The Door Industry Journal: November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Garador’s Highly Insulated and Extra Secure Garage Doors

Highly insulated and extra secure garage doors are the way forward for modern homes because today, insulation is key in any home…but one area that is often neglected is the garage.

Britain’s leading garage door maker Garador now offers a range of premium sectional garage doors designed to offer especially high levels of insulation as well as extra security.

A thermally insulated garage not only helps to keep items in the garage warm and dry, but if the garage adjoins the main house, this extra insulation can help to lower overall heating bills as well.

Garador’s premium sectional garage doors have been designed with 42 mm thick double-skin steel sections, evenly filled with 100% CFC-free PU rigid foam with a seal between each section. Attention has been given to every detail to maximise insulation including sturdy rubber weather seals on all sides of the door to help keep the elements out.

These exceptionally engineered sectional garage doors also offer a number of special security features, ensuring they qualify for SBD accreditation, a nationally respected feature that helps bring more peace of mind to a house owner.

As with any major aspect of a home, design is key and Garador has ensured that while these garage doors offer outstanding insulation and security, they also excel in other facets to suit modern properties.

A very minimalist modern appearance is perfectly suited to contemporary architecture characterised by individuality, but it is also practical with door sections that lift vertically and run-on tracks back into the garage. This means there is no “kick-out” from the door and parking right up close is possible.

Find out more about Garador’s Premium Sectional Doors at www.garador.co.uk or call 01935 443722

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Monday, 29 November 2021

Chamberlain Doors Lands Top Logistics Award!

Garage door specialists Chamberlain Doors are celebrating after winning a major logistics award, which recognises its outstanding van delivery service.

The company recently won the SME Van Operator of the Year in the Logistics UK Van Awards 2021, which took place at the Hyatt Regency, Birmingham on 24 September.

Logistics UK is the only business group in the UK to represent the entire logistics sector, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.

Winning the award also means that Chamberlain Doors are shortlisted for the coveted Van Operator of the Year category at the Logistics UK Awards 2021, which will take place on 9 December 2021 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.

The award and shortlisting come after Chamberlain Doors achieved Van Excellence Accreditation from Logistics UK back in 2019 - a status that requires strict assessment, high levels of commitment to compliance and safety and that has been reassessed and renewed each year since.

We are delighted to have been awarded the Van Excellence Accreditation every year for the last 3 years’ comments Kelly Mitchell of Chamberlain Doors.

"But to have been shortlisted for and then won, the SME Van Operator of the Year Award has been fantastic!

We are excited to see what the December awards bring but whatever happens, this award is testament to the amazing team that we have at Chamberlain Doors and how hard they have worked over the past 3 years and in particular over the last 18 months. We are incredibly proud of our achievements!"

This is the latest success for the Bolton-based firm, which is the UK’s largest independent garage door specialist and has installed over 700,000 garage doors across the country to date.

The company has been in business for nearly 50 years and in that time has built a reputation for quality, reliability and integrity through first-class products and customer service. Their large product range includes garage doors and operators from the world’s leading manufacturers.

They operate on a supply only and supply & install basis to clients nationwide including major house builders, construction firms, independent door fitters and private homeowners.

To find out more about Chamberlain Doors, visit www.chamberlaindoors.co.uk, call 0800 838 163, or email info@chamberlaindoors.co.uk

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Sunday, 28 November 2021

May your December be MINI and Bright: Festive MINI Electric Embarks on Charity Tour.

A MINI Electric wrapped in 2,000 smart LED lights by Twinkly is starting a five-week tour to spread festive cheer and raise money for three important charities; the MS Trust, Duchenne UK and Alzheimer’s Society.

Lighting the way after the Festive MINI Electric’s first public appearance at The Lexicon Bracknell in Berkshire, on the 25th November, the car will travel to various locations around the UK, driven by project creator Nicholas ‘Nico’ Martin.

The sen-sleigh-tional project first started over three years ago, with Nico hand-wrapping his MINI in fairy-lights and displaying it in his local town of Bracknell.

However, in December 2020, without the usual Christmas switch-on displays delivering much-needed festive spirit, Nico realised he could use the Festive MINI to bring joy and positivity to people on their own doorsteps, whilst also raising awareness and over £5000 for the MS Trust and Duchenne UK, two charities very close to his heart.

