We install FAAC, BFT, CAME, and Centurion gate motors, and customers reasonably ask which one they should choose. There isn't a single correct answer, the three biggest sellers, CAME, Centurion, and FAAC, come from different manufacturing traditions and are strongest in different scenarios. Here's an honest comparison based on the units we actually stock and install.
CAME: Italian Engineering, Residential Sweet Spot
CAME is an Italian manufacturer with a strong residential and light-commercial range. The BX-78 sliding motor handles gates up to 400kg at KES 58,000, a common fit for standard suburban steel gates. The ATI 3000 underground swing kit is worth calling out specifically: it hides the motor mechanism below ground level, giving a cleaner look on ornate or decorative gates where visible motor arms would spoil the aesthetic, at up to 300kg per leaf for KES 95,000.
CAME also supplies the CAME Gard 4000 boom barrier for vehicle access control at parking lots and estate entrances, and its photocell safety beams and remotes are common cross-compatible accessories across many installations regardless of motor brand.
Centurion: South African, Built for Dust and High Cycles
Centurion motors are manufactured in South Africa and have a strong reputation specifically for reliability in dusty, high-usage residential settings, which describes a large share of Kenyan compounds well. The range scales unusually far: the D5-Evo covers 500kg at KES 89,000, the D10 Turbo covers 1,000kg at KES 169,000, and the D20 SMART tops the range at 1,500kg for KES 215,000, aimed at warehouse and factory gates.
Centurion is also the brand behind the SMARTGUARD Air keypad and the 12V 7.2Ah backup battery pack compatible across its D-series motors, which makes Centurion installations easy to service and expand later with matching accessories.
FAAC: Heavy-Duty, Commercial and Industrial Bias
FAAC, another Italian manufacturer, tends to show up most often on Nairobi's commercial and industrial gates. The FAAC 844 sliding motor is rated to 800kg at KES 145,000, and the FAAC 400 swing kit, a twin hydraulic unit, handles up to 200kg per leaf at KES 78,000 for medium-weight double swing gates on family homes. FAAC's 615 boom barrier is built for intensive commercial duty cycles, arm lengths up to 5m, suited to offices and toll-style checkpoints with frequent daily use.
| Brand | Strongest fit | Heaviest gate rating | Notable product |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAME | Residential, decorative/ornate gates | 400kg sliding (BX-78) | ATI 3000 underground swing kit, KES 95,000 |
| Centurion | High-cycle residential, dusty conditions, heavy commercial | 1,500kg sliding (D20 SMART) | D10 Turbo, 1,000kg, KES 169,000 |
| FAAC | Commercial, industrial, intensive-use barriers | 800kg sliding (FAAC 844) | 615 Boom Barrier, 5m arm, commercial duty |
So Which One Should You Choose?
For a standard suburban home with a double swing or light sliding gate, CAME or Centurion's entry sliding units cover the job comfortably and cost less than FAAC's heavier-duty range. For a property with heavy usage, dust, or a gate approaching 500kg, Centurion's mid-range sliding motors are a strong fit. For anything commercial or industrial, a very heavy gate, high daily cycle counts, or a boom barrier for vehicle access control, FAAC and Centurion's top-end units are built specifically for that load.
In practice, gate weight and daily usage frequency matter far more to the final decision than brand loyalty. All three brands are properly engineered products with parts availability in Kenya, the wrong choice is rarely picking CAME over Centurion, it's picking a motor rated below your gate's actual weight regardless of brand.
Compare gate motors by brand and price CAME, Centurion, and FAAC sliding, swing, and barrier motors currently in stock.
Automated Gates service page See the full brand list and installation FAQ.