Record vs Dormakaba vs ISEO Automatic Door Operators: Which One Fits Your Project
Essential Security Supplies
Choosing an automatic door operator is less about selecting the most recognisable brand and more about matching the operator to the door type, leaf weight, opening width, traffic pattern, access-control system and architectural requirements. Record, dormakaba and ISEO each offer useful solutions, but they are aimed at different project conditions.
This comparison reviews active products available from Essential Security Supplies, including Record swing, telescopic sliding, heavy-duty sliding and underfloor operators, dormakaba swing-door systems, and the ISEO IS9100.
Start with the door, not the logo
Before comparing brands, define the door application. A compact swing-door operator for an internal office entrance is solving a very different problem from a heavy automatic sliding entrance, a concealed architectural installation or a public accessibility project.
- Swing doors: Look at door width, door weight, opening angle, arm configuration, wind load and whether the operator must support low-energy or full-power operation.
- Sliding doors: Confirm the number of leaves, clear opening, total leaf weight, duty cycle and available headroom.
- Underfloor or concealed operators: Plan for drainage, floor construction, weather exposure, access for maintenance and the required architectural finish.
- Access control: Check compatibility with push pads, key switches, intercoms, sensors, card readers, building management systems and emergency-release hardware.
- Compliance: Confirm the complete doorset, sensors, activation devices and installation method against the requirements applying to the project. For New Zealand projects, refer to the New Zealand Building Code and Handbooks and obtain project-specific advice where required.
How the three ranges differ
| Brand | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| Record | Projects that need range depth, including swing operators, telescopic sliding doors, heavy-duty sliding doors and concealed underfloor automation. |
| dormakaba | Swing-door automation, accessibility upgrades, emergency escape and fire-door applications, plus concealed in-ground installations. |
| ISEO | Configurable swing-door projects requiring a compact operator, adjustable parameters, manual assistance and access-control integration. |
The current products reviewed for this article show Record as the strongest choice when the project has several possible door formats. dormakaba is particularly practical when the requirement centres on swing doors and accessibility. ISEO offers a compact and highly adjustable swing-door solution through the IS9100.
Record: the broadest option for complex entrances
Record is the most flexible choice when the project may involve more than one door format. The available range includes the DFA 127 automatic swing door operator, TSA 20 telescopic sliding operator, STA 22 heavy-duty sliding operator, and C 127X concealed underfloor swing-door drive.
Record DFA 127 for automatic swing doors
The DFA 127 is a transom-mounted automatic swing door operator with built-in safety features. Its modular electro-mechanical design supports standard, hold-open and manual operating modes, with optional locked and exit-only modes through a switch upgrade.
The operator can be configured for full-power or low-energy operation. The product information states that the low-energy version is limited to 1.6 joules of kinetic energy, while the full-power version can move doors weighing several hundred kilograms depending on the installation and door configuration. It also supports functions such as auto reverse, Push and Go, emergency stop, and two-leaf operation.
That makes the DFA 127 a strong option for commercial swing doors where accessibility, controlled movement and integration with activation or safety devices are important.
Record TSA 20 for wider telescopic openings
The TSA 20 is designed for telescopic sliding doors, where multiple narrower leaves create a wider clear opening within a more restricted installation area. The product information states that telescopic doors can use around 30% less space than traditional sliding doors and cover opening widths of up to 4,000 mm.
Depending on the configuration, the stated maximum door weights range from 2 x 130 kg for single sliding doors to 4 x 90 kg for telescopic sliding doors on both sides. The system also includes a failsafe electric motor brake, battery-backed locking, self-monitoring diagnostics, replaceable running tracks and a choice of standard 160 mm or low-profile 110 mm drive units.
Record STA 22 and C 127X for demanding architectural applications
The STA 22 is aimed at heavy-duty sliding entrances. The product information describes it as suitable for door systems with total weight in excess of 400 kg, with passage widths from 800 mm to 3,000 mm and passage heights up to 3,000 mm. Depending on the configuration, the stated door leaf weight is up to 2 x 200 kg for duo or redundant arrangements, or 1 x 250 kg for a single-leaf configuration.
For projects where the operator should be hidden from view, the C 127X is an underfloor offset swing-door drive. It is designed for single or double-leaf frame and all-glass doors, supports doors weighing up to 600 kg according to the product record, and has an IP69-rated enclosure for protection against dirt and liquids.
dormakaba: practical swing-door automation
dormakaba is a sensible direction when the project centres on swing-door automation rather than a wide sliding-door range. The current catalogue records reviewed here include the compact Porteo, the ED250-Kit for heavier doors and the ED250IG-Kit for concealed in-ground installations.
Porteo for compact retrofits and assisted opening
The Porteo is designed for simple swing doors where quiet operation, compact dimensions and easy installation matter. It can be used in Power-Assist mode to reduce the force required for manual opening, or activated automatically using a push button or radio remote control.
The operator can be mounted on the pull or push side and configured for transom-fixed or leaf-fixed installation. Its retrofit-friendly design makes it useful for internal doors, accessibility upgrades and situations where a full commercial entrance system is not required.
ED250 for higher-capacity swing doors
The ED250-Kit is a more capable swing-door operator for single or double-leaf doors. The product information states door widths up to 1,600 mm and door weights up to 400 kg, depending on the complete installation configuration.
It is described as a low-energy operator tested to 1,000,000 cycles and suitable for emergency escape routes, fire and smoke check doors, room access and accessible entrances. It supports push or pull configurations, manual operation with assistance on demand, electronic latching action and connection to access-control or other activation devices.
ED250IG-Kit for concealed in-ground installations
The ED250IG-Kit is designed for projects where the operator needs to remain below the threshold. The product record describes it as suitable for heavy doors, new construction and retrofit work, including architectural entrances and all-glass facades.
