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Axis Entrance Systems Case Study: Intensive Care Unit Redevelopment at Homerton University Hospital, in Hackney

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INDUSTRY: Healthcare

CLIENT: Homerton Healthcare NHS Trust Foundation

CONTRACTOR: Quinn London

ARCHITECT: Hunters

PROJECT:

The redevelopment and upgrade of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Homerton University Hospital, in Hackney, East London, to significantly increase the hospital’s capacity for accommodating critical care patients.

Working within the existing hospital footprint, this redevelopment and refurbishment included a reworking of the space to include:

• Six new isolation bed bays

• Areas for relatives

• A simulation suite

Our brief was to supply and install the doors to the six new isolation bays, as well as several glazed screens.

CHALLENGES:

The two big challenges for this project were the space constraints and working in close proximity to live clinical areas within this busy hospital.

SOLUTION:

Working closely with the project’s architects, Hunters and main contractor Quinn London, six Manusa bi-parting hermetic doors with integral blinds were specified.

The Manusa bi-parting hermetic sliding doors combine the advantages of an automatic door with the airtightness and hygiene required in clinical settings – perfect for healthcare environments.

Other features of these doors include:

  • The highest classification for air permeability
  • Maximum safety systems for people & operation
  • Obstruction-detection systems with automatic reopening & unlock for manual opening in power cuts

Additionaly, we fitted several glazed screens of various dimensions.

OUTCOME:

Our Manusa bi-parting hermetic sliding doors and the glazed panels supported the vision and work of the architects, Hunters and main contractor Quinn London by providing these significant benefits:

  • Excellent light transfer to maximise the feeling of spaciousness
  • Flexibility for clear patient/staff visibility or patient privacy withthe integrated blinds
  • Improved infection prevention with the hermetic doors
  • Improved protection from the door safety devices
  • An attractive, efficient & improved environment for staff, patients & visitors

“The Axis team was always at hand to engage with us as designers and explore appropriate solutions and the doors looked great”

Tim Ashton, Director at Hunters

T: 01604 212500         W: www.axisentrances.com

Paddington Station Improves Assisted Travel Experience (June 2024)

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A new lounge, that has been designed for Network Rail passengers using the assistance programme, has opened at Paddington station. TORMAX was contracted to work with Saper Glass to manufacture and install an automatic, single sliding door system, giving clear and easy access into the Assisted Travel Lounge (ATL).

Powered by the in-house designed TORMAX iMotion 2202 door drive, smooth and reliable operation is assured thanks to the innovative design of the high torque, synchronous motor that ensures rapid response to approaching foot traffic.

Featuring none of the parts that regularly wear out, such as gears and brushes, the iMotion motor offers a longer lifespan, with lower maintenance demands, than other similar door operators.

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Paddington’s Grade I listed structure is one of Britain’s most historically significant railway stations. Appointed as main contractor, Consortia Group was responsible for delivering the new ATL, greatly improving accessibility within this major transport hub.

Situated next to the taxi rank on the station’s upper deck, the ATL provides a safe, convenient and accessible waiting room for passengers of restricted mobility. During opening hours, Network Rail’s Passenger Assistance team provide a customer ambassador to help individuals wanting to use the facility.

Ensuring the TORMAX automatic door opens and closes appropriately every time, speed settings and hold-open time can be easily adjusted by station staff via a user-friendly keypad.

Maximising system performance, an intelligent microprocessor control system guarantees permanent monitoring of door leaf movement, making automatic adjustments in response to say a build-up of debris on the floor.

“Travelling through a busy station can be challenging for those with additional needs,” comments Susan Evans, Network Rail’s head of passenger strategy for Western Route. “The Assisted Travel Lounge helps mitigate this by providing a friendly space for people to get the help they need from a dedicated team.”

Concealed Automation Opens Doors to Zara Concept Store, London November 2023

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TORMAX was recently contracted by Permasteelisa (UK) to install their iMotion 1302.KI operators to the eight sets of swing doors that deliver seamless access into the new Zara concept store situated within the world-renowned, Battersea Power Station development.  With a focus on clean lines and contemporary aesthetics, the door drives are discreetly hidden within each door lintel.

