The Challenge


When a large grocery chain set out to build a state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Temple, Texas, they faced a significant challenge. The facility needed protective guarding that could perform in extreme temperatures, ranging from 40°F to -10°F, without compromising on durability or functionality. Furthermore, the tight space constraints demanded precision-engineered solutions that could fit seamlessly into the facility’s layout.

The customer required a robust, flexible solution that would not damage concrete when impacted, as repair and maintenance of concrete is not feasible once the facility is brought on-line.   Further, they recognized that plastic solutions become brittle under extreme low temperatures and required a solution that could withstand freezer applications.

Recognizing these unique challenges, the grocery story company specified Impact Recovery’s steel protective guarding solutions as the ideal fit for their needs, as their steel products are built to withstand temperatures down to -40°F. With a reputation for high-quality products tailored to demanding environments, Impact Recovery was the trusted partner to bring this project to life.

handrails

The Solution

Impact Recovery worked closely with a project design team to review CAD drawings and develop a comprehensive plan to meet the company’s requirements. The phased delivery approach ensured that over 100 custom-engineered line items could be produced and shipped within a tight timeframe of just one month.

The team at Impact Recovery demonstrated unmatched flexibility and efficiency by organizing shipments in three phases, allowing the installation process to begin promptly. The chosen contractor selected for the installation had never previously installed bollards prior to taking on this project and were known for their concrete work, but received on-site training from Impact Recovery’s experts, ensuring proper handling and installation of the equipment. This ended up running smoothly and efficiently, and the teams were able to successfully install all products.

Key products installed included:

  • Five-inch diameter rebounding bollards to protect critical areas from impact damage.
  • Four-inch double IronFlex barriers with Fork Protection Plates for high-impact zones.
  • Custom column protectors, engineered to fit the facility’s specific space constraints and provide robust protection.
column protectors

The Results


Thanks to Impact Recovery’s innovative solutions and commitment to excellence, the installation was completed in 10 weeks from time of order to complete installation, despite the challenges posed by the facility’s unique specifications. The project ensured that the facility could become operational on schedule, a critical factor for a company of their scale.

The grocery chain, project design company and the installing team praised Impact Recovery for their fast turnaround, exceptional product quality, and outstanding customer service. By leveraging their expertise and proven track record, Impact Recovery once again solidified their reputation as a leader in the protective guarding industry.

 

Customer

Beverage Distributors, Inc. Clarksburg, West Virginia

Situation

Beverage Distributors, Inc. recently purchased two new in-ground lifts to improve productivity. These lifts make it possible to load and unload box trucks while larger trucks use the loading docks. The addition of the new lifts created the ability to load more trucks in a timely manner. However, it also created more traffic within the warehouse. A solution to help control the flow of traffic around the lifts as well as protect the costly investment was needed.

Solution

SlowStop® was able to control foot traffic between the lift with a two-rail horseshoe bollard. Hydraulic pumps are stationed in between the lifts. The horseshoe bollard serves two purposes; one protects the pumps from trucks and the other to eliminate foot traffic between the lifts. Flexrail guardrail protects the exterior of the lifts and from employees while in operation. All guarding is able to withstand impacts from the truck while leaving the lifts completely unharmed.

20200211 085725 - Case Study: Industrial Equipment Protection

Customer

National Retailer Distribution Center

Situation

When building a new distribution facility there are many things to consider. One of those is how to best protect costly equipment within the facility. They knew that the costly investment of new conveyor systems and forklift charging stations would need to be protected. One impact from a forklift could cost not only thousands of dollars in damage, but also loss of productivity.

Solution

Having seen SlowStop bollards at work in other facilities, and liking the clean look and superior protection, they decided to install SlowStop throughout the new facility. Using a combination of different sized SlowStop bollards and Guardrail, they were able to completely customize the level of protection needed at each location throughout the facility. They are incredibly pleased with the uniform look and unrivaled protection of using SlowStop throughout.

LA Metropolitan Transportation Authority enlists Impact Recovery Systems® to design and manufacture a custom barrier system.

Millions of people all around the world utilize commuter trains everyday as a means of transportation. While this increasingly popular transportation method may seem safe for most of the population, there are those whose safety is being compromised each time the train is at the loading platform. When this situation turned deadly for one passenger, Impact Recovery Systems, Inc. – manufacturer of high impact traffic barriers and pedestrian safety equipment in San Antonio, TX – was called into action to devise a solution to keep train passengers better protected while on the train platform.

Protecting passengers when a commuter train pulls up to the loading platform there is an open and exposed area between the train cars, large enough for a grown person to fall onto the tracks below. This area can prove very dangerous for vulnerable passengers, for example small children, distracted passengers, and the visually impaired. The Federal Transit Administration’s Title 49, Part 38, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Specifications for Transportation Vehicles, states: “Where vehicles operate in a high-platform, level-boarding mode, devices or systems shall be provided to prevent, deter or warn individuals from inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars.” With this directive in mind, many trains now come equipped with chains guarding the opening between the trains. However, chains are not always effective in preventing a person from falling between the cars. According to a 2009 report in the L.A. Times, a visually impaired man attempting to board a commuter train in Los Angeles, CA walked off the platform into what he believed was a train door but was in fact, a gap between train cars, causing him to fall onto the tracks below. Passengers were not able to notify the train’s operator in time to stop it from leaving the station. In an effort to offer protection to their passengers, LA Metropolitan Transportation Authority ordered the immediate installation of platform mounted barriers that would deter passengers from walking between the cars and falling onto the tracks below. LA Metro enlisted Impact Recovery Systems to design and manufacture a custom barrier system for this project. While the endeavor may have appeared simple, multiple design criteria had to be taken into consideration when developing the proper system for LA Metro and other transit authorities, which included fire retardancy, weatherability, chemical and mechanical resistance, ease of maintenance, high visibility for sighted and visually impaired riders, compliance with current ADA standards, and minimal platform connection points. Accommodations also needed to be made to address the possibility of errant docking events.

Extensive testing after extensive testing to confirm compliance with the high-performance standards of LA Metro, the final product, which was named the Sentinel Between-Car-Barrier®, was produced and approved for its ability to maintain fire and chemical retardancy, sustain extended exposure to weathering elements, and have minimum connection points to the platform – ensuring limited risk to conductivity and electrical concerns within the platform. Each Sentinel Between-Car- Barrier curb section is 36” in length and contains four 26” upright posts, spaced at 9” on Centre, each containing a reactive spring device with tension settings low enough that in the event of errant docking, passengers, including those in wheelchairs would be able to traverse the curbing and uprights and not be trapped in the rail car. All Sentinel components were created in safety yellow coloration to ensure high visibility for all passengers. Sentinel’s light weight, easy to install, snap together design also permitted custom length curbing installations. Following the approval of California’s Public Utilities Commission Office of Public Safety, the LA Fire Department, as well as the Federal Access Board, LA Metro has installed the Sentinel Between Car-Barrier Systems on all the Gold, Green, Blue and Red Lines within their system. It is their intention to embark on a plan to install Sentinel on all future lines and extensions of lines in their transit system. Thanks to the quick and cohesive efforts of LA Metro and Impact Recovery Systems, the time span between initial contact to the installation of the materials was a mere 120 days.