Nico said:

“I’m so pleased to be back with the Festive MINI charity tour. I just knew last year I had an opportunity to cheer people up and also to raise funds for the MS Trust and Duchenne UK.

“Both charities mean a lot to me - unfortunately my mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis six years ago, and in 2019 I was asked to take the Festive MINI to surprise an incredible young boy, Marcus Rooks, who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

“When I saw his face light up with so much joy and excitement, I realised that I had created something truly special. Ever since meeting him and learning about his condition, I’ve wanted to support him in any way I can.”

This year, Nico has introduced a guest charity spot taken up by Alzheimer’s Society and he has rallied support from MINI UK, Festive Lights and Italian smart lighting company Twinkly, to up the voltage on his project and make it bigger and better than ever, with an aim of raising as much money as possible for the three special causes.

Nico added:

“I’m so grateful for the incredible support behind the project and the teams involved this year.

The MINI Electric is even more exciting to drive and means all my trips on the tour are environmentally friendly and the app-controlled Twinkly lights with their amazing customisable animations really give the car a bit of extra magic.

I can’t wait to get out on the road to spread some Festive MINI spirit and raise lots of money for the three charities!”

David George, Director, MINI UK said:

“We’re extremely humbled to be a part of Nico’s fundraising project with the Festive MINI Electric. It’s a wonderful idea that will bring people together, make them smile, and also raise funds for some amazing charities.”

For more information on the Festive MINI Tour and to keep updated on where it’s headed visit www.festivemini.com

Donate here: festivegiving.org.uk

Follow Nico’s journey on Instagram: @drivingwithnico

About Twinkly

Ledworks is an Italian startup whose mission is to bring digital innovation to the world of consumer and professional lighting. Ledworks is the creator of Twinkly Smart Decor - a product suite of lighting with many innovative features that can be controlled via a smartphone app.

Twinkly's innovative and customizable LED lights offer unlimited combinations of colours and patterns, giving consumers the ability to customize their holiday and home decorations right from their smartphone. www.twinkly.com

About Festive Lights

Festive Lights was established in 1999. We have over 20 years of lighting experience, with the knowledge, expertise and product ranges to make sure our customers have everything they need to bring every event to light!

Over the past two decades, we have polished our products and services to perfection, from tailored quotes to bespoke products, for installations of every size. www.festive-lights.com

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Saturday, 27 November 2021

How to Keep Construction Workers Safe During Cold Winter Months

The construction industry has withstood many changes during the coronavirus pandemic, and now there is no shortage of projects to keep up with. But as companies work to keep to their deadlines, it's important to take the time to keep employees safe during the colder months.

You probably have safety measures in place on all your sites, but these processes should be reviewed and adapted specifically for winter to ensure that your workers are as safe as possible. Here, tools, equipment, and PPE supplier Zoro summarises some of the key things you can do as the weather turns cooler.

Prepare before winter hits

When the weather starts to get colder, you should start to make preparations for the upcoming months. Good measures to take are purchasing grit, salt, or sand to make walking on-site safer — this way, you will have it ready as soon as you need it. Check that any machine fluids (such as engine oil and hydraulic oil) are manufactured to withstand the expected temperatures. Then, conduct a survey of all the heaters in the cabs of any vehicles to be sure that they are working, arranging repairs as necessary.

Lastly, ensure that you have the necessary tools to deal with melting snow and ice. Pooling water can slow down construction as well as make it unsafe for workers, so review your plans for water run-off to see if these areas can cope with the additional water during winter rain and snow.

Prevent falls

Falling and slipping is one of the most common issues that employees face on construction sites throughout winter. One of the easiest things that you can do to lessen the likelihood of your workers falling is to salt and grit as many walkways, scaffolding platforms, and steps are less slippery.

You should also make sure that your workers are wearing mandatory hard hats at all times on-site, as one of the biggest dangers when people fall is that they can hit their heads. To remind people to use gritted walkways, and wear hard hats, it's useful to have a designated safety point with a whiteboard that summarises that site's safety protocol. This should include instructions for what to do when someone has a fall, such as not moving them if they are struggling or unconscious, and calling NHS 111 for advice if they or a colleague notices any injuries or mental fatigue after falling while working.

