Do I Need to Know How to Weld to fit an Automatic Gate Kit?

When it comes to fitting automatic gate kits, we always advise that you instruct a professional installer to complete the works on your behalf.

This recommendation comes from a couple of places…one is that the installation of machinery on your premises is most safely carried out by a trained professional, but secondly that the installation itself can require some skills and equipment that the average DIYer does not have ready access to.

In order to attach automatic gate kits to the gates, the drive end needs to be attached to the post or pillar and the other end needs to be secured firmly to the gate itself.

If you have metal gates and posts, then the most secure and sensible way to achieve this is by using the ‘weld on’ brackets that are supplied with the large majority of the gate kits as a standard.

Is welding really necessary?

It really depends on the material of your gates and gate posts as well as your budget as to whether or not welding is required.

If you have iron gates and posts then welding is generally considered to be the best installation method. Even if your gates are metal framed with wooden infills, you would still aim to weld the brackets on to one of the metal cross supports as it is imperative (especially on closed boarded gates) that they are attached to the strongest part of the gates to prevent damage under operation.

Some of the automatic gate kits come with the option to purchase ‘bolt on’ brackets as an addition. These bracket sets will allow you to easily mount the gate arms on to the wooden posts and the gate itself.

What if I have a fully wooden 5 bar farm gate?

Beninca offer bolt on bracket sets for their popular BILL and BOB ranges of automatic gate kits. These robust operators have a long arm stroke which is perfect for a wide farm gate and the worm drive mechanism on the BILL motors makes them particularly capable in dusty environments.