Roller doors consist of individual horizontal slats of steel or aluminium that are hinged together. They work by rolling up or down around a barrel and are powered by either a spring (in smaller versions) or an electric motor (for large doors) or sometimes both. Roller shutters have many uses in domestic, commercial and industrial spheres. They are most commonly used as garage doors and shutters for stores, warehouses and factories. They serve the dual purpose of increasing the aesthetic of your home, building or shop, and providing protection from vandalism and theft. While roller doors are almost always a part of our daily lives, where did they come from? As an invention, the roller shutter may be a simple one, but it is effective and highly used. We at Dura Ultima are shutter experts and would like to cue you in on the extensive and interesting history of roller shutters.

Ancient Greece

You may or may not be surprised to learn that the earliest record of the world’s first automatic door dates back to 1st century AD in Greece. They were made out of marble, given the era and country of origin. However, far from the roller shutters of today, these shutters were primarily created to control light and provide ventilation and privacy.

The Tudor Period and Elizabethan Era

The first use of a shutter was in medieval England when windows had solid wooden shutters with an iron bar for protection. But it was only during the Tudor period (15th century) and Elizabethan era (early 16th century) that glass was introduced to windows. However, it was an expensive commodity reserved only for the wealthy. From marble in Greece, shutters moved on to wood. But modern window shutters, as legend has it, come from the courts of King Louis XIV.

Louvred Shutters of France

Louvred shutters refer to hinged, movable boards or slats similar to window shutters of today. Louis XIV was the ruling monarch of France in the 17th century. While moving his court from Paris to Versailles, he enjoyed a rather festive life in the French countryside. Historians tell us that the ladies-in-waiting used to bathe in many of the ponds in the garden but their presence disturbed the palace guards. Louis XIV had movable louvred shutters installed around these ponds, so the ladies were shielded. They soon spread through Europe.

Introduction to the New World

Since the advent of the 15th century, several European countries particularly Spain, France and Britain began exploring the Caribbean, Central and North America. By the 18th century, colonisation was fully established world over, and this was when the now popular and practical wooden shutters were introduced to the New World. You can still see the history of shutters as part of home and commercial décor in several post-colonial nations, particularly those that were under the rule of Spain and France.

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the 1700s. It predominantly took place from the 18th to 19th century. At that time, European societies were primarily rural and agrarian and were making a shift to urbanisation. Previously, manufacturing was carried out in peoples’ houses with rudimentary machinery or hand-held tools. But the Industrial Revolution saw a palpable shift to new specialised machinery, powered tools and the use of new materials like iron and steel. New manufacturing techniques also led to steel shutter panels that possibly were the blueprint for roller shutters we use today. Thanks to colonisation, these new steel and aluminium shutters quickly made their way to the various colonies around the world.

Modern Developments in the late 20th century

It was only in the 1970s and 80s that the modern day roller shutters came to be. It was during this decade that companies in the west came out with roller shutters to replace the exiting revolving doors that were popular at the time. Roller shutters allowed companies and businesses to secure large warehouses and protect their goods inside. They also boosted functionality as goods and machinery could be moved a lot quicker into and out of warehouses and factories.

The 80s in America saw a large power crises and businesses were on the lookout for solutions to lower their power bills. Insulated roller shutters came to their rescue and sealed their place in commercial and industrial door systems.

However, the horizontal slats found in traditional shutters were made of MS Iron or mild steel – an iron-carbon alloy that was less brittle than steel and highly ductile, but severely prone to corrosion.

Shutters in the 21st century

The history of roller shutters has come a long way and today, they an integral part of every commercial and residential space. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours and are vital to keeping your premises safe and secure. Today, most shutters are galvanised and go through various chemical processes to increase their resistance to rusting and corrosion.

We at Dura Ultima offer a wide range of quality shutters with a commitment to excellence and consistency. Our latest offering is the Continuous Curtain Technology, wherein the entire shutter panel runs as a single sheet – a metal curtain of sorts. Our shutter doors are non-corrosive and long-lasting. Visit us today to ensure your property is safe and secure at all times.