Year: <span>2015</span>

Gateway Automation’s offices will be closed from 4pm on Friday 18th December 2015 and will open again at 9am on Monday 4th January 2016.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our customers from all of us at Gateway Automation.

We see bollards in use almost everywhere we go. However the types of bollards that are used to restrict traffic in areas with high volumes of people, such as train stations, airports and football stadiums, are quite different to automatic bollards which serve a more security focused purpose.

Automatic rising bollards are steel structures which rise from the ground to control access and prevent intrusion on a site where entry needs to be restricted for security reasons.

A common reason for installing automatic rising bollards is to help secure car parks, which are often a prime target for vandals and criminals.

Equally, there has been an increase in private home owners installing automatic bollards in their driveways which can act as a strong deterrent against would-be burglars.

From the 1990’s onwards there has been a rise in the use of bollards for commercial security purposes. This means not only using bollards to restrict access to an area but also for anti-ramming and anti-terrorism purposes. The purpose is to resist impact from vehicles for government buildings and large organisations that might be at risk from terrorism. Gateway also provides a range of anti-terrorism bollards designed to meet this need.

Our GA7276H Automatic bollard employs a simple yet effective electro hydraulic mechanism which ensures smooth and efficient movement of the bollard. It is also fitted with obstacle detection sensors, a crown of LED lights, acoustic warning signals and a manual override facility.

Whether your business runs from small retail premises or a large industrial site Gateway Automation can provide you with a free, no-obligation quotation and feasibility survey to assess your bollard requirements. Click here to arrange a callback or click here to download our free brochure.

Crime is a major threat to businesses of all sizes in the UK, with crime against businesses accounting for as much as 20% of all criminal incidents recorded. Many businesses are unaware of this fact and also don’t realise that an overwhelming majority of burglaries are unplanned. This underlines the importance of highlighting any weaknesses in perimeter security with a risk assessment, implementing it and dealing with any vulnerabilities. Here are 10 ways that you can ramp up your security efforts in and stop crime in its tracks.

1 – Barriers
Barriers can be used in a number of ways to prevent unwanted access to car parks, warehouses, construction sites, garages and other areas where vehicular access needs to be restricted. Automatic barriers are a high-tech option and are controlled by push-buttons, tokens, proximity cards, CCTV or by on site security guards while manual barriers are a cost-effective solution, especially for areas where power supply is limited. Height restrictive barriers are used to prevent large transit vehicles from entering a site illegally.

2 – Gates
While CCTV and alarm systems can record a crime they do not always stop it from happening. A strong security gate is one of the most effective ways of ensuring a business is protected by providing a physical barrier which prevents criminals from getting in or making a quick escape. At Gateway we offer a range of swing gates, sliding gates and bi-folding gates.

3 – Turnstiles
Manned guarding is a good way to monitor who is coming and going, but a more cost effective solution can be to install full-height or waist-height turnstiles which only allow access to those who are permitted entry, either through use of a keypad, proximity card, token or through intercom access.

4 – Access control equipment
In addition to these methods of improving security, there is also high quality, low cost access control equipment available to help you stay on top of the visitors to your site, limit access to certain areas and provide protection to your members of staff. These can include intercom systems, proximity devices, traffic lights, keypads, biometric fingerprint readers and more.

5 – Security posts
A simple yet effective way of restricting vehicular access, security posts work in a similar way to static bollards but can be folded down into a lowered position for when you want to allow access to approved vehicles.

6 – Speed ramps
Speed ramps are used to successfully restrict the speed of vehicles on your business site and can be altered to deliver more or less speed reduction according to your needs.

7 – Flow control plates
Another effective way to control traffic is through flow control plates, which encourage a one-way flow of vehicles. Typically they are used in car parks, goods-loading yards, bus lanes and also in some residential areas to reduce non-residential traffic.

8 – Automatic rising kerbs
Tough, reliable and un-compromising – automatic rising kerbs act as a barrier against unwanted vehicle access in vehicle parking areas, completely blocking access to unwanted visitors and utilising the latest hydraulic technologies.

9 – Crash tested road blockers
If your site requires a higher level of security, such as to provide protection against a potential terrorist threat, then you should consider crash tested road blockers. A formidable 1050mm high when fully raised, Gateway’s own GA10000 received a 100% pass rate and “0” penetration when tested at the Motor Industry Research Associaton.

10 – Anti-Terrorism Bollards
Another potential solution to guarding against terrorist threats is anti-terrorism bollards. Frequently employed in sensitive sites such as airports, embassies, storage facilities and government offices they provide a strong barrier against terrorist threats.