“TORMAX is a pioneer in the realm of invisible automation thanks to the meticulous design of our iMotion high torque motors,” said Simon Roberts, Managing Director of TORMAX UK.

“Having eliminated the parts that are known for wear and tear, maintenance requirements are minimised, and an extended life span can be expected. This technology allows us to offer two concealed automation solutions. The iMotion 1401 operator is situation within the floor below the door whilst the 1302.KI is positioned within the lintel.”

The 4,500sqm Battersea store is Zara’s largest commercial space in the UK and features new product displays, women’s, men’s and children’s fashion collections and a Zara Home offer. Customers can explore two floors of shopping set in a large, clean and neutral space that emphasizes architect Frank Gehry´s vision for the building.

The multiple angles of the glass and metal fronted exterior blends in with the urban plan of the complex, with the TORMAX automatic swing door operators providing welcoming access from Electric Boulevard, the pedestrianised high street outside the Power Station.

The iMotion 1302.KI door drive is an ideal solution for a building such as the Zara store, as the modular construction will allow for easy expansion of the system as needs change over time. The iMotion door drives can also incorporate panic escape mechanisms, badge access or integration into a building management system for an extra level of access control.

With over 60 years of expertise in door automation, TORMAX UK Ltd offers a complete entrance solution including design, manufacture, installation, servicing and maintenance. Capabilities include swing, sliding, folding and revolving doors.

Ibis Warmly Welcomes Guests with TORMAX Automatic Access

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Successfully creating a more welcoming lobby for visiting guests, the Ibis Styles NEC hotel in Birmingham recently contracted TORMAX to install a double set of automatic sliding doors to the main entrance.

The new design more effectively maintains the ambient temperature of reception area, which features a full height atrium, whilst also streamlining busy check-in and check-out times thanks to a more efficient entrance/exit facility.

Delivering reliable and seamless access for all guests, the entrance is powered by two user-friendly, TORMAX 2201 door drives. Measuring just 142mm x 100mm, these operators are particularly neat and compact, making them unobtrusive for both contemporary and traditional settings.

“Originally the Ibis Styles hotel featured two sets of automatic swing doors,” explains Andy Burne, Property Manager for Starboard Hotels, which includes the Ibis brand.

“However, we were finding that the prolonged opening times of swing doors meant that cold air was coming into the building unnecessarily, making an uncomfortable environment for our receptionists and guests.”

Starboard Hotels tendered for the entrance upgrade to several companies and selected TORMAX based on their reputation for excellent support, both with installation and aftercare.

“Although not the cheapest option available,” said Burne, “we look for true value over time rather than taking a narrow view of the initial upfront costs. The result is a smart, contemporary entrance system that provides a better sense of arrival experience for guests.”

A worldwide expert in door automation, TORMAX is a division of the Landert Group which was founded in 1924 and has its headquarters in Bulach-Zurich, Switzerland.

Employing over 1,000 staff across the two divisions of Servax (customised electrical drives) and TORMAX (automatic door systems), the Landert Group is characterised by a long history of innovation, quality and genuine entrepreneurship.

Offering a complete range of automatic access solutions, from impressive curved-sliding entrance pods through to simple folding doors, TORMAX can improve the accessibility of almost any building.

 

Axis opens doors for the new Emergency Department at Walsall Manor Hospital

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INDUSTRY: Healthcare

CLIENT: Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

CONTRACTOR: Tilbury Douglas Construction

ARCHITECT: BDP

LOCATION: Urgent & Emergency Care Centre Walsall Manor Hospital

PROJECT: A new Urgent & Emergency Care Centre for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, at Walsall Manor Hospital. This £40m two-storey facility provides the Trust with 4,864m2 of additional clinical space and will help meet local demand, caring for up to 90,000 urgent admissions per year. Axis’s brief for this new, high-quality, modern development was to provide and install doors for the Treatment Room, Consulting Bays, and Key Entrances of this brand-new facility.

 

CHALLENGES: Our challenge was the space constraints to maximise usable areas, while fulfilling the requirements of the different door openings.

