McLays Automatic Gate System, Cardiff
Our Client
Cardiff firm A McLays Ltd is one of the largest digital print and design companies in Europe. The company wanted a bespoke automated gate to help them obtain ISO-14001 accreditation and to keep their logistics and delivery yard secure (they needed to manage the logistics of HGV vehicles around the site). The brief was to create a bespoke gate design matching the site’s existing colour schemes and styles, to fabricate the gate, provide civil engineering, electrical works, access control and an integrated VOIP entry intercom for it.
Notes & Feedback
The company now has complete control over the many vehicles including HGVs coming in and out of this busy printing warehouse yard and protection from thefts after closing hours.

THE BRIEF
The brief was to create a bespoke gate design matching the site’s existing colour schemes and styles, to fabricate the gate, provide civil engineering, electrical works, access control and an integrated VOIP entry intercom for it.
Overview
Cardiff firm A McLays Ltd is one of the largest digital print and design companies in Europe. The company wanted a bespoke automated gate to help them obtain ISO-14001 accreditation and to keep their logistics and delivery yard secure (they needed to manage the logistics of HGV vehicles around the site). The brief was to create a bespoke gate design matching the site’s existing colour schemes and styles, to fabricate the gate, provide civil engineering, electrical works, access control and an integrated VOIP entry intercom for it.
After our initial site meeting and risk assessment, we provided McLays with a design specification and CAD drawing to explain how the gate would operate. This showed how the gate would blend into its existing surroundings. We then started the fabrication stage of the project – This took six weeks from start to finish, including galvanising and powder coating the gate. We based the system on the NICE 3500kg cantilever gate system and the rolling centres 12m cantilever gate kit. We combined this with excellent Paxton Net2 access control and UDL VOIP door entry intercom systems.
Our main challenge was to prepare the ground around the gate’s new location ready for the installation. This involved hand-digging ducts around a mains transformer, using a mini digger to prepare the ground and installing the large gate U-frame and suspending this in concrete until set (making sure we retained a perfect “level” for the whole system to sit on). Another challenge with large automatic gate systems is the safety of the people around it. To adhere to (and exceed) the latest British Standards we installed:
• A vehicle ground loop on a timer so no open commands can be made by thieves after hours
• Laser break beams
• Several crush strip sensors around all trap points
• Chain mesh fencing to block any routes around the sides of the gate system.
We designed and supplied a pair of bespoke intercom posts for the Paxton access control and UDL intercoms to be mounted on. We also made the entry posts dual-height to serve HGVs and lower vans and cars.
The Select Difference
WE LOVE A CHALLENGE
What makes Select different is not only that it offers customers the very latest security technology – but its highly qualified engineers are willing to tackle any and every job, no matter how challenging the location. That includes installing systems on farms in remote areas with no electricity supply for miles and systems at industrial complexes and in busy city centres (including at one of the UK.