Quick answer: For most shops and small businesses, a solid galvanised steel roller shutter gives the best security after hours. Choose a punched (perforated) shutter if you want people to see your stock and air to flow through when you are closed. Warehouses that need to stop a fire spreading need a fire rated shutter, and homes or countertops look best with an aluminium contemporary shutter. Every Uno Systems shutter is made to measure for your opening.
A roller shutter door is often the only thing standing between your stock and a break-in. Whether you run a spaza shop, a salon, a hardware store, a workshop or a warehouse, the right shutter keeps your business safe, quick to open in the morning and easy to lock up at night. In this guide, the Uno Systems team in Polokwane and eMalahleni explains the different types of roller shutter doors, manual versus motorised operation, and what to ask before you buy.
What is a roller shutter door?
A roller shutter door is made of interlocking slats that roll up into a drum (barrel) above the opening. Because it rolls up instead of swinging out, it takes up no space inside or outside your shop. That makes it ideal for shop fronts, garages, warehouses, loading bays, kiosks and serving counters.
The 5 types of roller shutter doors
1. Solid steel roller shutters
Made from galvanised, interlocking steel slats. Solid shutters give you a clean look and the highest security, because nobody can see inside. They are the most popular choice for shops, storerooms and workshops that hold valuable stock.
2. Punched (perforated) roller shutters
These steel shutters have small cut-outs that let in light and air, and let people see inside even when you are closed. They are a good choice for shop fronts with window displays and for storage areas that need ventilation. Uno Systems offers two styles:
- Stella: 45 mm or 75 mm slats with small round holes
- Finestra: 75 mm slats with 175 x 35 mm vents
3. Fire rated roller shutters
Fire rated shutters are SABS approved, SANS Class C industrial doors with a 2-hour rating. They help stop a fire spreading from one building or section to another for at least 2 hours. They are used in warehouses, factories and buildings where fire separation is required.
4. Contemporary (aluminium) roller shutters
Made from aluminium interlocking slats, these shutters combine security with a neat, modern look. They work well on homes, windows and serving countertops, for example at a takeaway or tuck shop.
5. Roller shutter grilles
Grilles are open, see-through shutters available in prime painted mild steel or enamel-painted finishes. They are popular in malls and shopping centres, where shops want to stay visible and let air move through after closing.
Which roller shutter is right for my business?
- Spaza shop, liquor store, cellphone or hardware shop: solid steel, for maximum security.
- Clothing store, salon or shop with a display window: punched steel or a grille, so customers can still see your products at night.
- Warehouse, factory or storage unit: solid steel, or fire rated where fire separation is needed.
- Takeaway counter, kiosk or home window: aluminium contemporary shutter.
- Shop inside a mall: punched steel or a grille, depending on the centre’s rules.
Not sure? Our team can visit your site, measure the opening and recommend the right door.
Manual or motorised: which should you choose?
Roller shutters can be opened by hand with a chain or crank, or with an electric motor.
- Manual (chain or crank): lower cost, works during load shedding, and suits smaller doors that are opened once or twice a day.
- Motorised: faster and easier for large or heavy doors and doors that open many times a day. Uno Systems supplies ARC industrial roller shutter motors in 220V, 380V and 24V DC options, to suit the door size and the power available on your site.
Load shedding tip: if you choose a motor, ask about a backup option or a manual override so you can still open and lock your shop when the power is off.
Extra options worth asking about
- Wicket gate: a small walk-through door built into the shutter, so staff can go in and out without opening the whole door. It also gives an emergency exit.
- Colour: shutters come in galvanised steel, or can be powder coated in a wide range of standard and special colours to match your building or brand.
- Extra locks: centre locks, slide bolts, shoot bolts and super secure locks add another layer of protection against break-ins.
How to keep your roller shutter working
A roller shutter that sticks, jams or drops suddenly is a security and safety risk. Roller shutters should be serviced at least once every 6 months, and doors that are opened many times a day may need more frequent checks. Servicing should meet the relevant SANS standards, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the manufacturer’s requirements.
Book a service if your shutter:
- Is hard to lift or keeps rolling back down
- Makes grinding or scraping noises
- Has bent, dented or loose slats
- Runs skew in the guides
- Has a lock that is hard to open or close
Uno Systems offers service and maintenance contracts, on-call repairs and a full range of spares, including slats, guides, T-bars, shafts, canopies, springs, locks and slide bolts.
Roller shutter doors in Polokwane and eMalahleni
Uno Systems has manufactured, installed and serviced roller shutter doors since December 1998. You will find our doors in malls, shops, warehouses and homes across Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Our main branch is in Ladine, Polokwane, with a second branch in eMalahleni, and we offer a 24-hour emergency service for doors that are stuck or will not lock.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most secure roller shutter door for a shop?
A solid galvanised steel roller shutter is the most secure option for most shops, because the interlocking steel slats are strong and nobody can see inside. Adding a centre lock or super secure lock gives extra protection.
Can a roller shutter door work during load shedding?
Yes. Manual roller shutters with a chain or crank work without electricity. Motorised shutters need a backup power option or a manual override to open during a power cut.
Are roller shutter doors made to size?
Yes. Every Uno Systems roller shutter door is custom manufactured to your requirements and the measurements of your opening.
How often should a roller shutter door be serviced?
A roller shutter door should be serviced at least once every 6 months. Doors that are opened and closed many times a day may need more frequent servicing.
Does Uno Systems install roller shutters in Polokwane and eMalahleni?
Yes. Uno Systems manufactures, installs, services and repairs roller shutter doors from its branches in Polokwane, Limpopo, and eMalahleni, Mpumalanga.
Get a quote for your roller shutter door
Tell us the size of your opening, what you need to protect and whether you want manual or motorised operation, and we will recommend the right door.
Polokwane: 015 293 1771 | Lizette 083 302 4450 | Tiaan 072 180 6377
eMalahleni: Louise 081 520 7445
Request a quote online or see our full range on the roller shutter doors page.