Case Studies
Safety Yellow Protection for Dunedin's Iconic Golden Centre
Ram-raids are expensive, hazardous, and often preventable. When the Golden Centre Mall in the heart of Dunedin was ram-raided during the pre-Christmas rush in 2024, the team needed a cost-effective solution to protect their premises while maintaining much-needed access. The solution was our removable bollards. These 115mmØ bollards can be easily removed when access is required and securely locked in place at other times, providing effective protection against ram-raids without slowing down business. Available in safety yellow or galvanised finishes to suit the style of the premises, the bollards can be lifted and stored in our removable bollard holders when not in use. This makes them a practical deterrent and a reliable way to reduce damage and risk. The ram-raid at the Golden Centre caused extensive damage to the interior and exterior, including glass doors, retail spaces, and flooring, while also shaking the confidence of retailers. Our bollards offer a low-cost confidence boost, protecting the space and helping staff and visitors feel secure. The result is a safer, more resilient environment for retailers, visitors, and staff alike. Another example of Tru-Gard retail protection.
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Waikaraka Speedway: Putting Safety in Pole Position
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of speedway, especially when you know safety has taken pole position. Working alongside the team at NZ Strong, we recently helped make Waikaraka Speedway a safer place to race. While we can’t control what happens on the track, we can improve protection for the on and off ramps, where vehicles enter and exit the raceway. These ramps are a known pinch point and a heavy traffic area during events, making them some of the busiest and potentially most hazardous parts of the site, except for the track itself. We installed our 910-2 Barrier system to clearly define vehicle access and protect these critical areas. The barriers create strong, highly visible boundaries, helping vehicles move safely while reducing the risk of accidents. As an added bonus, we also installed bespoke, mini versions of our bollards at the end of the pedestrian walkway, helping guide foot traffic and ensuring people can move safely around the site, even when race day activity is full throttle. This work is part of a wider $11 million upgrade to transform this historic and beloved venue. The improvements include an architecturally designed purpose-built track, new pit area, increased spectator capacity and facilities, and access for community events when the track is not in use. All coming together to create a safer, more enjoyable, and of course thrilling experience for everyone on site. The result is a safer, more organised environment for both vehicles and pedestrians. Everyone can focus on the action on the track, knowing that practical safety measures are keeping them protected off the track.
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Barrier Up & Risks Down at this Auckland Warehouse
One of our most popular barrier setups is the 910-2 Barrier, and for the cherry on top it's finished with our Tru-Gard Hand Rail. This was the solution of choice for a large new-build warehouse in Auckland, where the goal was simple: keep pedestrians safe while they navigate the full perimeter of the building. Personnel Gates were placed in key high-traffic areas, including office entrances and exits. By slowing people down and requiring them to open the gate before stepping onto the warehouse floor, staff get a moment to check for forklifts and moving vehicles. It’s a small pause that makes a big difference when people and machines share the same space. Bollards were also installed in strategic locations to protect sensitive electronic equipment. Nobody wants downtime caused by accidental damage, and our certified bollards provide tough, reliable protection exactly where it’s needed. This project is a solid example of how we combine smart design, certified protection, and practical placement to keep both people and assets safe. In a busy warehouse, it’s these little touches that make a big difference. \\
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Safety Starts at Home, One Bit of Yellow at a Time
At Tru-Gard, we don’t just make safety products we use them too. Safety starts at home, which means making sure our own staff and new manufacturing plant are as protected as the clients and sites we work with. To create a safe environment for everyone on site, we installed our Tru-Gard Hand Rail System along workshop pathways, giving pedestrians a clear, protected walking space. Tru-Gard Personnel Gates mark entranceways to high-traffic areas, forcing foot traffic to slow down and giving staff time to check for forklifts and other moving vehicles before entering these higher-risk zones. We also installed our Tru-Gard Certified Barrier System to separate forklifts from employees and visitors, keeping everyone on the correct side and reducing the risk of collisions. Together, these systems create a clear perimeter around the entire site, which means we can safely show clients and visitors around the workshop while they stay protected in matching hi-vis vests. This project highlights our commitment to safety for both staff and visitors. By investing in our own plant and people we are demonstrating the Tru-Gard difference, because the safest workplaces start at home.
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A Boost of Yellow for Harvey Norman's Storeroom
Like any Harvey Norman store, this location runs a busy on-site warehouse, constantly receiving stock and moving furniture and appliances out to an eager customer base. So, when they needed a solution to make this busy store room safer we were happy to help. The store room had been operating at full capacity for some time, with forklifts and pallet trolleys moving through the same areas where staff were managing inwards and outwards goods. With no traffic management system in place, it was a high-risk environment. There were no pedestrian safety zones and no barriers protecting valuable stock. Our solution was simple but effective. We installed runs of our 910-2 Barrier to cordon off danger zones while keeping plenty of access points through Personnel Gates in key areas. Full protection was essential around office and administration spaces, doorways leading from traffic areas into the kitchenette and toilets, and specific storage areas where stock could be at risk from passing machinery. The result? A safer, more organised warehouse where staff and stock can move around with confidence. It’s great to see the difference a little extra yellow can make!
