June 15, 2026 by EC

How Automatic Gate Safety Beams Work — And Why You Need Two

An automated gate is a heavy, powerful piece of machinery. A well-specified gate motor will push through a surprising amount of resistance before its obstruction detection kicks in — which is why relying on the motor alone to prevent injury is not a safe approach.

Safety beams (also called photocells) are the primary physical safety device in any gate automation system. Understanding how they work, where to mount them, and why one pair is never enough for a residential or commercial install is something every installer should have clear before they sign off on a job.

What is a safety beam?

A safety beam is an infrared sensor that works in pairs: a transmitter on one side of the gate opening, and a receiver on the other. The transmitter sends a continuous infrared beam across the opening to the receiver. When something breaks that beam — a person, a vehicle, an animal, a wheelie bin — the receiver signals the control board, and the gate stops. If the gate was closing, it reverses. If it was opening, it holds position.

The principle is simple and reliable. The beam is invisible and silent, and it responds faster than any other obstruction detection method. It doesn't depend on the gate making contact with something — which is the critical point.

How is it different to the motor's built-in obstruction detection?

Most modern gate control boards include obstruction detection through motor current monitoring. When the motor encounters resistance — because the gate has hit something — the current draw spikes, the board detects it, and the gate stops and reverses.

This sounds like a safety net. In practice, it has a significant limitation: it only activates after contact has been made. The gate has to physically hit the obstruction before the board responds. For a vehicle bumper, that might be acceptable. For a child or an animal, it is not.

Safety beams stop the gate before contact. That's the distinction that matters.

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.

Wired vs wireless safety beams

Safety beams are available in wired and wireless configurations. Wired beams are more reliable — they're not subject to battery failure or radio interference — and are the preferred choice for permanent installations. Wireless beams are useful where running cable across a gate opening isn't practical, but they require periodic battery maintenance and should be checked regularly.

Newtower stocks both wired and wireless photocell options compatible with our gate motor and control board range. If you're unsure which is compatible with your setup, give us a call before you order.

Where to mount safety beams

Beams should be mounted on both sides of the gate opening — not on the gate itself, which moves. They need a clear line of sight between transmitter and receiver with no obstructions, and they should be positioned so that the beam is broken before any part of the gate can make contact with the obstruction.

A few practical points:

Keep beams level — even a small angle between transmitter and receiver can cause alignment issues, especially over a wider opening
Avoid mounting near reflective surfaces — sunlight bouncing off polished metal or glass can cause false triggers
Adjust sensitivity on longer runs — most beams have a sensitivity adjustment to compensate for distance
Test thoroughly before sign-off — walk through at height, crouch down, test with a cardboard box at both beam heights. The gate should stop every time.

Don't cut corners on safety

A gate motor without properly specified safety beams is a liability — for the property owner and for the installer. If a gate injures someone and the safety specification was inadequate, that's a problem that goes well beyond a warranty claim.

Two pairs of beams. Wired where possible. Tested on every job before handover. That's the standard we hold our own installs to, and it's the specification we'd recommend to any installer working with Newtower products.

Shop Safety Beams & Photocells at newtower.com.au | (03) 9305 1400 | Technical support available

Browse Gate Motors at newtower.com.au | (03) 9305 1400 | Campbellfield VIC | Ships Australia-wide

May 26, 2026 by EC

How to Choose the Right Gate Motor for Your Property

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How to Choose the Right Gate Motor for Your Property

Choosing a gate motor isn't complicated — but there are enough variables that getting it wrong is easy if you don't know what to look for. Wrong voltage for the application. Motor rated for a gate half the weight of what's being installed. Remote system that doesn't integrate with an existing intercom. These are the kinds of mistakes that lead to callbacks and replacements.

This guide runs through the key decisions in plain language, so whether you're speccing a job for a client or researching your own driveway gate, you leave with a clear picture of what you actually need.

Step 1 — Gate type: sliding or swing?

