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The Right Fit for Your Hangar

How upgrading your door ensures longevity & greater efficiency Although airport hangar doors can last a long time, their outdated operating systems can pose safety risks and become more susceptible to breakdowns. Old hangar doors start experiencing problems after a lack of service and exposure to weather conditions, causing them to become structurally and cosmetically worn out over time. One way to give these structures new life is by replacing the door with a new bi-fold or hydraulic door, which can have a dramatic effect on the functionality, safety and appearance of the exterior of the structure. Here are some ways hangar door replacement can enhance usability and longevity. A Better Look and Operation When designing the door, manufacturers ensure that the replacement door will fit well with the structure of the existing building and that the building is durable enough to handle the door’s technology and weight. Door manufacturers can also tailor doors to meet the customer’s vision for both look and function. Doors can be customized with different colors or windows to meet any desired aesthetic. A new door requires less maintenance and will not break down at inopportune times, which increases efficiency. By upgrading a door, customers have peace of mind knowing there’s no need to repair it every few months, ultimately making it a more cost-effective investment. Automate Opening and Closing Sliding doors are common on older hangars and over the years, door designs and technology have advanced. Today, there is no need to leave the driver’s seat to open the door or to fight with snow and ice. A new door with an automated opening system also provides the convenience of pushing a button rather than struggling to manually open old sliding doors, no matter the season. Increase Door Opening Size Replacing a door also provides an opportunity to increase the height and width of an opening to accommodate larger aircraft or maintenance equipment. An advantage of upgrading to a bi-fold or hydraulic door is that it will not obscure the building’s opening, allowing the equipment to use the full height and width of the doorway when entering or exiting. Improve Safety When doors age, their safety elements and parts do, too. Installing new doors ensures that they are outfitted with the most innovative and up-to-date safety features. This offers extra protection, especially when opening and closing the door. Many manufactured doors have safety ratings that consider the building size and the door’s weight to determine if the door has sufficient strength to operate efficiently and safely. For example, if a door has a rating of 5 to 1, this means that the cables and straps opening the door can withstand stress that is five times greater than the weight of the door. Beyond the door itself, locking systems, safety sensor technology and how the door lifts are all important safety features to consider when looking to replace your hangar door. Locking and Sensor Technology Many doors offer latch locking systems with safety switches that help prevent the door from opening or closing until it’s unlocked. When an operator tries to manually open a locked door, it can cause strain and unnecessary damage to the door that can often lead to expensive repair. A single latch system with a safety switch improves usability by unlocking the door without going to each side of the door to unlock the jamb locks. Replacement doors also offer safety sensor technology with photo eyes to ensure nothing is in the way as the door closes. Photo eyes extend a sensor a few inches from the floor, and if something obstructs the path of the sensor, the door identifies it and stops. The safety sensor technology installed on the bottom edge of the door can also detect if something is in its way, then stops or reverses its motion. Enhanced Lifting System Many older doors have survived with outdated operating systems that have prevented the door from working its best. A nylon strap system is a nice upgrade that allows doors to open more smoothly to improve productivity and safety while preventing costly maintenance check-ups. Similar to a cable system, the nylon straps wrap around the drum and hoist the weight of the door upward. This system is safer because the nylon straps have a rated breaking strength much higher than that of cables. Adding nylon straps is beneficial because they won’t require as much maintenance time or exude excessive noise during operation, and the straps can be easy to replace if an issue occurs. Select the Right Service Once you make the decision to replace a door, you will want to choose your manufacturer carefully to get the best result and service throughout the life of the door. With any door design, engineering and installation project, manufacturers should take a thorough and hands-on approach to ensure you are pleased with all stages of the door replacement process. Look for a manufacturer that has a comprehensive designing and planning process that involves several consultations with you and the contractor for more information on the building specifications. There is also an advantage to partnering with a manufacturer that travels to the location to record door frame measurements before the door is designed and built to ensure a proper fit and confirm the design will work. To provide a fast and turnkey installation, it is beneficial when a manufacturer installs the finished door and also brings all the needed equipment to provide an efficient installation. In collaboration with the contractor, they will ensure the door lines up precisely with the existing door frame and that it will operate smoothly. Installation crews can even dispose of the old door unless the customer would rather discard it themselves. By upgrading an aged door, customers can have confidence and peace of mind with their investment in the long run. Finally, ask how service is handled after installation and choose a manufacturer or door dealer that provides periodic general maintenance visits. Regular service will help you

