Is Your Shop Front Safe, What Deterrent Do You Have In Place For Burglars?

Statistics from the Centre for Retail Research show that the costs of robberies and burglaries in UK retail stores for the year 2012-2013 were as high as £120million.  This was an increase of 5.3% from the previous year, highlighting the need for retail stores both big and small to take a look at their security systems in order to reduce the amount of money lost through burglary.

One way of deterring burglars is by installing specially designed retail security shutter doors.  These are often manufactured with perforated steel slats, in order to comply with legislation from the local council planning office.  Although the shutter doors are perforated, they are still able to secure the premises effectively and can allow window shoppers to view the items at the front of the store when the shop lights are switched on. 

Here at MDS Industries we have vast experience of manufacturing, installing and maintaining retail security shutter doors.  The doors are easy for staff to operate and are controlled by an electric motor.  Once closed, the shutter doors provide effective security for a shop front and will prevent unwanted visitors from being able to access the shop after hours.  The retail security shutters can be made available in a variety of colours in order to complement the branding of the shop and to maintain consistency.

Being broken into is one experience which no shop owner wishes to face – not only can the theft affect the shop financially, but it can also leave the owner and any employees feeling vulnerable and shaken up.  A burglary can have a huge impact on the business as a whole and if a shop is faced with repeated break in attempts, the owners may decide to move the shop away from the area or indeed close the business altogether.

Larger retail stores have a strong emphasis on shop security, but it is also vital for smaller businesses to protect their shop front and their assets in order to deter would-be burglars.  Installing specially made retail security shutters is an effective way of securing the shop and alerting any potential thieves to the fact that shop security is taken seriously. 

For further information on retail security shutters, feel free to visit the MDS Industries website.

FAQs Regarding High Speed Doors From MDS Industries

We’ve put together a list of some commonly asked questions from customers regarding our high speed door service, but if you can’t find the answer to your question then feel free to give us a call on 0870 444 6780.

What is the current UK lead time on your roller shutter doors?

We currently are operating on a lead time of 2 weeks from the confirmation of drawings.

Do you offer a reactive maintenance service?

Yes we do, if you need to contact our out of hours emergency team please contact us on 0870 444 6780.

Are your products CE approved?

Yes, we’re pleased to confirm that all of our products are CE marked as per the relevant legislation.

Is MDS a member of a door association?

We certainly are, we are part of the DHF Group and we attend regular meetings with a range of trades in order to discuss new products, rules and legislation.  We like to keep on top of any changes within the industry and like to think that we are a forward thinking company.

What type of motors do you use in your products?

We use a combination of Ellards and Guthrie Douglas Motors, dependent upon the product.

Are MDS shutter doors easy to install?

Yes they are, we take pride in that all of our shutter doors are made to a high standard and are fitter friendly.

What type of payment methods do you accept?

We are happy to take payment by cheque or BACS.

Do you offer a guarantee on your products?

Yes, every one of our products comes with a one year warranty.

Do you offer additional support for your roller shutter doors after sale?

Yes, for all of the shutters we have installed we offer a repair, service and maintenance contract.

Here at MDS Industries we offer a wide range of high speed doors, roller shutter doors, automatic sliding doors and fire shutter doors, if you would like to find out more about our products and services then feel free to visit our website or give our friendly team a call on 0870 444 6780.

Help MDS Raise Money For Two Fantastic Causes By Entering The Great Midlands Fun Run!

Feeling fit? Fancy a challenge as well as raising money for two fantastic causes? MDS Company Director, Ralph Simmons, is putting together a 100 strong team of runners, walkers and crawlers who are prepared to take part in the Great Midlands Fun Run on Sunday 1 June 2014.  The team will raise money jointly for the Kelli Smith Appeal and the Boldmere Sports & Social Club function room fund.

Details of the Kelli Smith Appeal can be found at her website, however you may have heard of Kelli and her Dad’s plight in the national media recently.  5 year old Kelli from Sutton Coldfield was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at just 3 months old and since then has faced an ongoing battle with cancer and some gruelling treatments.  Kelli’s hope is to raise over £500,000 which will pay for life saving treatment.  However, Kelli’s family are experiencing further sadness as her Dad, Tom Attwater, is currently dying from brain cancer.  He is desperate to see Kelli’s fundraising total reach its target before he dies.