Provide warm gloves and clothing

Lots of the tasks on construction sites require people to be dexterous with their hands, so it's important to keep them warm. It's not only unpleasant to have cold hands, but it's also a hazard because workers' hands seizing up can lead to accidents and injuries due to slower reactions. As well as this, if workers have their body temperature reduced very frequently, this can cause illness over time, leading to more sick leave and low morale. So, provide gloves for employees that provide both warmth and agility. Communicate to people that it's important to keep their gloves on at all times, and this is especially important when climbing scaffolds or ladders, or operating equipment.

Then, instead of just buying reflective jackets, buy waterproof or fleece-lined ones. It's useful to have one set of reflective clothing for summer, and one for winter. Encourage employees to wear at least three layers in the cold weather, as well as tell them how important it is to bring extra waterproof clothing in case anything gets wet.

Conduct regular safety checks

In the summer, the main worry when working outside is avoiding heatstroke and dehydration. But in the winter, the hazards are more numerous. To prevent your construction site from becoming unsafe, it's important to conduct regular safety inspections to check that equipment is working (and placed in safe areas), and that walkways and steps are gritted and not slippery. It's easy for snow and ice to make scaffolding, steps, and walkways dangerous.

Placing additional signs around your site can also be helpful, as it draws attention to new hazards that are easily missed. For example, if there is an area that tends to ice over when the temperatures drop at night, adding a warning sign nearby can alert workers to be more careful there. It can also be useful to use signs to remind people of new protocols, such as turning off heaters.

Set realistic goals

Remember that it's not viable or safe for workers to finish projects in the same amount of time that they would do during dry summer weather. It's important to draw up realistic timetables that account for the fact that sites may be slippery, icy, and wet. Give teams more time to complete their tasks if necessary and tell your employees not to rush. Having workers tripping and injuring themselves on-site will only delay deadlines more, so it's much more productive to keep to a safer pace.

It can also be useful to organise team meetings where you can check-in and see how everyone is doing. Ask your workers how fast projects are moving, and arrange any extra safety precautions with them so that everyone is informed of how to work safely and effectively.

Kelly Friel, Digital Product Manager, Zoro said:

"Winter is a particularly important time to review your safety processes, as many things can go wrong in construction when there is harsher weather.

"As well as keeping the construction site safe, it's advisable to build breaks into the working day for employees to warm up. Providing hot drinks to people during these breaks can assist in keeping people warm and productive.

"Having the correct safety equipment is crucial, and this combined with breaks and warm clothes, should keep everyone protected throughout the colder months."

About Zoro

Zoro makes it easy for all industries, trades, and professions to get the tools and equipment they need. The company supplies over 410,000 products, including everything from power tools to personal protective equipment. Not only do they have a thorough supply of products, but they have an exceptional delivery service, customer service, and competitive pricing too.

To find out more visit: www.zoro.co.uk

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Friday, 26 November 2021

CGT Security, launches Range of Exciting New Digital Brochures

CGT security, leading manufacturer of innovative security shutters, has recently completed it’s line up of exciting new digital brochures.

Over the course of several months, the new brochures have been designed to help installers explain the benefits of CGT’s three security shutter brands (Xonar, Vortex and Stackdoor) to customers. So far, feedback from partner installers has been highly positive, with many requesting a number of hard copies to take on the road.

The refreshingly new square brochures are crafted from a clean and minimal design, featuring short and clear descriptions, along with large eye-catching photos of products and real projects. Going further than the standard PDF, the new brochures are available in an interactive flipbook format, where readers can swipe through pages and easily share via links like any other URL.

You can check out all 3 brochures on their website here: www.cgtsecurity.com/digital-brochures/

Each brochure is divided into clear sections with large vertical headers that make the collateral effortlessly navigable - even if readers only skim through the content. Inside the brochure readers will find unique features and benefits for every brand, as well as short case studies of renowned projects!

New to CGT Security’s shutter brands? Below are short descriptions to help you select the brochure best suited for your application:

Xonar shutters – a comprehensive range of LPS 1175 security-rated shutters for high-security applications.

Vortex shutters – an innovative small-rolling alternative for properties with limited headroom.