This is the first fork in the road, and it determines everything else. Sliding gate motors and swing gate motors are completely different products — they're not interchangeable

Sliding gate motors

A sliding gate motor drives a rack — a toothed rail fixed to the bottom of the gate — to push the gate open and closed along its track. The motor mounts to a post or pad near the gate. Sliding gate motors are generally more reliable in high-cycle applications and work well on heavier gates.

Key spec to check: the motor's rated gate weight. Always err on the side of a higher-rated motor than you think you need — a motor running at the top of its rated capacity will wear out significantly faster than one with headroom to spare.

Swing gate motors

Swing gate motors operate either via a ram (a linear actuator that pushes the gate open) or an underground mechanism that drives the hinge post directly. Ram-type operators are the most common for residential installs — they're straightforward to install and maintain. Underground operators give a cleaner look but require more precise installation.

For double leaf swing gates, you'll need two motors — one per leaf — and a control board that can synchronise them. Leaf sequencing (where one leaf opens before the other to allow them to pass each other) is a common requirement on double swing gates where the leaves would otherwise collide.

Our recommendation

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.

Step 3 — Gate weight and size

Every motor has a rated maximum gate weight. This is not a guideline — it's a hard limit. Running a motor above its rated weight shortens its life significantly and voids the warranty on most products.

Weigh your gate if possible, or estimate based on material and size. A standard 3-metre tubular steel gate will typically weigh 80–120kg. A 4-metre heavy infill steel gate can easily hit 200kg or more. Timber gates can be heavier than they look.

When in doubt, spec up. A motor rated to 500kg running a 300kg gate will outlast a motor rated to 350kg running the same gate by a significant margin.

Step 4 — Cycle frequency

How many times per day will the gate open and close? A residential driveway gate might cycle 10–20 times per day. A commercial site or apartment complex might cycle 100 times or more.

Gate motors have a duty cycle rating — the percentage of time they can be running before they need to cool down. A motor with a 30% duty cycle is fine for a home driveway. A gate doing 100+ cycles per day needs a motor rated for continuous or near-continuous duty.

This is where residential and commercial specs diverge most sharply. Don't put a residential-grade motor on a commercial application — it will fail, and it will fail quickly.

Step 5 — Control and access

The motor is only part of the system. You also need to decide how people will operate the gate:

Remote handsets — the standard solution for residential. Most Newtower motors are supplied with remotes, and additional remotes can be added.
Keypad entry — common for residential and commercial. Allows code-based access without a remote.
GSM / WiFi / Bluetooth control — allows the gate to be opened via a phone app, and can provide access logs and remote management. Increasingly standard on residential installs.
Intercom integration — for properties where visitors need to be able to call from the gate. Can be wired or wireless.
Loop detectors — sensors embedded in the driveway that detect vehicles and can trigger automatic opening or closing. Common on commercial sites.

It's worth having this conversation with your client before you spec the motor, because the control accessories need to be compatible with the control board, and some boards have limitations on what can be integrated.

Step 6 — Safety

Australian standards require that automated gates include safety measures to prevent injury. At minimum, this means:

Safety beams (photocells) — infrared sensors that stop the gate if something breaks the beam during closing. A minimum of two beams is strongly recommended: one at bumper height to detect vehicles, one at a lower height to detect people and animals.
Sensitive edges — pressure sensors on the leading edge of the gate that stop it if it contacts an obstruction.
Obstruction detection — most modern control boards include motor current monitoring that stops and reverses the gate if it meets resistance. This is a baseline safety feature, not a substitute for physical safety devices.

If you're installing on a property with children or animals, don't skimp on the safety specification. Two photocell beams at different heights is the minimum we'd recommend for any residential installation.

Our recommendation for most residential jobs

For a standard residential sliding gate up to 400kg, a 24V DC sliding gate motor — such as the Centsys D5 Evo — with a battery backup module, two photocell safety beams, and a GSM or WiFi control unit covers the brief well. It's a system that a homeowner can operate from their phone, that keeps working in a blackout, and that will handle daily residential use reliably for years.