SOLUTION: Our solution for the Key Entrances (Main Entrance, Ambulance Entrance and the Entrance between the Rapid Assessment & Treatment and Resuscitation departments) included five Doorson Automatic Telescopic Door Sets – three sets of Doorson Bi-parting DR300TBP and two sets of Doorson Single DR300T. To meet the requirements for airtightness, hygiene, space-saving, and ease of access to the Treatment Room, our solution was a Manusa Hermetic Door. Automatic for hygiene and ease of access, and sliding for space-saving, the Manusa also offers various operational modes to suit specific needs and can be specifically design-adapted to best suit each space. For the Consulting Bays we designed and installed 14 sets of our own, award-winning FLO-MOTION® Telescopic Manual Sliding Doors – Type T55. Each sets’ two sliding leaves are connected by a sequencing device so that the primary leaf (fast door) reaches the fully opened or closed position at the same time as the secondary leaf (slow door) reaches its pre-set position.

 

OUTCOME: The brand new Urgent & Emergency Care Centre at Walsall Manor Hospital provides several significant benefits for patients and staff, including:

  • More efficient and effective working
  • A lighter and more spacious department
  • Improved patient experience
  • Improved working environment for staff

“BDP has worked with Axis on several projects because of its high-quality products, which provide all key requirements such as visibility and ease of operation. For this project, Axis also offered professional support, taking onboard the project’s needs, ensuring a robust specification from concept design through to bespoke detailing, meeting the high standards expected in a healthcare environment.”

Leigh-Anne Schofield, Architect Associate at BDP

Historic Access Solution

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The Grade 1 listed Newcastle Cathedral has recently undergone considerable renovation work after being awarded a £4.2m National Lottery Heritage grant. TORMAX was contracted by Historic Property Restoration (HPR Ltd) to deliver an automatic entrance system for the main rear door that would be easily accessible for all visitors without compromising the heritage façade of the building.

The elegant, bi-parting automatic glass sliding door features stylish manifestation, whilst the grey profile surround subtly blends with the period location. Enhancing pedestrian safety, the entrance benefits from two internal glass pocket screens behind which the door leaves recess. The entrance is also Secure RC2 rated, helping ensure the Cathedral is not a target for criminal activity.

Newcastle Cathedral has a long and momentous history. Built in 1091 it was originally a parish church for the small, emerging town. Today, it is the heart of the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, a place of peace and tranquillity in the heart of a noisy, vibrant city.

The Common Ground in Sacred Space refurbishment project has seen the Cathedral re-established as a dynamic place of worship and heritage venue, with areas such as the basement beneath the Cathedral Hall being converted into facilities for staff, volunteers and visitors.

 

The new TORMAX sliding doors provide a wide open, welcoming entrance for visitors to the Cathedral. Technologically advanced, yet aesthetically discreet, the door leaves are powered by the in-house designed TORMAX 2302 operator.

Tried and tested in a myriad of locations worldwide, the 2302 has proven capable of delivering ongoing reliability and advanced functionality despite only requiring an installation height of just 150mm and depth of 160mm, making it suitably discreet to harmonise with the historic surroundings.

Requiring only low-energy operation, the 2302 drive is an environmentally conscious solution, with options to adapt opening speed and hold-open times to match foot traffic and weather conditions.

Axis at Healthcare Estates 2018 and on BIMobject®

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IMG_3083lrAxis Automatic Entrance Systems exhibited at this year’s Healthcare Estates exhibition in Manchester. Axis are regular attendees at HCE since 2015 when they won the IHEEM Product Innovation Award for their Flo-Motion® Manual Sliding Doors.

 

 

BCH - MANUSA (1)Flo-Motion® doors again featured on the stand showcasing their unique, fingertip control now available in single sliding, bi-parting and telescopic formats. Axis also promoted the availability of BIM files for the Flo-Motion® range now available on BIMobject® either directly from the BIMobject® site or accessed via the Axisautomatic.com website.

 
The Flo-Motion® range of manual sliding doors is part of the Axis Healthcare Door range which includes manual doors, automatic doors and hermetically sealed doors for wards, intensive care units, critical care units, clean rooms, isolation rooms and other healthcare requirements. Doors are manufactured by market leading companies such as Stanley and Manusa or have been developed and manufactured by Axis themselves.

