Apex Strip Curtains is the leading local manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of door products, including general purpose strip curtains and welding and safety screens.

High speed roll-up and fold-up doors are suitable for a wide variety of applications, and are particularly suited to warehousing areas. These doors do not hinder personnel, forklift or vehicular traffic and, depending on the actual operation, can be either automatically or manually controlled.

The line-up of Sector high speed roll-up doors manufactured by Apex Strip Curtains delivers both functionality and performance. These doors are compact enough to cope with the intensive demands of heavy and continuous traffic and feature an integral design in which the actuator, controls, safety devices and balancing systems are built into one unit. Sector doors are structurally flexible, with transparent or coloured interchangeable panels.

The company’s range of Traffic high speed folding doors in sizes up to 8000 mm wide by 8500 mm high offer a sturdy, dependable and modular solution for medium and large entrances, particularly where windy conditions are a factor, such as shipment and warehouse areas. Made from strong self-extinguishing Class 2 fabric with excellent thermal insulation properties, this door has been designed to resist a wind loading of up to 50 km per hour. The supporting structure is manufactured from high quality galvanised steel to ensure optimum durability and, if the application requires it, vision windows can be incorporated in the panels.

A counterweighted balancing system ensures high standards of performance and safety and fast, semi-automatic reopening. The built in automation unit protects the components from wear caused by the elements.

All high speed doors in the Traffic range are controlled by an electronic unit that complies with all IEC regulations. It can be activated by any type of remote control equipment including photocells, pressure sensitive mats, movement detectors or induction loops.

Reliability is an important factor in the choice of doors for warehousing applications, and the wide range of high speed doors available from Apex Strip Curtains are manufactured in accordance with international standards, with materials that comply with stringent hygiene and safety criteria.

“That is why we had absolutely no hesitation in opting for Apex Strip Curtains for working areas in our facility where unqualified reliability and quality are essential,” Geoff Lass, managing director of R&G Sheetmetal, explains.

“Over the years we have established an excellent working relationship with Apex, which is familiar with our business and knows the exacting standards we adhere to. We have a very proud reputation to protect and Apex partners with us in ensuring that we not only maintain, but boost that image.”

Activities as varied as welding, grinding and powder-coating are conducted within R&G Sheetmetal’s facility and it is crucial that there be no contamination. “In addition to providing perfect protection for workers and colleagues, Apex General Purpose Strip Curtains seal the welding and grinding bays off perfectly to prevent any possibility of that happening,” Lass continues.

Locally manufactured PVC strip curtains were an obvious choice for the facility. The individual strips feature the patented Balledge® which ensures that personnel don’t get snagged or scratched when passing through them. At the same time, a remarkably efficient seal is formed by the edges and this prevents the ingress of contaminants making it more than ideal for the powder coating area at R&G Sheetmetal.

Lass says that with the strips being transparent they do not interfere with the natural light in the working environment and afford excellent visibility of both traffic and pedestrians coming and going.

Manufactured from a specially formulated PVC material, Apex General Purpose Strip Curtains are inexpensive and have created an industry-leading reputation with its Balledge® design in effectively controlling temperatures and the ingress of hot or cold air. This is an advantage not only for many manufacturing processes, but especially for the comfort of the workforce, whose productivity is not hampered by fluctuating temperatures.

“Another significant advantage is that they are easy to install,” Lass points out. “In fact, we installed them ourselves and the simplicity of the operation meant that there was practically no down-time in operation at all.”

The self-repairing characteristics of the Apex Smart Reset door are setting a new industry standard. If the door accidently becomes dislodged, it automatically recovers its alignment during the next opening and closing action. This is made possible by an ingenious design incorporating side hinges that slide along special guides, together with flexible curtain ends. And if the curtain is accidentally hit by an object passing through, the hinges come off the guides to prevent damage.

A sturdy and compact structure and well-designed electric motors and components are key features which make the Apex Smart Reset door safe, unobtrusive, quick and easy to install and practical to maintain, inspect and check.

Safety features include a DSC electronic safety device which will automatically reverse the motion if an obstacle is hit when the door is closing. The door is controlled by an electronic unit that complies with all IEC regulations and can be activated by any type of remote control equipment including photocells, pressure sensitive mats, movement detectors or induction loops. To facilitate safety, the Apex Smart Reset door is fitted with a release lever that opens it from either side in the event of a power failure or malfunction.