For swing gates, a 24V ram operator per leaf with synchronised control handles most residential double-leaf installs without drama.

Still not sure? Talk to us.

Newtower's team works with installers and homeowners across Australia every day. If you've got a specific job or a specific gate and you want to talk through the spec before you order, give us a call. We'd rather help you get it right the first time than deal with a return down the track.

Browse Gate Motors at newtower.com.au | (03) 9305 1400 | Campbellfield VIC | Ships Australia-wide

April 13, 2026 by EC

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

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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

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.

Buy Gate Stops Online

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.

Gate Build

Newtower
https://rollingcenter.com.au/

Components

Newtower
https://rollingcenter.com.au/

Rolling Center
https://rollingcenter.com.au/

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by EC

March 5, 2026 by EC

Welding and Mounting Procedure for Clamp Style Swing Gate Hinges

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Welding and Mounting Procedure for Clamp Style Swing Gate Hinges

The following is a set of instructions for welding and mounting clamp style hinges for a swing gate. The products used are available from our Rolling Center site, and the links are listed below.

Top Hinge (PG 51 S) Fabrication and Attachment

Weld PG 51 S to the post
- Position the PG 51 S at the required elevation on the post.
- Weld the PG 51 S to the post.
Add gussets for reinforcement
- Fit triangular gussets between the PG 51 S and the post.
- Weld gussets fully to provide stiffness and load distribution.
Attach the internal knuckle/bearing to a gate mounting plate
- The internal knuckle element inside the PG 51 S bearing is welded onto a plate.
- Weld the knuckle element to the plate.
Weld the plate to the gate
- Align the plate (with the welded knuckle element) to the swing gate hinge location.
- Weld the plate securely to the gate.

Bottom Hinge (PG 50 I) Fabrication and Attachment

Weld the cap to the bottom of the gate
- Position the PG 50 I bottom cap at the bottom hinge location on the gate.
- Weld the cap to the bottom of the gate.
Secure the internal bearing into the base plate
- The PG 50 I internal bearing is installed into the base plate.
- The bearing is tapped into the base plate and screwed in.
Use the internal access hole for fastening
- The PG 50 I includes an internal hole that provides access to perform the tapping/screwing operation.
- Confirm the bearing is fully seated and secured through this access.

Clamp-Style Hinge Configuration (System-Level Requirement)

The hinge set functions as a clamp-style hinge assembly.
The top and bottom hinge components must be clamped and mounted to each other (top-to-bottom alignment maintained) to achieve:
- Proper hinging action
- Correct spacing between components
- Stable alignment of the swing gate during operation.

Installation Notes and Alignment Considerations

Maintain consistent alignment between PG 51 S (top) and PG 50 I (bottom) during fit-up.
Treat the hinge pair as an interdependent set: incorrect spacing or misalignment between top and bottom clamp elements can affect hinge performance.
Confirm weld placement does not interfere with clamp engagement or bearing movement.

Components

Rolling Center
https://rollingcenter.com.au/

Bottom Hinge : PG 50 I
Top Hinge: PG 51 S

Welding and Mounting Procedure for Clamp-Style PG 51S I Swing Gate Hinges 1

Welding and Mounting Procedure for Clamp-Style PG 50I I Swing Gate Hinges 1

December 18, 2024 by EC

When are sliding gates preferable to cantilever gates?

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Sliding Gates vs Cantilever Gates

Sliding gates are preferable to cantilever gates in the following scenarios:

Limited Side Space for the Gate:

Compact Design: Sliding gates only require enough room for the gate itself to slide open. They do not need the extra counterbalance section that cantilever gates require, making them ideal for properties with limited space beside the gate opening.

Lower Cost:

Budget Constraints: Sliding gates are generally more affordable than cantilever gates because they require fewer materials and simpler hardware. This makes them a cost-effective option for residential or light-duty applications.

