by Sliding gates are quite popular. They have a simple design, which allows you to easily open and close the gates with one hand. However, it is still recommended to install automation for sliding gates. Then you won’t need to get out of the car and manually operate the gate. You just need to press the remote control button or call a special device (depending on the configuration you choose), and the gates will automatically open and close. Automation for sliding gates consists of a drive and control elements. Additionally, safety devices such as a signal light and photo cells can be purchased. Sliding gate automation can have different characteristics, modes, and operating forms. The correct choice of gate automation drive allows the gates to open and close smoothly regardless of weather conditions throughout the year. It is also important to select the motor power according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. This will help avoid possible problems with opening or closing during strong winds, and the drive will not operate at maximum speed, which can positively affect its service life. It is worth noting that automation for sliding gates costs money, although not significantly large. You can find a budget model with good characteristics. However, it is important to understand that some investments stay with us for a long time. The gate drive is one of them. The cost of the kit depends on the configuration, characteristics such as the weight and dimensions of the gate, how intensively it is used, and more. The main thing is to consider all aspects when choosing, so that the purchased automation will serve for a long time. To understand more about this type of automation, it is necessary to explain in more detail what sliding gates are. Gates that move along the fence line are sliding gates. They mostly have only one gate leaf and can be of three subtypes – hanging, track, and cantilever gates. The first two will not be considered, as they have several disadvantages. However, the cantilever sliding gates deserve special attention. They move in a way that creates the illusion of floating above the ground. This is achieved by a pair of roller carriages attached to the side of the opening at a sufficiently large distance from each other (half the width of the opening) and brackets – beams that are welded to the frame of the gate at the bottom and into which roller supports are installed. These and some other components are called gate hardware. Why do we compare these two types of gates? It’s simple – they are the most commonly used. The advantages of a sliding gate design include: simple gate construction; ease of use – can be opened/closed with one hand; relatively low automation costs; can be used on small and fairly wide openings; do not occupy the useful space of the yard. The disadvantages include: slightly more expensive to manufacture, as they require additional expenses for special components and additional installation for mounting; more challenging to produce. On the other hand, swing gates have more disadvantages: occupy useful space; more difficult to use; more expensive to automate; highly affected by wind load.