Whether your business runs from small retail premises or a large industrial site, we can provide you with a free, no-obligation quotation and feasibility survey to assess your perimeter security requirements. For more information on any of the security options above, or for further advice on how to protect your business premises from criminals, please contact us here.

Educational facilities such as schools, colleges and universities are constantly busy and experience heavy footfall and with this comes the potential for criminal activity to take place.

Educational facilities are at risk from a range of different crimes, ranging from petty theft and vandalism to more serious criminal damage and theft. In a recent article we looked at how proximity cards can be used to limit access and keep educational facilities safe and secure, but turnstiles are another effective measure that can be employed to increase the security of your site.

The first line of defence
Turnstiles should be the first line of defence in educational facilities and can prevent criminals from using tactics like tail gating to gain access to a building.

Tail gating involves a criminal quickly following behind a person who has been approved entry, shielding them from view as they go in to a building or area. While you can train staff and security to pick up on signs of tailgating, installing turnstiles is the best way to deter this practice. They restrict entry into a single flow, slowing down traffic and allowing for better monitoring by your manned guards and CCTV operators.

While CCTV footage can pick up on criminal activity in retrospect and be used in court to help convict a criminal, it doesn’t necessarily prevent the act from taking place. A turnstile stops criminals from gaining access in the first place as only those approved by nearby security, or with an access card can gain entry to the site.

In addition to this, they act as a powerful deterrent by sending a message to would-be criminals that the educational site is well secured and provide students, staff and visitors with peace of mind that they can conduct their learning without the fear of falling victim to crime.

Half height turnstiles
Waist & half height turnstiles offer a stylish and modern looking security solution for protecting an educational site which means that students, staff and lecturers can feel safe but not intimidated by security measures that are put in place.

They can be integrated with a number of different access control options including proximity cards, tokens, keypad entry and voice/video intercom control and can be customised to meet your needs. Here at Gateway we offer 4 different styles of waist & half height turnstiles – the TriFlo console, TriFlo Premier, TriFlo Sentry and Rotogate SI.

We also provide free feasibility surveys to assess your requirements and non-obligation quotes. Click here to arrange a callback or click here to download our free brochure.

We have recently added a new page to our website explaining the different servicing and repairs options that we are pleased to offer here at Gateway Automation. By offering these services, we aim to provide you with complete and total peace of mind when it comes to your gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment.

We know that once you have purchased perimeter security systems and devices that is not the end of the story and that it should not be the end of your relationship with the installer either. Gates, barriers and other items of security equipment need to be well maintained in order to keep performing at their very best. It is a bit like after having purchased a car you need to ensure that it has a regular service and MOT so that it keeps doing the job that it was designed to do. After all, many of these items are going to be used all day, every day, and so need to be properly looked after. Once customers have gone through the process of searching for and choosing a manufacturer and installer, they don’t then want to have to go through the whole process again to find someone who will maintain the product. They would generally rather that it was done by the company that made and installed the product, and therefore knows the product best.

We also know that even if a gate or barrier is well maintained and looked after, there are occasions where something will break down or go wrong, a bit like a car that is well maintained can still have a problem or can break down. So, your gate or barrier might need fixing, or might need a spare part to replace one that has broken or warn out. We find that in these situations, people would rather go back to the company that made and installed the product rather than having to find someone else to sort it out.

So, we offer a nationwide reactive callout service with engineer response times of 8 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days. This means minimum disruption for your business, your employees and your clients, as we know what an urgent problem it can be if your barriers, gates, turnstiles or other access control equipment suddenly stop working. We also offer nationwide maintenance contracts on our own products and on existing equipment made by other manufacturers and supply spares and parts for all manufacturers’ equipment. We have local and reliable service engineers based all over the UK and Ireland to ensure a fast and efficient service.

In short, we don’t believe that our relationship with our customers should end once the product has been purchased and installed, and as a result we offer a one stop shop solution when it comes to barriers, gates, turnstiles, access control equipment, bollards and other types of perimeter security equipment to ensure that your premises remain secure as intended.

To find out more about our servicing and repairs options, please visit http://www.gatewayautomation.co.uk/service-repair/ or contact us on 01522 682255 for a free, no-obligation quotation and feasibility survey to assess your perimeter security equipment.

Related articles:

• The benefits of barriers
• Choosing gate security for your premises
• 3 types of security gates you should know about

Security gates are used widely across public, private and commercial settings to protect against unwanted access. Often, once businesses have risk assessed their properties, security gates are high on their agenda and here at Gateway we offer 3 key types that you should know about.

1 – Swing gates
Swing gates are a traditional form of gate which protect against unwanted intruders, or unauthorised access.

