Guard Rails for Impact Protection

Wildeck, Inc. (Waukesha, WI) offers a myriad of competitive guard rail systems available today – both foreign and domestic – that affirm their reputation as the leading U.S. manufacturer of protective guard rail systems. They are introducing three new guard rail systems that will allow customers to choose the level of impact protection they may need for different areas in their facility, including:

• Wilgard^® XT (XTra-Tough): Tested for 13,000 lb impact at 4 mph; 10 in Safe Zone behind rails.
• Wilgard MT (Medium Toughness): Tested for 10,000 lb impact at 4 mph; 11 in Safe Zone.
• Wilgard LT (Lighter Toughness): Ideal for light-duty guarding of work areas and walkways.

Selecting the right guard rail for a specific application can be time-consuming and even frustrating, requiring the end user to shop around, compare pricing, and go through the hassle of ordering from different suppliers. Wildeck has solved the problem by offering more guard rail choices than any other U.S. manufacturer; all available through one experienced and highly-regarded network of material handling dealers and systems integrators nationwide.

Where fork truck traffic is heavy and the potential damage and injury from an accident can run high, the new Wilgard XT guard rail is the recommended solution as the “gold-standard” for the strongest and highest-quality industrial guard rail on the market. Where some competitors test only an 8 ft section of guard rail, Wildeck surpasses the norm by subjecting a more typical 10 ft long section to a dynamic forklift impact test. A 10 ft section of Wilgard XT guard rail was tested repeatedly and certified to withstand an impact from a 13,000 lb load traveling at 4 mph, without failure. This guard rail also provides a superior 10 in safe zone behind the rails. Its rugged design has been proven in thousands of applications and facilities around the country to protect expensive equipment, personnel, and shield in-plant offices from harm.

The Wilgard XT protective railing system features strong corrugated 11 ga steel rails that are 12 in wide with hemmed/rolled edges. Column posts are 5 in x 5 in structural tubes with 3/16 in wall thickness. Hefty 12 in x 12 in x 3/4 in thick plate steel base plates are robotically welded to the columns and, when properly secured with the included 1/2 in x 5 in anchor bolts, Wilgard XT will take the hit without failure. “When this extra-tough guard rail is installed, facility equipment, rack systems, shipping areas and personnel are truly isolated from harm’s way,” notes Hue Schlegel, the director of marketing at Wildeck. “The 10 in safe zone behind the rails allows Wilgard XT guard rail to be installed closer to equipment than competitive brands, resulting in more efficient utilization of valuable floor space. The benefits can include reduced downtime, fewer workman’s compensation claims, lower insurance costs, and avoiding high OSHA fines during a facility safety inspection.”

The new “middle-toughness” Wilgard MT guard rail is second only in strength to Wilgard XT, and unlike some competitors who test only an 8 ft section of guard rail to obtain their impact rating, this rail was also tested using a more typical 10 ft long section to establish the impact rating. It was tested repeatedly and certified to withstand an impact from a 10,000 lb load traveling at 4 mph, without failure. Wilgard MT guard rail also provides a substantial 11 in safe zone behind the rails, which is wider than competitive guard rail products. These guard rails are corrugated 12 ga steel with hemmed/rolled edges. Column posts are 4 in x 4 in structural tube with 3/16 in wall thickness and 10 in x 10 in x 5/8 in thick plate steel base plates are robotically welded to the columns.

When properly secured with the included 1/2 in x 5 in anchor bolts, Wilgard MT guard rail has been designed to stand up to any middle toughness guard rail on the market, and is available through the company’s nationwide dealer network at a highly competitive price. According to the company, for many applications, this new guard rail will be a perfect fit.

The new “lighter-toughness” Wilgard LT guard rail provides high value at a lower price point than competitive products. It is ideal for lighter-duty guarding of personnel areas, workstations, walkways, finished goods staging areas, loading docks, truck pits, and more. These rails are corrugated 14 ga steel with hemmed/rolled edges. Column posts are 3-1/2 in x 3-1/2 in structural tube with 3/16 in wall thickness, and 7 in x 7 in x 3/8 in thick plate steel base plates are robotically welded to the columns. When properly secured with the included 3/8 in x 4 in anchor bolts, Wilgard LT guard rail can get the job done while protecting tight budgets.

Wilgard guard rail systems can be ordered with either 18 in high or 43 in / 44 in high columns to support single-rail, double-rail, or triple-rail guard rail requirements. Lift-out guard rail is available for single-rail or double-rail configurations to allow convenient access to protected inventory, machinery, or equipment for servicing, cleaning, or repair. A thoroughly tested SaferGate™ pedestrian crossing gate that bolts directly to existing Wilgard guard rail columns is also available. Its superior gate hinge design has been tested to withstand in excess of 100,000 open-and-close cycles.

Other safety guarding products include end-of-aisle rack protectors, rack upright protectors, bollards, column protectors, Trackgard™ overhead door track protectors, machine guards, and a complete range of safety gates for safe access to mezzanines, loading docks, and elevated platforms. A patent-pending EdgeAlert™ Open Gate Alarm System is also offered to warn personnel when a gate at an elevated level is inadvertently left open creating a serious safety hazard.

Wildeck is the largest manufacturer of mezzanines, vertical lifts (VRCs), guarding, and safe access products in North America. Their products and those of their subsidiary, Ladder Industries (Goodyear, AZ), are used for the safe and efficient handling, storage, protection, and access of materials and personnel. Celebrating their 40th Anniversary in 2016, the company has grown through a dedicated and experienced network of customer-service-oriented dealers, resellers, and systems integrators, nationwide.

Wildeck, Inc., 405 Commerce Street, Waukesha, WI 53186, 262-549-4000, [email protected], www.wildeck.com, www.ladderindustries.com.