In the world of gate automation, real innovation doesn’t start behind a keyboard or a mouse. It starts on site, during installations, where every detail can make the difference between a difficult job and one that runs smoothly, accurately and professionally.
Over the years, we’ve realised that every installer knows the feeling: the gate is ready to be fitted, everything appears to be in place, and then it’s time to mount the hinges. Suddenly, small adjustments, fine tuning and compromises become necessary, demanding time, experience and patience.
Our goal has always been to help installers achieve perfect gate movement while maintaining a clean, elegant finish, ensuring that the hinges don’t become a challenge greater than the installation itself.
RT AUTOMATION’S AMBITIOUS PROJECT – STARTED OVER 12 MONTHS AGO
More than a year ago, we hosted a very different kind of event at our Training Centre. We called it the Round Table.
Around the same table sat Comunello’s engineers, who travelled from Italy, our technical team led by Kev Crawley, and a group of installers who work across the UK installing automated gates every day.
Just like the legendary Round Table itself, the objective was both simple and ambitious: to bring together the people who design products with the professionals who use them every day, creating an open discussion about the real needs of installers and end users alike.
During the brainstorming session, different yet perfectly complementary perspectives emerged. On one side were the expectations of end users, increasingly focused on reliability, aesthetics and long-term durability. On the other were installers looking for solutions that would make installation quicker, more accurate and more efficient.
THAT IDEA HAS NOW BECOME A REAL PRODUCT
After months of design, development and technical collaboration, the project has delivered one of its first tangible results: the new SP-186 swing gate hinge.
Every aspect of the SP-186 has been carefully engineered using the highest-quality materials available.
Let’s take a closer look.
The mounting plate is available in both 80 × 80 mm and 100 × 100 mm sizes, allowing it to suit the wide range of swing gate configurations commonly found throughout the UK market.
The slotted fixing holes allow final alignment adjustments during the last stage of installation, providing installers with the level of precision that makes all the difference on site.
The hinge strap itself has also been completely rethought. The fixing screws sit perfectly flush with the surface, eliminating unnecessary protrusions and helping maintain a clean, elegant appearance.
A side-mounted grease nipple allows easy maintenance even after installation without compromising the hinge’s aesthetics.
Its compact design significantly reduces the gap between the hinge strap and the gate, minimising the possibility of interference with the gate post.
Another feature installers particularly appreciate is the ability to adjust the hinge even after installation using the dedicated adjustment bolt.
Finally, the availability of two different pin sizes allows the SP-186 to adapt to the various swing gate configurations typically used throughout the United Kingdom.
Every one of these features is a direct response to the feedback shared by installers during the Round Table discussions. That’s exactly what makes this project so exciting.
An RT Automation Exclusive, Developed with Comunello
The SP-186 hinge is the first tangible result of a working philosophy built around collaboration between manufacturer, distributor and installer.
Combining Comunello’s engineering expertise with RT Automation’s in-depth understanding of the UK market has made it possible to develop a product specifically designed for British installation requirements.
Manufactured by Comunello in Italy and distributed exclusively by RT Automation throughout the United Kingdom, the SP-186 proves that listening to the professionals working in the field every day leads to genuinely better products.
"LIFE MADE EASY" – MORE THAN JUST A SLOGAN
Comunello sums up its philosophy with a simple yet meaningful promise: Life Made Easy.
The new SP-186 hinge perfectly embodies that philosophy. Every detail has been designed with one objective in mind: making the installer’s job easier, more precise and more efficient.
For everyone at RT Automation, this project is a genuine source of pride. It confirms that investing in open collaboration with industry professionals creates real innovation and lasting value for the entire sector.
The first SP-186 hinges are now available exclusively through RT Automation.
18th September 2026
At our upcoming Open Day, visitors will be able to see the new hinge in action, explore every technical detail and experience its benefits first-hand.
The best ideas aren’t born simply from bringing brilliant minds together. They come from combining experience, listening carefully and collaborating around the same table.