Pros
- Cheaper and needs no side room
- Suits pedestrian gates and smaller vehicle gates
- A ram, articulated arm or underground motor can automate the leaf
- Fits where there is no room beside the opening
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Gates
Automatic Swing Gates
Pedestrian gates and smaller vehicle gates are often swing gates. A swing gate is cheaper and needs no side room. It needs clear space to swing into and a fairly level driveway.
The motor
A ram, an articulated arm or an underground motor.
For most leaves RJL uses a linear ram such as the Centurion Vantage SMART, DEA Look or BFT Phobos. Thick pillars take an articulated arm such as Roger Technology BH23/254. Where the motor must be hidden, RJL fits underground operators such as CAME FROG-X or DEA Ghost 200.
- Linear ram for most leaves
- Articulated arm for thick pillars
- Underground operator where the motor must be hidden
Buyer's guide
Automatic swing gates: what you need to know
Pedestrian gates and smaller vehicle gates are often swing gates, which can be automated with a ram, articulated arm or underground motor.
Cons
- Needs clear space to swing into
- Needs a fairly level driveway
- A sliding gate is better for wide openings, busy entries and driveways close to a road
- A linear ram needs room behind the hinge post
- Underground operators cost more and need a drained foundation box
A good fit for your site if
- You are choosing a pedestrian or smaller vehicle gate
- There is clear space for the leaf to swing into
- The driveway is fairly level
- There is no room beside the opening for a sliding leaf
Look at something else if
- The opening is wide, the entry is busy, or the driveway is close to a road: a sliding gate is a better fit
- The entry is gravel, sloped or fills with debris, and you have side room: a cantilever gate has no track
- You need fast, frequent car park access with no full closure: a boom gate is quicker
- You want the fence and the gate specified together
- The site is a temporary job site: hire a portable solar gate
Swing gate motors we recommend
Ratings are the manufacturer's published maximums for a well-built gate on level ground. RJL picks a motor with headroom after checking gate weight, wind load, slope and how many times a day the gate runs. Ranges change, so we confirm the current model when we quote.
| Gate style or site | Example models | Why it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Linear ram (most common), single or double leaves up to about 3–5m | Centurion Vantage SMART (12V ram) · DEA Look (leaves up to 5m) · BFT Phobos BT L (leaves up to 5m) | Simple, affordable and easy to service. Needs room behind the hinge post for the ram. |
| Articulated arm, for thick brick or concrete pillars | Roger Technology BH23/282 (24V brushless, leaves up to 3m) · Roger Technology BH23/254/HS (brushless, high-speed) · Roger Technology R23/373 | The folding arm works where the hinge sits well off the pillar face and a ram will not fit. |
| Underground, for heritage fronts, schools and architectural gates | CAME FROG-X (24V brushless) · DEA Ghost 200 (leaves up to 4m / 400kg) · BFT SUB (hydraulic, leaves up to 3.5m) · SEA hydraulic underground operators | Nothing visible above ground. Costs more and needs a drained foundation box. |
| Heavy or busy commercial swing gate | BFT Kustos (leaves up to 4m, up to 500kg) · SEA hydraulic rams | Stronger drives for heavy infill, wind-loaded leaves and frequent use. |
Detection, ANPR and safety add-ons
| Need | Example products | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle detection without cutting the road | Optex OVS-01GT vehicle presence sensor | Mounted above ground. Uses microwave and ultrasonic sensing to detect a stopped vehicle within 5.5m, so it can replace an in-ground loop. Works day and night. |
| Number plate recognition (ANPR) at gates and booms | Hikvision DS-TCG406-E (4MP access ANPR camera) · Dahua ITC413-PW4D series (access ANPR camera) | Reads plates as the car arrives and opens for approved vehicles. No cards or remotes needed. |
| Safety beams, anti-tailgating and gate safety | Optex safety and detection sensors · photocells and safety edges matched to the operator | Stops the gate or boom closing on a person or vehicle and helps catch tailgaters. |
Recent work and examples
Brands we supply, install and service
- Roger Technology
- CAME
- BFT
- Centurion (CENTSYS)
- SEA
- DEA System
- Optex
- Hikvision
- Dahua
More questions
Swing gate or sliding gate?
The checks are in the lists above. A sliding gate is the usual alternative when the opening is wide, the entry is busy, or the driveway is close to a road.
Which swing gate motor do you recommend?
For most leaves we use a linear ram such as the Centurion Vantage SMART, DEA Look or BFT Phobos. For thick pillars we use an articulated arm such as Roger Technology BH23/254. Where the motor must be hidden we fit underground operators such as CAME FROG-X or DEA Ghost 200.
Frequently asked questions
Useful answers before you ask for a quote.
Can RJL maintain a swing gate installed by someone else?
Yes. RJL first inspects the asset, confirms its condition and identifies any immediate repair or safety work before proposing the ongoing service program.
What does a planned swing-gate visit cover?
A planned visit covers a visual and mechanical condition inspection, lubrication, adjustment and fastener checks, safety-device and operational cycle testing, and a battery, manual release and controller review.
Can MagicKeys be set up on a swing gate?
MagicKeys can be set up for that site, and RJL quotes the work.
Start a conversation
Talk through a swing gate for your site.
Book a free on-site maintenance report, or call the 24/7 Rapid Response line for anything urgent.