Stackdoor – a unique shutter solution designed for airflow and visibility without compromising security.

If you would like to request hard copies of CGT’s brochures, you can contact their team on 0330 024 9409 or sales@cgtsecurity.com. Let them know which brochures you want, how many and where to send them to. CGT security provide their brochures completely free of charge!

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Thursday, 25 November 2021

Our Autumn / Winter 2021 Issue has Just Been Published Online

It’s nearly Christmas again and that means the Autumn / Winter issue of the DIJ is here!

This will ease you into the season with a look at all that’s been happening in the sector over the last few months.

And, as ever at this time of year, we are taking a seasonal slant on things.

So, please feast your mince pies on the 12 Doors Of Christmas:

Door 1 - You’ll never fir-get ‘Hormann Alone’ – a new film that takes a fun look at a serious subject (page 6)

Door 2 - Treat yo'elf – read about all the benefits of ADSA membership (page 10)

Door 3 - Ring the bells! Chamberlain Doors has won a major logistics award (page 12)

Door 4 - Santalising news about Strongdor’s new steel door factory (page 36)

Door 5 - Yorkshire-based firm Colour-Tec is doing berry good work for clients across the roller door sector (page 50)

Door 6 - This guy really snows his stuff – read about Rick Hamill’s 24 years in the door sector (page 56)

Door 7 - Your presents is required to read about how AlluGuard are putting your preference first (page 60)

Door 8 - Don’t mis-tletoe our piece on the ongoing success of Leicester-based Trojon Roller Doors (page 70)

Door 9 - I sleigh! Look at Alpha Deuren’s new extra-large door variant (page 94)

Door 10 - Yule enjoy reading about the ‘weather beaters’ – the hardy, low-maintenance aluminium gates from HorizAL (page 98)

Door 11 - The seven reasons why Scrigno, Italy’s favourite pocket door system, is so tree-mendous (page 110)

Door 12 - But wait, there’s myrrh – discover how Norseal is ensuring a peaceful night’s sleep for guests at a hotel with an interesting history (page 124)

OK, I think I’ve exhausted all my Christmas puns for this year!

All that remains for me to say is thank you to all our readers, advertisers and contributors for your support throughout 2021.

And, on behalf of "Team DIJ", we all look forward to keeping our readers engaged in the New Year and assisting companies of all sizes with their publicity requirements.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year.

Derek Hibbart
Editor, Door Industry Journal

www.dijonline.co.uk

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Wednesday, 24 November 2021

Adjusting as Required – Door Closers Explained

Door closers are essential in protecting people and property, but are left useless without the appropriate adjustments. Kirk Smith of Allegion UK explains the key elements of door closer adjustments and how to correctly approach each type.

Whether surface mounted or concealed within the frame of a fire door, door closers play an integral role in a building’s operational safety.

Described as mechanically or electronically controlled closing devices, closers are designed to open a door safely and close slowly but firmly enough to latch into place. When working as intended, this enables a user to operate a door in a way that doesn’t harm themselves or damage the building. More importantly, a working door closer will keep fire doors closed in the event of a fire, thus aiding in the compartmentalisation of fire and smoke.

In fact, the UK Government, as part of their building safety advice published in 2020, recognised the significance of ‘compulsary closers’ and urged decision makers and residents to recognise the importance of a working self-closing device. But despite their significance, a lack of sufficient maintenance and installation know-how means not all door closers function as required.

Kirk Smith of Allegion UK

Essential Safeguarding

The Door Hardware Federation (DHF) state in their best practice guide that a minimum power size 3 door closer must be used on fire doors. In addition, to comply with UK Construction Products Regulations, controlled closing devices must be CE marked, and tested under BS EN 1154 standard and fire rated to BS EN 1634.

Aside from using non-compliant hardware, problems appear when a door closer isn’t adjusted correctly. Whether a door is opened manually, mechanically or electronically an incorrectly adjusted door closer can leave doors slamming open and shut and in some cases, failing to close completely. This compromises fire safety and building security - but it can be fixed.

Door closers operate by using spring tension, controlled by hydraulic fluid which passes from one section to the next as a door is opened. As the spring pushes the door closed again, the fluid passes back to the previous section through a series of valves that control the speed of the mechanism. The valves can be adjusted at the installation stage or at regular maintenance periods, and assist in controlling the speed of the door operation.