Close the Door on Hangar Problems

Avoid Being Grounded by Using these Door Maintenance Tips It’s a beautiful day for flying. The flight plan is filed and airplane checks are done. A push of a button and the hangar door will open to the airfield. That’s how it should happen. But, without regular maintenance checks, there could be a headache ahead rather than blue skies. Regular maintenance on hangar doors, such as this bi-fold door from Midland Door Solutions, prevents downtime while enhancing safety. As with any moving piece of equipment, regular hangar door maintenance checks and services will prevent problems and the downtime and expense that come with them. After all, it’s much cheaper and faster to prevent a problem than to fix one. These tips will help do just that. Take a wide-angle view. Before each use, look over the whole door for any damage. Ensure the hinges, rollers and structure all appear serviceable. Examine the movement mechanisms. On bi-fold doors, ensure the cables or straps track correctly over the drum before each use. Each month, do a closer visual inspection of the cables or straps to look for frays, tears or breaks. Check the cable tension by pulling each away from the door while it’s closed, ensuring the straps are equally taut. Confirm, too, that the cables or straps hold the door in a straight, vertical position when it’s closed. If any adjustments are needed, be sure to do it while the door remains closed. For hydraulic doors, inspect the lines, hoses and cylinders for leaks, and repair anything that’s out of spec. Grease and oil. Each year, grease the door’s operating mechanism and lubricate the hinges. On hydraulic doors also check the oil reservoir before operation and, if it’s low, refill with hydraulic fluid. Also inspect the gearbox fluid level and drive chains for proper alignment. If the gearbox is low on lube, check that none of the seals are leaking, and then follow the manufacturer’s instructions for viscosity and quantity of gear lube. The drive chains should be lubricated every six months, if needed. Latch on to durability. If the door doesn’t have automatic latches, make sure the manual ones fully disengage before opening. Some manufacturers simplify this maintenance point by using a single manual latch rather than two. No matter the number or style, ensure the latches remain tight against the door jamb, which will prevent potential injury or damage in strong winds. Look and listen. When opening and closing the door, watch the motor and brakes to ensure both aren’t over-working or dragging. Listen for anything that sounds different from the norm. If something sounds off, consult the owner’s manual or call the dealer or manufacturer. Put the brakes on. Keep hydraulic doors running like new by regularly inspecting hydraulic lines, hoses and cylinders for leaks, and repair anything that’s out of spec. While closing the door, hit stop when it’s 4 or 5 feet from the ground and observe if it stops right away or coasts a few inches. Over time, the gearbox teeth can wear and cause the door to continue to move. If the door coasts 3 inches or more, a brake system will need to be maintained or added. Keep it taut and tight. On bi-fold doors, look over the belts, sprockets, chains and chain links each month for damage, ensuring everything is properly aligned and tensioned. If it’s not, contact a dealer for service. For hydraulic doors, inspect the fittings on the hydraulic lines and hoses every three months to ensure they are tight. Also check the hydraulic pressure during operation. On both door styles, ensure receivers and remotes are undamaged. Don’t skimp on the opening. The limit switch, which controls where the door stops when opened or closed, may need to be reset occasionally if the door stops just shy of closing or doesn’t go up all of the way. Manufacturers typically provide adjustment instructions in operator’s manuals, but some manufacturers ensure it’s at the user’s fingertips, placing the instructions under the control box cover. If the limits are off, avoid slippage by ensuring that the control box sprocket screw is tight and the chain tension is correct. For added safety, use override switches that will stop the door from moving past its fully open point should the limit switch fail. Check on safety. Look over the safety guards and shields every to ensure they are installed correctly over the operating system’s lifting drums, chains and sprockets as well as over the automatic latch components. If the door uses manual latches, test them by holding the switch while attempting to open the door; the door should not move. Also, ensure all safety decals are still in place and readable. Keep an eye on it. Regularly clean the photo eyes and sensing edges, which detect objects in the door’s path, to ensure the door continues to open smoothly. Just like any other piece of equipment, repairs tend to be needed more frequently as a door ages. If repairs are needed every six to 12 months, it will be worthwhile and more cost-efficient to explore purchasing a new door. When that time comes, work with an experienced manufacturer that will manage the entire process, from carefully checking the building’s specs and providing a design and accurate estimate to engineering a safe, all-steel door to fit the opening. Their service shouldn’t end there but should continue through the installation and finish work as well as after-sale check-ins to address any concerns. When choosing a new door, ask about maintenance-friendly options and modern conveniences, such as override systems, high wind-load ratings, automatic latches, brake systems, insulation and door liners, photo eyes, sensing edges, walk-through doors and windows and variable speed drive systems. Whether new or old, periodic checks will ensure the hangar door operates safely and efficiently for years to come.

