Light grids for gates & industrial doors – high-end security for modern gate systems
Light curtains for gates and industrial doors are the pinnacle of modern security technology. While simple light barriers only protect a single beam, light curtains with multiple parallel infrared beams form an invisible protective curtain. As soon as this curtain is interrupted, the door control system reacts immediately – the door stops or retracts. This reliably protects people, vehicles, and goods. In this 10,000-word technical article, we explain everything about the technology, advantages, areas of application, standards, installation, maintenance, and the best models at Tormeister24 .
What are light grids and why are they important?
Light grids are a further development of classic light barriers. Instead of a single beam, several invisible infrared beams are emitted side by side. This creates a kind of protective curtain that monitors the entire passageway. Light grids are particularly indispensable in industrial applications, where large gates, high security requirements, and fast processes converge. They prevent:
- Accidents involving people, e.g. employees passing through entering gates.
- Damage to vehicles such as forklifts, trucks or cars.
- Damage to goods, pallets and logistics goods.
How a light grid works
A light curtain consists of transmitter and receiver columns . These are mounted on the side of the door and emit several parallel infrared beams. If one of these beams is interrupted, the system immediately sends a signal to the door control system. Typical reactions are:
- Immediate stop: Gate movement is stopped.
- Automatic reversing: Gate opens again to avoid obstacles.
- Signaling: optical or acoustic warning signal is triggered.
Advantages of light curtains
Light curtains offer many advantages that make them the preferred solution for industry and commerce:
- Maximum security: protection across the entire passage area.
- Standards compliant: meet EN 12453 & DGUV regulations.
- Flexible: suitable for different types of doors (sectional, roller, high-speed doors).
- Industrial quality: robust, durable, resistant.
- Can be combined with radar sensors, control strips or traffic lights.
Areas of application of light grids
- Industrial doors: Protection on large high-speed doors or sectional doors.
- Loading ramps: Monitoring during loading and unloading.
- Production halls: protection of employees and material flow.
- Logistics centers: secure processing with forklifts and trucks.
- Pharmaceutical & food industry: Compliance with strict safety standards.
Types of light grids
- Vertical light grids: classic, mounted on the side of the gate.
- Horizontal light grids: Protection near the ground, e.g., for roller shutters.
- Multi-beam light grid: particularly suitable for large gates.
- Radio light curtain: wireless version, easy to install.
Technology & Standards
Light curtains are required by law in industry. Important standards include:
- EN 12453: Safety of power-operated doors and gates.
- EN ISO 13849: Safety of machine control systems.
- DGUV regulations: annual inspection requirements in Germany.
Integration into gate controls
Light curtains are connected to the door control system and work with all common systems:
- Marantec: CS 320, CS 320 FU-I, CBX series.
- Hörmann, Novoferm & ITW: compatible through relay modules.
- Smart integration: IoT-enabled controls for Logistics 4.0.
Installation & Assembly
The installation of light curtains should be carried out by specialist companies:
- Mount the transmitter and receiver columns on the side of the gate.
- Connect cable or radio module.
- Adjust sensitivity and range.
- Carry out a test run (gate stops when an obstacle is encountered).
Maintenance & Operation
To ensure that light curtains work reliably, regular inspections are necessary:
- Cleaning the sensor surfaces.
- Functionality test (obstacle test).
- Check the cables and connections.
- Documentation for DGUV inspections.
Light grids at Tormeister24
At Tormeister24 you will find:
- Light grid sets for industrial doors.
- Multi-beam systems for large gates.
- Wireless versions for retrofitting.
- Compatible models for Marantec, High-Line, Select-Line & Pro-Line.
Buying advice – which light grid is suitable?
- Private: small light grids are sufficient for garage and yard gates.
- Industry: Multi-beam light grids mandatory for wide high-speed doors.
- Logistics: Combination with radar sensors and traffic lights makes sense.
- Special environments: Models with IP65/IP67 for dust & moisture.
Future of security technology
The future of light grids lies in the combination with other sensors :
- Combined sensors with radar & camera.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) for object recognition.
- Predictive maintenance using IoT sensors.
Conclusion – the premier class of goal security
Light curtains represent the highest level of security for gates and industrial doors. They monitor entire areas and are mandatory under many standards. Whether in logistics, industry, or the private sector: With tested models from Tormeister24 , you're on the safe side – reliable, standard-compliant, and future-proof.
