Cosmotec Expanding Production of Non-Electric Automatic Sliding Doors

A Japanese machinery manufacturer, Cosmotec Co., announced in June 2009 that it has developed an improved model of its automatic sliding door, the "Tsu-kai" Door (tsu-kai, meaning a door that opens just by stepping in), which operates without electricity. The company aims to expand its business further with a new, enhanced model from 2010 onwards. The door utilizes a stepboard for operation, which requires no electricity, and it is not only economical but also can be used in the event of a disaster or when the power is cut off.

Cosmotec has been manufacturing automatic doors since 1997. Mr. Noboru Tanishima, president of the company, said in an interview, "When I visited the site just after the Hanshin Awaji earthquake in 1995 to donate wheelchairs, I happened to hear from a wheelchair-bound person that he was very scared when he found out that an automatic door would not open after the earthquake. That's when I came up with the idea of making this new type of automatic door."

As the Tsu-kai Door doesn't use a sensor or motor, it generates no electromagnetic waves, which makes it suitable for use in hospitals, welfare, and other facilities that use precision instruments vulnerable to electromagnetic waves. Also, the door will not close as long as a person is on the stepboard, so people can use it without worrying about getting stuck in the door. In addition, it can be used in places where power normally gets cut off, such as on holidays and at night, to reduce standby energy consumption.

The improved model includes a feature that allows the speed of the door's operation to be changed to enhance safety. The company plans to manufacture 200 automatic doors annually.

Posted: 2010/06/08 06:00:15 AM