Send the door type, a photo of the board or old switch, and the quantity.
Door by door ↓ProcurementA request reached you and you need to buy the right part.
What to ask for ↓Plant or facility managerYou need to know why it is worth approving.
Common situations ↓
Which key switch does each factory door need?
The door and its control decide the type. The logo on the motor does not. Find your door here, then open its section below.
| Factory door | Where the switch goes | Type that fits | What it connects to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sliding gate | Gate pillar | Command key switch | Control board input |
| Iron swing gate | Gate pillar | Command key switch | Control board that runs two motors |
| Barrier | Gatehouse or barrier post | Command key switch | Barrier control board |
| Roller shutter, center motor | Wall beside the door | Up · stop · down switch, or a command switch if there is a board | Motor lines, or the board input |
| Roller shutter, side motor | Wall beside the door | Command key switch | The motor control box |
| Shutter that must stop at any height | Wall beside the door | Keyed box with 3 buttons | The motor control board |
| Center-motor shutter during power cuts | Wall beside the door | Brake-release key unit | Motor brake, plus the electric control |
Sliding gate
The switch goes on the pillar and sends one command to the board in the motor box. The board and the motor do the rest, so the switch never carries motor power. Facts about the gate side are in our factory gate motor page.
Check the match for my sliding gate
Iron swing gate
A swing gate has two motors, one on each leaf. The board runs both and keeps a delay between the leaves. The key switch still sends one command to that board. Some boards also accept a partial opening command, so one leaf can open for people.
Check the match for my swing gate
Barrier
The switch stays at the guard post and gives the guard a control point that does not depend on a remote. The barrier board takes it on its command input, in the same way a gate board does.
Check the match for my barrier
Roller shutter with a center motor
Check first if there is a control board. With a board, a command key switch fits its input. With no board, the switch carries the motor’s up and down lines, so it must be a 3-position unit made for that: up, stop and down. A signal-only switch does not fit this setup. More detail is in pulse or selector type for shutters.
Check the match for my center motor
Roller shutter with a side motor
The side motor sits beside the drum and drives it with a chain. Its control is different from a center motor, and it takes a regular key switch on its control box. A brake-release unit is not for this motor.
Check the match for my side motor
Keyed box with 3 buttons
A key switch gives you direction. This box adds a stop at any height, which helps when forklifts and trucks need different openings. The buttons sit behind a cover that only the key opens, so nobody can press them by accident. It is a stainless unit for daily outdoor use, and it connects to the motor control board.
Ask about the 3-button box
Power cuts on a center-motor shutter
The brake on a center motor closes by itself when the power stops, so the door will not lift by hand. The brake-release unit has two parts. The electric part opens and closes the door every day. The lever or hex key releases the brake during a power cut, so the door can move by hand until the power returns. It is for center motors only.
Ask about the brake-release unit
Common factory situations and what answers each one
These are the reasons a key switch reaches a purchase request. They also explain why it is worth approving.
| Situation in the plant | What answers it |
|---|---|
| Too many remotes are around, and nobody knows who holds them | A key switch beside the remote. Only key holders can use it, and the remote keeps working |
| Anyone can press the open button on the wall | A key switch, or a 3-button box with a locked cover |
| The old switch broke and the door vendor is not available | A photo of the old switch or the board. The match comes from the board labels, so it does not have to be the same brand |
| Trucks and forklifts need different opening heights | The 3-button box, because it stops at any height |
| The guard must control the barrier from the post | A key switch at the gatehouse |
| A power cut closes the loading door | A brake-release unit, on center-motor shutters only |
| A panel selector was bought for a door on the wall | A complete door unit, because a panel selector needs an enclosure |
On some doors the motor runs only while someone keeps the key turned. This is called hold-to-run. The door standard EN 12453 describes this type of control and places a trained user in charge of the door’s movement, which is one reason keys are used for it. The standard describes a type of control, not a model. Checking a door against it is work for a qualified technician.
Momentary, maintained, 2 or 3 positions
Three questions separate key switches: how many positions it has, whether the key stays or springs back, and where the key can come out.
| Action | What the key does | Input it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Momentary (spring return) | Springs back when you let go and sends one short command | One command input: START · STEP · SBS |
| Maintained, 2 positions (2 حركة) | Stays where you turn it | A separate OPEN input or a hold-open function |
| 3 positions (3 حركة) | Up · stop · down | Separate OPEN and CLOSE inputs, or a shutter motor with no board |
Key removal matters in a plant. A switch that lets the key come out while the door is held open leaves the door in that state with nobody beside it. Ask where the key comes out before you order. Also decide your key plan: one key per door, or one key for several doors.