These types of gates are particularly versatile and are used at all kinds of properties, including schools, businesses and private sites.

In order for a swing gate to be installed there needs to be enough room for the gate to open and ground needs to be level so as to avoid catching.

The GA9600 Automatic Swing Gate meets all the necessary legislation and its control panel is neatly housed away adding to its professional appearance.

Swing gates are a traditional form of gate which protect against unwanted intruders, or unauthorised access.

2 – Sliding gates
Sliding gates are a perfect solution for properties or sites where there is a shortage of space and a swing gate might not be able to achieve its full arc when opening.

Sliding gates open horizontally and are more difficult to force open through impact from a vehicle.

We offer two types of cantilever sliding gates in the form of the GA9000 Automatic Sliding Gate and the 6A9000M Manual Sliding Gate.

3 – Bi-folding gates
A third option is bi-folding gates which are also known as speed gates as they can open and close very quickly. This can be important for high-security areas where the risk of tailgating needs to be minimized or areas where there will be high levels of traffic.

Our GA9500 Bi-Folding Trackless Speed Gate opens typically at more than twice the speed of a traditional swinging gate and can be fitted with spiked tops, warning lights and sirens if required.

There is no such thing as one-size fits all when it comes to perimeter security and here the type of gate solution that you opt for will very much come down to your site’s specific requirements.

Here at Gateway we offer free feasibility surveys to help assess your requirements. We also provide non-obligation quotes. Click here to arrange a call back or click here to download our free brochure.

More than ever before, many of the world’s institutions and organisations face a serious threat of terrorist attack. Over recent years the terrorist threat in the UK has constantly been set between ‘moderate’ and ‘severe’ which means that an attack is highly likely.

Due to this serious terror threat, many financial, government and private organisations are seeking ways to reduce the threat, and subsequent damage that can happen as a result of terrorism.

Anti-terrorism crash road tested road blockers are an effective tool in preventing vehicles from gaining access to important, restricted areas and also act as a deterrent to anyone planning an attack.

Gateway’s own GA100000 Shallow-Mounted Road Blocker was crash tested at MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) with great success, passing 100% with “0” penetration and still remaining operable after impact.

Whereas once it was government institutions that were most at risk from terrorist attacks, in today’s climate private sector companies are just as vulnerable. This is why crash tested road blockers are regularly employed in a variety of environments such as banks, depots, ports, airports and utility providers, as well as armed forces sites and government buildings.

If you have identified your site as needing a high level of security to counter a terrorist threat then you should consider installing a road blocker. Crash tested road blockers work best as a part of a full security system which could also include bollards, barriers, gates and other access control equipment.

Gateway Automation provides free, no obligation quotes and feasibility surveys for your premises. To assess your security requirements, please contact us here.

Related articles:

• Choosing gate security for your premises
• Crime against business premises

While reception areas can be a pleasant and welcoming place for greeting new clients and customers, they also have a vital role to play in providing protection against criminal activities.

Aside from the typical duties of greeting visitors, answering calls and handling incoming mail, today’s receptionists should have a good grasp on security threats. This means being aware, using guest books and visitor badges and staying up to date on the latest scams.

However, no matter how well prepared your receptionist, there is always the potential for human error and businesses should be aware of technology which can further aid them in their security efforts.

Proximity devices
One highly successful way to prevent access to specific areas of your business is to utilise proximity devices. Keypads can be used to restrict access, with the entry code shared only with those members of staff who need it. Similarly proximity cards can be used and this reduces the need for staff to remember a specific entry code. Many proximity cards such as our PC-200 proximity cards feature ‘smart chips’ which mean that users simply have to press their card against a reader rather than having to insert it.

Biometric fingerprint readers
Fingerprint recognition devices are a secure and reliable way to control access to unauthorised areas. The human fingerprint is unique to each and every person making it a very effective way of securing a building or an area. Using fingerprint recognition reduces the need to remember a code or present a card which significantly reduces risk.

Waist & Half Height Turnstiles
Tail gating is a common tactic that criminals use to gain unauthorised access to a building. This happens when a criminal quickly follows behind another person shielding them from view as they gain access.

Training staff to watch out for the tell tale signs of tailgating but installing a waist or half height turnstile is a much more fool-proof method.

A turnstile can help to manage traffic in a number of ways. It can slow down traffic by restricting flow to once person at a time and halt access until the person shows identification or until they provide payment.

Examples of settings where half height turnstiles are popular include offices, libraries and leisure facilities.

For more information about our range of access control equipment to help secure reception areas, please visit our website here or arrange a call back with one of our members of staff here.