to protect pedestrians.
When considering using tyre spikes and boom gates to manage vehicle access Rotech strongly recommends installing a fully integrated boom gate/tyre spikes control system which incorporates traffic lights, safety beams, flashing lights and sirens to alert pedestrians that they are entering a dangerous area.
If you would like further information about this or other safety and security combinations for your premises call Alan Roberts on 07 3250 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au
Case Study | Car Park Entry Solution a Booming Success
The dilemma for building managers is to provide fast, convenient vehicle access for building residents while ensuring the car park entry is safe and secure.
With parking at a premium in, and around, the CBD restricting unauthorised vehicle access to private building car parks has become a huge concern for apartment owners.
Poor building security, particularly in upmarket venues, poses a risk of cars being damaged or stolen.
An Inner-city apartment block thought it had the answer
A prestige apartment complex, situated in a prime location and surrounded by busy roads, the building management sought to ensure their residents car park was easily accessible and secure.
Key considerations for controlling building
- The need to accommodate a 4 metre wide car park entry with a low ceiling height
- The ability for residents to make a quick safe exit from a very busy street into the car park
- Securing vehicle access into the car park without creating great inconvenience to residents
- Keeping the cost of maintenance down despite the high frequency of gate use.
The installation of a drop wire automatic gate seemingly offered the perfect solution. Suited to underground car parks due to its low overhead clearance requirement this stainless steel wire gate also provided the desired level of security.
Why this wasn’t the best solution in this instance?
The gate needs continual maintenance and repair over and above normal operating wear and tear. This was a result of resident’s driving over the wire rope before it was fully down. Because the wire cable drops below the driver’s vision they were not always able to see when it had reached its resting position. This caused the wire rope to twist eventually leading to fraying as well as placing a strain on the motor resulting in damage to the internal brakes.
The very slow closing time of 7 seconds, necessary to allow for vehicle clearance, leaves time for a second vehicle to pass through behind the first vehicle – creating a serious risk to building security.
There were also instances reported to building management where the wire cable had lifted before the vehicle had cleared the steel rope, unfortunately safety beams alone do not always provide adequate protection.
Faced with high maintenance costs of the existing gate the apartment complex’s Body Corporate Manager was prompted to look for a more suitable alternative.
How Rotech’s Sentinel AG Automatic Boom Gate addressed all the issues
Accommodating the 4 metre wide car park entry with a low ceiling height
The drop wire gate was initially selected over an automatic boom gate as the underground car park ceiling height would not be sufficient to raise a standard boom pole long enough to extend across the width of the entrance.
Installing Rotech’s Sentinel AG automatic boom gate with an articulated arm meant that the 4 metre vehicle lane was secure and allowed a vehicle of up to 2.5 m high can pass underneath.
Enabling a safe and quick exit from a high traffic street into the car park
Engineered to deliver reliable, fast access control in high volume situations the Sentinel AG boom gate permits quick and convenient access by residents when entering or exiting the car park.
With adjustable speed control the Sentinel AG’s absolute encoder constantly monitors the speed and position of the boom pole. This allows the control unit to accurately adjust the speed on closing and opening providing high speed, smooth operation and longer life.
Increasing building security
All residents and authorised visitors are required to swipe an access card to raise the boom gate allowing entry to the car park. The Sentinel AG’s intelligent software prevents the problem of a second vehicle tailgating behind another vehicle by instantly lowering the pole to half-way – the gate will not open until the second vehicle presents an access card.
Mechanically tough and durable the strong gearbox and self locking mechanism prevents damage from vandalism as the pole cannot be forced.
High visibility and safety sensing prevents damage to cars
The electronic safety sensing function is an important safety feature of the Sentinel AG boom gate. The design of the boom gate’s motor ensures instant reversing of the boom pole if any of the safety devices are activated or if the pole is obstructed.
Strategically placed programmable warning lights on the top of the cabinet and along the boom pole enable residents can easily see the position of the boom pole, even at night. Loop detectors and safety beams also ensure vehicles and pedestrians alike are protected.
Low maintenance – frequent use
The hi-tech Sentinel AG boom gate’s unique design provides the residents with higher levels of performance in terms of safety, security, ease of use and more importantly – low maintenance costs.
The Sentinel AG boom gate features a revolutionary brushless motor which provides much greater reliability and efficiency and will handle up to 4000 operations per day. It’s ultra low power consumption and brushless motor requires minimal maintenance saving significant time and money on maintenance.
For more information about Rotech’s boom gate products visit our Automatic & Manual Boom Gates page.
We pride ourselves on bringing our customers the latest trends in gate automation products available in Australia. With our extensive range and high level of expertise we can provide you and your business with an access control solution to suit your needs.
Call Alan Roberts at ROTECH on 07 3250 1123.