Adjustments Explained

When it comes to adjusting a door closer, it’s important to understand what type of correction the closer needs to operate in its desired way. Most adjustements can be implemented by opening and closing the various hydraulic valves found on the body of the door closer – turning them with an allen key or screwdriver to increase or decrease until the door closes in a safe and controlled manner. Kirk Smith of Allegion UK explains more:

Adjustable Closer Speed

“In the first instance, if a door is closing with too little or too much speed, users are in danger of leaving the door ajar, or when slamming shut, damaging the surrounding walls or the door and hardware itself. This can lead to fire safety concerns and increased maintenance periods. With this in mind, it’s commonly recommended to locate and adjust the valves so that the fire door closes within a 5-7 second period from a 90 degree angle.”

Adjustable Closer Power

“A PowerAdjust mechanism provides a visual guide on the EN power level at which the closer has been adjusted. This visual guide is useful in showing what strength a door is currently closing at and can detail how many valve turns are required to increase or decrease the power. This helps to avoid overtightening which endangers breaking the regulator oil seal. It’s also key to remember that a minimum power size 3 is required on any fire door.”

Adjustable Latch Action

“At it’s most crucial stage of the closing cycle, a door must often overcome seals and latches to close effectively. An unlatched door can facilitate the spread of smoke and fire and renders a fire door useless. Adjustable latch action allows you to control the speed of the door in the final 15 degrees of the closing cycle, ensuring the door completes closing and isn’t left unlatched. In the event a door is closing too hard at the final stage, a closer can also be adjusted to soften the final 15 degrees, which helps avoid damage to the lock strike and frame.”

Adjustable Backcheck

“In some cases, a fire door may be opening too quickly and violently and when poorly adjusted, this can leave the door to jam on the closing cycle. To prevent damage to the door or injury to persons standing behind it, we recommend adjusting the backcheck. Doing so will provide a cushioning effect, slowing the door down which is optimal for active building environments such as schools. Even after adjusting the closer, it’s always worth using doorstops.”

Adjustable Delayed Action

“A prolonged closing action is useful for busy environments such as schools, hospitals and care homes – helping users pass through in adequate time. By adjusting the delayed action, the speed of which the door closes can be set slower, giving people extra time to pass through the doorway. Adjustable timing is set between 70 degrees and 120 degrees. However, maximum delay permissible on a a fire door should take no longer than 25 seconds to complete its closing cycle.”

Adjustable Hold-open

“Although mechanical hold open door closers are for use on non-fire doors only, electromagnetic doors can safely implement hold-open door closers under fire safety standards.

A fully functional fire door closer is a prerequisite for comprehensive fire safety. And so, when it comes to the installation and maintenance of fire door closers, it’s never right to risk building safety or non-compliance.

To take the first step is to understand where fire safety may be compromised and what door closer adjustments are required to remedy those issues. Because only when a closer is operating at optimal speed and strength is a fire door able to offer essential protection against the elements.

For more, visit www.allegion.com.

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Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Dahua Video Surveillance System installed in Smart Distribution Centre

A large warehouse and distribution centre is benefitting from a 64-camera video surveillance system from Dahua Technology.

The site is the main UK warehouse for Pets Corner, a nationwide chain of more than 150 stores dealing with pets, pet food and pet accessories. The purpose-built 43,000 sq ft warehouse in West Sussex was opened last year and supplies all the UK stores and the company’s online business.

The site features solar panels for lighting, heating and electric charging points and operates a zero-landfill policy. The objectives for the surveillance system are to monitor the health and safety of workers, reduce stock damage and shrinkage, and protect lorries parked in the yard overnight.

The cameras – installed by Urban Security Systems & Fire – comprise a mix of Dahua Starlight domes and AI bullet cameras. All have a minimum of 5MP resolution and feature AI analytics, enabling features such as face recognition, ANPR, content analytics, incident detection, people counting and heat maps. Cameras have high image quality, bandwidth efficiency using H.265 compression and edge analytics, and excellent low light performance.

Cameras were colour-matched to blend in with the interior of the building by the distributor of the equipment, Oprema. The cameras are installed internally and externally, at the top and bottom of each aisle and at all delivery entry and exit points. The system is monitored out of hours by Southern Monitoring.

