Motorise what you have rather than replace it
Every evening you haul on the strap with all your strength; every morning you lift dozens of kilos of steel at arm's length. Motorising a manual metal shutter puts an end to that chore without requiring a new closure: when the curtain, side guides and shaft are in good condition, we simply graft a central motor onto the existing shaft, wire in a control and the job is done. It is the best value-for-money intervention in the entire life of a shutter: for a fraction of the price of a new closure, you get the comfort of modern equipment.
This service is in high demand among shopkeepers taking over premises fitted with an old spring-operated shutter — a very common situation for international retailers and restaurateurs buying an existing business in Paris. The work is completed in one day, often on your weekly closing day so your trading is not disturbed. We carry it out every week along the shopping streets of Paris — from Faubourg Saint-Antoine to Rue de Lévis — as well as in Suresnes, Alfortville, Livry-Gargan, Palaiseau, Conflans-Sainte-Honorine and Lagny-sur-Marne.
The concrete benefits of automation
- No more strain, no more injuries: lifting a 60 to 120 kg curtain every day wears out shoulders and backs. Musculoskeletal disorders are among the leading causes of sick leave in retail; a motor removes the cause entirely, for you and for your staff.
- Open in seconds: one press of a button or a quarter-turn of a key and the shopfront opens while you switch on the till. Evening closings no longer mean lingering on the pavement.
- Better security: an electric shutter, locked by the irreversibility of its motor, is harder to force upwards than a manual curtain; the anti-fall safety brake we install also protects passers-by.
- Longer equipment life: the motor's smooth, regular travel is kind to the slats and clips, where abrupt manual handling tires the mechanism prematurely.
- Accessibility: anyone can now open the shop, including a slightly built employee or a member of staff with a disability.
The central motor: the go-to solution for retrofits
To equip an existing manual shutter, the central motor is almost always the right answer: it mounts at the middle of the current shaft, works hand in hand with the compensation springs already in place and delivers enough torque for solid-slat curtains. We size it from the real weight of the curtain — weighed, or calculated slat by slat — with a power reserve that guarantees its longevity. The motor comes with an integrated safety brake and a manual override so you can operate the shutter during a power cut.
Controls to suit your habits
Depending on how you work, we install a vandal-resistant exterior key switch (the great classic of shopfronts), an interior push-button panel, a radio remote control to open from your vehicle, or a combination of all three. Optional extras: a connected receiver to drive the shutter from a smartphone, a programmable timer for automatic opening at a set time and a flashing warning light.
Get your shutter automation priced
Free on-site diagnosis: we confirm your closure can be motorised and price everything, with no obligation.
How the automation of your shutter unfolds
Our intervention follows a proven protocol, completed within a single day in the vast majority of cases:
- 1. Preliminary diagnosis: inspection of the curtain, side guides, shaft and springs. If a slat is bent or a spring is dead, we tell you and price it before the work, not after.
- 2. Partial removal: opening of the housing, unhooking of the curtain and extraction of the shaft.
- 3. Mounting of the central motor on the shaft, positioning and arming of the safety brake.
- 4. Electrical connection to a protected circuit, fitting of the key switch or push-button panel, programming of the remote controls.
- 5. Limit-switch adjustment, top and bottom, to the millimetre, so the curtain stops exactly where it should.
- 6. Testing and handover: full cycles in front of you, demonstration of the manual override and delivery of the technical file.
If the diagnosis shows a curtain too degraded to keep, we give you a transparent comparison with a new electric shutter installation — and if your opening is tiny and has no power supply, we will just as honestly tell you that your manual shutter simply deserves a good overhaul.
Indicative prices for metal shutter automation
- Standard automation (central motor + key switch + safety brake): €900 to €1,500 fitted.
- Wide or heavy curtain requiring a high-torque motor: €1,400 to €2,200.
- Options: radio remote control €80 to €150, connected receiver €150 to €300, spring overhaul if needed €200 to €400.
Compare that with the €2,500 to €6,000 of a complete replacement: as long as the structure is sound, automation is the most rational investment. To keep your motor healthy for years, an annual visit from our maintenance team checks lubrication, limit switches and the safety brake; and if anything goes wrong on an opening morning, the 24/7 emergency line answers on 07 66 54 96 41. Everything we do around shopfront closures is detailed on our metal shutter page.
Frequently asked questions about automation
Can every manual metal shutter be motorised?
The vast majority, yes: you need a curtain and side guides in good condition, an accessible shaft and a power supply nearby. Our free on-site diagnosis gives you a firm answer and prices any preliminary repairs.
How long does the automation work take?
One day in most cases, electrical connection and adjustments included. We favour your weekly closing day or an early-morning slot so the shop opens as normal.
Will I still be able to open the shutter during a power cut?
Yes: every automation includes a manual override, by crank handle or pull cord, which lets you raise and lower the curtain without electricity. We show you the manoeuvre at handover.
Is automation cheaper than a new shutter?
Considerably: allow €900 to €1,500 for a standard automation, against €2,500 to €6,000 for a complete replacement. It only makes sense, though, if the curtain and guides are sound — which is what our diagnosis verifies.
Do the existing springs stay after motorisation?
Yes, the central motor works with the compensation springs, which continue to lighten the curtain. We check and re-tension them during the fitting; if they are worn out, their replacement is priced before the work starts.