The MC-RD3/4 Automatic Revolving Door is a commercial three- or four-wing revolving entrance for buildings where arrival experience, continuous pedestrian flow and environmental separation all matter. It is the third automatic-entrance platform in the Coetz™ / MC Automations range, alongside the MC-125 automatic sliding door and the MCW-100 automatic swing door. MC-RD3/4 is our commercial product designation for the applicable three-/four-wing revolving-door solution; it is not the manufacturer’s original model number.
A revolving entrance keeps a building’s inside and outside environments partly separated during normal use, because there is never a single opening standing fully open for every person who passes. By maintaining segmented separation between internal and external areas during normal operation, an automatic revolving door can help reduce uncontrolled air exchange at a busy entrance while people move through continuously in both directions.
MC-RD3 or MC-RD4: three-wing vs four-wing
The MC-RD3/4 automatic revolving door is available as a three-wing or a four-wing unit. Neither is universally “better” — the right choice follows from the opening, the building layout and how the entrance will be used. Both variants are the same automatic revolving door platform; what differs is the compartment geometry and how well each separates entering and exiting flows.
Key features of the automatic revolving door
The automatic revolving door is configured rather than bought off a shelf. The features below are the elements most often specified — some standard, some optional — and the final automatic revolving door configuration is agreed against your project requirements.
Ideal applications
An automatic revolving door suits buildings where the front door is part of the brand and pedestrian flow is continuous. Suitability for any specific entrance is always assessed against the building and its use. As a rule, the busier and more public the building, the stronger the case for an automatic revolving door at the main arrival point.
Why choose a revolving entrance?
An automatic revolving door earns its place for reasons a swing or sliding door cannot match. The points below are the ones that most often decide a project in favour of an automatic revolving door.
- Architectural impact. A revolving entrance creates a strong arrival experience and can become a signature feature of the building.
- Continuous pedestrian movement. Multiple compartments let people enter and leave within the same revolving motion.
- Environmental separation. The revolving arrangement limits continuous direct exposure between the interior and exterior during normal use.
- Wind & draft management. The revolving geometry reduces direct wind paths straight through the entrance. Actual wind performance is project-dependent and not quantified here.
- Premium commercial positioning. Particularly appropriate where entrance presentation matters to the building’s identity.
Control & operating modes
The MC-RD3/4 automatic revolving door is driven by a PLC control system with adjustable rotation speed. Depending on the selected control package, functions can include locking / night mode, continuous rotation, sensor-activated go-stop operation (to reduce energy use when idle), reduced-speed operation and emergency stop. Final operating modes depend on the selected control package and project configuration — not every mode is included in every build. Operating mode is set during commissioning, so the automatic revolving door behaves the way the building actually runs rather than to a factory default.
Optional air-curtain integration
An integrated air-curtain arrangement can be considered for suitable projects to further manage the threshold between inside and outside. Air-curtain requirements are engineered according to the entrance dimensions and project requirements; no airflow or heating figures are published here because they depend on the specific unit selected for the project. Where an air curtain is specified, it is coordinated with the automatic revolving door at design stage rather than added afterwards.
Access-control integration
The automatic revolving door can be coordinated with compatible card readers, biometric systems, reception-release controls and building-management systems, so authorised-access workflows and the entrance work together. Access-control and door-automation logic must remain coordinated during design and commissioning: a reader authorises access, but the door’s own safety and control logic governs how it operates. See the Glazing Compliance Centre for how glazing requirements are assessed alongside the entrance design. Readers are integrated into the automatic revolving door control system so entry, exit or both can be governed as the security design requires.
Design & project process
Delivering an automatic revolving door is a coordinated process rather than a single delivery date. The stages below set out how a typical automatic revolving door project runs from first drawings to handover.
- 1Send opening information. Architectural drawings, opening dimensions, floor plans, photographs and intended building use.
- 2Entrance assessment. Required diameter, three- or four-wing arrangement, pedestrian use, glazing, finishes, safety configuration, security and electrical requirements.
- 3Technical proposal. A project-specific configuration and quotation.
- 4Approval. Confirm dimensions, finishes, glazing and options.
- 5Manufacture / procurement. Proceed according to the approved specification.
- 6Installation & commissioning. Automatic-door installation, commissioning and aftercare handled by MC Automations Entrance Systems.
Specifying an automatic revolving door: getting the building ready
An automatic revolving door touches more of the building than a standard door, so the earlier it is coordinated, the smoother the installation. When you are specifying an automatic revolving door, a handful of interfaces decide whether the entrance drops in cleanly or needs rework on site.