Power is delivered over Ethernet cable, so reducing and simplifying cabling requirements. Using ePoE cameras enabled the integrator to run the cable over 95m in distance, and in one case as far as 160m. Other Dahua equipment installed was a 64TB NVR, three managed ePoE Ethernet switches, and a 24-port Gigabit L2+ managed ethernet switch.

To include or watch a video of this case study, please click here: lnkd.in/d6-4AkD4

Andy Lloyd, Director of Urban Security Systems said:

“Dahua’s level of support to us has been outstanding throughout the project, and we are also impressed with the build quality of the equipment.”

“The PoE type cameras greatly assisted with the design and installation of the cable infrastructure and kept costs down, negating the need for additional PoE switches due to the length of cable runs.”

Graham Denny, Director of Logistics at Pets Corner, said:

“When building our new National Distribution Centre, we wanted a system that would not only give us maximum security but assist in maintaining operational and health and safety standards. The results from Urban Security Systems are excellent, providing us with outstanding video imagery, which is simple to use on my laptop, desktop and phone. Therefore I would highly recommend both the Dahua CCTV system for anyone with a similar requirement and of course Urban for their great installation, large parts of which were carried out safely and professionally while we were operational.”

For more company or product information, contact Dahua Technology UK & Ireland on 01628 613 500.

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Monday, 22 November 2021

Power Doors Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Distance is no problem for two of Britain’s leading players in the garage door market. Garador, based in Southwest England, have been supplying garage doors to Power Doors over 400 miles away in Scotland for over two decades.

The partnership has been so successful that Power Doors has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, with promotions and by announcing plans for a major expansion to its business including a modernised showroom and new warehouse.

The company supplies garage doors to a variety of customers across Scotland, with particular emphasis on new build housing developments and the replacement garage door market. They currently have a fleet of six vans, eight fitters backed up by four office staff enabling them to cover some serious ground and supply a much broader region.

Owner and Managing Director of Power Doors, Graeme Skelton comments:

“We’ve seen the business grow tremendously over the last 10 years. Time flies and it’s quite incredible to think that we started out with just one van back in 1996 and now 25 years later we have a fleet of six.”

The company has been celebrating their 25th year in business with a variety of promotions, one of which is giving away a free pack of Power Doors branded Tunnocks tea cakes with every door sold.

Graeme Skelton says:

“Tunnocks tea cakes are a popular treat here in Scotland and the original bakery that made them is just 30 minutes down the road in Glasgow. It’s been a great way to involve customers in our celebrations by giving them something they know and love.”

With the continued growth of the business, the company has plans for expansion of its Lochwinnoch based showroom, as Graeme says: “We’ve got plans to increase the footprint of the showroom and warehouse, that way we can stock more garage doors and supply our customers more quickly. By extending the showroom too, we’ll be able to show visitors a broader range of doors.”

Power Doors have a longstanding relationship with garage door manufacturer Garador, who were one of their original suppliers when they first setup their installation business.

Graeme Skelton says:

“Right from when we started in 1996, Garador has been our strongest partner and their doors have always been popular. We supply, fit and service their doors and have been impressed by their quality and reliability.”

With such a long history of working together, it is inevitable that a friendship has grown up between the two companies, as Graeme says “We’ve got a good rapport with the guys at Garador and we get on well with people across the business. They are a pleasure to work with and that really helps when you are working with them day in day out.”

440 miles south, Garador also celebrated one of their long-standing partnerships, wishing Power Doors all the very best for the next quarter of a century.

Find out more about Power Doors and the full range of services they offer by calling 01505 800100 or visiting www.powerdoors.co.uk

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Sunday, 21 November 2021

Hagerty investigates the rise in value of Ghostbusters Ecto-1

When Ghostbusters hit cinemas in 1984 it went on to become a cultural phenomenon thanks to a ground-breaking blend of comedy, science fiction, horror and action.

The second-biggest film of 1984, Ghostbusters grossed $295 million (£219m) in its first run and is often considered one of the first movie blockbusters. There was a sequel in 1989, a reboot in 2016 and now, nearly 30 years after the original, Ghostbusters: Afterlife has just been released.

