A Coventry company whose products protect buildings and key sites across the globe has just completed a major project in its home city.
Safetyflex Barriers, the world-leading manufacturer of anti-terrorism bollards, barriers and crash rated street furniture, helps secure potentially vulnerable areas such as shopping centres, sports stadiums, government buildings, military, utilities and key infrastructure centres.
It has seen its products installed at the Augusta National Golf Course – home of the US Masters – at key security sites in Australia and across Europe, and at the All England Tennis club in Wimbledon and on Oxford Street in London.
Now the company, which is based in Foleshill, is completing a contract to increase the safety of people using Coventry city centre.
The firm has spent the last six months installing bollards in key locations in the city as part of on-going infrastructure improvements undertaken by Coventry City Council as Coventry prepares to become UK City of Culture 2021 in May.
The work also includes bollards which allow access of key and emergency services at points around the central retail core.
Rob Gerrard, director of Safetyflex, said the contract was the most local the firm had won.
“We are a company which was born and bred in Coventry and which has used much of the city’s engineering expertise and heritage in its development so it is really rewarding to see us being able to bring improvements to our city,” he said.
“We work right across the globe and our products have helped secure numerous city and retail centres on three continents, so it is really rewarding to see them being used so close to home and at such an exciting time for the city.
“Coventry city centre is undergoing massive investment – partially driven by the UK City of Culture 2021 – and safety and security is one of the main priorities.
“Under new measures expected to be adopted in the UK, there will a duty for authorities to protect public spaces and in city centres that will involve hostile vehicle mitigation measures.
“City centres have to do all they can to offer visitors a safe environment and that is exactly what our products can bring.”
Safetyflex’s ‘Truckstopper’ bollards and barriers can halt an 18-tonne vehicle travelling at 50mph. They are designed from a special absorbing steel, are aesthetically pleasing and have a foundation depth of 20cm, meaning they can be set up without the need to re-divert utilities, making them highly cost-effective.
The company’s technology and cutting-edge designs have resulted in major contracts overseas including Europe, the US, Sweden, Norway and Australia, with exports now accounting for over a third of business and on course to grow to half within the next few years.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council, said: “Not only are Safetyflex’s products highly-regarded across the globe – they were designed and developed here in Coventry and the company is a great example of the engineering and manufacturing ingenuity we have in the area.
“Safety and security is a key component in everything we do in terms of infrastructure improvements and the work of Safetyflex will not only provide the highest level of protection, it will bring added piece of mind to everyone who visits or works in the city centre.”
