Energy efficiency is an important issue for the gate industry

Different solutions during the R+T 2024

The gates segment has traditionally been one of the mainstays of the R+T. It is not the first priority for many readers of Z&R, but it is nevertheless an interesting product area to follow. From Monday, February 19 to Friday, February 23, 2024, during the R+T, all attention will be focused on it in the Alfred Kärcher Halle (Hall 8) and the Paul Horn Halle (Hall 10). Numerous well-known companies will want to inspire fair visitors with their innovative products and services. Much attention will be paid to sustainable solutions that use energy (and raw materials) efficiently. 

"Our member companies can hardly wait to present their innovations at the upcoming R+T 2024," said Kai-Uwe Grögor, managing director of BVT - Verband Tore. "Due to the current situation regarding climate change and increased energy prices, the topic of energy saving also plays a decisive role for the gate industry. A wide range of energy-efficient solutions will therefore be presented to trade fair visitors. After all, the thermal insulation of building elements - and thus also gates - has become of great importance. This is particularly interesting for solutions integrated into the thermal shell of buildings. Optimized opening and closing times also play a crucial role when it comes to avoiding energy losses. In this area, too, much has happened in recent years. For gates in residential home situations, the smart home developments are interesting." 

Time is energy

Dutch company Alpha Deuren, which is also participating in R+T 2024, is an example of a company that has greatly optimized the opening and closing times of its gates. Alpha Deuren now has high-speed gates in its range that achieve speeds of up to 2 m/s. In the context of corporate social responsibility and high energy prices, more and more companies in industry and logistics are opting for this energy-efficient and time-saving solution. Especially in autumn and winter, short opening and closing times can save a lot of energy and thus costs. Less cold air can enter, less heat escapes to the outside, saving on heating costs. The special doors have a stable plastic covering and drive and control technology that allows both high opening cycles and high opening and closing speeds. Alpha Doors has a customized solution for virtually every situation. 

Depending on the type, high-speed roll-up doors are available up to a maximum width of 6000 millimeters and with areas ranging from 9 to 36 m2. The range varies from high-speed roll gates for indoor use, from high-speed roll gates for indoor and outdoor use to robust high-speed folding gates that can be installed on the outside of a commercial building. 

Energy-saving gate drives

Gate and door drives have a decisive influence on whether or not a gate is energy-efficient. Berner Torantriebe, which will also be present at R+T, has dealt with this topic intensively and points out in a model calculation that the installation of energy-saving drives is worthwhile more than ever. After all, in addition to sustainability, the cost of ongoing operations is increasingly the focus of calculations. 

"We made the calculation using our gate drive GA203 as an example," says Frank Kiefer, managing director of Berner Torantriebe. "The example calculation showed that a conventional gate operator with a transformer with a power consumption of about 6 W costs at least 20 euros annually. 

Our GA203 system, whose energy consumption we have optimized, costs less than 2 euros per year for the same number of motion cycles. A substantial saving, in other words!" 

Berner Torantriebe's other gate drives are now also focused on more economical energy consumption. "The swing and sliding gate operators in our DA and C series operate with energy-efficient switching power supplies that consume less than 0.5 watts in standby," explains Frank Kiefer. "If light is required in gate operation, we rely entirely on efficient LED technology." 

"Furthermore, the power requirements of a door or gate largely depend on its smoothness," he adds. "The materials used - such as aluminum and PA6 plastic for the rollers of Berner's gates - guarantee optimum operation and a long service life and thus also maximum durability." 

International know-how

The R+T is truly a world event. To give an example, the Italian trade association ACMI (Assocostruttori Chiusure Meccanismi Italia) will also be present at the R+T in Stuttgart in 2024. In 2015, for the first time, the ACMI had a joint pavilion with then eight companies on 100 square meters. In 2024, twenty member companies will welcome visitors on some 1,100 square meters! "Our partnership with Landesmesse Stuttgart is very relevant to us," says ACMI Director Nicola Fornarelli. "The R+T is absolutely the most important trade fair in our industry for our member companies. All the companies that will soon be represented in the ACMI pavilion are looking forward to presenting their latest products in the field of doors and gates to the trade public." 

The R+T 2024: a world event!

It is well known that the R+T is the world's most important trade fair for shutters, gates and awnings. For more than 50 years, leading suppliers have presented their innovations and solutions to the most important issues in the industry there, at the trade fair itself or during one of the many evening events. In numerous areas, the R+T offers the opportunity for the exchange of ideas with peers and fellow entrepreneurs and is the ideal platform for intensive technical discussions. Numerous trade forums and networking events enable contacts to be made and new ideas to be taken home. As a leading trade fair, the R+T is a meeting point for the industry, a trend barometer and an innovation platform. 

With the BVRS, the Bundesverband für Rollladen + Sonnenschutz e.V. (the German association for roller shutters and awnings), the BVT (the German association for gates) and the ITRS, the Industrieverband Technische Textilien - Rolladen und Sonnenschutz e.V. (the association for manufacturers of technical textiles, roller shutters and awnings), the R+T has strong partners at its side who guarantee a market-oriented approach. A large number of other associations and institutions, such as the ES-SO (European Solar Shading Organization) and ift Rosenheim are involved in the R+T and are actively shaping the fringe program organized parallel to the fair. 

Where and when

- Messe Stuttgart
- Monday, Feb. 19 through Friday, Feb. 23, 2024