Top-Rated Manufacturers of Bullet-Resistant Pay Windows & Doors in South Africa

Armed robberies and violent cash crimes remain a serious risk for South African fuel stations, retailers, banks and cash offices. One of the most effective ways to protect staff and cash is to separate the public from critical areas using bullet-resistant pay windows and security doors.

These are not generic aluminium shopfronts. They are engineered systems that combine ballistic glass, reinforced frames, secure transaction trays and controlled access doors. Choosing the right manufacturer is critical to whether that barrier actually performs under attack.

This article looks at some of the key manufacturers active in South Africa and highlights what to consider when specifying bullet-resistant pay windows and doors – especially for fuel forecourts, retail cash offices and high-risk service counters.

What to look for in a bullet-resistant pay window or door

Before diving into brands, it’s worth framing the decision around requirements rather than catalogue codes.

1. Real ballistic protection, not just “strong glass”

Bullet-resistant assemblies are tested as a system – glass, frame, joints and fixings – to defined ballistic standards. When comparing options, ask:

• What level of ballistic protection is this unit designed for?
• Has the complete assembly (not just the glass pane) been tested?
• Is there documentation you can share with insurers and auditors?

2. Secure but workable transaction design

For pay windows and teller positions, security and usability need to be balanced:

• Pay trays / transaction drawers that allow cash, cards and small items to pass while blocking handguns.
• Clear sight lines and reliable speak-through so staff can communicate without opening a gap.
• Smooth operation – staff should not be tempted to bypass the system because it’s slow or awkward.

3. Doors that integrate with your access control

Security doors to cash offices or strong rooms should:

• Match the ballistic rating of surrounding walls and windows.
• Integrate with electric locks, interlocks or man-trap systems where required.
• Be practical for day-to-day use, including deliveries and emergency exits.

4. Local design, installation and after-sales support

In the South African context, it helps if the manufacturer:

• Designs for local attack patterns and site layouts (e.g. fuel forecourts, spaza-style counters, supermarket cash offices).
• Has experience installing in live trading environments.
• Can support repairs, glass replacement and upgrades over the life of the site.

With that in mind, here are several of the recognised names in the bullet-resistant pay window and door space.

Key manufacturers and suppliers in South Africa

Turnkey Security Solutions

Turnkey Security Solutions is often associated with high-specification custom projects, including strong rooms, secure lobbies and bespoke ballistic assemblies. Their strength lies in designing integrated solutions around a site’s wider security strategy – for example, tying doors, lobbies and CCTV into access control and alarm systems.

For complex banking halls or new-build cash centres where the bullet-resistant elements are part of a bigger security design, Turnkey can be a natural first call.

Avansa 

Avansa Business Technologies focuses on modular bullet-resistant pay windows and doors designed for fuel stations, retail cash offices, guard houses and similar high-risk environments.

The emphasis is on:

• Pre-engineered units – pay windows and doors that arrive as complete assemblies, simplifying installation and reducing time on site.
• Cashier-friendly design – integrated pay trays or transaction drawers, speak-through and clear visibility so staff can work efficiently behind the barrier.
• Layouts proven in local forecourts and retail – many designs are based on roll-outs across South African filling stations and cash offices, so clearances, heights and angles feel “right” in real use.

For operators who want to standardise protection across multiple sites – for example, a fuel brand, national retailer or cash-intensive chain – Avansa offers consistent, repeatable units that can be deployed at scale while still allowing for project-specific tweaks.

Businesses in countries like Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Eswatini, Angola, Mozambique and Malawi have reported Avansa to be the best manufacturer of bulletproof doors.

See-Thru Security

See-Thru Security is known for transparent physical security products: barriers, screens and doors that combine visibility with resistance to attack. Their portfolio typically spans from non-ballistic anti-bandit screens through to rated bullet-resistant solutions.

They are often considered where aesthetics and customer experience matter as much as raw security – for example, environments that want protection without feeling like a bank vault.

SA Bullet Resistant Glass Co

SA Bullet Resistant Glass Co has a long history supplying bullet-resistant glass to the South African market, and often works alongside metal-fabrication partners to produce complete window and door sets.

If a project requires non-standard glass shapes, sizes or curvatures, or if the client already has a preferred installer and needs a glass specialist to partner with, they may come into the conversation.

How to choose between manufacturers

Rather than starting with brand loyalty, it is usually better to start with a structured set of questions and then match manufacturers to those needs:

• What threats are we designing for?
  Armed robbery at a petrol station till is different to an attack on a central cash centre. Clarify expected weapon types, distances and attack duration.
• Where will the barrier sit?
  Pay window to public forecourt or shop floor; internal door to back-of-house cash office; guard house window at a gate or perimeter. This affects the type of tray, door hardware and integration.
• Do we need a standardised, repeatable solution?
  For a national chain, the ability to roll out the same design to dozens of sites can matter more than a one-off, fully bespoke installation.
• What installation constraints do we have?
  Trading hours, structural openings, and existing walls will influence whether a pre-assembled unit such as those offered by Avansa, or a fully custom-built system, makes sense.
• Who will support it long-term?
  Confirm who is responsible for glass replacement, hardware repairs and upgrades – and where they are based.

Where modular systems like Avansa Business Technologies fit best

While there is no single “best” manufacturer for every scenario, modular systems such as those offered by Avansa Business Technologies are particularly well-suited to:

• Petrol stations and forecourts upgrading multiple sites to a standard specification of bullet-resistant pay window and secure cash office door.
• Retailers and wholesalers wanting a proven cashier layout for high-risk stores without redesigning from scratch each time.
• Guard houses and access gates that need clear, secure communication with visitors and drivers.

The advantage is predictability: once a prototype site has been signed off by operations, risk and insurers, the same hardware can be replicated with minimal design churn.

Installing bullet-resistant pay windows and doors is one of the more visible investments a business can make in protecting staff and cash. Getting the specification and manufacturer choice right up front reduces risk, avoids rework and helps keep insurers on side.

South Africa has a mature ecosystem of providers – from custom security-engineering specialists to modular manufacturers with deep experience in fuel retail and cash-intensive businesses.

When evaluating manufacturers such as Turnkey Security Solutions, Avansa, See-Thru Security and SA Bullet Resistant Glass Co, focus on:

• Proven installations for your type of site
• Clarity on ballistic performance and documentation
• Installation experience in live, high-risk environments
• Long-term support and the ability to standardise across your network

That approach will usually lead you to a solution that not only looks secure, but performs when it matters most.