Solar Gates

01/04/2026

Big news. We’re trialling voice-activated barriers.

Just speak to it like you would a mate: “Open up, lad.”

Now live in Yorkshire.

Understands regional accents. Badly.

We’ll let you decide how that goes.

27/03/2026

SG and Berlex greenlight partnership to modernise UK traffic signal systems.

SG is proud to announce an exclusive UK distribution partnership for Berlex’s intelligent portable traffic signal systems. The TOPAS-registered R6+ signals come with the Swedish company’s cloud-based platform, 'BerlexConnect', which allows users to easily monitor and control the temporary system via an app.

This partnership brings together two companies focused on innovation and the digital transformation of road safety and we’re looking forward to working closely with Berlex to bring this technology to the UK.

Find out more: https://www.solargates.co.uk/product/berlex-traffic-signals

16/12/2025

Not long now folks…until we’re all up to our necks in wrapping paper and pigging out on meat, veg, chocolates and bottled rocket fuel.

Before everyone battens down the hatches, we thought it worth telling you that Solar Gates closes for the season at noon on Tuesday 23 December and is open for business as normal on Friday 2 January.

If you have any issues during the shutdown, please call 01622 534000 for help.

Please note that our out-of-hours call-out fees are detailed on our website.

15/12/2025

'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
But it’s cold on worksites sorry
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la

This time of year brings much cheer but let’s face it, the days are shorter, it’s nippier outside and overcast skies (when they happen) can be about as welcome as a French kiss at a family reunion.

The thing about solar power – and our barriers in particular – is that they need a touch of sun, not a lot. They’re designed to make the best of a crisp and clear frosty winter morning when you get a smattering of sunlight.
But recent weather has been more El Nino than Jack Frost. So, if you’re keeping a close eye on your SOSEC barrier and the batteries seem to be running lower than usual… the following will help.

If you own your barrier you can manage this problem yourself: Grab a good 12v car charger and follow the simple guide we’ve just published on our website (link in comments). It explains how to safely remove the batteries and give them a good juice up from the mains.

Do remember that it’s a big battery and a full charge off a standard 4a car charger will take 24 hours. That’s just simply maths. It is also important that both batteries have the same amount of charge before they are put back in - you can’t just do one.

And if all that seems like too much bother, we offer a chargeable (excuse the pun) battery swap out service to get you up and running a bit faster.

Just give us a call.

11/12/2025

Bloopers!

At Solar Gates, we continue to build on the splendid, award-winning success of our innovative products and people. 2025 has been an incredible period for everyone working here, for many reasons. So much so, that we've gone and made a short film about that success.

That lovingly crafted flick will be ready soon. We're saving it for next week (while we wait for some court proceedings to reach their climax).

So, for now, here's some outtakes from that painstaking film-making process.

**WARNING** Contains a very sweary Operations Director, Christopher Long

26/11/2025

Real stories. Real results.

Our INSTABOOM GOs are currently doing the business in Ireland, like a traffic management version of Troy Parrott.

Laboured, bandwagon-jumping similes aside, they really are you know.
A perfect example is our good friends at RoadControl who offer comprehensive TM services in Ireland and have been bowled over by how well their hire of four units in Dublin has been going.

We will shortly be unveiling the full story of what they’ve been using the INSTABOOM GO for. Watch this space…

25/11/2025

The winner of our “MOVE YOUR WORKERS” sticker competition is…. Paul McCarthy, Managing Director of Dublin-based VIAE Ltd.

Here he is pictured with his early Christmas gift.

It was presented by our very own Country Manager Niall O'Byrne who refused to dress up as Santa.

28/10/2025

How do you boost the night-time safety of your teams while making your work more efficient, especially on a busy road?

Ask the good people of COLAS who admit that closing one of Hampshire’s busiest routes (the M275) is never a piece of cake.

They needed a quick, effortless and reliable way to manage access to the road while it’s closed for important work.

So what did they do?

Find out via the link in comments.

22/10/2025

Last week’s Highways UK proved to be, yet again, a spectacular occasion were thousands of industry foot soldiers had the chance to press flesh, swap business cards and meet and greet contacts old and new.

At the very same time it was going on, our MD Neil Sampson was 10,000 miles away in Australia at Highways AU, doing his thing for Solar Gates down under.

The Solar Gates team had a great time on our UK stand and faced as many questions about the bees we had with us, as we did re the exciting solar technology we had on display.

We also enjoyed doing a bit of stickering throughout the NEC, offering visitors a chance to win an iPad! We will be announcing the winner soon.

As ever, watch this space!

21/10/2025

Our latest case study of INSTABOOM on the M275 in Portsmouth.

“It’s fantastic to see Colas embracing the practical benefits of remote barrier technology,” said Neil Sampson, Managing Director at Solar Gates. “INSTABOOM