Since their original development for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Axis Flo-Motion® doors have been installed in a number of hospitals throughout the UK including Omagh, Enniskillen and Altnagelvin hospitals in Northern Ireland, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland and numerous hospitals in England including the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The new Telescopic format doors have already been installed at the Royal Blackburn Hospital and Wexham Park in Slough.

Information on the full range of Axis Door products is available by calling 01604 212500, emailing sales@axisautomatic.com, or visiting www.axisautomatic.com

Axis Doors Improve Access at Stratford Garden Centre

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Stratford GC (1)Stratford Garden Centre have improved customer flow and access by building a new exit area to accommodate the tills away from the hustle and bustle of the entrance. This meant they needed new doors and they naturally turned to their regular supplier, Axis Automatic Entrance Systems, who had previously installed Stanley Automatic Doors throughout the centre.

The new Stanley Dura-Glide SLD features bi-parting automatic doors sliding over glazed screens with infra red sensors linked to the Stanley MC521 Pro Controller and Eco Pro dynamic user interface. This new generation controller is completely re-engineered for the Stanley Duraglide SLD & SLH models and includes a

“soft-start” “soft-stop” motor driving circuit for smooth normal opening and recycling.

Stratford GC (16)The door engineer can set door functions very easily, including door and motor type, handing, speed, hold-open delay, troubleshooting and much more via a Windows mobile handset although the control panel can also be set manually. The system will collect and store performance data including an operating cycle counter and event and error reporting while displaying the current operating state.

The display unit can be discretely mounted on either the jamb or a nearby wall and provides an electronic alternative to manual switches. All basic door functions of rotary and toggle switches, up to six positions, can be controlled as well as setting programmed schedules for enhanced operating mode changes based on the day of the week, time of day, etc.

The Dura-Glide 2000 Series is the industry standard for smooth, reliable operation in every application from high-traffic retail locations, like garden centres, to upscale professional and institutional settings. Door packages are manufactured to suit individual requirements and installed by ADSA Authorised Technicians (Automatic Door Suppliers’ Association) as per the guidelines of EN16005 (formerly BS7036:1996 – Code of Practice for safety at powered doors for pedestrian use).

Stratford GC (18)Back in 2004, Paul Southern and his niece and her husband, Helen and Gwyn Lloyd bought an old bedding plant nursery 3 miles south of Stratford upon Avon and re-opened as Stratford Garden Centre in 2006. Over the succeeding years this family business has grown to its current 7 acres and 24,000 square feet of indoor retail space with plans to increase that by a further 9,000 square feet. The mix of horticulturally and retail trained staff, together with a popular restaurant, food shop and shopping courtyard have earned them an excellent local reputation enhanced by their independence and entrepreneurial flair.

They are very pleased with the new layout keeping both the old entrance and the new exit free flowing and less cluttered and encouraging customers to move further around the store and experience more of what they have to offer. Helen Lloyd said “ Once again Axis have given us an excellent product backed up by their knowledgeable and flexible service to help us create the solution we had planned.”

For more information call Axis on 01604 212500, visit www.axisautomatic.com or email sales@axisautomatic.com

Axis Stanley Dura-Care doors for Spire Hartswood Hospital

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Axis Spire Hartswood 4435 aFive Stanley Dura-Care 7500 telescopic sliding doors have been installed by Axis Automatic Entrance Systems at the Spire Hartswood Private Hospital in Brentwood Essex.  Halliday Meecham Architects were looking to replace timber doors on the 5 patient “pods” used in the recovery area for day-case procedures. The previous doors restricted access for moving beds in and out of the rooms and also created a very closed and detached environment. While researching alternatives they found the Stanley Dura-Care door range featured on the Axis Automatic Entrance Systems website. The fully glazed doors create a much brighter and attractive ambience in the recovery rooms and the breakout facility makes moving beds around much easier. Four of the doors  consist of one fixed leaf 765mm wide and two sliding leaves that combine to give a clear opening of 1450mm in a full width of 2215mm. The fifth door is slightly smaller but of similar proportions.