Other distinctive features include a soft start and soft stop capability which reduces mechanical stress and wear ensuring reliability and long life, while an optional inverter system makes for easy speed adjustments.

The Apex Smart Reset door is competitively priced, with a curtain manufactured in Class 2 self-extinguishing polyester, strong enough to withstand winds of up to 120 km/h. The bottom passive edge is made of flexible material with high shock-proof properties which protects the door from damage.

Two photocells are mounted inside the casing of the Apex Smart Reset door and this, together with the DSC electronic system, ensures uniform rolling of the curtain.

The panel sections are interchangeable and connected by extruded aluminium profiles which reinforce the entire door. The self-supporting metal structure contains the electrical drive gear accessories and the carefully designed counterbalancing system that makes the door reliable and efficient in operation.

Suitable for openings of up to 2 metres high and 4 metres wide, the Apex Smart Reset door incorporates an externally mounted motor which can also be supplied with a manual emergency reopening device, making it suitable for times when power supply is not available. The 3-phase 400 V motor comes complete with a limit switch and electrically operated hand brake.

This fully gasketed heavy duty impact swing door is locally manufactured to customers’ specific requirements. Lightweight but robust, the Apex SR 9000 door is engineered to withstand heavy traffic and impact.

Its patented “honeycomb” framework and flexible urethane foam insulation give the door optimum stability and superior soundproofing qualities. This is achieved by injecting high density non-CFRC urethane core into the hollow shell of the door.

High bumpers are also fitted to the door panel to further absorb impact from man-ridden vehicles and carts. This also reduces stress on hardware and mount assemblies.

The perimeter edges on the door panels are bull nosed with a minimum radius of 8 mm preventing excessive wear on the edges. The seal complements the insulated core reducing energy flow between environments, another plus factor!

The rugged 3 mm ABS outer facing of the Apex SR 9000 door is available in a variety of colours and it is impervious to moisture, acid, petroleum products, salt solutions, animal fats and insects. It retains its physical properties in temperatures as low as minus 40º C and it will not chip dent, peel, pit or corrode.

Apex has a network of agents throughout South Africa who offer technical and installation support as well as prompt delivery times.

Apex Welding Screens come in various configurations to suit a variety of individual requirements. The most popular version has a freestanding frame, allowing easy handling and portability. The feet of the screen are angled to allow optimum utilisation of floor space and screens can be butted together at a 900 angle.

These features further promote ease of erection, making it simple to set up and arrange the screens in different shapes according to the specific demands of each particular workshop. Apex Strip Curtain personnel are available to assess an application and recommend the most effective solution for a particular application and environment.

The screens absorb, scatter and filter the light spectrum to create a safer working environment for the welder and any co-workers and supervisors in the immediate vicinity. Tested by the SABS for ultra-violet transmittance, conventional materials gave readings of 0.0005%, 0.008% and 5.0% as opposed to Apex readings of 0.005%, 0.001% and 0.005%. Tests for total visible light transmittance demonstrated incontestably that conventional materials permit 78% while Apex material allowed only 15.5% light transmittance – a dramatic difference, particularly when one considers long term exposure of workers and the consequent repercussions on their eyesight and even their skin.

The situation is worsened because exterior doorways, often left open to allow access for people and equipment, let in hot air which is trapped in the building and re-heated by the greenhouse effect, causing excessive heat build-up.

This, Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains and Doors, says can create an unpleasant working environment leading to lowered productivity.

“It’s a proven fact that a comfortable worker is a productive worker, yet many industrial managers in both large and small operations do not realise they can improve working conditions immeasurably in hot buildings by simply controlling air movement,” he says.

Dessing’s company offers a range of products that make it easy to control the working environment, and one that is proving increasingly popular is the locally manufactured SR 9000 Insulated Impact Traffic Door.

It is designed for efficient long life use in high traffic, impact-opening applications and built to withstand traffic from both pedestrians and forklifts. Fully gasketed this heavy-duty swing door opens easily and closes under its own weight. Insulated with polyurethane, this robust impact door is ideal for application where temperature control is vital, or where the ingress of dust, insects or noise must be prevented.

More importantly, Dessing explains, the door retains its physical properties in both high and low temperature environments and is impervious to moisture, acid, animal fats, insects, salt solutions and petroleum products.

The company is also well-known for its patented Balledge® strip curtains, which have proved themselves in innumerable applications in South Africa and abroad.