Key selector or door key switch: the mix-up to avoid
Search for “key selector switch” in Egypt and most results are 22 mm panel selectors from electrical distributors. They are good parts for a control panel, but they are components. They need a 22 mm cut-out and an enclosure. A door key switch arrives as a complete housing for a wall or a pillar. Before a purchase request goes out, check which one the engineer means.
Ask for the complete door unit
Hall, outdoor pillar or wash-down: reading the IP code
Each of these places asks for different protection, so start from where the switch will sit. IEC 60529 defines the IP code. The first digit rates protection against dust, from 0 to 6. The second rates protection against water, from 0 to 9. So IP54 means dust protected and protected against splashing water, and IP65 means dust tight and protected against water jets. Read the rating on the housing label, because it belongs to the model and not to the type.
Two published examples: Somfy lists ref. 2400597 as a surface-mounted switch with an IP54 housing, and Beninca lists its built-in TOKEY.I with an IP67 water proof limit switch. These figures come from each maker for that reference only. The sales team confirms the model in stock before shipping.
Which switch do you have now?
Replacing an old unit? Compare the body shape, the logo and the key slot. The first eight are key switches, the ninth is the keyed box, and the last three are brake-release units for center motors only. Most product pages open in Arabic except Pujol, Beninca and Somfy.
ACM key selector switch
Key Automation key selector switch
Norton key selector switch
Pujol key selector switch
Beninca key selector switch
Somfy key selector switch
Grey cube key switch with arrows
Metal-face key switch
Stainless 3-button key box
Brake-release unit, box
Brake-release unit, lever
Brake-release unit, hex keyFor procurement: what to ask for and what to send
You do not need to know the wiring. A clear request is enough, and the sales team checks the technical match with you. Prices start from EGP 950. The final price depends on the model and the quantity, so it comes on WhatsApp. Payment is by bank transfer or InstaPay.
- Door type: shutter with center motor, shutter with side motor, sliding gate, swing gate or barrier
- Photo: control board terminals, or the old switch, or the motor cable if there is no board
- Motor or board brand, if a label shows it
- Mounting: indoor or outdoor, surface or flush
- Key plan: own key for each door, or one key for several
- Quantity and governorate
Delivery: within hours for Cairo and Giza, and shipping to all governorates, including factory areas in Sharqia, Qalyubia, Menoufia, Alexandria and Suez. Fitting: supply only. Your maintenance team or door contractor fits the part, and the technical team answers terminal questions on WhatsApp after delivery.
Key switches in stock
The full key switch range opens in Arabic.
Key switches in factories: questions from engineers and buyers
What is an industrial key selector switch?
It is a wall or pillar switch that only a key can operate. In a factory it controls a roller shutter, a sliding gate, a swing gate or a barrier. On a door with a control board it sends a command. On a shutter motor with no board it carries the up and down lines.
Is a 22 mm panel key selector the same as a door key switch?
No. A 22 mm selector is a component that fits a cut-out inside a control panel, so it needs an enclosure. A door key switch is a complete unit with its own housing, ready for a wall or a pillar.
Which key switch fits a factory roller shutter with a center motor?
If the shutter has a control board, a command key switch fits its input. If it has no board, it needs a 3-position switch for up, stop and down that is made to carry the motor lines. A photo of the board or the motor cable settles it.
Can a brake-release key unit be used on a side motor or a gate motor?
No. The brake-release unit is for center motors on roller shutters only. Side motors, sliding gate motors and swing gate motors take a regular key switch.
How do we open a factory shutter during a power cut?
A regular key switch needs power, so it cannot move the door in a power cut. On a center-motor shutter, the brake-release unit has a lever or a hex key that releases the motor brake, so the door can move by hand until power returns.
Can one key operate several doors in the factory?
Units normally ship with their own keys. Some model lines offer sets that share one key. Tell the sales team how many doors you have and who holds the keys, and they confirm what the model in stock allows.
How many keys come with each unit?
It differs by model. Somfy lists 2 keys for its ref. 2400597, and the stainless 3-button box comes with 2 keys. The sales team confirms the number for the model you order, and extra copies can be requested on WhatsApp.
What should a purchase request for a key switch include?
The door type, a photo of the control board or the old switch, the motor brand if it is visible, indoor or outdoor mounting, surface or flush mounting, the quantity and the governorate. That is enough for the sales team to confirm the match and send the price.
Do you install the switch at the factory?
No. Abu Seif Steel supplies the part only. Your maintenance team or door contractor fits it, and the technical team answers terminal questions on WhatsApp.
Send the door type, a photo and the quantity. One message is enough to start.
Get a quote on WhatsApp