Rapid Doors in Supermarkets: Practical Design, Performance, and Customer Experience

During a recent Ulti virtual showroom session with supermarket stakeholders, the discussion moved beyond lifecycle and maintenance into how rapid doors behave in real retail environments – from trolley impacts and forklift traffic to temperature control and front-of-store appearance. The following insights are drawn directly from that session and from live supermarket installations across New Zealand.

 

Track Design and Protection from Trolley Scrapes

A common concern in supermarket back-of-house areas is whether trolley contact can damage door tracks. Ulti rapid doors are designed so that:

• Tracks sit flush within the door frame, rather than protruding into the opening
• The frame remains the narrowest point, especially when doors are oversized during design
• Minor trolley scrapes typically contact the frame or protection zones, not the track itself

This design reduces the likelihood of track deformation and helps maintain alignment in tight, high-traffic corridors.

 

How Ulti Roll Doors Are Most Commonly Operated

For Ulti Roll doors, the most common activation method discussed was radar sensors, particularly in forklift environments where speed and hands-free operation are critical.

Other activation methods regularly used include:

• Push buttons in controlled or staff-only areas
• Floor loops for forklifts
• Swipe access control in click-and-collect or theft-sensitive zones

In many supermarket installations, access methods are combined to balance safety, security, and efficiency.

 

Durability When Forklifts Make Contact

Forklift contact is an unavoidable reality in busy supermarket and distribution environments. Ulti Roll doors are designed specifically to minimise damage from these incidents:

• No rigid bars run through the curtain, unlike many traditional rapid doors
• A zip guide system allows the curtain to pop out on impact
• A soft bottom edge absorbs contact if a mast or top-of-load clips the door
• Curtains can often be refed and reset quickly, sometimes by trained store staff

This significantly reduces downtime and repair costs compared to rigid or bar-reinforced doors.

 

Use of Rapid Doors in Supermarkets

Yes – rapid doors are wisely installed in supermarkets, particularly in:

• Back-of-house corridors
• Loading bays
• Cold rooms and freezer access points

During the session, multiple examples were referenced across both the North and South Island, including Pak’n’Save and New World stores, where rapid doors are now preferred over swing doors due to durability, sealing performance, and energy efficiency.

 

Temperature Control and Energy Performance

While the session did not focus on formal energy modelling, several real-world outcomes were discussed. In one New World store, owners observed a clear improvement in temperature stability after installing rapid doors, particularly in windy locations and high-traffic corridors.

The key contributors were:

• Faster opening and closing speeds
• Improved perimeter sealing and compared to swing doors
• Reduced infiltration of hot or cold air into the store

In freezer applications, improved sealing was shown to directly reduce ice build-up and improve overall freezer efficiency.

 

Front-of-Store Appearance and Design Considerations

Rapid doors are generally not recommended for primary customer entrances. As discussed during the session:

• Front-of-store doors have different requirements around egress, fire compliance, and visibility
• Glass doors remain the preferred solution for customer-facing entrances
• Rapid doors are better suited to staff-only or back-of-house access points

This ensures safety, comfort, and a familiar experience for customers

 

Are “Fancier” Front-of-Store Rapid Doors on the Horizon?

While rapid doors are not currently intended to replace front-of-store glass entrances, the session highlighted ongoing innovation in custom finishes and graphics for retail-facing applications:

• Custom frame colours to align with brand standards
• Printed graphics and visual messaging on door curtains
• Creative use of partial openings to create visual effects

These developments are aimed at back-of-house and semi-visible areas, rather than full public entrances.

 

Ulti rapid doors are designed around how supermarkets actually operate – not how drawings suggest they should. From trolley traffic and forklifts to energy efficiency and store layout constraints, the focus remains on practical performance, durability, and long-term value for New Zealand retailers.