Lighter Weight Gates:

Less Structural Support Needed: Sliding gates are more suitable for lightweight gates, where the extra support structure of a cantilever design may not be necessary.

Stable and Level Ground:

Track-Friendly Conditions: Sliding gates operate best on flat, stable ground where a ground track can be easily installed and maintained. If the ground surface is clear of obstructions, debris, and inclines, sliding gates perform effectively.

Aesthetic Preference for Ground-Level Operation:

Sleek Ground-Level Tracks: Sliding gates move flush along their track, providing a neat, seamless look. This design may be preferred for certain architectural styles or landscaping considerations.

Limited Opening Width:

No Overhang Needed: Sliding gates don't require the additional overhang (counterbalance) that cantilever gates do. This makes them preferable in areas where the gate opening is narrow and side clearance is minimal.

Frequent Pedestrian Traffic:

Integrated Pedestrian Gates: Sliding gates can more easily accommodate integrated pedestrian gates or separate pathways for walkers, making them suitable for mixed-use access points.

Lower Wind Resistance:

For Windy Areas: Sliding gates have less structural material above ground compared to cantilever gates, meaning they present less resistance in windy conditions.

Light-Duty Applications:

Residential and Light Commercial: Sliding gates are often chosen for homes, apartment complexes, and small commercial properties due to their simplicity, reliability, and cost-efficiency for lighter traffic and weight.

Minimal Maintenance Areas:

Low Debris Zones: If the location is not prone to debris, snow, or dirt that could clog the track, sliding gates are easier to maintain since their design is straightforward.

In Summary:

Sliding gates are a better choice when:

Space for side retraction is tight.
The ground is level and free of obstacles.
Budget is a primary concern.
The gate is lightweight or for residential/light-duty use.
Aesthetic or design preferences favor ground-level operation.

In contrast, cantilever gates are better for uneven terrain, heavy-duty applications, or environments with snow, ice, or debris.

December 18, 2024December 9, 2024 by EC

GSM Options After the Shutdown of 3G in Australia

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With the closure of the 3g system in Australia, what are the options for gsm gate systems?

With the shutdown of Australia's 3G networks, GSM gate systems that relied on 3G connectivity are now inoperative. To restore functionality, consider the following options:

1. Upgrade to 4G-Compatible GSM Gate Controllers: Modern GSM gate controllers operate on 4G networks, ensuring continued remote access. Eg, Palgate.

2. Look at alternative systems: As an alternative to replacing 3G with a 4G system, consider alternatives like wifi or bluetooth systems, eg Remootio.

3. Consult with Security and Automation Professionals: Engaging professionals can help identify the most suitable upgrade or replacement options tailored to your specific needs.They can also assist with installation and configuration to ensure seamless operation.

4. Verify Network Coverage and Device Compatibility: Before implementing upgrades, confirm that your area has adequate 4G or 5G coverage. Additionally, ensure that any new devices support Voice over LTE (VoLTE) to maintain full functionality, including the ability to make emergency calls.

By proactively upgrading your GSM gate system to be compatible with 4G or 5G networks, you can maintain reliable and secure access control in the post-3G era.

December 18, 2024December 9, 2024 by EC

Gate Automatioon | Double Leaf Swing Gates | Xnodo | Hampton | Newtower

Double Leaf Swing Gate Automation – Hampton

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Double Leaf Swing Gate Automation – Hampton

Newtower provided and installed automation for these double leaf swing gates in the Melbourne suburb, Hampton. The gates, manufactured and installed by Bluegum & Co, bookend a shallow circular driveway. This required the gate leaves to be different sizes to ensure the driveway wasn't impeded by the inner leaf on each side. To accomodate this, the inner leaf is approximately 900mm wide, whereas the outer leaf, which opens onto the boundary walls, is larger at approximately 2400mm. Each gate leaf is approximately 1800mm in height.

As the Xnodo motors can be individually adjusted for speed and angle of opening, this disparity in size and opening angle was accounted for during programming of the Elsema MCV224E control board.