Roller shutters are very common on retail units and workshops for a good reason. For starters, roller shutters cover a whole shop front, and can be easily operated many times a day without wear and tear the way a door would.
Manual vs Electric
Manual shutters require less maintenance due to absence of a motor or control box. These are more cost effective and suitable for smaller units where the shutter is only operated once, at closing time. Electric shutters cost more initially, but on a site where staff come and go many times through the day, time saved makes up for the additional cost. Also, as an added feature most electric shutter systems can be installed with a manual override, so if power fails, shutters can be operated manually.
Where they are best suited
Obviously shop fronts are the best applications of roller shutters but they are also well suited to openings on workshops and light industries where the emphasis is on closing a full width opening rather than the conventional door opening. They are not the best choice of shutters where there are activities that require numerous accesses to and from the premises, since a fully raised shutter for a single person access would take longer than a conventional door or a small open access built adjacent to it.
Here are some factors to consider before making your decision.
If your shop is near a residential area, consider how loud the shutters might be. Not everyone is expecting to hear shutters the first time the shop opens at 6 a.m. Older models can be especially noisy. Even the type of material the shutters are made of can make a difference. The traditional shutter material is steel. However, steel blocks out all light and a fully closed shopfront can become a security issue. A less expensive option would be light perforated or punched steel. With these shutters, some light can pass through, as well as some visibility for people passing by.
There is no best shutter model, but what may fit best for your day to day activities. For some businesses, protection from shoplifting may be the only factor in use, while other businesses may have several daily activities that require certain features.