Interview with Arnold Schulz from Teckentrup

There are many innovations – but which ones impress door experts and why?

We asked Arnold Schulz about the ASSA ABLOY DC 700 FT security door closer, which was recently launched on the market in the double-leaf version. We wanted to hear about his experiences with the solution and what has impressed him in particular. Arnold Schulz has been working in technical support at the door manufacturer Teckentrup Door Solutions in Verl for over 15 years and has been active in the industry for 35 years.

Mr. Schulz, what exactly is your area of responsibility?

Anyone with technical questions about doors comes to us: I work in technical support and people usually come to me to find compliant solutions for special construction situations. We are also the contact for all technical problems and for clarifying complaints. I advise architects, planners, end users, private individuals and the technical in-house and field service as well as the entire sales department.

Which ASSA ABLOY door closers do you use?

We rely on the DC700 slide rail closer for export and increasingly also in the standard segment. However, our main focus is on special door closers such as Close-Motion (CM) and the security door closer (FT).

Why do you rely on these products?

These two special door closers are problem solvers that have not been available on the market before. And these problem solvers led us to the ASSA ABLOY products. We also recommend them quite often, because they are an extremely reliable alternative to previous systems that do not always work as well.

What do you see as the strengths of the security door closer?

One major strength is the retrofitting capability. Imagine the following scenario: Either the escape-door locking system was forgotten in the planning phase or the use of the building has changed – then we're faced with a major challenge. Now the entire door has to be disposed of, just because an escape door electric strike has to be retrofitted and the certification would become void.

Or I choose the security door closer and have a huge advantage: I can keep the door, I can keep the frame, I do not need to dismantle the frame, but can save the door by simply replacing the door closer. That’s a huge advantage!

So you don't recommend buying a new door?

This is our simple approach when offering advice: we do not sell a new door right away, but show the customer a real alternative instead: "Here is a quick, inexpensive solution that requires minimal effort.

If someone bought a door a year ago, it makes no sense to dispose of the entire door just to add a function to it. Because we have a solution from ASSA ABLOY which we can also obtain certification for.

As a door manufacturer, what do you see as the special advantages of the security door closer?

When it comes to retrofitting, it is unrivalled. It enables us to promise a compliant fitted solution with a clear conscience without having to pore over documents.

There are obviously also the costs of retrofitting to consider: You replace it with a normal door closer, because you would otherwise have to convert the inner workings of the door. And that’s the problematic thing when it comes to approval, and leads to enormous costs.

What are your experiences in practice?

We often have discussions with customers who are annoyed because they have to invest money or have a problem. And when we outline the solution with the security door closer, they are always satisfied that they have found a convenient, simple and quick solution.

And even after weeks in some cases, we have received feedback that everything is working really well. That’s why I only have praise for this product. It is a simple and efficient solution that has already impressed many of our customers.

Security door closers

Door closers are safety-relevant and essential components for fire protection in buildings. The security door closer with integrated escape-door locking system DC 700 FT offers a special option for retrofitting an existing fire-rated door.

The new security door closer is now also available for 2-leaf door systems on the hinge side.