Racking finds sure footing

Of course, inspiration may not always come to you in the bath like it did for the famous Ancient Greek scholar – you could just as easily be out driving the car or walking the dog – but even Archimedes himself never claimed to have had a double ‘Eureka!’ moment.

But the Research and Development boffins at A-SAFE, inventors of the world’s first fixed polymer safety barriers, can perhaps lay claim to such double-headed sparks of inventiveness.

Their RackGuard rack protection system was already a ‘Eureka!’ product, installed in factories and warehouses around the world, protecting racking from the heavy impact of vehicles. It was flexible, visually prominent and capable of absorbing impact, therefore reducing damage to the racking and, just as crucially, protecting stock and personnel in the process.

But the new iFlex RackGuard takes an already fantastic product and improves it by implementing a whole host of benefits. In comes a Compression Hinge to ensure the rack leg is in a constant state of compression and is securely gripped. Then, a Centralising Rubber Lug ensures the RackGuard fits centrally to any rack leg. Finally, Ten Frictional Grip Points provide an improved overall grip to any rack leg.

Add these features to the built-in memory properties of the material, Memaplex, which allows the RackGuard to return to its original shape after repeated impacts, and include the fact that RackGuard will now fit around any leg size, and you are left with a simply unbeatable product that is an improvement on an already truly outstanding design.

Needless to say, the iFlex RackGuard underwent the most rigorous of testing. TÜV doubled their test loads to 800 Newtons and the levels of deflection were still within the recommended requirements. Plus, hundreds of hours of FEA testing proved the new iFlex RackGuard gives five times the required safety factor.

The new iFlex RackGuard is simply the world leader in rack leg protection and is testament to a team of Yorkshire-based innovators who are continually looking to improve even the soundest of products.