Through traffic stopped: two retractable bollards close off the private drive

In short: At this private customer's property, the drive was being used again and again as a through route. We installed two retractable bollards in V4A stainless steel, raised and lowered by radio remote control. When raised, nobody gets through any more; when lowered, the drive is free again for the residents. One bollard costs around €3,000, so the two bollards in this case study come to around €6,000.

The starting point: a drive everyone uses as a shortcut

The drive is on private land, but to outsiders it looks like an ordinary road. Anyone in a hurry simply drives through, turns round in the yard or parks up for a moment. In the long run that is a nuisance for the residents: strangers' vehicles at the house, noise, and paving that was never meant for it.

Signs and a barrier alone had not stopped it. The customer wanted a solution that closes the drive reliably but does not get in the way in everyday life: the family should still be able to drive in and out comfortably.

Two bollards close off the through route. The red LED ring makes them easy to see at dusk, too.

Why not a gate or a barrier?

A gate needs room to swing or slide, and a barrier arm quickly looks like the entrance to a commercial site. Retractable bollards, by contrast, disappear into the ground when you do not need them. The drive then looks as it did before, with the added option of closing it when required. On top of that, a bollard cannot simply be pushed aside or driven around.

The solution: two retractable bollards in V4A stainless steel

We installed two of our pneumatically operated barrier bollards in V4A stainless steel (1.4571) in the 160 kg standard version, brushed finish, with a 600 mm stroke. Each bollard sits in an installation sleeve with a square frame, fitted into the existing paving. The LED ring at the top glows red while the bollard is raised.

The most important point for the customer: there is no hydraulic or electric motor inside the bollard. It is moved by compressed air, and the technology sits protected inside the house. Nothing in the ground can burn out, freeze or flood – the bollards are sealed to IP69 and very low-maintenance. That is exactly why we build compressed air only.

The bollards were installed in the existing paving, right next to the drainage channel.

Radio remote control: it could not be simpler

The customer wanted something uncomplicated, so there is no programming and no control panel. With the radio remote control, both bollards rise or lower together in a few seconds, and everyone in the household understands how to use it straight away. If you want more later, such as a link to Siri, Loxone or other smart home systems, an induction loop or number plate recognition, the system can be extended at any time. The comparison of bollard drives gives an overview.

What does a system like this cost?

A bollard of this type costs around €3,000. For the two bollards in this case study, that comes to around €6,000. Depending on the installation, a radio remote control and a compressor are added, which are minor items compared with the bollards. The total price depends mainly on the number of bollards, the length of the cable and hose pack and the control system you want. You will find all models and prices in the overview retractable bollards made of stainless steel V4A.

Brushed V4A stainless steel: weatherproof, easy to care for and still good-looking after years.

The result: driving through is no longer possible

Since installation, the through traffic has stopped. When raised, the bollards are a clear obstacle that nobody can miss. When the customer wants to drive through, they lower the bollards with the radio remote control, drive through and let them rise again. Even in a power cut the customer stays in control: a valve setting decides whether the bollards then stay down (drive open) or up (drive closed).

From the opposite direction: the installation frames sit neatly flush with the paving. For data protection reasons, we do not disclose the name or location.

Do you want your drive kept free of through traffic, too?

More case studies with private drives and farmyard entrances:

• Three bollards end the turning and manoeuvring over the granite paving
• Bollards secure the parking spaces of a residential complex

Send us a few photos of your driveway via WhatsApp to +49 172 4544485 or call us on +49 40 226390411. We advise you directly as the manufacturer and tell you free of charge which bollard suits your drive, how many you need and what the system costs.