Thinking of adding a motor to your roller shutter? Compare manual and motorized shutters on effort, safety, power cuts and running costs before you decide.
Motor Installed
Control Wiring
Manual ShutterIf your shutter is wide, heavy or opened several times a day, a motor usually pays for itself in convenience and reduced wear. For small shutters used once or twice a day, a well-serviced manual shutter is often enough.
The heavier the curtain, the stronger the case for a motor.
Manual shutters are simple, affordable and have fewer parts to fail. A balanced spring makes lifting manageable, and there is nothing electrical to repair.
The downside appears as shutters get bigger. Lifting a wide shop shutter twice a day is tiring, and pulling hard on a curtain speeds up wear on the springs, rails and bottom bar.
A motor opens and closes the shutter at the press of a button or remote. Staff no longer struggle with heavy curtains, and the movement is smooth and even, which is kinder to every part of the shutter.
Controls can be a handheld remote, a wall switch or a key switch. Limit switches stop the curtain at exactly the right open and closed positions.
A common worry is being locked in or out during a power cut. Motorized shutters we install include a manual release so the curtain can still be moved.
Running costs are small because the motor only works for a few seconds each cycle. The main ongoing cost is servicing, which keeps the motor, limits and remotes working properly.
The differences that matter day to day.
Motor installations completed by our technicians.
Convert your shutter or repair an existing motor.
Most can, as long as the curtain and barrel are in good condition. We check the weight first.
A typical shop shutter conversion is usually completed in a day.
We supply a matching receiver and remotes, and extra remotes can be added later.
Send a photo of your shutter and its width. We will check whether it can be converted.
