Norway looks to Coventry manufacturer to keep public space safe

Published by

Nicky Godding

A British designer and manufacturer of anti-terrorist bollards based in Coventry has won a contract for a major government project to protect key infrastructure in the country from vehicle attacks.

Safetyflex Barriers has secured a deal for its Truckstopper bollards to be installed at various locations to help secure the public and buildings from potential terrorist vehicle attacks.

The export win means it is now the main supplier of anti-terrorist bollards into Norway.

Its range of anti-terrorist bollards and barriers are capable of stopping large vehicles from being used as deadly weapons in areas such as shopping centres, sports stadiums, government buildings, military, utilities and key infrastructure centres and export now accounts for more than a third of business.

Marcus Gerrard, director of Safetyflex, said: “We are really pleased to win these key projects in Norway as part of our ongoing expansion into new international markets. We are securing major contracts around the world. Most anti-terrorist bollards are very large and round, and can look overbearing and ruin the street scene whereas our Truckstopper bollard designs are slimline and oval, and more aesthetically-pleasing.

“They can be hidden within street furniture such as planters or bike racks around the public realm and often passers-by are unaware that they are a barrier to stopping a large vehicle at speeds of up to 80mph.

Safetyflex Barriers has worked closely with the Department for International Trade in Norway based at the British Embassy, and with their security and defence team.

Marcus said: “We have been really grateful for the support from the Department for International Trade in Norway.

“Through their local knowledge and network, they helped with introducing our solutions to key government departments and Norway’s top security advisers and consultants.

“With the British Embassy’s support, it also introduced us to key partners to help distribute our products which has resulted in us becoming the main supplier of anti-terrorist bollards into Norway.”

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.