Modular Guarding
ARK Automation supplies vertical slide gates for modular machine guarding systems, robotic cells, automated equipment, production areas, conveyors, and other industrial applications where controlled access is required.
Unlike a conventional hinge gate or horizontal slide gate, a vertical gate opens upward. This keeps the gate movement within the guarding footprint and can provide a practical access solution where there is limited floor space beside or in front of the opening.
For exact dimension values, please refer to the table below.
Access points can be difficult to plan when machinery, aisles, workstations, conveyors, or other equipment leave little room for a gate to swing or slide horizontally. A vertical slide gate uses the space above the opening instead, helping preserve valuable floor space around the guarded area.
Vertical gates can be considered for applications such as:
Visit our machine guarding applications page for more examples of modular guarding around industrial machinery and automated equipment.
ARK’s vertical gate uses a counterweighted vertical slide gate design. The gate travels vertically within the assembly rather than swinging outward or retracting along the guarding line.
This configuration can be useful when the area immediately surrounding an access point needs to remain clear. Because the gate travels upward, the available overhead space must also be considered when planning the guarding layout.
A vertical gate may be preferable to a hinge gate when there is not enough floor space for a swing radius, or to a horizontal slide gate when there is not enough guarding length beside the opening for the gate to retract.
ARK Automation’s vertical slide gate catalogue includes widths ranging from 600 mm to 3000 mm, allowing the access opening to be selected around the equipment and workflow requirements of the application.
Available gate heights include:
Available panel styles include:
Different panel options can help accommodate visibility, process, and guarding requirements. Use the product table below to review available part numbers, dimensions, panel styles, and colour options for specific vertical gate configurations.
Choosing the right gate requires considering the complete machine guarding layout rather than the access opening alone. The equipment, hazards, operator workflow, maintenance requirements, surrounding floor space, and overhead clearance can all affect whether a vertical gate is appropriate.
Before selecting a vertical slide gate, consider:
If the application requires a wider opening and sufficient horizontal space is available, a double slide gate may also be worth considering.
A vertical gate should be treated as one component of the overall machine safeguarding system. Gate placement, opening dimensions, surrounding guarding, access frequency, and any associated safety controls should be evaluated based on the hazards of the specific machine or process.
In Ontario, Ontario Regulation 851 for Industrial Establishments requires machinery with exposed moving parts or other identified machine hazards to be guarded so workers cannot access the hazardous area. For facilities operating in the United States, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212 establishes general machine guarding requirements for protecting operators and other employees from machinery hazards.
Depending on the application and risk assessment, a gate access point may also be monitored using an interlock and incorporated into a safety circuit using a safety relay or programmable safety controller.
For a broader overview of access points, guarding layouts, risk assessment, and related standards, see our guide to machine guarding standards and ANSI considerations.
Vertical gates can be combined with ARK Automation panels, posts, brackets, and other gate styles to create a complete perimeter guarding system around machinery and automated equipment.
The modular design makes it possible to plan access points around the actual equipment layout and combine different gate styles where necessary. This can be particularly useful in production cells where operator access, maintenance access, material movement, and available floor space vary around different sides of the machine.
To download the Catalogue Page, click on the link below:
Learn more about vertical slide gates, available sizes, space requirements, machine guarding applications, and what to consider when planning a vertical gate access point.
A vertical slide gate is an access gate that moves vertically rather than swinging outward or sliding horizontally along the guarding system. ARK Automation’s design uses a counterweighted vertical slide gate assembly and is intended for use as an access point within a modular machine guarding system.
A vertical gate can be useful when there is limited floor space around the access point. Because the gate moves upward, it does not require the swing clearance of a hinge gate or the horizontal retraction space required by a conventional slide gate. The available overhead clearance must still be considered.
The required overhead space depends on the gate height and assembly dimensions. ARK’s catalogue lists overall assembly heights of 2800 mm for a 1400 mm gate, 3400 mm for a 1700 mm gate, 4000 mm for a 2000 mm gate, and 4600 mm for a 2300 mm gate. The specific product dimensions should be reviewed before the surrounding guarding layout is finalized.
ARK’s vertical slide gate catalogue includes standard widths from 600 mm through 3000 mm. The appropriate width depends on the required access opening, equipment layout, and how operators, maintenance personnel, materials, or equipment need to pass through the guarded area.
Available options include 1×1 welded wire mesh, 2×2 welded wire mesh, Lexan, and solid steel. Panel selection should consider visibility, the hazards being guarded, the surrounding guarding system, and any process-specific requirements.
Both use sliding movement, but they travel in different directions. A standard slide gate moves horizontally alongside the guarding, while a vertical gate moves upward above the access opening. A vertical gate can therefore be useful when horizontal space is restricted, while a standard slide gate may be preferable where overhead clearance is limited.
Yes. A vertical gate can form an access point in a robotic or automated cell when it suits the guarding layout and the application’s safety requirements. The complete cell should be evaluated to determine appropriate guard positioning, safety distances, access controls, interlocking, and other required protective measures.
A gate access point can be incorporated into an interlocked machine safety system when required by the application’s risk assessment and safety design. The specific interlock, monitoring method, safety circuit, and required machine response depend on the hazards and control system. Safety devices may be monitored through products such as safety relays or programmable safety controllers.
Helpful information includes the required opening width and height, available overhead clearance, surrounding guarding dimensions, preferred panel style, equipment layout, access requirements, and any known safety or interlocking requirements. Drawings, CAD files, photos, sketches, or guarding layouts can also help ARK Automation review the application.
Need help choosing a vertical slide gate for your machine guarding system, robotic cell, production equipment, or controlled access area? Contact ARK Automation to discuss your required opening, overhead clearance, guarding layout, panel options, and related machine safety requirements. You can also upload related files, drawings, layouts, or product lists using the form below.
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