Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent

Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent

Client: Aspinall Foundation
Contractor: Securigate Ltd
Type of works: supply of 844 sliding-gate operators.

All the gates to the elephant enclosure at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent can now be operated remotely, following the installation of FAAC automatic sliding-gate operators and a customised access control device.

The new system was specified by wild animal park owners, the Aspinall Foundation, following the successful implementation of a similar gate automation programme at nearby Port Lympne elephant enclosure the previous year.

The system was designed and installed by Sevenoaks-based Securigate Ltd. 844 sliding gate operators from FAAC have been fitted to all twelve gates within the elephant enclosure. A custom-designed, wire-free portable remote control programmable transmitter, based on FAAC’s 868 radio-control unit, enables each gate to be opened remotely at the touch of a button.

Working with keepers at the wild animal park, Securigate and FAAC engineers developed a unique rechargeable long-range radio signalling device that can be carried on a strap around the keepers’ bodies as they move about their work. Gates can be opened and closed remotely, safely controlling the movement of elephants within the enclosure.

The system has been carefully designed to be completely safe in operation, both for the keepers, and for the animals. The 844 operator was chosen as it features a non-reversing worm screw gear motor, ensuring that the elephants cannot push the gate back once the motor has stopped.