The operator can be configured for low-energy or full-power operation and can integrate with electrified hardware and access-control systems. Its mounting box is listed at approximately 902 x 149 x 124 mm, based on the supplied dimensions, with a galvanised steel construction and UL50 rating.
ISEO: adjustable swing-door control in a compact format
ISEO is represented in the current catalogue by the IS9100 automatic swing door operator. It is a good fit for projects that need a configurable swing-door operator with manual operation, power assistance, multiple arm options and access-control integration.
The IS9100 is designed for single or double-leaf doors up to 1,100 mm wide and up to 160 kg per door leaf when fitted with the full-energy upgrade card, subject to the door width and installation conditions. It supports automatic opening, manual opening and manual opening with power assistance.
More than 40 adjustable parameters allow the operator to be configured for different door conditions. Listed functions include safety sensor management, lock-open input management, Push and Go, hold-open adjustment, emergency opening or closing, adjustable closing force and automatic speed optimisation in response to operating conditions.
The operator has a 70 mm high casing, a listed size of 685 x 70 x 130 mm, a 230 VAC power supply, IP20 protection, a maximum opening angle of 110 degrees and a stated operating temperature range of -15°C to +50°C. It can be configured with a standard arm for push-side installation or a sliding arm for pull-side installation.
Product Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record DFA 127 | Transom-mounted automatic swing-door operator. Full-power or low-energy configuration, with the low-energy version stated at 1.6 joules of kinetic energy. Supports standard, hold-open and manual modes, optional locked and exit-only modes, auto reverse, Push and Go, emergency stop and two-leaf operation. View our product |
| Record TSA 20 | Telescopic sliding-door operator for wider clear openings. Opening widths up to 4,000 mm are stated in the product record. Maximum door weights are listed as 2 x 130 kg for single sliding doors and 4 x 90 kg for telescopic sliding doors on both sides. Standard 160 mm and low-profile 110 mm drive units. View our product |
| Record STA 22 | Heavy-duty sliding-door operator for total door weights in excess of 400 kg. Passage width listed as 800 to 3,000 mm, passage height up to 3,000 mm, 230 VAC power supply, 120 W rated power, operating temperature from -15°C to +50°C and humidity up to 85% non-condensing. View our product |
| Record C 127X | Concealed underfloor offset swing-door drive for single or double-leaf frame and all-glass doors. Door weight up to 600 kg is stated in the product record. Encapsulated housing with IP69 protection for exposure to dirt, liquids, rainwater and floor-cleaning equipment. View our product |
| dormakaba Porteo | Compact swing-door operator for simple doors, retrofit work and assisted opening. Supports Power-Assist operation, push-button or radio activation, pull-side or push-side installation, and transom-fixed or leaf-fixed mounting. View our product |
| dormakaba ED250 | Swing-door operator for single or double-leaf doors. Door widths up to 1,600 mm and door weights up to 400 kg are stated in the product record. Tested to 1,000,000 cycles, with low-energy operation, manual assistance, push or pull configurations and suitability for emergency escape and fire-door applications. View our product |
| dormakaba ED250IG | Concealed in-ground swing-door operator for heavy doors and architectural installations. Low-energy or full-power configuration, integration with electrified hardware and access control, and an approximately 902 x 149 x 124 mm mounting box based on the supplied product dimensions. View our product |
| ISEO IS9100 | Automatic swing-door operator for single or double-leaf doors up to 1,100 mm wide and up to 160 kg per leaf with the full-energy upgrade card, subject to configuration. Listed specifications include 230 VAC, IP20, 685 x 70 x 130 mm dimensions, 12 kg device weight, -15°C to +50°C operation, maximum 110-degree opening angle and more than 40 settable parameters. View our product |
For model-specific configurations, accessories, arm options and installation requirements, View our product and review the technical information for the selected operator.
Which operator fits your project?
| Project requirement | Most suitable direction |
|---|---|
| Standard automatic swing door | Compare Record DFA 127, dormakaba ED250 and ISEO IS9100 against the door width, leaf weight, arm arrangement and required activation devices. |
| Compact retrofit or assisted opening | dormakaba Porteo is the most directly aligned option in the reviewed range, particularly where Power-Assist operation and simple installation are priorities. |
| Heavy swing door | Review dormakaba ED250, dormakaba ED250IG, Record DFA 127 full-power configurations and Record C 127X where concealed underfloor installation is required. |
| Telescopic sliding entrance | Record TSA 20 is the clearest match in the reviewed catalogue for wider openings where telescopic leaves can reduce the required side space. |
| Very heavy sliding entrance | Record STA 22 is designed for heavy-duty sliding applications with total door weights exceeding 400 kg according to the product record. |
| Concealed architectural installation | Compare Record C 127X and dormakaba ED250IG, checking floor construction, drainage, threshold details, maintenance access and environmental exposure. |
| Highly adjustable swing-door controls | ISEO IS9100 offers more than 40 settable parameters, multiple arm configurations, power assistance and connections for activation and safety devices. |
Final recommendation for installers and specifiers
Choose Record when you need the widest range of door formats or are dealing with telescopic, heavy-duty or concealed underfloor automation. Choose dormakaba when the project is centred on practical swing-door accessibility, emergency escape, fire-door or in-ground applications. Choose ISEO when a compact swing-door operator with extensive adjustment and access-control integration is the priority.
The final selection should be based on the complete doorset rather than the operator alone. Confirm door leaf weight, dimensions, hinges, frame depth, opening force, wind exposure, safety sensors, locking hardware, activation method, emergency operation and maintenance access before specifying the system.
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