Case Studies
Playing it Safe at Mount Smart Stadium
At times, it can be hard enough being a Wah’s fan, without the additional worry of being run over on the way to and from the game! Mount Smart Stadium, home of the NRL’s New Zealand Warriors, is a busy venue, welcoming tens of thousands of fans each year for sporting fixtures, concerts, community events, and other large-scale entertainment. Their stadium management team approached us to install our bollards around the perimeter of the grounds to keep pedestrians safe from traffic and prevent vehicles from parking too close to the stadium walls or gates. With limited vehicle access required at times, usually in the form of a golf cart, our team worked around the cart’s measurements while creating a much clearer and safer pedestrian zone. The Tru-Gard Solution: We supplied a combination of fixed safety bollards and removable bollards, allowing for flexibility in the event of future earthworks, construction, or emergency access. All removable bollards can be easily unlocked and removed when needed, ensuring both adaptability and security. It’s a great outcome for the Mount Smart Stadium management team and fans alike. Now everyone can visit Mount Smart knowing they’ll be safe while focusing on the most important job of all, cheering on their team - Up the Wahs!
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Bollards, Barriers, and Beyond at Bunnings Timaru
If you’ve ever shopped at a Bunnings Warehouse, especially on a sunny day or public holiday, you’ll know just how busy the place can be. With customer vehicles constantly on the move, trucks making deliveries out the back, forklifts shifting stock, and plenty of pedestrians and staff on foot, it’s a hive of activity. With all these moving parts, it was essential to develop a safety solution that considered every aspect. We worked closely with the team to identify risks and hazards specific to their store and create custom safety solutions to suit. The Tru-Gard Solution: At the front, Tru-Gard Bollards keep pedestrians safe and the building protected from any accidental “put it in drive instead of reverse” incidents. Out the back, Tru-Gard Barriers safeguard team members and the building from damage caused by wide-swinging trucks and forklifts laden with heavy pallets of hardware. We also supplied Tru-Gard Expanding Barriers, enabling staff to create temporary safe zones while they work and redirect pedestrians around short-term hazards. The Products: Tru-Gard Certified Safety Bollards Tru-Gard Certified Safety Barrier Tru-Gard Expanding Barrier By working together, this store is now safer for staff, shoppers, and store assets. If you’d like to know more about customising a safer space for your site, contact our team today.
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From Sketch to Safety Solution: Reinventing Safety at Winstone Wallboards
We recently had the privilege of designing and manufacturing a cutting-edge safety walkway system that has set a new standard for pedestrian protection in busy warehouse environments. This game-changing solution has transformed Winstone Wallboards state-of-the-art facility in Tauranga, New Zealand, into a highly secure zone for foot traffic, significantly enhancing safety in high-risk areas. From the outset of this new-build project, our Research and Development (R&D) team was partnered with Fletcher Building to bring their vision to life. Taking into account the risk, we customised a safety walkway system tailored to the unique demands of the site. Drawing on decades of experience and innovation we created an outcome to suit the strict safety and operational requirements. Key Features:The final product represents a seamless integration of innovation and functionality, delivering outstanding safety outcomes, including: – Encased Protection: Fully enclosed on all sides, safeguarding pedestrians from hazards such as falling objects and vehicle impact. – Space-Efficient Design: Modular installation with a minimal footprint preserves valuable storage and operational space. – Structural Integrity: Long, straight tunnels engineered for exceptional strength, durability, and impact resistance. – Code Compliance: Fully tested to meet and exceed regulatory standards. – High Visibility: Finished in a vibrant, safety-yellow coating for maximum visibility and awareness. – Personnel Gates: Strategically placed for convenient and safe pedestrian access and egress. “Tru-Bilt Industries exceeded Winstone Wallboards expectations by engineering and delivering a solution that surpassed everyday safety measures. Their ability to innovate and adapt to the unique layout and risks of the warehouse ensured that all safety concerns were comprehensively addressed. They engineered the optimal solution to meet our needs”– Stewart Vaughan, Project Lead – Tauriko Development, Winstone Wallboards Ltd This bespoke safety solution has not only enhanced the operational safety of Winstone Wallboards warehouse but also demonstrated the power of close collaboration between manufacturers and clients. By addressing site-specific challenges and delivering a system that exceeds safety standards, we’ve created a protective environment that supports productivity without compromise. Read more about the product here. Our thanks to Stewart and the team from Fletcher Building for trusting us to create a solution that makes their workplace a safer place to be.
