Vancouver Food Factory - Double Door Interlock Project
Last Monday morning, right after the meeting, the office phone rang. It was Mark, the manager of a food processing plant in Vancouver, Canada. He spoke quickly and urgently: "The double-door interlock in our packaging workshop is broken. The previous equipment either didn't close properly or unlocked slowly. The hygiene inspection team is about to come in, can you help us resolve this as soon as possible?" After hanging up, we immediately formed a special task force—the technical department first reviewed the core parameters of the double-door interlock, while the sales department simultaneously contacted the client for on-site information. In less than half an hour, Mark sent photos of the workshop: two stainless steel double doors connecting the aseptic packaging area and the raw material area, respectively. The doors were somewhat deformed, and the old interlock wiring was still exposed. “In this kind of food processing workshop, the first thing is to ensure the door's closing precision, otherwise dust will easily get in,” the technical supervisor explained, analyzing the photos. “Our double-door interlock kit has a door magnetic sensor error controlled to within 0.8mm, which is more accurate than the industry standard of 1mm. Even if the door is slightly deformed, it can accurately detect whether it is closed tightly.”
We immediately sent Mark the parameter sheet, specifically highlighting the key points: “The electromagnetic lock uses DC12V low-voltage power supply, meeting food factory safety standards; the locking force is 280N, ensuring it won't pinch your hand and locks securely; moreover, the controller has an emergency unlocking function, and in case of a power outage, the backup power supply can last for 5 hours; the mechanical knob on the side of the door can also be used to manually open the door, fully complying with Canadian safety regulations.”
Shortly afterward, Mark responded to the video request. In the video, he stands beside the double doors, pointing to the lintel and saying, "Workers often can't tell which door can be opened. Could you add a notification?" We immediately asked the technical department to retrieve the design drawings: "Look, we can add red and green LEDs to the controller panel. When the green light is on for the left door, it means the right door is closed. Workers can see this clearly in the corridor without having to try repeatedly." Mark approved on the spot after reviewing it: "Let's do it this way. Can it be done within 7 days?" That afternoon, we sent over the customized solution—the door magnetic sensor is installed in a recessed area on the side of the door, avoiding the humid environment of the food workshop; the electromagnetic lock is made of corrosion-resistant material, compatible with the workshop's cleaning and disinfection procedures; the controller is embedded in the wall, with all wiring hidden. We even included detailed installation dimension diagrams, and even marked the screw types. Mark reviewed the solution and signed the contract that same day.
Over the next few days, we followed up throughout the process: the warehouse prioritized the allocation of goods, shipping the double-door interlock kit, backup power supply, and LED panel together by air; the technical department held daily remote meetings with Mark's maintenance team to explain wiring precautions in advance. On the day of installation, our engineers were on-site, providing real-time guidance on sensor installation and wiring. When we saw in the video that the green light on the right door instantly illuminated after the left door closed, with an unlock response time of less than 0.5 seconds, our anxiety finally subsided.
The day after installation, Mark sent us a test video: simulating a door not closing properly, the sensor immediately alarmed; disconnecting the power automatically activated the backup power supply, and the emergency knob easily opened the door. He laughed in the video, saying, "The health inspectors came and said this double-door interlock is more standardized than any they've inspected before!"
Yesterday, we received a thank-you letter from Mark, along with a package of biscuits from his factory. Unpacking it, everyone was quite moved: The customer wanted more than just equipment; they wanted a solution that could solve the problem—and what we did was ensure every parameter of the double-door interlock was implemented effectively, helping them maintain the safety and hygiene standards of their workshop.