Why Solar-Powered Gates Come up Trumps
While the new US President has opened his tenure with a bang, the last thing you want is this happening to your entrance gates. A smooth transition would be nice, wouldn’t it?
And if you’ve never considered a solar gate opener to make that smooth transition possible, you should. There’s a range of benefits associated with solar-powered gates that go beyond the obvious electricity savings – although that’s certainly one of them.
Let’s take a look.
Functionality
Gone are the days where green-themed products had diminished capabilities compared with their hard-wired counterparts. Modern boom gates, swing gates and sliding solar gate openers are heavy duty and able to cope with a variety of commercial and industrial applications, as well as residential requirements. They also come with the full range of features, including:
- Battery backup
- Programmable operating modes
- Timers to give access during working hours, but not on weekends, for example
- Transmitter remote controls
- Adjustable opening and closing speeds – faster open, slower close, for example
- Safety sensors
- Rugged, weather-resistant sealed control panels.
Free power, renewable from the sun
Using free renewable energy from the sun to power gates can save a lot on electricity bills – particularly in high traffic areas where gates are operating all the time, or when gates are large or heavy.
There’s no better feeling than using Australia’s burning sun to reduce the heat on your bank account!
An eco-friendly option
We all understand the importance of reducing our carbon footprint for future sustainability. Using a solar-powered gate opener is a great investment when you consider the potential financial savings on electricity.
But many businesses and individuals are also switching to solar for ethical reasons – the sun is a renewable resource compared to coal-generated power.
Perfect for remote locations
In rural and remote locations, mains power isn’t always available. Solar-powered openers come into their own here. With a variety of styles and functions, solar gate openers for swing and sliding gates, boom gates, and even turnstiles are brilliant off-grid, eco-friendly, reliable solutions.
The electricity savings alone mean solar power is worth considering. But as you can see, there’s many other benefits too. If you’d like to discuss installing solar gate openers in domestic, commercial or industrial settings, give us a call to find out more about the options.
Boom Gates Protecting our most vulnerable pedestrians
Road accidents are one of the highest causes of child deaths and injuries in Australia. The most prevalent area for vehicle accidents, after the home, is at school. The sad part of this is most of these accidents are preventable.
Between 2001-10:
- 204 pedestrians under the age of 14 were killed in locations outside the home
- 4,440 were seriously injured vehicle accidents, including instances of low-speed run-over
- 14% of deaths occurred in car parks and roads in places such as schools, universities, hospitals, factory premises and so on – where we would expect vehicles to be travelling at low speeds and performing low-speed manoeuvres.
Department of Infrastructure and Transport report on Child Pedestrian Safety: ’driveway deaths’ and ‘low-speed vehicle run-overs’, Australia, 2001–10
Safety within our schools has highest priority
Traffic and parking problems are significant issues for schools and are putting children at risk of being injured or worse, particularly during drop off and pick up times. Children by nature are impulsive, easily distracted and have little sense of danger. Many incidents of school car park pedestrian accidents across Australia has moved schools to look for ways to better manage the safety and well-being of pupils.
Conscious of their obligations schools place a high priority on implementing appropriate measures to prevent physical injury to pupils when the children are under their control.
Mooloolaba State School – acts to protect its most valuable assets 
As part of its concerns for the welfare of its pupils and given the layout of its grounds Mooloolaba State School sought to make access to its grounds safer.
A key issue was that parents were ignoring the designated drop off area and driving through the main gates to the teachers car park. The teacher’s car park is generally a restricted zone and despite being designated “out of bounds” for students and unauthorised vehicles there was nothing to prevent access to this area.
What was needed was the ability to strictly control the access into the teacher’s car parking area during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-ups.
When a road is not a road – you need a boom gate
Although the road entry to the teacher’s car park was already gated – the gate needed to be left open during the day to allow convenient vehicle access.
The best solution for this situation was to install a boom gate with a timer that closes the boom gate during drop off times and re-opens after school has started. A keypad allows teachers, administration staff and authorised visitors access to the area during the period the boom gate is down. The system requires no supervision and is fully automatic.
There was no available mains power supply at the location which would normally necessitate digging up the driving way to lay power cables. However choosing to install Rotech’s Sector 12vdc automatic boom gate was the ideal product to address Mooloolaba State Schools requirements.
The Sector automatic boom gate is low voltage, high speed, battery driven, safety sensing and designed for high-volume traffic control environments. Adding the solar powered option meant there was no need to run high voltage cables to the gate which was a significant saving to the cost of installation.
We understand parents give considerable weight to safety and security when selecting a school for their child to attend and were pleased to have enabled Mooloolaba State School with its commitment to protecting its pupils.
If you have a particular access control situation you need a cost effective, creative solution for give Alan Roberts a call on (07) 3205 1123 or email info@rotech.com.au.