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Where Foot Traffic Safety Meets Freight at Mainfreight Dunedin
If you’ve had a look through our case studies, you will see we’ve worked with our fair share of Mainfreight depots over the years. So we have learned a thing or two about the hazards and requirements of their busy transport sites. People are at the centre of everything Mainfreight do, and keeping pedestrians safe on site is always a priority. It’s something we’ve enjoyed collaborating with them on many times before. Creating safe walkways in high-traffic zones is something we do best. So when the Dunedin branch needed help, we were happy to advise. This busy depot sees national consignments move in and out all day, every day. Our role was to help establish a secure pedestrian zone around the warehouse, separating foot traffic from forklifts. A combination of our Barrier, Hand Rail, and Personnel Gates was the ideal solution, providing modular, high-visibility products that fit seamlessly into the environment. Built to last with a 10-year warranty, staff and visitors can have the confidence that this is an investment in their safety for years to come. This site is just another example of how we partner with Mainfreight to put people protection first, every step of the way. Read more about our work with Mainfreight Hobsonville, Mainfreight Derrimut, and Mainfreight Gore.
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Saving Downpipes & Dollars at Mainfreight Gore
Smashed downpipes cost businesses thousands of dollars every year, yet they’re often some of the most exposed and overlooked parts of a building. Time and time again we see it happen: a vehicle gets too close to a wall and side-swipes a downpipe, leaving fragile material broken and unusable. If you’ve ever had to replace one, you’ll know how painful it is, both in terms of extra work and unexpected costs. One of the handiest steel products we make is our Tru-Gard Downpipe Protectors. You can go subtle with a galvanised steel finish, like these installed at a Mainfreight Gore, or stand out in our classic ’Safety Yellow’- the choice is yours. This project was a new-build depot for Mainfreight, a busy transport site with trucks and forklifts moving around constantly. Several downpipes needed extra protection, and these weren’t just any downpipes. They carry water under pressure from a large collection tank on the roof, so any damage could have caused serious mess and disruption. The standard galvanised finish not only protects against the elements but also blends seamlessly with the building’s corporate colours. The result is a smart-looking, well-protected building that keeps both downpipes and operations safe. If your assets could do with an added layer of protection you can shop our downpipe range here or contact our team today for more information.
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Care from the Carpark Onwards: Safety at St George’s Hospital
We all like to think of hospitals as safe places. After all, that’s where people go to be treated, healed, and looked after. But safety doesn’t just start at the front door, it starts in the carpark. No one wants their hospital visit to come with extra hazards, and that’s where our bollards come in. St George’s Hospital is a large private clinic in Christchurch, offering surgery, cancer treatment, ophthalmology, orthopedics, maternity care, and more. With sizeable grounds comes sizeable car parking for day patients and longer-term stays, and with any busy parking area comes risk. Traffic management contractors working with the hospital called on us to supply the strongest bollards we have for exposed areas, including generator buildings and garden areas that might otherwise be overlooked by motorists or pedestrians. Our Tru-Gard XL Cast-in Bollards were the perfect fit. At 220 mm in diameter, with 5 mm thick steel walls and a total height of 2250 mm (1500 mm above ground, 750 mm cast in), these are our largest, most robust bollards. At 60 kg each, the only risk left is lifting them into the pre-prepared holes, so mind your back! With these bollards in place, hospital staff, visitors, and patients get an extra layer of protection while moving through the grounds. Keeping people safe isn’t just about what happens inside the hospital, it starts the moment you step onto the site.
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Keeping People and Freight Moving Safely at Lindsay Transport
Lindsay Transport is one of Australia’s largest transport companies, moving more than 1.6 million tonnes of freight for over 5,000 customers along Australia’s east coast each year. With more than 37 stores and depots, health and safety is a core consideration across its warehouse and logistics operations. At this Victorian freight site, the day-to-day environment is busy and complex. High volumes of pedestrian workers move throughout the warehouse and around loading and unloading bays, while a constant flow of trucks and forklifts keeps the site active from start to finish. The focus of this Tru-Gard project was clear: create well-defined, safe pedestrian walkways for staff and visitors navigating the site. Working alongside our local supplier and installer in Victoria, we installed long runs of 910-2 Tru-Gard Barrier and an added handrail. Multiple Personnel Gates were also added to control foot traffic and prevent pedestrians from stepping directly into high-risk driveways and forklift zones. The result is a site with clearer separation between people and vehicles, improved traffic control, and safer movement throughout the facility. It is a practical example of how thoughtful barrier placement and pedestrian management can reduce risk in busy freight environments, without compromising day-to-day operations. If your site could do with a safety overhaul, chat to our team about everything from Barrier to Driver Protection Zones and a modular safety system to suit.
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An Investment in Safety: Asset Protection at PwC Christchurch
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is a multinational professional services network with offices across New Zealand. