Complete Guide to Speed Gate
A speed gate is the pedestrian access product for places where queues are not acceptable. It looks like a full-height glass and stainless lane, and it uses dense sensor arrays to keep people moving while still checking every pass. Metro stations, corporate towers, gyms, and libraries pick speed gates because a well-built lane moves 40 to 60 people per minute without a visible checkpoint.
The category, however, is broad. On the factory line from Shenzhen Hpt Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., a "speed gate" can be a $400-700 compact lane for an office, a $600-900 customizable unit, or a $900-1,200 metro-grade lane with 32 beam paths per lane and a 45-60 person per minute rating. The difference sits in the motor, the sensor count, and the housing. This guide covers the buyer problem, selection criteria, technical proof, risks, and next step, using data from an ISO9001- and CE-certified Guangdong factory.
Buyer Problem
The problem starts with peak traffic. An office with 300 employees entering between 8:45 and 9:15 needs roughly 20 people per minute per lane just to avoid a line. A transit station needs several times that. When the lane is slower than the crowd, people push, security staff intervene, and the gate becomes the bottleneck instead of the solution.
The second problem is detection quality. A speed gate only earns its price if it can tell a single person from a pair. Transit-grade lanes do this with 32 infrared beam paths per lane, which build a virtual envelope around the pedestrian. A cheaper unit with a handful of sensors opens the door to tailgating, and then the gate provides the appearance of security without the result.
The third problem is integration and lifecycle. Building owners need the lane to report to an access platform over TCP/IP, to auto-reset after a fault instead of staying locked, and to survive years of continuous cycling. A brushed motor that overheats in a metro lobby creates downtime and maintenance contracts. Buyers who compare only the photo and the price discover these costs after installation. A clear specification on motor type, sensor count, and communication prevents that surprise.
Selection Criteria
Compare speed gate quotes on these specific points.
Throughput rating. Ask for the published passes-per-minute figure. Transit lanes are rated at 45-60 p/m with a 0.2s reaction time; office units run 40-60 p/m; compact units run 25-30 p/m. Match the rating to peak-hour demand, with headroom.
Motor and drive. Brushless DC and brushless servo motors handle continuous cycling with less heat and wear. The metro model runs a DC24V 6.25A servo drive. Avoid brushed designs for high-traffic sites.
Sensor density. Count the beam paths per lane. The metro-grade unit uses 32 beam paths per lane for anti-tailgating and anti-pinch coverage. Compact office lanes use a smaller set of active infrared detectors, which is acceptable at lower traffic but weaker under load.
Lane width. Standard passage width is 600mm, adjustable up to 900mm on customizable factory models. Wider lanes improve accessibility but need stronger detection to prevent piggybacking. One model supports a double-door passage of 1200mm.
Housing and environment. SUS 304 stainless steel with an internal steel frame is the norm. Confirm the working temperature range; factory units run from -20°C to +70°C, which covers unheated halls. Metro housings use 2.0mm stainless.
Interface and price. Verify TCP/IP and RS485. Factory pricing runs $400-700 for compact units, $600-900 for customizable lanes, $750-1,300 for high-end stainless units, and $900-1,200 for the metro-grade 32-beam model. MOQs range from 1 to 20 units, with lead times of 7 to 25 days depending on volume.
Technical Proof
The metro-grade speed gate from the HPT line demonstrates what the specification sheet should look like. The lane measures 2000 x 200 x 1000mm, uses SUS 304 stainless steel with 2.0mm thickness, and reads ESD, face, fingerprint, IC card, QR code, and RFID credentials. Passage width is 600mm standard and can be customized from 600mm to 900mm. The sensor system is 32 beam paths per lane, which gives the anti-tailgating and anti-pinch functions something to work with.
Reaction time is 0.2 seconds, throughput is rated at 45-60 passes per minute, and the drive runs on DC24V at 6.25A with a servo motor. Working temperature spans -20°C to +70°C. On the operations side, the lane provides voice broadcast, LED indication, and counting, and it integrates through RS-232, RS485, and TCP/IP.
The MCBF1000000-rated unit targets libraries, gyms, and offices. It uses a brushless servo motor, a 304 stainless plus acrylic housing, a 1600 x 231 x 980mm footprint, and a double-door passage width of 1200mm, rated at 40 passes per minute with a 0.2s reaction time. The office-grade Fast Speed Professional model adds fault self-detection with automatic reset, so a jam or error clears itself instead of taking the lane offline.
On compliance, Shenzhen Hpt Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. holds ISO9001, CE, and FCC certifications and is a Dun & Bradstreet-registered company (number 637941335) and National High and New Technical Enterprise. Request the certificates and the batch inspection report with your quote, and verify the same ratings apply to the exact model number quoted, not just to the product family.
Risks and Mistakes
Buying by photo, not by beam count. Two units can look identical and differ by 32 beam paths versus 5. For transit and event traffic, the beam count is the anti-tailgating spec. Ask for it in writing.
Undersizing the lane width. A 600mm standard lane is fine for standard traffic, but buildings serving wheelchairs or frequent luggage need the 600-900mm adjustable option. Confirm the custom width is factory-supported, not a site modification.
Forgetting power standards. The metro unit runs on DC24V; compact models accept AC110-220V ±10%. Confirm the site voltage against the drive spec before ordering transformers.
Ignoring fault behavior. A lane that locks down on a minor fault creates a security gap and a service call. Prefer units with fault self-detection and automatic reset, which the office-grade HPT model provides.
Planning reorders too late. The metro-grade lane carries an MOQ of 20 and lead times of 15 to 25 days at higher volumes. Include expansion lanes in your forecast so a growing building is not waiting on production.
Next Step
The cheapest way to validate a speed gate is to run one lane at your actual site before scaling. Request a sample of the model that matches your throughput and lane-width needs, and monitor its behavior during a full peak hour. While the sample ships, download a procurement checklist that captures throughput, motor type, beam count, lane width, power input, temperature range, interfaces, MOQ, and lead time for side-by-side supplier comparison.
Send your peak-traffic figures, lane dimensions, and access platform details to the factory through the contact page. Their engineers will match the right speed gate model and confirm OEM/ODM customization where needed. The complete lane range is listed on the products page for reference before you issue a purchase order.
FAQ
How many people can pass a speed gate per minute? Transit-grade lanes are rated at 45-60 people per minute with a 0.2s reaction time. Office and library units run 40-60 people per minute, and compact units run 25-30 people per minute.
What is the difference between a speed gate and a flap barrier? Both are pedestrian lanes. A speed gate uses full-height retracting doors with dense sensor arrays (up to 32 beam paths per lane) and is built for higher traffic. A flap barrier uses a smaller retractable blade and suits lobbies at lower throughput.
Can lane width be customized? Yes. Standard passage width is 600mm, and factory models allow customization from 600mm to 900mm. One unit supports a double-door passage of 1200mm.
What power do speed gates need? Metro-grade units run on DC24V at 6.25A with a servo drive; compact units accept AC110-220V ±10%. Confirm the site voltage before ordering.
Do speed gates work outdoors? Units with SUS 304 stainless housings and a working temperature range of -20°C to +70°C operate in covered outdoor or unheated spaces. Confirm the protection rating and environment with the factory before installation.