5 Tips for Door Replacement

What to Consider Before Replacing Your Hydraulic or Bi-Fold Door Repairs and updates to equipment are simply unavoidable. Though small adjustments and fixes are to be expected, at some point, the maintenance scale tips and a new equipment purchase offers the best solution. Bi-fold and hydraulic doors present the same decisions as all other equipment. Purchasing a new door may be the best option, but there’s a lot to take into consideration before investing in a brand-new door. Reasons to replace an oversized door include more than just an obvious non-working door. A building owner might also replace a door to accommodate the growing size of machinery, which requires larger doors; or when they’re looking for a cosmetic update to increase the value of the building. No matter the reasoning behind it, there are five key points to consider before replacing a door: the comparison between repair and replacing, safety, building capacity, style and technology, and the importance of consulting a professional. Repair vs. Replace High-quality doors typically last upwards of 20 years. However, necessary maintenance and repairs become more and more common as a door ages. The frequency at which a door opens and closes can also deteriorate parts faster, and common elements such as door seals and mechanical components regularly require repairs or replacing. Without proper sealing, building owners risk increased energy costs. An effective seal should be free of cracks, tears or broken pieces. Visual indicators of wear and damage include the seals and weather strips of a door. Watch for cracks, tears or broken pieces on the door’s seals. Without proper sealing, building owners risk increased energy costs. This simple repair, which usually costs less than $100 often results in annual cost savings. An inconsistent or non-functioning lifting operator be cause for door replacement. A cost-saving and effective solution – which many manufacturers offer – is replacing the motor without having to replace the entire door, if the door frame is structurally sound. Overall, if a door’s problems are costing $250-$500 in repairs every six months, consider replacing the door and operating system. Other factors such as safety may also be ample cause for replacement. Safety Improperly functioning overhead doors present life-threatening risks. If a 2,000-pound door malfunctions and gravity takes over, any people, equipment or vehicles in the way are in danger. Most overhead door manufacturers have a design factor safety element used in the manufacturing process to help avoid such accidents, but older models may not have safety designed into the door. Safety sensors aren’t new technology, but not all doors feature them. Choose a door with photo eyes or safety-sensing edges to recognize if an obstruction is in the way as it closes. Photo eyes transmit a beam a few inches from the floor, and if something breaks the beam, the door recognizes it and stops. Similarly, safety sensing edges attach to the bottom of the doorframe and cause the door to stop if an obstruction meets them. Trying to open a door while it’s locked in place raises safety concerns, and often results in damage and expenses. Unless a door has an automatic latch, a single latch handle needs to be manually released prior to opening the door. Look for a single latch handle that incorporates a safety switch to prevent the door from starting until it’s unlocked. Some manufacturers also offer optional top override switches, which serve as backup safety switches if the limit switch in the control box fails. When contact is made with the override switch, it stops the door from traveling past its opening height. Last, check to see if the manufacturer has a high safety rating. For example, a door with a 5 to 1 safety rating indicates that the cables and straps opening the door can withstand stress that is five times greater than the weight of the door. Before ordering a door, confirm that it has the necessary safety features. Save on costly replacements and prevent potential injuries by confirming safety sensors, safety switches and the safety rating. Building Capacity An oversized door should only be paired with a sturdy frame. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to mount a new bi-fold or hydraulic door without the proper frame. If a current structure is damaged or the steel is rusted, the frame may be repairable. If not, the manufacturer or contractor will need to fit and install a new doorframe with the new door. Besides the frame, the building itself should be inspected to ensure it can handle the weight of a large door. A good manufacturer will inspect the structure, from the jamb and steel header to the foundation, ensuring the building is structurally acceptable if a retrofit is necessary. The manufacturer and contractor will work closely to ensure the building is braced properly to handle the loads of the door. The structure of a building often determines whether a bi-fold or hydraulic door present a better option. Each applies different amounts of weight to the building, and the placement of the door makes a difference as well. A hydraulic door is often a better option for openings on the side instead of the front of a building. Bi-fold doors, on the other hand, are mounted above the opening, so if it’s being installed on a side wall, there’s not typically enough room above it to stay below the roofline of the building. When choosing between a bi-fold and hydraulic door, consider all aspects and features. Style & Technology Doors can be custom designed to fit nearly any aesthetic requirements. From glass, wood and siding to a combination of materials, the possibilities are only limited by the imagination. Bi-fold and hydraulic doors each offer characteristics that make them an attractive option for different situations. For example, bi-fold doors raise upward instead of outward, requiring less operating space in front of the building. Hydraulic doors, on the other hand, open faster, providing an ideal solution for a heat-controlled building. In fact, hydraulic doors open as much

