April 13, 2026 by EC

Auto-Close Swing Gates: Why Two Sets of Safety Beams Aren’t Optional

If your commercial property has an automatic swing gate with an auto-close function, there's one question worth asking right now — how many sets of safety beams do you have installed?

If the answer is one, it's time for a conversation.

How safety beams are supposed to work

Safety beams are the invisible line of defence that make automated gates safe for everyday use. On a swing gate, they should be installed on both sides of the gate — one set to protect the opening cycle, and one to protect the closing cycle.

When both are in place, the gate can detect if a person, vehicle, or object is in the path of travel and stop or reverse before making contact. It's a simple concept, but a critically important one.

What happens with only one set?

With just one set of beams, only half of your gate's movement is protected. That means either the opening or the closing action is operating without any detection capability. In a busy commercial environment — with staff, customers, delivery drivers, and vehicles moving in and out throughout the day — that's a serious gap.

Auto-close timers make this even more important to get right. When a gate is set to close automatically after a set period, it doesn't wait. If someone is in the path and the beam coverage isn't there, the gate won't know.

Understanding your liability as a business owner

This is where it becomes a business risk, not just a safety one. Where an auto-close function is active and safety beam coverage is incomplete, the responsibility for safe operation falls squarely on the owner or operator of the premises.

In practical terms, that means all persons entering or using the premises acknowledge that the gate may close automatically without warning. The owner or operator disclaims liability for any loss, damage, injury, or death arising from the gate's operation — including when the auto-close timer activates — to the fullest extent permitted by law.

That's a significant exposure for any business to carry, particularly when the fix is a second set of safety beams.

Our recommendation

If your swing gate has auto-close and only one set of beams, talk to your gate technician about getting the second set installed. It's a straightforward upgrade that brings your system into compliance, protects the people using your property, and significantly reduces your liability.

At NewTower Gate Accessories & Automation, we won't cut corners on safety and we'd encourage you not to either. Get in touch with our team if you'd like us to assess your current setup.

April 17, 2026April 13, 2026 by EC

Why a Proper Gate Stop Matters More Than You Think

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Why a Proper Gate Stop Matters More Than You Think

When it comes to automated and heavy-duty gates, it's the small details that make a big difference — and one of the most overlooked is the humble gate stop.

At NewTower Gate Accessories & Automation, our technicians recommend a compliant physical gate stop on every installation. Here's why we feel so strongly about it.

What is a gate stop, and why do you need one?

A compliant gate stop creates a physical, secure, and stable "end-of-travel" point for your gate. Think of it as a safe landing spot — every time your gate opens or closes, it knows exactly where to finish. Without one, things can go wrong quickly.

Without a proper physical stop installed, the gate can come off its track. This creates a risk of the gate falling, which could result in property damage or serious injury.

Over time, a gate without a proper stop can:

Twist and warp under repeated strain
Damage or loosen hinges
Burn out the gate motor from overworking
Swing or slide beyond its intended closure point
Hit nearby walls, fencing, or structures

For automated gates especially, this kind of wear and tear adds up fast — and repairs can be costly.

What happens when a stop isn't installed?

Sometimes clients choose not to proceed with our technician's recommendation — and that's completely their right. In these cases, a screw may be tek screwed into the floor track as a basic alternative. While this provides a minimal reference point, it's not a substitute for a fully compliant gate stop and doesn't offer the same level of protection for your gate system.

We always want to be upfront: if a gate failure occurs down the track and a compliant stop wasn't in place, we're unable to accept responsibility for that damage.

Our advice? Back yourself with the right gear from day one.

A gate stop is a small investment that protects a much bigger one. If you're unsure whether your current setup is compliant or have questions about your gate system, give us a call on (03) 9305 1400. We're always happy to help.

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April 1, 2026March 25, 2026 by EC

Cantilever Gate at Marnong Estate | Gate Accessories & Automation | Melbourne | Australia

A Custom Cantilever Gate at Marnong Estate

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A Custom Cantilever Gate at Marnong Estate

If you’re based in Melbourne’s North or West, chances are you’ve heard of — or better yet, visited — Marnong Estate. It’s a stunning winery and venue that caters for everything from relaxed dining experiences to weddings and overnight getaways. If you haven’t been yet, put it on your list!

We recently had the pleasure of manufacturing and installing a cantilever gate at Marnong Estate, serving as a secure access point to the private residence area. Here’s a look at how it all came together.

What Goes Into a Gate Like This?

A high-quality cantilever gate isn’t just a slab of steel on a track — there’s a lot of smart engineering behind the scenes. Here’s a breakdown of the key components we used for this installation:

Gate Operator

We powered this gate with a Centurion D10 motor — a heavy-duty industrial sliding gate operator that’s built to handle serious workloads. You can actually spot it in the photos!

Support & Guide Hardware

The gate rides smoothly thanks to:

Rollers that support and guide the gate along its travel path
A carriage assembly located at the rear of the gate when it’s in the fully open position

Safety System

Safety is always a priority. This installation uses FAAC XP 20 D photocell safety beams, with two detection heights to cover different vehicle types:

600mm high — positioned for standard cars
1200mm high — positioned for trucks and larger vehicles

Structural Elements

A motor post and frame with a welded base
A closing/receiving post on the opposite side, fitted with matching safety beam mounts

Cantilever Channel Details

The front of the channel is capped for a clean, finished look
The opposite end is hollow and includes a securing bolt

How We Put It All Together

Conduit & Base Plate

To keep things tidy, the conduits emerge directly from the concrete pad beneath the motor. We also customised the motor base plate by cutting a hole so the conduits could pass through cleanly into the motor area — no messy cable runs in sight.

Motor Post & Frame Installation

We installed a 4-post A-frame structure first, then welded the base on after the gate was in place. This approach let us tailor the base to the exact final position of the motor, which was then bolted on securely.

Bracing & Mounting

RNF 65 nylon wheels with bearings were screwed onto the back of the post and frame. The fasteners and bolts are mounted on angle iron, with the bracing carefully aligned to suit the layout of the post and frame.

Carriage Placement

When the gate is fully open, you can see the carriage sitting at the far rear. The carriage spacing follows Rolling Centre specifications precisely, which ensures the cantilever load is properly distributed and the gate travels smoothly every time.

Safety Beam Placement

The transmitting and receiving photocells are mounted across the driveway opening. On the closing/receiving post, you’ll find:

One safety beam at the top position
One safety beam at the bottom position

The corresponding FAAC XP units on the opposite post are aligned to create two separate detection planes at different heights — giving you solid safety coverage for all types of vehicles passing through.

The End Result

The finished gate is a great example of what a well-engineered cantilever installation looks like — secure, smooth-operating, and built to last. It’s always satisfying to see a project like this come together at a venue as beautiful as Marnong Estate.

If you’re thinking about a similar gate for your property or business, we’d love to help. Get in touch with the Newtower team to talk through your options.