“This collision protection won our tender process”

“We wanted reassurance that our colleagues would be safe and the warehouse racking and building would not be damaged should a forklift driver accidentally make a mistake,” said Tim van Eijk. As product manager at Elektro Internationaal, he supervised the process of installing crash protection and lineation in their new building last year. Flexbarrier won the tender process and now, six months later, Elektro Internationaal is very satisfied with the result. “The collision protection and lineation look neat and professional, which also conveys to our visitors that we take safety seriously.”

With over one hundred employees, Elektro Internationaal of Woerden provides complete solutions for energy distribution and control technology. With over 45 years of experience, they serve diverse markets, from data centers and hotels to distribution centers and large office buildings. “Thanks to our experience as a panel builder and product innovator, we are a reliable guide in a rapidly changing energy landscape where energy-efficient solutions are becoming increasingly important.” The company differentiates itself by being active in all product groups. “We work with local installers and are enormously scalable. Large buildings are therefore no problem for us.”

Quality above all

When the company wanted to combine three locations into a new building, safety and damage control was a major concern. In the old warehouses, damage had regularly occurred due to forklifts maneuvering in limited space. Managing director of Elektro Internationaal, Leon van Zelst: “We consciously chose product quality. Flexbarrier's plastic solution not only looks good, but also offers a sustainable solution. It is nice that the modular design of Flexbarrier makes it easy to replace a single section in case of major damage.” Van Eijk adds: “Among other things, we use column protectors, and ground beams are installed to protect our walls. Both products are made of plastic, as are the height limiters that protect the piping. To ensure that personnel can enter the building safely, we use steel guard rails and posts outside. Finally, we also had the lines installed by Flexbarrier, which further enhances the sense of safety and clarity.”

Smart protection

Flexbarrier's plastic crash protection offers optimal protection thanks to the material's absorbent and restorative capacity. “There are already streaks here and there, in other words, the crash protection is doing a good job,” Van Zelst laughs.

The material used by Flexbarrier is also maintenance-friendly and usable for various industries. For example, it is resistant to chemicals, as well as rust and corrosion, making it ideal for environments with HACCP requirements.

Smooth cooperation

How does Elektro Internationaal look back on the collaboration? Van Eijk: “At an early stage, we went through the building together with the Flexbarrier people to determine what needed to be protected and what was the best solution. Everything went perfectly according to plan. Our employees are also enthusiastic. They appreciate the professional look, and the forklift drivers enjoy working in the knowledge that a collision will not cause any damage. Although as an electrical engineering company we are always keen on safety in the workshop, we can see that this new layout with crash protection and lineation has led to even more awareness.”