FAAC GOES TO THE ZOO
844 sliding gate operators installed at Howletts Wild
Animal Park
All gates to the elephant enclosure at Howletts Wild
Animal Park in Kent can now be operated remotely
following the installation of FAAC automatic sliding gate
operators and a customised access control device. The
new system was specified by wild animal park owners, the
Aspinall Foundation, following the successful
implementation of a similar gate automation programme at
nearby Port Lympne elephant enclosure the previous year.
The system was designed and installed by leading FAAC
approved installers, Sevenoaks-based Securigate Ltd. 844
sliding gate operators from FAAC have been fitted to all
twelve gates within the elephant enclosure and a customdesigned
wire-free portable remote control programmable
transmitter based on FAAC’s 868 radio control unit
enables each gate to be opened remotely at the touch of a
button.
Working with keepers at the wild animal park, Securigate
and FAAC engineers developed a unique rechargeable long
range radio signalling device that can be carried on a
strap around the keepers’ bodies as they move about their
work. Gates can be opened and closed remotely, safely
controlling the movement of elephants within the
enclosure.
The system has been carefully designed to be completely
safe in operation, both for the keepers, and for the
animals. The 844 operator was chosen as it features a
non-reversing worm screw gear motor, ensuring that the
elephants cannot push the gate back once the motor has stopped. Suitable
for single gates up to 40m long and weighing up to
1800kg, 844 operators can be specified for use with both
rack and chain applications.
Howletts & Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks were set up by
the late John Aspinall with the aim of protecting and
breeding rare and endangered species and returning them
to safe areas in their native homeland. World leaders in
conservation, the parks have so far returned to the wild
Przewalski’s horses, Black rhino, Sumatran rhino, Cape
buffalo, ocelots, pythons and gorillas.
With more than 40 year’s experience, FAAC is a world
leader in gate and door automation. The company has
manufacturing and development facilities in Italy and
Ireland and distributes its products in more than 90
countries. Within the UK, FAAC (UK) based in Basingstoke
is the market leader in residential and commercial
markets, which it serves through a national network of
800 approved installers, all trained to FAAC’s high
standards.
ENDS
Further information:
Sarah Dartnell, FAAC (UK) Ltd, 6 Hamilton Close, Houndsmill Estate,
Basingstoke, RG21 6YT
Tel: 01256 318100 Fax: 01256 318101 E-mail:
sarah.dartnell@faac.co.uk
Veronica Robinson, Elixir Marketing, 20 High Street, Theale, Reading
RG7 5AN
Tel: 0118 930 3151 Fax: 0118 930 3252 E-mail:
vrobinson@elixirmarketing.co.uk
Tricia Corkhill, Public Relations Manager, Howletts and Port Lympne
Wild Animal Parks
Tel: 01303 234134 Fax: 01303 264944 www.totallywild.net