Reliable door technology in retail stores provides safety and efficiency
The doors of dm stores in Poland have been equipped with reliable and efficient door technology from GEZE since the first store was opened in the country. GEZE has now planned and implemented doors for around 20 dm stores in Poland and maintains a close partnership with dm and cooperating companies in the construction industry.
Doors in retail – special requirements for comfort and safety
Sliding door systems such as the ECdrive T2 FR offer numerous advantages in retail. © Jakub Węgliński / GEZE GmbH
Doors in retail stores have to meet a variety of requirements, with personnel and building safety being a top priority. At the same time, comfort and accessibility for customers must be ensured. In addition, planners and operators are looking for solutions that fit in with the concept of the building architecture and the business in terms of appearance and design. Operators have teamed up with GEZE Polska in Warsaw to install automatic sliding door systems for the main entrances of the dm chemist's shop chain in Poland. Due to their versatility, they are among the most widely used solutions in retail, alongside revolving doors and swing doors. GEZE offers a wide range of attractive and reliable doors, windows and technical building systems that perform reliably in normal operation and in the event of danger – and integrate seamlessly into the building design.
The right choice for retail: the advantages of automatic sliding doors
Safety: Robust designs and sophisticated safety mechanisms protect against break-ins and theft. Automatic sliding door systems are often equipped with modern locking technologies such as electronic lock cylinders. Alarm systems can also be integrated to further enhance safety .
Access for all: Automatic doors facilitate access for people with disabilities. These doors offer non-contact opening mechanisms, allowing wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility to enter easily. In addition, wide door openings and low door thresholds ensure barrier-free access. This also benefits customers with shopping trolleys or prams.
Energy efficiency: Insulated doors contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption by minimising heat or cold loss. Air curtain systems complement this insulation by creating an invisible air flow when the door is opened, preventing the exchange of inside and outside air. These measures not only help to reduce energy costs, but also contribute to minimising the building’s ecological footprint.
User-friendliness: Automatic sliding door systems are designed to be easy to operate and maintain. Intuitive controls and user-friendly interfaces ensure that even inexperienced users can operate the systems with ease. Regular maintenance is easy to carry out, ensuring door reliability and durability.
Design: The attractive appearance of the doors contributes to the positive overall impression of the shop. Integration into the overall architectural concept ensures that the doors fit harmoniously into the design of the building. In addition to their aesthetic function, these doors can also be adapted to individual requirements and the style of the company with different materials and surfaces.
GEZE supports planners and operators in the retail sector in finding individual solutions. In addition to door planning, this also includes planning windows and technical building systems.
Plan automatic sliding doors with GEZE
As entrance doors in retail stores, in hygienic areas of healthcare facilities or as an elegant entrance to a hotel lobby: automatic sliding doors have a wide range of applications – and the requirements they have to meet are just as diverse. Because of this, it is not always easy to find the right door to meet all individual requirements. Is the door an interior or exterior door? Do I need a single or double leaf solution? Do particularly heavy or large leaves need to be moved? Do I need a particularly economical solution? The requirements are as varied as the selection is large. Whether you need a sliding door with special burglar resistance or a door with an integrated fanlight, we can help you make the right choice.
Find the right sliding doorAutomatic sliding doors for dm in Poland
In 2021, the chain of chemists’ shops commissioned GEZE Poland to equip the first dm store in Wroclaw with modern door solutions. An economical solution was required that did not compromise on safety. For many years now, dm has also relied on GEZE's expertise and product quality in Germany. For example, the impressive dm-dialogicum, the new headquarters of the chemist's shop chain in Karlsruhe, was equipped with door, window and safety technology from GEZE. These successful joint projects formed the basis for those in other countries, so the partnership in Poland was the next logical step.
With GEZE Poland, we have a reliable partner at our side who has already planned and implemented multiple sliding door systems for us. We value their expertise and product quality and look forward to opening up many more markets together with GEZE.
