By Mikael Sandström, Sales Support Engineer, Megadoor AB
SubscribeThe challenge in the aerospace industry is to provide doors that can be designed to be very narrow and tall and which will better withstand the extremely high or hurricane force wind conditions.
Typically, doors for aerospace installations must be very light weight and must be manufactured to exceptionally high standards, due to the fact that they are used in rocket assembly and payload encapsulation environments.
Additionally, many installations require craneway openings, and may need to be controlled from various locations in the vertical integration facility, as the controller must see the door movement from different locations in the tower. And, even though the doors are not opened very frequently, they must always provide consistent reliability due to the critical need for the doors to be opened as an integral part of the production/launch process.
Megadoor Solution
All Megadoors are specifically engineered for the particular application being considered, and are installed and maintained by local firms who specialize in servicing the aerospace industry. Each door is constructed to ISO 9001 certified quality assurance criteria to provide extremely reliable service at a very low life-cycle maintenance cost. Megadoors can be designed to withstand virtually any wind load requirement of coastal launch sites, as well as to withstand over blast pressures within the encapsulation cells. The compact, lightweight, corrosive resistant Megadoor is especially suited for tight clean room applications at craneway locations.
Benefits of using Megadoor
- Can be designed to virtually any wind Load required
- ISO 9001 Certified
- Quality Assurance Program
- Clean Room Compatible
- Tight Fit With low Air Infiltration
- Patented, Certified Safety Arrestors
- Corrosion Resistant
- Low Weight and Compact Design
- Very Cost Effective Doors for Tall Openings
- Craneway Applications
- Customized Controls for Space Launch Applications
- Requires Virtually no Maintenance
- No Springs or Counter Weights Needed
Our history
In 1973 the Company Utec AB produced the first doors of the Megadoor type. Utec AB produced wood drying kilns and needed a tight door that could stand big temperature differences, aggressive atmosphere and harsh treatment. Then in 1981, as the door business expanded a separate company Utec-porten AB (Utec-door) was formed. Sales activities were concentrated to the Nordic countries.
In 1982, a subsidiary, Megadoor Inc., was established in USA to introduce the door to the American market. Utec-porten AB was acquired by Cardo Door (then Crawford Door AB) as a start to expand the product range offered by Crawford, this happened in 1984.
In 1988 the Swedish company (Utec-porten) adopted the more international name Megadoor AB. The company moved into new and larger facilities especially built for Megadoor in 1991. Finally in 1999 we were certified according to ISO 9001.
Our case studies below show that we can overcome any problem that arises.
Civilian Aviation Case Study (Boeing Wichita, Kansas)
Original Problem
As part of a new strategy, Boeing began a program of converting passenger aircraft to cargo aircraft. This production effort required that the entire aircraft be disassembled, a procedure which had to be conducted in a totally enclosed structure. The only spot on which this structure could be built was on a ground slope of about four feet. Additionally, every bay of the structure had to have total access, along with other specific engineering criteria. And, to further complicate matters, the project had to be executed in a very cost effective manner and had to be completed within very unusual time constraints.
Megadoor Opening Solution
Megadoor’s design architect assisted the Boeing architects in developing a very unique structure that would accommodate all the criteria set forth in the initial plan, and would marry the Megadoors to the structure. The entire facility was redesigned to work with the slope of the terrain and to eliminate the need for space consuming pockets needed for sliding doors.
Megadoor worked diligently to maintain aesthetic appeal and continuity, and was able to customize the unique Megadoor swing-a-way vertical mullions in order to provide complete access to every bay. In addition, the Megadoor installation professionals were there throughout the installation process to ensure proper installation and function of the doors. The result is a very attractive, cost effective installation — completed within the time frame desired.
Military Aviation Case Study (USCG Atlantic City)
Original Problem
The United States Coast Guard wanted to get six Dolphin Aerospatiale HH 65A helicopters comfortably into one hangar without any one of them being behind another. The facility would function in five distinct areas — those being aircraft hangar, maintenance shops, berthing, administration and storage. The Coast Guard’s architects were about to design the structure with a traditional, rectangular approach when the Megadoor problem solving team was invited to participate.
Megadoor Opening Solution
Megadoor’s design architect began to work very closely with the Coast Guard’s chosen architects to explore other creative, non-traditional solutions to the helicopter hangar problem. The entire design team began to think outside the box and the results were astounding. The new design became an L-shaped hangar with the central control point of the facility in the corner of the L. Because of the flexibility of the Megadoor, each leg of the L accommodated three helicopters, any one of which can enter or leave at any time - with none of them behind another.
The Megadoor design fit the unusual mission requirements of the Coast Guard, and the vertical lift Megadoors proved to fit the need far better than sliding doors. The building meets all the requirements of the Coast Guard’s quality shore facility, including ease of construction, functionality, flexibility, safety, maintainability, cost effectiveness, project expansion, aesthetics and the creation of an environment which allows a source of pride for the USCG, as well as a prototype for future Coast Guard facilities.
Engineering principle
How the Megadoor Works!!!
Each Megadoor is custom designed and engineered to exact specification. At the onset of a project, Megadoor specialists are available to consult with and recommend the proper door configuration. The highly trained Megadoor engineers then completely design each individual door for the end users special requirements and to accommodate necessary wind-loading requirements. For certain applications, it may be advantageous to split a large opening into two or more smaller openings using the patented, Megadoor swing-up mullion system. This multiple door system offers increased flexibility in many building designs.
There is virtually no limit to size or configuration of a Megadoor. Each prefabricated, lightweight unit installs fast, easily and inexpensively. Megadoor backs these products with their corporate strength and capability.
The Megadoor is designed for openings, which depend on reliability due to critical circumstances. This reliability is due in part to the extreme cycling capability of the Megadoor. The standard Megadoor is designed to cycle millions of times with little or no deterioration.
Additionally, for installations requiring high speed cycling, the product can be designed to cycle up to 24" per second. Such high-speed operation improves increased traffic flow and helps reduce energy costs.
Because of the extensive use of aluminum and polyester, the Megadoor is extremely lightweight. The lightweight qualities, however, do not inhibit the door's strength and durability. In fact, the resilient Megadoor is built for abusive, heavy traffic, and corrosive environments, and can still function if damaged. In the event that the Megadoor is damaged, it is easily repaired with little or no disruption of normal traffic.
The Megadoor is particularly suited for shot-blasting and paint facilities since the durable fabric is virtually unaffected by sand, paint or grit. Special fabrics for extreme temperatures are available upon request.
For more case stories please view our website at www.megadoor.se/casestories.htm
You can also visit our American sister company Megadoor Inc. and view their case studies at www.megadoor.com/html/pages/case.html