All latches keep doors, panels, and other surfaces closed, but when your door weighs 1,000lbs, you’ll need a heavy-duty latch. In this guide, we'll talk about heavy-duty locks and latches and their types, the different applications, and the factors you should consider when purchasing these mechanical devices.

In this article we will take a closer look at:

1. What are Heavy Duty Latches?
     > Heavy Duty Gate Latches
     > Heavy Duty Draw Latches
     > Other Types of Heavy Duty Latches
2. Common Applications of Heavy Duty Latches
3. What to consider when choosing a Heavy Duty Latch
     > Material
     > Finish and Coating
     > Strength
     > Mounting
4. Summary

Heavy-duty latches are reliable, robust, and highly stable fasteners that are mostly used for the temporary joining of parts that are moving relative to each other. In most cases, we're discussing heavy-duty door latches. Admittedly, all door hardware can be made more robust and durable. However, certain heavy-duty applications require more robust and sturdier actuation mechanisms, like those found in heavy-duty gate latches or more robust draw latches.

Though regarded as gate hardware, heavy-duty gate latches are more robust iterations of simple bolt latches. However, they mostly use heavy-duty slide bolts made of 3/8" to 3/4" zinc-plated or stainless steel. Heavy-duty fence gate latches are also equipped with a spring, which prevents accidental actuation due to vibrations.

Heavy-duty barrel bolt latches are designed for strength and durability, as well as ease of use, and they're actuated by simply pulling the slide bolt. This makes them fantastic for heavy-duty use on barn doors, tailgates, ramps, and other heavy-duty doors and panels. In addition, you can opt for a heavy-duty flip latch or hasps in applications implying frequent actuation or high-density traffic.

Draw Latches, also known as toggle latches, feature a fairly simple yet incredibly sturdy locking mechanism that relies on tension to securely join two surfaces in the same plane. The main components of draw latches are the base plate with a lever and a loop and the catch plate. The tension is generated when the loop is hooked onto the catch plate and the lever is clamped down.

In most heavy-duty applications, draw latches feature an adjustable loop length, directly adjusting the locking force required to fasten or unfasten the latch. For applications that include vibrating surfaces, an adjustable loop might feature a nylon friction ring on its thread, which guarantees that the screw loop will always remain in its position. Additionally, some heavy-duty applications feature a padlock eye for added security.

Heavy-duty gate and draw latches are best suited for more industrial applications. However, homesteads also need heavy-duty latches. Luckily, hasps, hook-and-eye, cane bolts, flip latches, and even quarter-turn compression latches are also made for heavy-duty applications in home settings. However, you'll be just fine with hasps or hook-and-eye latches for your shed door.

The robust build of heavy duty latches makes them an ideal choice for industrial applications. Here's a list of industries and their applications:

·        Agriculture — Used to fasten barn doors, tractor doors, and truck bodies

·        Construction — Can be found anywhere, from construction and maintenance repair to FEMA doors, large window panels, toolboxes, and HVAC units.

·        Shipbuilding — Fantastic for compartment doors and door locks

·        Military and Defense — Used for fastening heavy steel doors and panels on armored vehicles and enclosures.

·        Research and Development — Ideal for linear accelerator doors, heavy lead-lined chamber doors, and cabinet doors.

These are prime examples of how heavy-duty latches can be used in a variety of industrial settings. They can also deliver the performance and durability required by commercial or homestead applications, ensuring that your doors, gates, and panels fasten flawlessly.

Heavy-duty latches can have a number of design features that make them more suitable for different applications and specific purposes. They're also available in a wide range of materials, coating, thicknesses, and other characteristics.

Material

Metals such as alloy steels, aluminum alloys, and copper alloys are the most popular materials for making the majority of latches, mostly due to their durability and strength. However, heavy-duty applications might require something more durable, like carbon or high-tensile steels. Other hard materials, such as cast iron, aren't really usable since they're too brittle and succumb to vibrations.

However, certain parts of heavy-duty latches, like knobs or pull handles, are made of metal but covered in plastics or rubber to provide shock absorption and vibration reduction. Though mostly made of stainless steel, exposed metal parts can still be powder-coated, painted, or metal-plated for additional protection.

Finish and Coating

Finishes and coating are used to improve the surface quality of heavy-duty latches. Finishes and coating are divided into three distinct operations:

Buffing and polishing – Buffing and polishing produce a smooth surface with a brilliant finish. These procedures remove minute burrs and scratches from a surface, resulting in marginal corrosion resistance. The smoother the surface, the harder it corrodes.

Painting and powder coating — These procedures apply a layer of polymer material to the part's surface to prevent corrosion. The coating can be applied in a number of colors, with matte black being the most popular choice to improve the aesthetic of the product while also adding corrosion protection to the metal latch.

Metal-plating — This procedure involves applying a thin layer of transition metals to the base metal used in the heavy-duty latch's construction. By depositing zinc, silver, or chromium onto the metal part's surface via electrochemical deposition, the base material is shielded from elemental influences and becomes appropriate for outdoor use.

Strength

Latches can be light, medium, or heavy-duty in terms of strength, which is determined by the thickness of sheet metal or metal plates used to construct the backplate, battels, and rotors. The same is true for cams and bolts, which vary in thickness depending on the use. Naturally, heavy-duty latches use thicker and more durable construction materials.

Mounting

When it comes to installing latches, most heavy-duty latches are surface mounted and installed by bolting the entire latch assembly into the surface of the door and the doorframe.

 

Heavy-duty latches found their purpose in industrial applications, ranging from agriculture and construction to various fields of applied sciences. If you want to learn more about heavy-duty latches, or latches in general, check out our guides at Reid Supply.

Contact us today if you have any questions about our lock latch or any of our new products in our portfolio.