A-Safe Reveals Double ProMat Showcase

Baltimore, Maryland-based A-Safe Inc., a manufacturer of protective guarding for warehouses, distribution centers, and other facilities, will address attendees from two strategically designed and positioned exhibits at this year’s ProMat show, which takes place 8-11 April at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

The focal point for existing and prospective customers from the end user sector will be a 20 ft. by 20 ft. booth (S1844) that will display a breadth of pedestrian and traffic safety barrier solutions and additional equipment such as alarm bars and column protection, while a satellite exhibit (S1847) across the aisle will promote the company’s Guardrail range of ‘boxed products’—solutions that are principally aimed at the reseller / distributor marketplace.

Both exhibits will be stocked with a selection of A-Safe’s most popular products and latest innovations from the iFlex, eFlex, mFlex, FlexiShield, ForkGuard, RackGuard, and other ranges of pedestrian, traffic, and building guarding solutions. Visitors to either booth will also be able to take away literature and company-themed souvenirs.

Paul Barlow, CEO at A-Safe Inc., said: “Our philosophy is to put knowledge into customers’ hands to enable them to make informed decisions and take a more holistic approach to protective guarding within their workplaces. There’s more to this marketplace than many realize; what does it mean in real terms if a forklift truck represents a certain tonnage at a specific speed? We’re driving thought leadership about the impact of speed and weight, angle of impact, and the resulting kinetic energy that has to be dissipated by our products in an event. Ultimately it comes down to this: is your guardrail fit for purpose intended? Nobody wants to install a guardrail system that ultimately fails when it’s most needed.”

A-Safe will continue to reinforce its safety messages before, during, and after ProMat with references to PAS 13:2017, a code of practice for safety barriers used in traffic management within workplace environments, published by the British Standards Institution (BSI). The document also covers test methods for safety barrier impact.

Barlow continued: “Industrial workplace hazards are life-threatening, but there are no standards or regulations regarding guardrail in the U.S. outlining how this type of product is tested, verified or installed. For instance, the norm in the U.S. appears to be that a guardrail has to withstand 10,000 lbs. at 4mph, but this is not an industry standard—it’s been inherited from an unknown source. This makes it very difficult for industry to make informed decisions; we want to change that so buying decision makers have a true comparative measure of performance between differing competitors.”

Barlow will be ably supported at ProMat by a strong team on the show floor, representative of a growing operation that started from humble beginnings five years ago, when three employees were based in Raleigh, North Carolina. A-Safe moved to Elkridge near Baltimore in 2016 and now employs over 40 people with coverage across the entire eastern board of the U.S. in addition to a newly established territory on the west coast.

Barlow concluded: “We aim to continue our expansion geographically—Canada and the northwest are of great interest—and strengthen our position where we already have an established presence. Furthermore, we are looking to diversify into new markets beyond warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Airports in the short term and car parks longer term are targets, for example.”

A-Safe is a member of the Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA), a product group within trade association, and ProMat organizer, Material Handling Industry (MHI). ProGMA represents the industry’s leading suppliers of fixed protective guarding products designed to protect personnel, equipment and inventory in industrial facilities.

Visit A-Safe at ProMat booths S1844 and S1847.