4 Safety Features to Look For On Overhead Doors

Putting safety first opens many doors — especially when making decisions on purchasing large bi-fold or hydraulic overhead doors. Key safety features save owners on costly replacements, as well as prevent potential injuries. Consider these four safety features when shopping for your next door: Safety Sensors Overhead Door Photo Eye It’s important for a door to recognize if an obstruction is in the way as it closes. Choose a door with photo eyes or safety-sensing edges. Photo eyes transmit a beam a few inches off the floor; if something breaks the beam, the door automatically stops and reverses. Safety sensing edges attach to the bottom of the doorframe and cause the door to stop and reverse if something makes contact with them. While photo eyes and safety-sensing edges aren’t new technology, not all doors feature these. The alternative is a door wired to operate only with constant pressure on the push during the close cycle. This is required for any door without photo eyes or safety-sensing edges, but when the operator removes his finger from the push button the door will stop. Safety Switches Unless a door has an automatic latch, a single latch handle needs to be manually released prior to opening the door. Look for a single latch handle that incorporates a safety switch to prevent the door from starting until it’s unlocked. This will save on expenses associated with damage from trying to open the door while it’s locked in place. Some manufacturers also offer optional top override switches. These serve as backup safety switches if the limit switch in the control box fails. When contact is made with the override switch, it stops the door from traveling past its opening height. Safety in Strength For long-term durability, select a door made of all-steel construction rather than a combination of wood and steel. Also confirm that the door’s construction meets the current wind load requirements of the building code. Some older doors may lack strength because they were built according to older building codes based off of lower wind loads. Safety Rating Last but certainly not least, check to see if the manufacturer has a high safety rating. For example, a door with a 5 to 1 safety rating means the cables and straps opening the door can withstand stress that is five times greater than the weight of the door. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to finding a door that puts safety first. Learn More Or Request a Quote

