Industry Dormakaba tests sliding door at minus 20 degrees
The Swiss company Dormakaba is testing a sliding door with new technology in an ice hotel in Norway. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
The sensor from Dormakaba can detect whether people actually want to go through the door or are just standing in front of it. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
Dormakaba is also present at Alta Airport in the north of Norway, among other things with automated interlocks. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
At least 85 cruise ships arrive at the port in Alta every year. Dormakaba technology is also used there. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
The owners of the ice hotel in Alta, brothers Hans Ulrik and Tor Kjetil Wisløff, are delighted with the visit from Dormakaba CEO Till Reuter (from left to right). (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
The Swiss company Dormakaba is testing a sliding door with new technology in an ice hotel in Norway. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
The sensor from Dormakaba can detect whether people actually want to go through the door or are just standing in front of it. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
Dormakaba is also present at Alta Airport in the north of Norway, among other things with automated interlocks. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
At least 85 cruise ships arrive at the port in Alta every year. Dormakaba technology is also used there. (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
The owners of the ice hotel in Alta, brothers Hans Ulrik and Tor Kjetil Wisløff, are delighted with the visit from Dormakaba CEO Till Reuter (from left to right). (Image: Dormakaba)
Image: Keystone
The Swiss locking technology group Dormakaba is testing a sliding door with new technology in an ice hotel in Norway. This should demonstrate the company's expertise and also convince other customers such as airports and shipping companies.
15.01.2026, 10:01
SDA
Many people associate Dormakaba with the door lock at home or the badge at work. But today, the Rümlang-based company stands for much more: the airport locks in Zurich, Oslo and Frankfurt, the room doors in the luxurious Resorts World Hotel in Las Vegas, the barriers in data centers and, most recently, the entrance door to the world's northernmost ice hotel.
The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is located in Alta, a town in the very north of Norway. At the beginning of the week, Dormakaba CEO Till Reuter visited the hotel together with journalists. "Our products have to work in the far north and in the desert," said Reuter in an interview with the news agency AWP. That's why the ice hotel was the ideal test location - with temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees.
The special thing about the door: the sensor can detect whether people actually want to go through the door or are just standing in front of it. If the door opens and closes less frequently, this saves energy.
Airport operations with low staffing levels
For the CEO, however, another reason for the trip is just as important: "We hold discussions with customers such as airlines, ports, hotels and local partners," he explained. This allows us to meet specific needs and tailor our offering even better to the respective requirements.
Dormakaba products are sold globally via partners or directly. Personal contact is intended to ensure long-term loyalty to the company - such as the Norwegian airport operator Avinor.
"Dormakaba is one of our most important suppliers," said Avinor corporate developer Simen Simonsen. For the many small airports in Norway, such as the one in Alta, it is particularly important to manage with as few staff as possible. Automated sensor gates, for example, are intended to ensure efficient handling. Avinor operates over 40 airports in Norway.
Over 2000 passengers per hour
During the tour of the ice hotel, Dormakaba CEO Reuter also visited the port in Alta. At least 85 cruise ships arrive there every year, with up to 5000 passengers on board. These also have to go ashore in a controlled manner - another application for Dormakaba's technology.
"With our terminals in Oslo, for example, 2,600 passengers can board or disembark in an hour," said Sven Hackbarth, who is responsible for the marine sector at Dormakaba. The gates are also used on the cruise ships themselves, for example at the entrance to the spa area.
In addition to the core sectors of hotels, airports and data centers, shipping is an area that Dormakaba wants to supply even more in the future.
"The glass is half full"
CEO Reuter has been in charge of the Group since the beginning of 2024 and is carrying out a transformation, among other things. The structures are to be streamlined and the products standardized.
Is he satisfied with the past two years? "Being satisfied always sounds like you're sitting back," said the German in Alta. "I'm not doing that. We've already achieved a lot, but there's still a lot to do."
However, he is confident about the next steps with the current team: "The glass is half full and not half empty."
A prominent guest
The owners of the ice hotel in Alta, brothers Hans Ulrik and Tor Kjetil Wisløff, were delighted with the partnership. "The test is running successfully, the technology works," said CEO Reuter. The sensor also opened the door to the house of snow and ice for the journalists and cruise tourists present.
The igloo hotel is visited by around 15,000 people every year, including the Norwegian king. Dormakaba will be presenting the new technology with sliding doors at the Swissbau trade fair next week.
The trip to Alta was at the invitation of Dormakaba.