The second of Ralph’s charities is to raise money for the completion of the brand new function room at Boldmere Sports & Social Club.  The room has been partially built but further funds are needed to get it up and running ready to take bookings.  The room is vital to the future of the club, without which the future of the numerous sporting teams can be put in jeopardy.

 If you’re interested in becoming one of Ralph’s 100, then email him at Ralph@mdsind.co.uk by 14 March 2014 to find out further details.  The team is open to all, so go on, dust off those trainers and get jogging!

To find out more about the high speed doors manufactured by MDS, feel free to take a look at their website.

Why Businesses Install Fire Resistant Roller Shutter Doors In Their Premises

Fire resistant roller shutter doors are becoming an increasingly popular preference for both industrial and commercial use. Fire resistant shutters can ensure that businesses can protect their goods, premises, and most importantly; their employees from threats related to fire.

Fire stopper roller shutter doors are specially designed to offer protection from fire for up to 4 hours more than a standard roller shutter door would be capable of. As they are able to withstand very high temperatures for a long period of time, fire shutters can be used to considerably delay the spread of fire throughout a building. They can be used to section off parts of a building into compartments; containing fire in a particular area and protecting the building as a whole.

By compartmentalising a building and preventing the natural spread of fire, fire stopper roller shutter doors can help people to evacuate the building safely and rapidly. This helps make the work of emergency services much easier and focus on fighting the fire before it is able to spread.

At the present time, fire shutters are regularly a part of most business’s building fire safety strategies. Understandably, business owners must take the safety and security of their company, properties and their workforce seriously and comply with government health and safety regulations. By installing fire resistant shutters in their premises, businesses can not only protect their assets and staff, but also meet building regulations and be protected in the case of having to make an insurance claim in relation to fire related incidents.

At MDS Industries, as a business’s assets and the health of employees may depend on them, our range of fire resistant roller shutter doors have been fully tested and fire rated. All fire shutters are tested for up to 4 hours fire resistance to suit maximum opening sizes of 7 meters by 7 meters. It is crucial that when installing fire stopper doors into your business premises that the structure to which the shutter is fitted must have the appropriate fire rating.

For more information about fire shutter doors, or guidance about fire ratings, you can contact us now on 0870 444 6780 or visit the MDSIndustries website.

Using High Speed Doors To Save Your Business Money

We’re all aware of the huge increases in fuel costs - heating bills are not only rocketing for people’s homes, but business premises too.  Those businesses which have a warehouse or large storage units which are accessed regularly may find they can make savings in their heating bills by installing an energy saving high speed door. 

An energy saving high speed door will open and close up to three times quicker than a standard industrial door – so over a period of time this can dramatically help to reduce the amount of heat lost by having doors open for longer than necessary.  Of course, this should then mean that fuel bills will be reduced as heat is contained in the building and not allowed to escape.  Many businesses find their doors are having to open and close several times a day in order to let fork lift trucks or pedestrians in and out, but by having a high speed door installed, the amount of heat lost through the open door can be reduced to a minimum. 

High speed doors may cost a little more to buy and install than a standard door, but as long as a high quality door is installed, it should last for a number of years.  The amount of money saved on heating bills should soon mean that the door has paid for itself which makes economic sense.  Some door manufacturers will supply the doors in a choice of colours, so many businesses choose a door which matches their corporate colours.

Of course, a high speed door won’t only help to conserve energy, but it is also a highly effective security method and can help to deter unwanted visitors.  Manufactured from steel, these doors are hardy and robust and will withstand high force. 

Having a door which opens and closes quickly also means that workers are not having to hang around waiting for conventional doors to open – which means that they can be far more productive!  Fully working equipment can help workers to work more efficiently therefore helping to increase business production.

Inevitably most high speed doors will include safety features such as bottom safety edges and photo cells which will detect if something is obstructing the path of the door.   

Here at MDS we manufacture energy saving high speed doors in the West Midlands and can install them at locations all over the UK.  To find out more about our high speed doors feel free to visit our website or contact us on 0870 444 6780.

Welcome to the MDS Blog

Welcome to the MDS blog where we hope to share our top tips and news with you.  We manufacture, install and repair many different kinds of industrial roller shutter doors to customers across the West Midlands and beyond but we also have a wealth of knowledge in door maintenance and best practice which we would like to share with you.

If there are any roller shutter related topics which you would like us to address in our new blog please do get in touch and we'll do our best to cover it.

Please stay tuned for our expert insight and advice on looking after and choosing the best kinds of doors for your industrial premises.

You can also visit our website for more information.