Open the Door to Energy Efficiency

Minimizing Energy Costs with Bi-fold & Hydraulic Doors Bi-fold and hydraulic doors are one of the most convenient and necessary features on many buildings. Without them, we couldn’t quickly and easily load and unload bulk materials or have access into and out of buildings with large and oversized equipment. But with large doors, as with any opening into a structure, often comes the risk of energy losses and increased heating and cooling costs. Whether it’s a door for a new educational building or a replacement unit for an existing manufacturing facility, a door that’s built and installed with energy efficiency in mind will not only save costs but will also last longer. To expedite the installation of a bi-fold or hydraulic door and minimize heating and cooling costs during replacement projects, work with a manufacturer that fabricates the door offsite and ensures materials are delivered to the site before the project. This will ensure a quick and smooth installation. When looking for a hydraulic or bi-fold door, you’ll see that most, if not all, are customized options. Even so, it’s still worth noting that this is the most critical aspect of the door selection process. Just like the windows in a house, a bi-fold or hydraulic door that’s made precisely for the opening it’s intended will be one of best lines of defense against energy loss. Work with a manufacturer that is thorough and works from the beginning to the end of the project, designing, building and installing the door. This ensures they understand the needs of the facility and expectations of the project. For example, if temperature fluctuations are unacceptable due to the door’s proximity to sensitive materials, a swing-open hydraulic door with a fast open and close time might be preferred over a bi-fold door. Some door manufacturers offer variable frequency drives for their bi-fold doors that decrease the door’s open and close cycle times by as much as 30 percent. Some VFDs also convert single-phase power into three-phase power, which is more economical because it doesn’t require as much conductor material. In addition to minimizing how long the door takes to open and close, choosing to insulate the door can also have a big impact on controlling energy loss. Take a look at the insulation options and choose an option that will be appropriate for the climate and building needs. Work with a manufacturer to find the best-rated insulation for the climate. Insulation materials – such as white-faced blanket, board or spray foam – vary in cost and rating. When considering windows, be sure to look for insulated glass options to maximize efficiency. A malfunction or broken part can have a big impact on a facility’s production, especially in the dead of winter. A door that is solid, durable and built with quality components ensures optimal performance and contributes to energy efficiency day after day. Look for all-steel designs, which provide greater stability than doors made with wood and steel. Heavy-gauge steel tubing and jig-welded construction are ideal for enhancing door durability and dependability. To expedite the installation process and minimize heating and cooling costs during replacement projects, work with a manufacturer that fabricates the door offsite and ensures materials are delivered to the site before the project. This will ensure a quick and smooth installation. Doors are exposed to the elements every day, so it’s important to occasionally inspect them, especially before winter, to ensure energy savings year after year. Take a look at the seals and weather strip, which are the door’s only defense against air infiltration where it meets the ground and building.

Next Stop: Brewhalla’s Open Doors

Door manufacturer helps transform a train maintenance building into a beautiful brewery Conversations buzz and beer flows from the tap. In the distance, a train roars past. The train’s presence is subtle and fleeting, but not lacking significance. After all, the building that’s now home to a brewery and taproom spent its early years as a locomotive maintenance facility. Brewhalla is one of Fargo, North Dakota’s latest breweries, and it’s located in a building that’s older than the state itself. Named in honor of their Scandinavian heritage, the team at Drekker Brewing Company opened Brewhalla — its second location — in September 2018. With features heavily influenced by the building’s history and an entrance flanked with sizeable picturesque custom doors, the structure now appears breathtaking and effortless, but the road getting there was anything but. From trains to beer Custom doors by Midland Door Solutions offer the perfect grand entrance to Drekker Brewing Company in Fargo, N.D. The Northern Pacific Railway Company (NPRC) built the 11,700-square-foot building that houses Brewhalla in 1883. It was primarily a foundry and repair building for railcars and locomotives, and later served as a storage and warehouse facility. When Kevin Bartram of MBA Architects purchased the abandoned building, he had a vision in mind. “Kevin always knew he wanted to make this his home and live in the north end of the building,” said Darin Montplaisir, one of Drekker’s four co-founders. “He had envisioned a brewery in the other half of the building, so he approached us and we jumped on the opportunity.” With one Drekker location already established in downtown Fargo, a second location less than a mile away was a no-brainer. “We were running out of space downtown,” Montplaisir said. “It was perfect timing. And we had always thought that building would make an awesome brewery. Everything about it is so unique, and we knew we wanted to move in.” Out with the old, in with the… old Keeping the natural, original elements was one of the key goals of MBA Architects and the Drekker team when they started design in the summer of 2017. Brewhalla’s structure is built with masonry load-bearing walls and a timber wood-framed roof structure. Besides adding necessary structural reinforcements, most of the wood and brick in the building is original. “We were surprised by how much the engineers let us keep,” Montplaisir said. “It was important to us to keep the building as close to original as possible. We love that about it.” Tables in the taproom at Drekker are made from wood recovered during the renovation process. Part of the restoration process was finding new uses for old elements of the building. Some of the original nuts and bolts were used in installing the new wood pieces, and the taproom tables are made from extra wood from the building. Outside, a repurposed footing now serves as a bench beside the firepit. Even the skylights, which line the roof of the building, have an old purpose: they served as smoke shoots for the train exhaust. Old train tracks that were discovered below layers of concrete will be used in a future fixture in the taproom. “People ask us, ‘how’d you get it to look like that?’ about a lot of things,” Montplaisir said. “And they can’t believe it when we tell them that’s the original.” Authenticity played a key role in restoration of Brewhalla. That’s why, when it came to the building’s doors, MBA Architects knew who to call. A trio of showstopping entrances In its early days, trains entered the maintenance building through one of the three large doors along the east side of the building. The openings are now fitted with three custom-designed doors that each serve a different purpose. Each of the custom doors at the brewery measures 12 feet wide by 16 feet tall and weighs 2,300 pounds. The middle door is a standard customer entrance door. The doors on either side of the patron entrance required a fully custom solution and were designed and installed by Midland Door Solutions. The West Fargo-based company specializes in custom hydraulic and bi-fold doors. In addition to architecture and design, they create and install doors for the aviation, industrial and agricultural industries. Customized solutions are Midland’s specialty, so Brewhalla was a perfect fit for their next undertaking. “Unique applications like this allow us to showcase our creativity,” said Jason Myrvik, Midland Door Solutions general manager. “We were excited to take on a local project and work with the customer to create the look and feel they were striving for.” MBA Architects’ team had seen photos of other Midland custom doors, and knew they’d be a good fit for the unique situation. “We performed historic research and found drawings of similar doors in other NPRC buildings,” said James Monson, architect at MBA Architects. “However, we wanted the benefits of modern technologies.” MBA worked with Midland to create a truly beautiful set of oversized doors. They each measure 12 feet wide by 16 feet tall and weigh 2,300 pounds. After several discussions between the architect and structural engineer, the team at Midland proposed a design to MBA and Drekker. They mirrored the pattern and elements of the main entrance door. Heavy, dark lines contrast the windowpanes and pop against the light brick building. “The goal was to mimic the contour of the arches on the openings and custom windows in the middle arch,” Myrvik said. “So we ensured our glass followed the curvature of the arch. We utilized aluminum grids embedded in the glass to create the same look as the mullions in the windows. This helped create a cohesive look for all three sections.” The southern door is a vertical bi-fold door that serves as a shipping and receiving entrance. It’s made with heavy-gauge steel tubing and has a fully automated operating system. The doors open and close quietly in seconds, a critical necessity when the doors are used throughout the day while customers are present. Forklifts bring loads

