Top 10 Automatic Boom Barriers (2023) - Review Guide

Parklio
Are you looking for the best automatic gate barrier for your business or personal parking space? You've come to the right place! We've made it easy for you by compiling a list of the most popular boom barriers available.

Why should I get a gate boom barrier?


This blog post is intended for all people seeking parking protection for their private or business parking area. Getting an automatic gate barrier is recommended in these cases:

  • if you have more than several parking spaces you need to secure
  • if you need to control traffic, entry and exit points
  • if you want to secure a parking area from unauthorized entrance

And it is not only about the security of your parking lot - having an automatic gate barrier makes everyday life easier. There’s overall less stress and less cost because gate barriers are easy to maintain.

It is important to underline that the great majority of manufacturers in this list provides license plate recognition (ANPR) for easier parking traffic control, along with payment machines. Other amenities which can be added to the boom gate barrier include:

  • arm joint
  • additional lights kit
  • barrier boom skirt
  • remote control
  • reflective stripes/stickers

How did we do it?


We have gathered a list of 10 notable automatic boom barrier manufacturers. The criteria for the list have been established according to the similar features that these gate barriers have. The list of features can be seen in the table below.

FEATURES Parklio Logo™ Nice Skidata Came BFT FAAC Motorline Beninca Fadini Elka
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations 150-200/h 100-300/h 25/h 25/h N/A N/A N/A N/A 51/h N/A
Note: All information about the features of the automatic gate barriers on this list can be found on their official websites.

1. Parklio - Parklio™ Gate

Parklio

Parklio™ Gate is an automatic gate barrier intended for car parks, entrances, restricted areas or any other kind of exit/entry point. Modernly designed, the Parklio™ Gate is made out of powder-coated steel for extra protection and it is resistant to all weather conditions.

The length of gate barrier arms ranges from 3m to 6m which makes the Parklio™ Gate applicable to any kind of public or private parking area. If there’s a height restriction, you can always order an extra joint arm that will “break” the arm while rising. But the most distinctive feature of Parklio™ Gate is the ability to control the gate with a smartphone app.

The gate barrier communicates with the smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy module up to 50 m. To control the gate (or any other Parklio product), you can either use free Parklio™ Connect app* or Parklio™ Keyfob. Some of the unique features the app has, include:

  • digital key sharing - users can send a guest key to a family member, a visiting friend, or a customer
  • time interval specified keys - keys can be set up for a limited time period
  • blocked keys - user can always block key use for guests if necessary

Parklio™ Gates also come with integrated photocells for extra safety when detecting an obstacle or a vehicle. The model with the solar panel and battery pack is available for those who have difficulty with implementation of constant power supply and it is suitable for parking areas with low traffic volume. As a bonus feature customers can customize the gate with a logo of their business or company.

*available on App Store and Google Play
FEATURES Parklio Logo™
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations 150-200/h

2. Nice - Nice Wide

Nice

Source: shutterstock.com

Nice is one of the several Italian manufacturers that specializes in smart home automation systems. Although they mostly focus on integrating solutions for the automation of gates, garage doors and wireless alarms, its gate barrier is also quite a popular product.

Their model Nice Wide is easy to install and it can be assembled either left or right. It comes in three models - S, M and L (3 to 7 meters long) and it has two types of case available, galvanized or stainless steel. Nice Wide is also well-equipped when it comes to safety.

In the event of a collision, there’s an optional pivot joint to protect the gate barrier, a backup battery in case of a power outage and photocells for vandalism detection. An interesting feature of this gate is that the system can easily be released with a triangular key.

Although Nice does not have an app intended for gate barrier control, it does have a mobile app called MyNice Pro. The app is used for Nice automations such as setting and programming the configuration parameters, calculating the installation quotas and downloading manuals and firmware.

FEATURES Nice
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations 100-300/h

Choose this Nice gate alternative for your private or business parking area!

3. Skidata - Barrier.Gate

Skidata

Source: shutterstock.com

Skidata’s Barrier.Gate is a classic automatic gate barrier with a modern-looking design. This Austria-based company mostly specializes in parking payment management so their focus is mainly on software development. Although the Barrier.Gate model has arm lengths only up to 4,5 meters, Skidata’s gate has other interesting features.

For example, you can add an optional built-in video surveillance camera for extra safety. It is also possible to order colored joint arm barriers with LED lights which give the gate better visibility, especially during the night. When it comes to installation, it is relatively easy since it has a small number of components.

This makes the Barrier.Gate easy to maintain with minimal costs for eventual repairs. Some bonus features worth mentioning are for sure the customization of the gate in accordance with your brand and integration with Column.Gate and Parking.Logic software for additional control and better traffic flow.

FEATURES Skidata
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations 25/h

Learn more about the Skidata gate alternative and park with ease!

4. Came - GARD 8

Came

Source: shutterstock.com

Being one of the leading manufacturers of operators for residential and industrial entrances, car parks and access control systems, Came strives for hi-tech security solutions. One of their top-selling gate barriers is the GARD 8 model. This road barrier comes in 9 models, with arm lengths ranging from 2.5 m to 6.5 m and it works on a 24V DC operator with advanced speed control.

It is most suitable for industrial buildings and apartment blocks. The casing comes either in galvanized steel or painted RAL7024, AISI 304 and AISI 316 steel (or you can customize the color to your needs). Gates can be installed either to the right or to the left and the mounting operations are easy and quick. GARD 8 is compatible with the CAME key, a Wi-Fi device that speeds up the configuration, setting and maintenance of the system.

All of the accessories of the gate can be integrated directly into the gate barrier cabinet, which makes it easy to install for the users.

FEATURES Came
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations N/A

Check out this Came gate alternative and park worry-free!

5. BFT - Maxima 60

BFT

Source: shutterstock.com

One of BFT’s top-selling gate models is the Maxima 60 - 230 V industrial electromechanical gate barrier. It is designed to handle extreme temperatures, ranging from -30°C‎ to 60°C. This gate barrier has a contactless high-resolution obstacle detection device.

It provides quick motion reversal and enhances overall movement smoothness during acceleration and deceleration. BFT’s automatic gate barrier is controlled by transmitters. They employ a rolling code method to manage commands in a fully secure manner, preventing any external interference.

A small minus for this gate barrier is the inability of interconnectivity. This means that Maxima 60 can’t integrate with other systems and works as an individual product only.

FEATURES BFT
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations N/A

Find out more about BFT gate barrier alternative and enjoy carefree parking!

6. FAAC - B614 AUTOMATIC BARRIER

FAAC

Source: shutterstock.com

FAAC was established in Italy in 1965 and since then they have been specializing in manufacturing automatic doors, driveway and electric gates, access controls and swing gates. The B614 Automatic Barrier is one of their standard boom gate models. It works on the hydraulic operator with opening and closing locks and it is ideal for controlling small and medium public or private areas.

The B614 is a strong and efficient operator thanks to its use of high-quality components and materials. The beam movement is smoother thanks to a quadrilateral lever system with two reduction phases. In case of a power failure, the backup battery will activate and the gate barrier will keep working.

FEATURES FAAC
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations N/A

Check out this FAAC gate alternative and improve your parking experience!

7. Motorline - KBM6

Motorline’s MBM6 (KBM6) gate barrier is an electromechanical barrier with a ventilated motor and it is ideal for traffic control. It comes with an extensible aluminum arm, ranging from 3.6 meters to 6 meters.

The warning light, which can emit various colors, is one of the key features of this product. This was created in order to make the different stages of the gate arm (opening, open, and closing) more obvious. Another notable feature of MBM6 is the manual unlocking and locking system in case of a power outage.

FEATURES Motorline
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations N/A

8. Beninca - LADY 5

Beninca

Source: shutterstock.com

Beninca is also one of the Italian manufacturers of automatic gate barriers with headquarters in Sandrigo, Veneto. Their model LADY 5 is intended for passages up to 5 meters and it operates on a 24V DC motor with an integrated receiver and battery charger.

When on stand-by mode, the barrier has reduced energy use, making it more eco-friendly and economic. The basic model is made of aluminum, but there’s also the possibility of ordering a stainless steel version. There’s also the possibility of installing photocells for extra gate barrier safety.

FEATURES Beninca
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations N/A

9. Fadini - BARRI 88

Barri 88 has a cabinet-like body that is installed and secured to the base plate. It offers suitable housing for the hydraulic mechanism that regulates the arm/beam motions and assures flawless functioning. The housing body is built of thick sheet steel, allowing it to withstand the mechanical stress and vibrations generated when the barrier is in use.

The electronic control panel box can be programmed to close the gate arm automatically after a period of time. However, in the event of a power outage, the arm needs to be manually operated. This is a slight minus for Fadini’s gate barrier since it lacks battery backup for these kinds of unpredictable situations.

FEATURES Fadini
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations 51/h

10. Elka - Parking Barriers Series

Elka

Source: shutterstock.com

The "PARKING" series of ELKA barriers are designed to limit entry to parking garages and car parks. The gate barrier works on a strong 24V BLDC-gear while durable components guarantee intensive operation with a 100 percent duty cycle thanks to an efficient drive design. ELKA provides three barrier types in this series, each with different boom lengths and running times. Some of the accessories include LED boom illumination, articulation kits, and safety devices.

FEATURES Elka
Solar Panel
Mobile App Control (Bluetooth)
GSM/Call
Remote Control (LTE)
Digital Key Sharing
Time Interval Specified Keys
Obstacle Detection System
Backup Battery
Battery Power
Material: Steel, Aluminium
Customizable
Number of operations N/A

Conclusion & tips


Before buying a boom gate barrier, consider where it will be installed and how it will be operated. Boom gates are intended for a variety of applications, ranging from parking lots to traffic control to huge railway and industrial crossings.

Don’t forget that gates are available in a variety of arm lengths and forms to accommodate the width of the passageway you want to regulate. Arm lengths usually range from 2 to 12 meters, making them ideal for usage in situations where large vehicles are present. Should you ever have to regulate the length of the arm, most manufacturers will be able to fix that problem.

The application, space availability, and frequency of usage must all be taken into consideration before purchase. Also, make sure to have the exact data when consulting the manufacturer.

Still not sure you understand all the information about gate barriers? Contact us and we will gladly help you!


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