The causes can be traced to three major pain points that have remained unresolved for a long time:
Pain Point One: Electricity like a 'roller coaster'
The African power grid is extremely unstable, with voltage fluctuating sharply between 100V and 240V, coupled with frequent power outages. Traditional revolving doors and automatic doors have control systems designed for a single voltage, making them unable to withstand such shocks—controllers burn out, motors stop, and door mechanisms get jammed becomes commonplace. Some users joke bitterly: 'In the first week it's an automatic door; by the first month it has turned into a sliding door.'
Pain Point Two: Environment like a 'hellish field'
Sub-Saharan Africa experiences high temperatures year-round (summer ground temperature exceeding 50°C), sandstorms during the dry season, and high saline corrosion in coastal countries. Sand entering the tracks causes doors to jam and make abnormal noises; high temperatures dry out lubricants and accelerate bearing wear; salt mist corrodes circuit boards and metal components—equipment lifespan is generally reduced by more than 50%.
Pain Point Three: After-sales service like 'dousing fire with distant water'
Most African countries are extremely short of professional automatic door installation and maintenance personnel. When equipment fails, users face a dilemma: either have local electricians 'fix it by feel', which often worsens the problem; or wait for overseas engineers to fly in, typically a wait of several weeks and thousands of dollars in travel expenses, often costing more than the equipment itself. A minor fault can cause a single door to be out of service for several months, leaving users with no way to complain.
These 'threefold dilemmas' are the harsh reality that every company attempting to deeply enter the African market must confront.