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Heavy Haulage Meets High Safety at Mainfreight Hobsonville
We’re excited to introduce Mainfreight’s brand-new distribution centre on Westpoint Drive, Hobsonville. This state-of-the-art facility allows Mainfreight to service its customers in western and northern Auckland from a strategically located base, reducing reliance on facilities over an hour away. From this new location, Mainfreight supports freight operations across a vast region, stretching north from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to Te Hana and west from Henderson to cover all of West Auckland. This area represents a significant portion of Auckland’s freight traffic—approximately 35-40% of the city’s total volume. To accommodate this, the depot has been built on a grand scale, with a massive 15,000 m² footprint that includes the main depot floor, loading zones, and extensive truckways and breezeways. The facility also features three raised dock levellers, a commercial-grade gantry truck wash, and parking for 100 vehicles, ensuring the site is equipped to handle the high volume of activity it sees daily. To protect key areas of this high-traffic site, Mainfreight partnered with us to install robust steel solutions. The project included our Tru-Gard™ Downpipe Protectors, large Cast-in Bollards, and several runs of Certified Safety Barrier, all designed to safeguard vulnerable parts of the building from heavy transport and lighter vehicle movements. Our signature, high-visibility, galvanised yellow was chosen to withstand outdoor weather conditions while ensuring safety—plus, it perfectly complements Mainfreight’s bold corporate colours. The result? A bright, functional, and resilient depot ready to meet Auckland’s freight demands. Tru-Gard Products Used on this Project: Bollards Safety Barrier Downpipe Protectors Wheel Guides
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Trailblazing Safety Solutions for Mountain Biking Otago
Here at Tru-Gard, we love the opportunity to provide a safety solution for more unusual spaces. So, when the team from Mountain Biking Otago got in touch about their car park, we were excited to offer a tailored solution that would meet their unique needs. Much like carrying a puncture kit or wearing a helmet, having visible, strong barriers in your car park just makes sense. Whether you’re managing an outdoor adventure site or any location where vehicles and people need to stay separated, the right bollard solution can make a significant difference. At Mountain Biking Otago, large SUVs and utes are commonly used to transport bikes, but with multiple riders and vehicles on site, safety and organisation are crucial. Tru-Gard Certified Bollards keeping adrenaline seekers and vehicles separated. “At Tru-Gard, we thrive on tackling unique projects, so collaborating with Mountain Biking Otago on their car park was a fantastic opportunity for us. Creating a safe, well-organised space is essential in any high-activity site like this, where large vehicles and multiple riders need clear boundaries. Our removable bollard solution not only brings the flexibility needed for their dynamic environment but also adds an extra layer of safety to help keep riders and vehicles in their own lanes.”– Bromley Taylor, Safety Solution Sales NZ By installing removable bollards, we gave Mountain Biking Otago the flexibility to clearly define their car park and separate vehicle zones from pedestrian areas. The bollards help keep vehicles out of spaces where they’re not needed, reducing the risk of accidents, and ensuring that areas are used for their intended purpose. This simple yet effective solution also allows for easy adjustments — bollards can be added or removed as required, making it easy to accommodate changes in traffic, site use, emergency access or any other changes as needed. These bollards are not only practical; they’re also highly visible, clearly marking where drivers and riders should and shouldn’t be. In a busy, action-packed environment like a mountain biking site, visibility and safety are paramount — and our Tru-Gard bollards help enhance safety for everyone on site. If you’d like to learn more about bollard solutions for your site, whether standard or tricky, contact our expert team today, or view our range here. NZ Sales – Bromley Taylor, bromley.taylor@tru-gard.com __ Read another Tru-Gard Safety Success Story Here Tru-Gard Certified Bollards creating clearly defined zones for riders and drivers. Please note bollards featured in this project use a former cap design.