- Structural opening and support. The drum and canopy carry real weight and need a defined opening with adequate support above and around it — confirm the structural opening early against the chosen diameter.
- Floor and threshold. The base ring and track sit in the finished floor, so floor build-up, levels and the threshold detail are coordinated with the diameter and the surrounding finishes.
- Electrical supply. An automatic revolving door needs a dedicated power supply at the right position and rating; agreeing the point and route up front avoids temporary feeds and chasing later.
- Canopy and ceiling interface. The canopy houses the drive and lighting, so its height and how it meets the soffit or facade above is part of the design, not an afterthought.
- Adjacent doors. A revolving entrance is normally planned alongside a pass door or automatic sliding door for accessibility, goods movement and the building’s escape strategy — these are positioned together.
Because these interfaces span the structure, floor, electrical and facade packages, the practical approach is to share the opening information early and let the entrance be engineered around the real building. That is why the MC-RD3/4 is quoted from your drawings rather than a catalogue line: the diameter, wing count, glazing, finish and safety configuration are set to the opening, and the automatic revolving door is confirmed as a coordinated part of the entrance rather than a fixture added at the end.
Automatic revolving door specifications
The following reflects the manufacturer technical documentation for the applicable three-/four-wing platform. Any value not listed is confirmed during project specification rather than assumed. Anything not confirmed in the manufacturer documentation for the automatic revolving door is flagged rather than estimated.
| Door type | Automatic revolving entrance (drum-wall load-bearing structure) |
| Configurations | 3-wing / 4-wing; with or without showcase |
| Operation | Automatic (standard); manual / manual-automatic activation where configured |
| Control | PLC control system (standard) |
| Drive | Variable, adjustable-speed drive; rotation speed adjustable (approx. 0.5–4 rpm range) |
| Power supply | 220 V AC ±10%, 50 Hz |
| Rated power | 600 W (motor 250 W; control system 50 W) |
| Integrated lighting | 12 V AC ceiling spotlights (standard) |
| Glazing | Laminated safety glass (manufacturer standard 3+3 mm plane / 4+4 mm curved). Final glazing selected per entrance design, dimensions, application and applicable South African requirements — see the Compliance Centre |
| Standard safety | Safety bumper, emergency-stop button, mechanical lock, reduced-speed accessibility button |
| Optional safety / features | Anti-collision light barriers, anti-squeeze sensor, fire-alarm interface, panic breakout, night security door, remote control, internet monitoring, waterproof cover, air-curtain integration |
| Finishes | Anodised aluminium, RAL powder-coat, stainless-steel cladding, fluorocarbon (PVDF) coating — subject to project specification and manufacturing confirmation |
| Dimensions | Project-specific — see the standard sizing table below |
Standard dimensions
Standard three- and four-wing automatic revolving door sizes from the manufacturer documentation. The clear door opening (passage width) per compartment depends on the diameter and wing count and is confirmed on the project drawing. Larger, oversized or non-standard configurations may be available subject to technical assessment and manufacturing confirmation. The final diameter of the automatic revolving door is confirmed against your drawings before anything is manufactured.
| Nominal internal diameter | Outer diameter | Total height | Clear passage height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 mm | 1888 mm | 2500 mm | 2200 mm |
| 2100 mm | 2188 mm | 2500 mm | 2200 mm |
| 2400 mm | 2488 mm | 2500 mm | 2200 mm |
| 2700 mm | 2788 mm | 2500 mm | 2200 mm |
| 3000 mm | 3088 mm | 2500 mm | 2200 mm |
| 3200 mm | 3288 mm | 2500 mm | 2200 mm |
| 3600 mm | 3688 mm | 2500 mm | 2200 mm |
What to send us for an automatic revolving door quotation
An automatic revolving door is engineered to the building rather than picked off a shelf, so the quotation depends on information about the opening and how it will be used. Sending the following with your enquiry lets us confirm feasibility and configuration in one pass instead of several.
- Architectural drawings or elevations of the entrance, including the plan view. This is the single most useful item, because the drum diameter has to be resolved against the available floor area.
- The structural opening dimensions and the clear floor space in front of and behind the entrance.
- The finished floor level and any floor build-up, so the base arrangement can be coordinated with the flooring contractor.
- The soffit or ceiling height above the entrance, which affects how the canopy and drive are accommodated.
- Expected pedestrian traffic — daily volume and peak periods. This informs whether a three-wing or four-wing automatic revolving door suits the entrance.
