Ingal Invests In New Road Safety Barriers

Australia's leading road safety barrier manufacturer Ingal Civil Products has made a major breakthrough in steel barrier safety systems.

The company is awaiting State authority approval of FX-350; an Australian first advanced W-beam barrier system. The system is designed to provide safe vehicle containment and redirection on urban and metropolitan highways and motorways.

Ingal Civil Products has licensed and developed FX-350 over several years because of concerns with the current Australian Standard public domain guard rail system.

"We became concerned from our field observation so we commissioned the Texas A&M University's Texas Transportation Institute to carry out expert crash testing of existing steel barrier systems," Ingal Civil Products, Group General Manager, Hayden Wallace said. "Those tests revealed the Australian Standard and State specified guardrail system collapsed, allowing the vehicle to ride up and over the guardrail system."

FX-350 complies with Australian and American Standards and is made from M180C XLERCOIL® steel.

"We developed a new grade of steel, M180C, for Ingal Civil Products to provide increased strength, performance and safety for FX-350," New South Wales, State Sales Manager, Matt Hennessy said.

FX-350 is capable of withstanding the impact of a 2,000 kilogram pickup truck travelling at 100 kilometres per hour, at a 25 degree angle.

"It's one of the most significant road safety innovations the company has made in the last 70 years," Mr Wallace said.

The W-beam safety barrier uses specially engineered O-posts also made from XLERCOIL® steel, and 200mm composite offset blocks, instead of traditional C posts and offset blocks.

"It has many advantages, it's cost effective, and easier to handle and install," Mr Wallace said.

Ingal Civil Products has set up a dedicated production plant for FX-350 with new specialised roll forming equipment at Minto, south west of Sydney.

Other recent innovative XLERCOIL® steel projects include the T-39 Thrie-beam Barrier for highways and motorways, and Spring Steel Buffas for industrial barrier protection applications such as loading docks and car parks.

Established in 1933 as ARMCO (American Rolling Mills Company), Ingal Civil Products has had various owners, including BHP. It was acquired by current owners Industrial Galvanisers Corporation Pty Ltd in 1996. Ingal Civil Products, which has distribution outlets in Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, has been a loyal user of BlueScope Steel products since it began manufacturing road safety barriers in 1939.

"XLERCOIL® steel is a quality Australian made product that's ideal for forming and galvanising, the material is manufactured to a consistent high quality standard," Mr Wallace said. "Technical support is always available, and we can readily source the product to meet our cyclic and project demands."