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Protecting Port Otago Pedestrians
Take one busy port terminal, combine it with thousands of port staff, seafaring workers, cruise ship passengers, and other visitors, and you have a recipe for a high-risk area. Port Otago’s shipyard is a constant hive of activity, with traffic flowing throughout the day, heavy machinery moving shipping containers, and plenty of people on foot. The risks to both people and property are significant. Clearly defined walkways can mean the difference between safely navigating the area and a serious incident. The Tru-Gard Solution: We partnered with the Port Otago management team to design and install a Tru-Gard Hand Rail system in their high-traffic pedestrian zones, including the port entranceway, office areas, and cruise ship terminal. Before the project, pedestrians struggled to identify safe pathways. Now, clearly marked spaces ensure that those on foot can navigate the area safely and confidently. It was essential for us to address the specific risks identified by Port Otago—whether for their staff or international visitors. The solution needed to provide unmistakable guidance for pedestrians, while also ensuring a clear separation from moving vehicles. Our Tru-Gard Hand Rail system met these requirements, creating a safer environment for everyone using the space. Designed for New Zealand’s unique conditions, our multi-purpose, heavy-duty system is built to withstand the wild, windy, salt-laden weather that can batter southern ports. The Tru-Gard Hand Rail is highly configurable, making it an ideal safety solution for diverse settings—from busy shipyards to sports grounds, factories to freight operations, and everything in between. If you’d like to learn more about how our products can make your workplace safer, contact us today.
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Turning Port Otago’s Carpark into a Safety Stronghold
When Port Otago needed additional protection for both pedestrians and vehicles in their new carpark, they knew just who to call. As part of a significant upgrade to surrounding land and infrastructure, including the construction of a newly built company carpark, Port Otago sought safety solutions for a variety of applications. The carpark, which spans different levels and is adjacent to a busy road with a high volume of heavy transport traffic, posed unique safety challenges. The existing combination of concrete walls and steel fencing simply didn’t feel secure enough. Working closely with Port Otago’s management team, we designed a tailored safety system that incorporated Tru-Gard bollards, hand rails, and barriers, providing an extra layer of safety for both pedestrians and vehicles. These solutions were strategically positioned to protect vulnerable areas and direct traffic safely, enhancing the overall safety of the site. Bromley Taylor, Safety Solutions Expert at Tru-Gard, commented on the importance of safety in environments like Port Otago:“Safety is something we take seriously from the moment an employee steps onto a site. In high-traffic, multi-level environments, like this carpark, it’s essential to put the right safety measures in place from the very beginning—before employees even start their day. By working together with Port Otago, we were able to create a comprehensive safety system that significantly reduces the risk of accidents, ensuring that everyone on-site is protected.” This collaborative approach allowed Port Otago to ensure their carpark met the highest safety standards, providing peace of mind to both staff and visitors. Find out more about how our bollards, hand-rails and barriers can create a safer working environment for your team. Contact us today.
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Transforming Pedestrian Safety at Mainfreight Derrimut
What do you do to ensure uninterrupted deliveries for your customers while also completing a safety upgrade at your depot? You call the team here at Tru-Gard. Keeping a busy 3PL depot running smoothly while updating the safety system is no small feat, but when the team from Mainfreight Derrimut contacted us to upgrade their barrier system, we were confident we were up for the task. Working alongside National Operations Support, Shane and Derrimut Branch Manager, Nathan, our team created and quoted a custom safety solution, coordinated the installation, and even arranged environmentally friendly disposal of the old system. The Tru-Gard Solution: Working closely with the team, we recommended our 610-1-1100 Barrier System and a combination of Personnel Gates, designed to keep people and forklifts apart, keep pedestrians away from active roller doors, and generally make the area a safer place to work. After the initial system design, our team and the approved installer conducted a site visit for final tweaks. This visit offered the chance to understand the daily workings of the depot and make essential alterations, including additional gaps in the barrier system to allow for higher traffic flow areas. The Tru-Gard Products: Barrier – 610-1-1100 Flat End Caps Personnel Gates Tru-Gard Certified Barriers keeping pedestrians, freight, and forklifts separate. The Process: To ensure the depot could continue to run smoothly, we conducted the installation in phases, working on different areas to suit and avoiding any major disruptions to day-to-day operations. During the installation process, we also removed the existing damaged handrail and old gates, using a Sims Metal skip on site to ensure the steel was recycled wherever possible. “We are thrilled to have provided a safe solution for the team at Mainfreight in Derrimut. Our longstanding relationship with Mainfreight makes this project particularly meaningful for us. Ensuring the safety of their team aligns with our core values, and we are proud to contribute to their ongoing commitment to a safer working environment” – Mark Taylor, Managing Director Tru-Gard Before & After – The old gates and barriers and the new Tru-Gard Certified Solution. We have used Mainfreight to transport our products for decades, so our team was thrilled to work on this project, helping keep the team who keep our products moving safe from harm. If your branch’s safety systems need an upgrade, or you are looking for a new, fully customised safety solution, contact our team today to find out more. Our thanks to Nathan and Aleks, from the Derrimut Branch, and Shane from Mainfreight Australia, for choosing Tru-Gard. __ __ __
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