Manufacturing

The products are manufactured in a state-of-the-art production facility adjacent to the parent company facilities in Norfolk. R&D and product testing facilities are close by ensuring that the Company is able to remain at the forefront of developments in the high performance end of the street furniture market. Each step is carefully monitored and all stages of the production process are signed off in accordance with requirements under ISO 9001:2000.

1. Steel Preparation - only the best quality steel is used across the full range of products. Depending upon the application, either 3mm or 5mm thick steel tube is used as the central core for bollards and post/rail items. The steel is visually inspected to ensure that no rust or oil is present on the surface. Drilling and bending is carried out as necessary. Welding operations are undertaken, either to provide a cap to the steel tube or during the fabrication of more complex parts such as hanging baskets and finger posts.

2. Mould Manufacture - Bollards International uses various types of moulds depending upon the precise nature of the bollard design and the number of units to be produced. Currently, we use GRP, polypropylene, epoxy and metal moulds.

3. Polymer Casting - a high performance polyurethane is used to mould the bollard shape around the central steel core. The polymer has been developed over the past four years to result in a product with high impact strength, excellent mouldability, and good adhesion to steel and polyurethane paints. The resultant product has excellent long-term weathering properties.

4. Shot Blasting - in order to remove any in-mould release agent and to obtain a good physical key to the finishing paint, the bollard surface is treated using a soft grade of sand. Any surface imperfections are rectified at this stage and the prepainted bollards are inspected by Quality Control personnel.

5. Painting - Bollards are painted using a primer coat and two coats of a top quality polyurethane paint. In many cases several colours are combined, often with hand painting of rings, logos etc. Certain models have reflective tapes applied at this stage.

6. Sticker Application - a variety of labels/decals are added to street furniture products. We use the very best adhesives for this purpose to ensure that the finished product remains in excellent condition for many years. Customised decals can be applied where such customer requirements apply.

7. Packaging - following 24 hours curing of the paint, bollards are carefully packaged using industrial-grade bubble-wrap. The bollards are then placed on pallets and secured in place, ready for delivery to the customer.