- Whether entering and exiting flows need separating, which is often the deciding factor between the two configurations.
- Access-control requirements, and whether readers must govern entry, exit or both.
- After-hours security needs, so night-closing arrangements can be considered from the outset rather than retrofitted.
- The finish you have in mind — anodised aluminium, RAL powder-coat or stainless-steel cladding.
If some of that is not settled yet, send what you have. Early input on an automatic revolving door usually saves coordination work later, because the base, canopy and power supply are much easier to allow for during design than to accommodate on site.
Aftercare, service and spare parts
An automatic revolving door is a long-life asset that keeps performing when it is maintained. Because the drive, controls and safety sensors are working parts, a planned service arrangement keeps the entrance running smoothly and the safety functions verified over time. Aftercare is part of specifying an automatic revolving door properly, not an afterthought once the entrance is in use.
MC Automations Entrance Systems supports the MC-RD3/4 after handover with scheduled maintenance, call-outs and genuine spare parts, so a fault is diagnosed and resolved quickly rather than leaving a main entrance out of action. Where a building runs extended hours or very high traffic, a maintenance plan with priority response is usually the sensible choice.
Regular servicing also keeps the reduced-speed accessibility function, emergency stop and any anti-collision and anti-squeeze detection performing as configured — which matters most on a busy public entrance. Talk to us about a maintenance plan when you specify the automatic revolving door, so aftercare is in place from day one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a 3-wing and 4-wing revolving door?
A three-wing door has three compartments with wider individual segments; a four-wing door has four compartments with a different passage geometry. Neither is universally better — the choice depends on the opening size, building layout and how entering and exiting flows are managed. We recommend the configuration after reviewing your drawings. If your question about the automatic revolving door is not covered here, send the drawings and we will answer it directly.
How much does an automatic revolving door cost in South Africa?
There is no single price. Cost depends on the diameter, total height, glazing, finishes, control and safety equipment, security options, installation, freight and the specific project requirements. Send us your opening details for an itemised, project-specific quotation.
Can the MC-RD3/4 be customised?
Yes. Diameter, wing count, glazing, finishes, control package and safety and security options are selected to the building and the project. Larger or non-standard configurations may be available subject to technical assessment and manufacturing confirmation.
Can a revolving door integrate with access control?
It can be coordinated with compatible card readers, biometric systems and building-management systems. The reader authorises access, while the door’s own control and safety logic governs operation — the two are coordinated during design and commissioning.
What happens during a power failure?
Behaviour on power loss is configured for the specific project and must be confirmed during specification. We do not claim automatic battery backup as standard — if continued operation or a defined fail position is required, it is specified and confirmed for that building.
Can revolving doors be used as emergency exits?
Not by default. An optional panic-breakout arrangement can be specified where required, allowing the revolving leaves to be manually displaced to create a larger passage. Whether that satisfies emergency egress must be confirmed against the building design and the applicable regulatory requirements — a revolving door is usually one part of a building’s overall escape strategy, not the whole of it.
Are revolving doors suitable for hotels?
They are a common choice for hotels, where the entrance presentation and continuous guest movement suit a revolving arrangement. Luggage and accessibility routes are planned alongside the revolving door as part of the overall entrance.
Can you supply stainless-steel finishes?
Stainless-steel cladding is one of the available architectural finishes, alongside anodised aluminium, RAL powder-coat and fluorocarbon (PVDF) coatings. Finishes are available subject to project specification and manufacturing confirmation.
Can the revolving door use safety glass?
Yes. The manufacturer standard glazing is laminated safety glass, and curved glazing is used where the design requires it. Final glazing is selected according to the entrance design, dimensions, application and applicable South African requirements — see our safety glass regulations guide.
How large can the revolving door be?
Standard internal diameters run from 1800 mm to 3600 mm (see the sizing table). Larger, oversized or non-standard diameters may be available subject to technical assessment and manufacturing confirmation — we confirm what is workable for your opening before quoting.
Does a revolving door require maintenance?
Yes. An automatic revolving door is a powered mechanical entrance with a drive, controls, sensors and moving components, so it requires periodic inspection and maintenance. MC Automations Entrance Systems provides service and maintenance to keep the entrance operating safely and reliably.
Send us your architectural drawings, opening dimensions or project requirements. Our entrance team can help determine whether a 3-wing or 4-wing MC-RD3/4 configuration suits your project.
Explore the rest of the range: automatic doors overview, the MC-125 automatic sliding door, and our Glazing Compliance Centre. For South African glass and glazing standards, see SAGGA.