Specifically Martin Garage Doors is introducing the Controlled Descent Device, which stops a Martin Door from falling in case of a relaxed spring, broken spring or broken lift cable. The device attaches to the outside of the lock-on side bearing bracket on a Martin Garage Door. Should a problem with a torsion spring, a lift cable, or even relaxed springs allow the door to close fast, the device will lock and stop the door. The device is available as an option on all Martin Garage Doors. It will be standard equipment on each door in Europe. The device passed a key safety requirement for Europe that requires that any falling garage door be stopped within a few inches. It is one of 10 standards now required for CE certification. The standards apply to 22 countries. Testing was required at a certified German facility.
		David O. Martin, owner of Martin Door Manufacturing, demonstrates how the Controlled Descent Device stops a door in case of a broken spring; lift cable, or even relaxed springs, which cause a door to fall. Martin Door has a world patent pending on the device.

Dave Martin, chairman of Martin Door Manufacturing, likened the new safety option, to side airbags, which are available in any new vehicle, if the customer chooses to buy them.

During the testing Martin's new Controlled Descent Device was put to the test. Larry Martin, vice president of MDM, said the device not only passed the test, but also received rave reviews from the man who helped write the EU standards for garage doors.

“He watched and said that's the best I've ever seen. That's really good. Better than Germany,” the testing lab official responded.

Dave Martin invented the new safety device, which was tested 80 percent fail safe. Robert Scott and the Martin Door engineering team took the concept redesigning it several times until it tested 100 percent fail safe. The device has a world patent pending.

Scott said he and Mr. Martin began working on the device one year ago to meet the European deadline of May 2005. He said the big challenge was engineering the device to stop a fast closing door 100 percent of the time and still allow it to reset easily.