Axis Spire Hartswood 4439 aThe Stanley Dura-Care 7500 is a manual sliding door system designed to meet the specific needs of hospital intensive and cardiac care units (ICU/CCU). This telescopic door is available in 3 or 6 panel packages and those installed at Spire Hartswood Hospital feature emergency breakout on the leading sliding leaf, positive latching and are a trackless design to provide completely unimpeded access.  The 6.4mm laminated glass panels have made the whole area much brighter and lighter and are proving very popular with patients and staff alike compared to the previous unglazed doors. Frosted film has been applied to parts of the glass to give privacy without reducing the overall brightness.

Project Manager Kevin Hill of M&O Building Contractors was also impressed with the service provided by Axis, particularly the way problems were overcome and the final completion date strictly adhered to.

Axis Spire Hartswood 4474 aSpire Hartswood Private Hospital, Brentwood, Essex is part of the Spire Healthcare hospital network that offers a comprehensive range of private hospital services. With a catchment area covering Brentwood, Billericay, Basildon, Romford and surrounding areas of Essex and East London, Spire Hartswood offers NHS “Choose and Book” services plus a range of treatments and procedures to insured and self-funding patients. The hospital holds the Macmillan Quality Environment Charter Mark for chemotherapy and breast care pathways.

The Stanley Dura-Care range of ICU/CCU doors offers a selection of sliding, swing, folding and bi-folding door configurations. They have all been designed to maximise clear space openings and have many features ideal for healthcare environments including smoke and draft controls, positive/negative pressure environments and anti-microbial protection. Electronic privacy glass can be fitted that instantly turns from clear to opaque with the flick of a switch for patient privacy.

Stanley are the world’s leading automatic door manufacturer and Axis Automatic Entrance Systems are the sole UK distributor of Stanley automatic door equipment. Axis offers a wide range of automatic and manual doors suitable for clean room or healthcare environments including the multi-award winning Flo-Motion® Manual Sliding Doors that were originally developed for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital but are now installed in a number of hospitals throughout the UK and Ireland.

For further information call 01604 212500, email sales@axisautomatic.com or visit www.axisautomatic.com

TORMAX DELIVERS FOUR STAR WELCOME TO HOTEL GUESTS

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grosvenor-final-tormax-1As part of a programme of extensive renovation, TORMAX was specified to install a four-wing automatic revolving door to the main entrance of the four-star Grosvenor Pulford Hotel, Chester.  Blending seamlessly with the eighteenth century building, the new revolving door successfully combines the elegance of a by-gone era with the convenience and welcome luxury of an automatic entrance.  Driven by the technologically superior TORMAX 5201 motor, reliability and smooth operation is assured for many years to come.

tormax-3The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel and Spa has been significantly upgraded since the family-owned, Nelson Hotels, assumed ownership of the property in 1994.  Main contractor on the most recent £1.5m project, HH Smith & Sons of Manchester, has been responsible for the construction of a stunning two-storey reception with new mezzanine floor above.  The impressive external glass wall at the front of the property was contracted to Glass & General Maintenance who worked with TORMAX to deliver a first-class automatic entrance.

grosvenor-hotel1-tormax-2With over 65 years of experience in the design, manufacture and installation of world-class automatic entrances, TORMAX was well placed for this prestigious job.  “Our operators have been engineered for performance and reliability at our HQ in Switzerland,” explains Simon Roberts, MD for TORMAX.  “Incorporating a high-torque motor, the 5201 revolving door drive has been combined with our ‘classic’ profile to create a high quality solution.”

The TORMAX 5201 operator incorporates a technologically advanced programmable logic circuit, allowing hotel staff to adjust all aspects of the door’s operation to reflect weather conditions, as well as changing levels of foot traffic.  This ensures the reception area is kept warm and welcoming at all times by minimising heat-loss from the building.

In addition, a self-monitoring function optimises door performance, automatically adjusting movement in response to factors such as wind resistance or a build-up of dirt for example.  If an emergency should lead to power failure, the Grosvenor’s revolving door can be used manually to ensure unrestricted egress.

“We are absolutely elated with every aspect of the new reception area,” comments Lucy Nelson, Sales & Marketing Director for Nelson Hotels.  “A spectacular central hub has been created in which we can greet and welcome our guests.”

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