As with so many great films, one of the stars of Ghostbusters was a car: a 1959 Cadillac, better known as Ecto-1. The car has gone on to attain cult status, which means that the original prop cars used in the production of Ghostbusters have become highly prized, and valuable too. At the same time, a thriving market in replica Ectomobiles has sprung up.

Hagerty investigates the mysterious goings-on…

What is Ecto-1?

One of the tools used to promote Ghostbusters to fans beyond cinemas was the car Murray and Aykroyd use to transport their ghostbusting kit around New York, as they saved the city from supernatural beings.

It’s based on a 1959 Cadillac Series 75 Commercial Chassis that coachbuilder Miller-Meteor turned into ambulances and hearses – some cars have even been known to be used as both.

The Ectomobile ‑ Ecto-1 ‑ is based around a Miller-Meteor Futura model which had recumbent ‘passengers’ loaded through its tailgate. With its big fins, long creased bonnet and spats covering the rear wheels it borrows many of the design features from famous Caddies of the time such as the Eldorado.

Beneath the bonnet, there’s a monster 390 cubic inch (6.4-litre) V8 engine for some spirited performance. And at 21 feet (6.4m) long there’s plenty of room for ghoul-zapping kit inside.

Ecto-1 is very rare and values are increasing

Only around 25 Miller-Meteor Futuras were ever built and at least two of those were owned by Sony and used in the Ghostbusters films. A third was bought for promotional purposes. Hagerty doesn’t carry the value of the 1959 Cadillac Series 75 Commercial Chassis but the average insured value for one now is $52,000 (£38,669).

According to the Hagerty valuations department, one of the cars from the film was offered within US magazine Hemmings for $149,998 (£111,514) in 2007. One year later and another of the cars apparently made for the Universal Studios theme park in Florida, was offered on eBay for $45,000 (£33,454). Just two years after that, possibly one of those same cars sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction for $88,000 (£65,437).

Prices were clearly on the up more than a decade ago. In the intervening years, they’ve rocketed. For a genuine movie car, with a certified history, Hagerty now estimates the value to be in excess of $500,000 (£371,821).

Replicas are very valuable too

In 2020 a fan-created replica Ecto-1 was sold at Barrett-Jackson in the US for $220,000 (£163,602). The car was built from a 1959 Cadillac Superior hearse and was fully drivable with its engine rebuilt in 2012.

In the UK in 2014, a replica Ecto-1 was offered on eBay for £175,000. However, the owner of another replica, Peter Dale, tracked his tatty Ecto-1 down for £70,000.

“I bought it within two hours of hearing it was coming up for sale,” he told us.

Looking distinctly unloved, Peter has since spent around £80,000 restoring the car to its former glory.

Peter bought the car at the start of the first lockdown in 2020.

“It had already been converted to Ecto-1 but had then been left to sit for a few years. The engine wasn’t running, and it needed to be totally recommissioned,” he said.

He revealed that the cars are so sought after, you’ll now pay £40,000-£50,000 for a Cadillac shell from the correct year.

What’s Ecto-1 like to drive? Peter said:

“Although it’s a very big car, it’s easy to drive. Visibility is great through all the glass and it’s got power steering and assisted brakes. Surprisingly for something so long, the turning circle is quite good. The biggest problem is that it attracts so much attention. You go to change lanes and there’s someone alongside filming on a smartphone, so you have to have your wits about you.”

Peter added, “In the run-up to Ghostbusters: Afterlife we’ve been using the car for a lot of promotional work for Sony,” he said. “We were at the premiere in Leicester Square in London and we’ve been on This Morning when I showed Philip Schofield how to drive it.”

Hagerty Editor, James Mills, said of the Ghostbusters star car:

“It’s spooky just how well-known Ecto-1 is. Ghostbusters made it one of the most famous movie cars ever to emerge from a props department. Despite its place in pop culture, few film fans will be aware of the values of an Ectomobile; the real-deal could be worth up to half a million dollars, and even replica examples are valuable. Owners should make sure they’re insured for the correct sum, or they could be in for a nasty fright.”

Ghostbusters Afterlife was released in UK cinemas on Thursday 18th November 2021.

For more information about Hagerty, call 0333 323 0989 or visit www.hagerty.co.uk

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