Durable, Fast-Opening Hydraulic Doors

Midland Door Solutions manufactures and installs durable, efficient and fast-opening hydraulic doors for large agricultural, aviation and commercial buildings. The company custom designs all of its doors to fit any new or existing building.

Customized Overhead Bi-Fold Doors For Safe, Easy Access to New and Existing Buildings

Midland Door Solutions, West Fargo, North Dakota, manufactures and installs durable, long-lasting bi-fold doors for large agricultural, aviation and commercial buildings. The company custom designs each door to fit any new or existing building for safe and easy access. Beyond installation, Midland crews offer continual service to ensure customer needs are met for the lifetime of the door.

Midland Door Solutions Offers Architectural Doors

Midland Door Solutions offers custom architectural doors for use in a wide range of buildings, such as barns, hotels, offices, restaurants, stadiums, storefronts and high-end homes. The doors give business owners the flexibility to open up large spans of wall to enhance traffic flow in and out of buildings, or divide interior spaces, such as conference rooms, in an easy and aesthetically unique way.

When And How To Choose Bi-Fold Doors

Sectional overhead doors are the most common solutions for openings, but when does it make sense to install an overhead bi-fold door, and how do you know which one is right? Traditional overhead doors work great for a wide range of buildings, but they have their limits; most can only be constructed as wide as 40 feet. If you have large agricultural equipment, 40 feet may simply be too narrow. This is when a bi-fold door is a better solution. Bi-fold doors feature a unique truss system that keeps them stable to as wide as 90 feet to accommodate some of the largest equipment.

Variable Speed Drive System for Bi-fold Doors

Midland Door Solutions, a full-service door manufacturer for agricultural, aviation and commercial buildings, offers a variable speed drive operating system for its bi-fold doors. The system contains a variable frequency drive and programmable logic control, which provide smooth, quiet operation throughout the door’s cycle.