Dessing says strip curtains are an inexpensive way to cover a door opening to prevent the ingress of hot air yet still allow easy passage. Strips are made from specially formulated PVC that doesn’t become brittle with use and stays transparent for through-viewing and added safety.

The Balledge® on the strips make this product completely different to similar strip curtains available locally, and makes sure that strips do not snag or catch on people or goods passing through. This strengthens the actual strip and makes it far more durable. Apex Strip Curtains that were installed when the company was first established more than 28 years ago are still in use today.

An advantage is that the strip curtaining system can be retrofitted or used in greenfields installation. Specifications and advice are readily available, and Dessing says the company’s philosophy is to provide the best solution for long term, cost effective environment control.

In very high traffic installations where entrances and exits need protection from hot air, dust and dirt ingress as well as for security, fast-action roll-up and fold-up doors are the best solution.

Dessing says this is generally a more costly option than the traditional roller shutter door or strip curtaining, but it is fully automated and saves on manpower costs and improves efficiencies.

The use of high-speed doors is particularly beneficial in operations where doorways need to be opened for limited periods to facilitate the loading and unloading of vehicles. Apex has a range of high-speed doors which can be customised to fit any opening. All offer rapid automated opening and closing, as well as efficient thermal insulation and a highly effective wind barrier.

The doors are aesthetically pleasing in a range of colours, and are made from durable, flexible polyesters and PVCs. The electronic componentry is modern, compact and self-contained to allow quick and easy installation in doorways and passages.

A variety of activation options, from floor-mats to beepers, is available and all doors have a back-up emergency opening capability. Unless otherwise required, doors have a transparent panel for through-vision.

More About Apex Strip Curtains
Apex Strip Curtains is a leading manufacturer and supplier of PVC strip curtains, insulated and impact traffic swing doors, roll-up and fold-up speed doors, roller blinds and cabinet curtains for refrigerated display cabinets, and welding and safety screens.

The company’s product range is locally manufactured at specially equipped premises, where quality systems have been put in place to ensure that all specifications and tolerances are met during production. Products are custom manufactured to suit individual requirements and are used in a variety of applications, from industrial through to retail.

A network of agents throughout South Africa is able to offer excellent technical and installation support, and quick delivery times.

Apex Strip Curtains and Doors was the first company to manufacture general purpose strip curtaining in South Africa. Its specifically designed facilities now manufacture Apex products under rigorous quality control systems to ensure specifications and tolerances are met.

The company developed the renowned patented Balledge® design that prevents the ingress of hot or cold air and pollutants while allowing easy passage. The strips do not become brittle but remain transparent for through-viewing and safety due to the specially formulated PVC that is used.

Apex’s door range includes the ever popular SR 9000 insulated Impact Traffic door which withstands heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic efficiently. To complement this product, fast-action, roll-up and fold-up doors are available to protect entrances and exits in very high traffic installations from hot air, dust and dirt. High-speed doors can be customised to fit any opening and are ideal where doorways must be opened for short periods to facilitate loading and unloading of vehicles.

The range of Apex Welding and Safety screens manufactured from heavy duty PVC strips can either be hung on a free-standing frame or installed on galvanised hanging hardware. Their safety record in confining weld splatter and preventing fumes from spreading into other areas while protecting workers’ eyesight is unparalleled.

Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains and Doors encourages the company’s KZN customers to consult the fast, user-friendly website for product information and an enquiry form. A frequently asked questions (FAQ) page also provides invaluable information that help customers to identify the details they need to ask for quotes. Feedback is promised within 48 hours. Customers are also invited to phone or email for further information.

Apex Strip Curtains feature a patented Balledge® design which ensures a positive thermal seal. This means that the strip curtain effectively prevents the ingress of dust into cordoned-off areas.

This is especially important in production applications where a dust-free environment is required. The actual strips overlap in a way that allows easy access for personnel and equipment, but still ensures a positive closure.

The new strip curtains at Fry’s Metal have been installed in the new battery breaker plant to keep out dust and flying objects and ensure that this section complies with quality standards. The company’s Rod Hedley says the order was placed with Apex Strip Curtains based on its “always immediate and excellent service”.

Balledge® Advantage
The popular Apex Strip Curtains are suitable for small, medium and large openings where it is necessary to prevent the ingress of hot or cold air, dust, insects and any other contaminants. This system is suitable for areas where both people and vehicular traffic pass through and the strips are transparent, which promotes both visibility and safety. The specially formulated PVC material does not become brittle with age and can be used in areas where temperatures go down to minus 400C.

Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, says that the Balledge® design ensures that the individual strips do not snag or scratch goods and people moving through the opening. This feature also strengthens the strips ensuring a longer life even in the harshest applications.

The strip curtains are supplied with galvanised mounting strips, complete with mounting wall brackets, bolts, nuts and washers. Individual fastenings, or facia strips, make for easy replacement of damaged or torn strips, without having to dismantle the entire curtain.

Apex Strip Curtains was the first company to locally manufacture general purpose strip curtaining in South Africa.

All PVC strip material, whether locally manufactured or imported, is subject to strict standards enacted in Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) legislation. However, certain imported products have been shown to be well below the required standards or fail to meet the standards in many respects.

“The South African market may not be aware that certain imported PVC strip material products do not meet the required health, safety and performance specifications,” Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, says. “Independent research undertaken to evaluate the quality of these imports from the Far East has pinpointed several quality issues which are cause for concern.”

Among the problems identified in the research are the use of the banned plasticiser Di-Octyl Phthalate (DOP) which is believed to cause cancer; the material is flammable, does not self-extinguish and gives off toxic smoke; product life is short and the material turns yellow rapidly because of zero or low levels of UV stabiliser, and a strong smell emanates from the material.

“Additional issues highlighted by the research indicate that many of these Far Eastern imported PVC strip material products have variable tolerances regarding thickness, length and weight, they have low plasticity and elongation values and the product is difficult to assemble because of its uncertain quality.”

Dessing points out that the possible presence of toxins is a particularly important issue because general purpose strip curtains are commonly used in controlled environments such as the food and pharmaceutical industries.

“PVC strip curtaining is not simply a thick plastic but a specially formulated material that meets numerous safety and health criteria. Cheaper versions of flexible PVC material have been known to give off strong smelling noxious fumes which are hazardous to anyone working in the vicinity. The use of such products in any environment where food is being prepared or stored is unacceptable.”

Apex Strip Curtains & Doors uses a specially formulated and approved PVC material to manufacture its general purpose strip curtains for use in a wide variety of industries. The company’s locally manufactured PVC strip material is well known for its patented Balledge® design which allows easy access into cordoned off areas, and ensures a positive thermal seal.

Specially formulated, locally manufactured PVC strip material is also used by Apex Strip Curtains & Doors in its welding safety curtaining to provide protection against weld splatter, fumes and harmful UV radiation.

“PVC strip material that does not confirm to B2 burning standards, such as is the case with certain imported PVC strip products, is extremely hazardous if used in an industrial environment where safety is a key performance criteria,” Dessing says.

Apex Strip Curtains & Doors was the first company to locally manufacture general purpose strip curtaining in South Africa.

The website offers easy navigation for even the most non-computer literate user with only four selection choices on the home page banner: about Apex, products, FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and contact us.

Wim Dessing, managing director of Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, says the website was upgraded in order to provide customers with an easy and rapid way of accessing product and contact information.

“There has been a rapid increase in the number of customers who want to access data and make enquiries via the web. The streamlining of our website is aimed at providing the marketplace with these identified needs.”

Comprehensive details of the full Apex product range are provided on the product pages. Drop-down windows on this page provide data on the Apex general purpose strip curtains and Apex Welding & Safety Screens, which both feature the patented Balledge® design; the Apex Roller Blinds and Cabinet Curtains, the SR9000 insulated impact traffic doors as well as high speed roll up and fold up doors.

The frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) page provides responses to seven questions which aid customers in identifying information they need to raise quotes for various products, identify and size products, measure strip curtains, and details of how strips are fastened. Customers are also invited to telephone or email any Apex office if they require answers to additional questions or need further information.

The company’s commitment to customer service is underlined by the inclusion on the contact information page of a customer enquiry form backed by a promise to provide feedback within 48 hours. All the customer has to do is fill in the form on the Contact Information page and submit the enquiry electronically directly from the page.

Full details of telephone and fax numbers as well as email and street addresses of company head office and branches nationwide are also provided on the contact information page.

The about us page provides a brief history of Apex Strip Curtains & Doors, supported by colour photographs of head office management and a full colour image of the entire Johannesburg team.

Apex Strip Curtains & Doors was the first company to locally manufacture general purpose strip curtaining in South Africa. The company’s range of products, manufactured to international standards, can be customised to meet specific application requirements.