Our History

Gate-A-Mation was founded in 1988 by Alan Smith and Phil Bowring. Alan had been working for a garage door company and was convinced that an opportunity existed for a high quality, professional automatic gate installer. Phil brought his electrical engineering expertise to the partnership and Gate-A-Mation was born.

The two operated out of a shed in Alan’s back garden for the early years of Gate-A-Mation. The business built up rapidly and it soon became a little embarrassing to be meeting with prestigious clients in such humble surroundings. A move to our current home, at boundary Business Centre in Woking, was made in 1993.

I joined Gate-A-Mation in 1995. I had known Alan from my youth and was also best man at his wedding, so was pleased to be invited to join his business venture. We are proud that this management team is still in place 15 years later, and that many of our key staff have also been with us for over 10 years.

Gated Communities

‘I’d like to get to know our neighbours, but its hard when they only ever emerge from their electric gates in blacked out cars’

‘What is it with HUGE electric gates in Croydon neck of the woods?’


Just two recent comments on Twitter about the social impact of gated communities and homes. There is no question that there is a rise in automatic gate usage in the UK, but it is still not nearly as prevalent as in many other countries such as the US or Brazil. So, do the benefits of gated communities , including increased safety, privacy and reassurance, outweigh any negative perceptions? What are your thoughts? Please vote in my quick poll, or let me have your views