Industrial high-speed doors are much more than doors that open quickly: they have a direct impact on energy consumption, traffic safety and warehouse productivity. Choose the wrong model and you will live with downtime, heat loss and maintenance costs for years. In this guide we work through the questions plant and logistics managers ask us most often, so you can request a quote with a clear picture of what you need.
What is a high-speed door and when do you really need one?
High-speed doors (also called rapid roll doors) use a flexible curtain, usually made of technical PVC, that opens and closes far faster than a conventional industrial door. They make sense wherever an opening is crossed frequently by forklifts, pallet trucks, people or automated lines and two areas need to be kept apart: warm and cold, clean and dirty, inside and outside.
There are three main benefits:
- Energy savings: the opening stays open only as long as it takes to pass through, so less heat (or cold) escapes.
- Faster traffic flow: less waiting at the door, fewer forklift queues and more consistent work cycles.
- A protected environment: dust, draughts, insects and noise are kept out of working areas.
The three families of industrial high-speed doors: roll-up, stacking and self-repairing
The first decision is how the curtain opens. This determines the space required, wind resistance and the maximum size of the opening.
Roll-up high-speed doors
The curtain winds onto a roller at the top. These doors are compact, fast and suitable for a wide range of medium-sized internal and external openings. RolliGO is our essential, cost-effective roll-up door, with simple automation and a minimal design that suits almost any setting. If you prefer a modular structure in extruded aluminium that is easy to ship and install, there is Alumina.
Stacking high-speed doors
The curtain, reinforced with horizontal profiles, folds upwards into a stack. This is the right solution for large openings and wind-exposed façades. VertiGO handles openings up to 15 metres wide with high wind resistance; for the most demanding openings there is the double-curtain VertiGO Double, which also improves thermal and acoustic insulation, and for hangars MegaGO, which reaches up to 35 metres wide.
Self-repairing high-speed doors
If a forklift hits the curtain, it comes out of the guides without tearing and re-engages automatically on the next cycle. This is the defining feature of the ZipGO range, our flagship high-speed door, with an opening speed of up to 3.0 m/s (indicative value, depending on configuration). Where traffic is heavy and impacts are frequent, self-repair pays for itself quickly: no downtime and no technician call-out for a simple knock.
Quick reference: which type for which need
| Requirement | Recommended type | GLG models |
|---|---|---|
| Internal opening, tight budget | Roll-up | RolliGO, Alumina |
| Heavy traffic with risk of impact | Self-repairing | ZipGO, ZipGO 2.0 |
| Wind-exposed external façade | Stacking | VertiGO, VertiGO Double |
| Cold rooms and cold chain | Insulated roll-up | ZipGO Cold, ZipGO Cold Double |
| Hangars and very large openings | Structural stacking | MegaGO |
Five questions to ask before requesting a quote
- How big is the opening? Clear width and height, plus free space above and at the sides for guides and roller.
- How many times a day does it open? The number of cycles guides the choice of motor and structure.
- What passes through? People, pallet trucks, forklifts, lorries or automated lines: each affects speed, safety devices and controls.
- How different are the two environments? Temperature, dust, pressure, hygiene requirements or explosive atmospheres.
- Is the door exposed to wind? For external installations, the wind resistance class is decisive.
With this information our technical department can recommend the right model from the very first contact. If you are not sure about the measurements, book a free site survey: a technician will visit and measure the opening.
Safety and controls
All GLG high-speed doors work with safety systems that stop or reverse the movement when an obstacle is detected. Controls can be manual, radar, magnetic loop, remote control or integrated with the plant’s systems. During the quotation stage we work with you to find the combination that best suits the traffic flows in your facility.
Maintenance and service
A high-speed door performs thousands of cycles: planned maintenance extends its life and prevents downtime. With G Services we continue to support customers after installation, with repairs, customisation and maintenance plans.
Frequently asked questions
Which high-speed door is best for a logistics warehouse?
It depends on traffic flows: for busy internal openings used by forklifts we recommend a self-repairing door such as ZipGO; for externally exposed bays, a stacking door such as VertiGO, which offers greater wind resistance.
Do high-speed doors save energy?
Yes. By reducing the time the opening stays open, they limit the loss of heat or cold between areas, with a direct effect on heating and refrigeration costs.
What does self-repairing door mean?
It means that if the curtain is hit, it comes out of the guides without being damaged and re-engages automatically on the next cycle, with no need for a technician.
How long does it take to get a quote?
If you fill in the form with measurements and type of use, you will receive an initial reply quickly; for complex openings we arrange a free site survey.
Are you a distributor or installer of industrial doors? Become a GLG dealer and offer your customers a complete range of high-speed doors, mobile tunnels and loading bay equipment.
Request a consultation
Tell us about your opening: size, use and environment. We will reply with the most suitable solution and, if needed, arrange a free site survey. You can also go straight to our Quotes and consultation page.