Piotr Różański, Construction Team Leader for dmPLProfessional door planning: BIM makes it possible
To ensure that investors, architects, fabricators and product manufacturers are all on the same page from the outset when planning doors, experts rely on door planning with BIM (Building Information Modelling). With BIM, everyone involved works with a digital model, the digital twin. This allows all trades to access all relevant data and take it into account during planning. This saves time and resources.
Download the BIM white paperGEZE ECdrive – the all-around choice among sliding door solutions
dm Poland relies on the all-around choice among sliding door drives: the GEZE ECdrive T2. © Jakub Węgliński / GEZE GmbH
While dm mainly relies on the GEZE Slimdrive door operator in Germany, the ECdrive meets all of the client's requirements in Poland.
It is with good reason that this all-around choice is the most frequently installed product in the GEZE sliding door portfolio. In combination with the GCprofile Therm, it meets the following requirements:
- Slim design: The ECdrive T2 stands out for its slim design, which allows for a wide range of design options. With a low cover height of only 100 mm, it blends inconspicuously into the design concept.
- Energy efficiency: The ECdrive proves its energy efficiency particularly on interior and exterior doors with high traffic volumes. Energy efficiency is further improved in combination with the fine-framed GCprofile Therm profile system. The thermal insulation properties of the thermally separated profile reduce heat loss through large sliding glass doors, which are typical in retail outlets. In addition, cold bridges are avoided.
- Smart: The ECdrive detects and logs errors independently. Its roller carriage is self-cleaning, keeping maintenance to a minimum. In addition, as with all GEZE automatic doors, the drive system offers the advantage of being fully connectable to building management systems.
- Safety: The ECdrive T2 drive meets the highest standards for operational safety in accordance with DIN 18650-1/2 and DIN EN 16005. Protective leaves are used in escape and rescue routes if it is not possible to protect the secondary closing edges with light curtains. This is not mandatory in Poland, but has been implemented in accordance with the standard EN 16005 to increase safety. At main entrances with an existing alarm system, GEZE Poland relies on reed switches for non-contact monitoring of the door leaf position. This safety switch can be used as a component of the automatic sliding door system to switch off the mains voltage and open the automatic door if necessary
For increased burglary resistance, for example in night mode, the GCprofile Therm can be equipped with a manual or motorised hook bolt lock.
A combined detector such as the GC 363 ensures that sliding doors are opened and closed safely and at an early stage. © Jakub Węgliński / GEZE GmbH
Following the successful launch of its first store in Wroclaw, dm has now opened numerous other stores. Wherever a new door solution was required, GEZE provided expertise, service and products, and GEZE Poland has now carried out around 20 joint projects with dm. The ECdrive T2 was installed in all of the markets. In markets where no smoke and fire alarm system was available, the ECdrive T2 FR was used for escape and rescue routes.
The door systems were combined with the GC 363 combined detector. This radar movement detector with active infrared light curtain ensures convenient and safe door operation.
In Germany and other European countries, the EN 16005 standard specifies the design of power-operated interior and exterior doors and the test procedures for these doors. This standard is not mandatory in Poland, but it is recommended. Together with dm, we are committed to implementing this standard in all stores in order to increase the safety of customers and staff.
The advantages of the ECdrive T2 at a glance
- Single and double leaf sliding door systems
- Interior and exterior doors with high access frequency
- All-in-one solution for entrance areas with GCprofile Therm and fanlight
- for increased requirements in terms of tightness or energy efficiency
- Opening widths from 700 to 3000 mm possible
- Door leaf weights up to 140 kg per leaf
Together into the future thanks to comprehensive services and close partnership
Over the years, a successful service relationship has developed between the relevant departments and individuals on both sides, along with a broad network and, above all, a trusting partnership based on mutual appreciation. This also includes cooperating architectural firms and other companies.
To ensure that all processes in retail outlets run smoothly despite heavy use, GEZE is also available for all service matters such as maintenance or repairs after system completion and commissioning, and offers customised service contracts as well. Regular servicing can reduce downtime and increase the durability of GEZE solutions.
