Advanced Next Generation Bifold Strap Doors From Premier
In today’s demanding aviation, commercial, and industrial environments, access points must do more than just open and close — they need to perform with speed, security, and efficiency. Premier Door Co.’s Next Generation Bifold Strap Door is engineered to meet those needs and exceed expectations with a fully automated system designed for heavy-duty performance and long-term reliability.
Why Strap Technology Revolutionized Bifold Door Design
Bifold doors are a common choice for aircraft hangar doors because of their efficiency in opening, mechanical reliability, and suitability for integrating into current and new hangar builds. However, there is a difference in the technology that lifts them. Cable-lift doors are a standard offered by many manufacturers. Premier Door Co. offers modernized high-strength webbing straps for lifting. The advantages of strap lift bifold doors in comparison to cable are:
- Smoother, quieter operation: The flat straps spool evenly on drums compared to the cylindrical cables, reducing noise and vibration.
- Better self-leveling: Even spooling keeps the door level, improves seal contact, and reduces racking.
- Lower maintenance: Straps require no lubrication and fewer adjustments, which leads to less retensioning.
- No kinking: Straps prevent backwinding and kinking thanks to their flat geometry and lack of strand torque.
- Longer component life: A strap door’s even loading and large bend radius reduce fatigue on components like the drum, helping them last longer.
Premier’s Proprietary Bifold Strap Door Technology
We manufacture our bifold strap doors using unique engineering features and proprietary components to create your automated bifold door system. These features ensure smooth operation and the luxury standard you expect from our commercial door automation solutions.
The Helical Gear Motor Difference
The secret behind the door’s seamless motion lies in its proprietary helical gear motor with integrated failsafe brake. Unlike traditional gearbox assemblies, this motor is designed for high-frequency use and extended durability, ensuring your door continues to perform smoothly for years to come—even in the most demanding applications.
Weather-Tight In-Jamb Installation
One of the standout features is its in-jamb installation, which ensures a tight, weather-sealed fit and alignment with your building’s exterior.
Integrated Electrically Actuated Door Clamps
We include actuated clamps and floor pins to tighten the bifold door against the building when it closes. Once the door is closed, the electrical controller activates the clamps, which pull the door into the jambs, compressing the weather seals for a tight seal.
Smart Automation That Puts You in Control
Automation is at the heart of our bifold door system. Our Smart Door® Technology and one touchscreen can manage up to four doors simultaneously, making it a convenient and user-friendly solution for larger facilities.
Three Intuitive Operation Modes
With a dedicated touchscreen control panel, our automated bifold door system offers three intuitive operation modes:
- Automated mode: Press once to open or close
- Semi-automated mode: Press to open, manual engagement to close
- Manual mode: Full operator control for both open and close actions.
Remote Control and Facility Integration
The touch screen enables you to customize door speed, motion parameters, and connectivity. With full integration to home or facility automation systems, you can even control the door remotely via a mobile app — perfect for busy operators who need flexibility.
Safety Monitoring Systems
Premier knows that when it comes to large, moving machinery, safety is nonnegotiable. That’s why our strap bifold doors come loaded with advanced monitoring and safety features, such as:
- Amperage monitoring for performance diagnostics.
- Bottom safety edge sensors for obstacle detection.
- Photo eye sensors at door jambs to detect motion and prevent accidents.
- An electrically actuated door lock, no manual latches required.
Strap Bifold Door Performance Specifications and Technical Details
The following list contains detailed technical and performance details for our strap bifold doors:
- Dimensions: We customize each door to your unique hangar opening. We can do widths up to 100 feet + and heights over 30 feet.
- Speeds: The touch screen lets you precisely control the door speed.
- Key features: Choose from a single or three-phase motor, insulated exterior panels, a walk-through door, and windows.
Aviation Bifold Door Applications
Installing a strap aviation bifold door on a new hangar build, or as a retrofit, has excellent advantages specific to aviation needs, such as:
- Faster, smoother turnarounds: Soft start and stops, one-touch automation and self-leveling save time, helping with tight plane turnarounds.
- Better apron efficiency: Thanks to their folding nature, bifold doors need minimal exterior swing, allowing planes to park closer to the door line and keeping taxi lanes free of obstruction.
- Superb aircraft protection: The electrically actuated clamps keep the door snug, protecting planes in heavy weather.
Industrial Bifold Doors for Demanding Environments
Beyond aviation use, industrial bifold doors have the following industrial-specific advantages:
- Better material handling flow: With wide and tall clearances for palletized loads, machinery, and more, along with no floor tracks to snag equipment on, material flow is incredibly efficient.
- Provides high-cycle, low-downtime operation: Strap systems need less adjustment and lubrication than cable, so you’ll be able to get more cycles before scheduling maintenance downtime.
- Resilient to harsh environmental conditions: Our doors feature corrosion-resistant finishes for chemical, coastal, or fertilizer environments and more options to customize them to your specific industrial use case.
Customization Options for Your Specific Needs
Premier Door Co.’s bifold strap door is built with a robust industrial framework that easily accommodates oversized openings. Whether it’s an aircraft hangar, warehouse, or manufacturing facility, this door system is designed to simplify access while enhancing security and energy efficiency.
Every facility is different, and we understand that. That’s why the strap bifold door system is available with a variety of customization options, including:
- Custom-engineered to fit local wind, seismic loads, and exposure standards
- Multiple materials to choose from, like exterior steel, aluminum, composite, or mixed cladding
- Vision panel options, branding, and trim packages
- Insulated panels for superior thermal performance
Installation Process and Requirements
These building requirements must be met before installation can take place:
- Suitable foundations and structure for the door’s reaction loads.
- Appropriate opening with adequate headroom, sideroom, and exterior clearance for door projection
- Dedicated power with local disconnect option
- Crane staging
Our factory installation team or one of our certified installers in our network will install your door for you, following this process:
- Opening preparation
- Hinge and hardware setting
- Hang the drive and panels
- Fit seals, clamps, and wiring
- Commission and hand-off
Frequently Asked Questions About Bifold Strap Doors
We’ve gathered some of the most asked questions about our bifold strap doors:
What Is the Expected Lifespan of Premier’s Strap System?
We cannot put a hard number on lifespan, as it depends on conditions and preventive maintenance. However, we’re confident you’ll enjoy seamless operation over decades of use.
How Does Premier’s Strap System Differ From Competitors?
Our proprietary Smart Door® Technology, tuned to your door, and our integrated powered clamping and in-jamb installation of seals make our bifold hangar doors better insulated than many in the industry.
Innovative Designs Tailored by Industry
When you invest in a Premier Door Co. bifold door, you’re investing in quality, performance, and peace of mind. Our doors are built to work hard — so you don’t have to. Contact us online or at 320-562-2222 to get started.
