Automatic or motorized gates are used for ensuring extra security for a certain property, most often a commercial one. They give access to the interior of a manufacturing plant or a facility. At the same time, motorized gates can be used at the entrance of a garage. This is primarily to differentiate the parking areas of employees from those which are accessible to the main public.

A motorized gate has two main components, namely a gate and a gate operator. Most of the gates in commercial areas are made of chain link or ornamental iron. Their design needs to match with the fencing system to which they are attached. Automatic gates installed by Thornton gate contractors also contain gate operators. Such gate operators can be hydraulic, gear-driven or chain driven.

The most commonly used motorized Thornton gate includes: swing gate, slide gate, cantilever gate, vertical lift gate, bi-folding gate, and so on.

A slide gate uses rollers which move along the ground. In fact, the rollers ride along a metal track which has been installed along the gate opening.

Swing gates are very similar to doors. They are hinged at one side and can be opened and closed. There needs to be enough space between the vehicles and the gates.