The Operator: A Motor That Thinks in Torque
An automatic swing door is an ordinary hinged door driven by an operator — a motorised unit mounted above the frame, connected to the leaf by an articulated arm. When triggered, the motor rotates the arm through a geared drive, swinging the leaf open; a spring or the motor itself then returns it closed under control.
What separates a good operator from a door-slamming liability is the control system. Our automatic swing doors use self-adapting technology control: the operator continuously measures the torque needed to move the leaf and adjusts its output to match.
Constant Speed, Whatever the Conditions
Self-adaptation is what delivers constant-speed operation. A heavy tempered glass leaf and a light aluminium one open at the same steady pace. A gust of wind pushing against the door is met with more torque, not a stalled or runaway leaf. As hinges wear or seals stiffen over the years, the operator quietly compensates.
The closing side gets equal engineering. Backcheck cushioning slows a leaf that someone shoves open hard, protecting the operator arm and the wall. Latching speed gives the final few degrees a controlled push so the door actually closes against its seal instead of bouncing.
Why constant speed is a safety feature
Elderly visitors and wheelchair users time their movement against the door. A leaf that opens at one speed today and another tomorrow — the behaviour of uncontrolled spring closers — is exactly what causes contact incidents. Predictability is protection.
Triggers, Modes and Where Swing Operators Fit
Activation is flexible and chosen per site: microwave motion sensors for hands-free public entry, wave switches and foot sensors for hygiene-sensitive premises, push buttons for controlled access, or a direct signal from card readers and intercoms. Hold-open mode keeps the leaf open for deliveries; low-energy modes suit accessibility doors that open more gently on request.
Swing operators shine where sliding doors cannot go — walls with no side room to park a sliding leaf, corridors, and existing hinged doorways being upgraded for accessibility without rebuilding the opening. If you are weighing the two approaches, our comparison of swing vs sliding sets out the trade-offs.
Retrofit is often practical: if your existing leaf, hinges and frame are sound, an operator can automate the door you already have. Our RM50 on-site assessment — fully deductible on order — confirms suitability, sizes the operator power grade to your leaf, and gives you an exact price.