Rock And “Roll”: The History Of Roller Shutter Doors

Here at Thoroughbred Industrial Doors, the industrial roller shutter door installation experts, we’re passionate about the products and services we provide. Because of this, we’re going to explore the history and innovation of roller shutter doors, an advent that has lasted from the times of Ancient Greece to today! Read on to learn more about the history of roller shutter doors and how industrial roller shutter installation has evolved over time.

Ancient Beginnings

The mechanical principle that anticipates the roller shutter door arose during the 1st Century AD when, in Egypt, a Greek-Egyptian mathematician and engineer known as Heron of Alexandria created the first automatic door. Heron of Alexandria, oft known as “the greatest experimenter of antiquity” used fire to heat water, which turned it into steam and displaced its own weight. This weight (or rather, lack of it) then pulled on a rope to open a temple door. Visitors of the temple entered staggered, as the door “magically” opened without a single touch, and Heron’s experiments in automation laid the groundwork for the future of engineering.

Innovation In Aadorf

In 1882, in the small, Swiss municipality of Aadorf, Anton Greisser filed a patent for a new, innovative type of door: the roller shutter. Greisser established a workshop where he made the roller shutters from wood and then used them to protect local homes and businesses in and around Aadorf. Greisser’s business is still in existence today, manufacturing window shutters, solar shades, facade awnings and Venetian blinds, and more. Despite this success, Greisser’s invention didn’t advance beyond Aadorf until the 20th century.



Expansion In America

Meanwhile, in America, the roller shutter door as we know it was innovated by C. G. Johnson in 1921. Based in Detroit, the epicentre of motoring in the United States, Johnson wanted to help meet the demand for cars being manufactured by Ford at the time, providing an effective way to store the litany of new vehicles on the road. Johnson’s industrial roller shutters used an innovative “up and over” sliding mechanism, which made the industrial roller shutters easy to use, and this mechanism is still used today.

During the 1970s, both Europe and America suffered from various energy crises. From this, there was even more of a demand for roller shutter door installation, as not only were they efficient and effective mechanisms, but they were able to keep the cold in winter and the heat in summer.

Contemporary Industrial Roller Shutters

Nowadays, industrial roller shutter doors are used all over the world to protect homes and businesses, an essential part of many security systems. If you’re interested in roller shutter door installation, Thoroughbred Doors can help. We’ve been providing high-quality roller shutters for 21 years and are experts in installation, repair, and maintenance.

Get in touch with us today for expert roller shutter door installation.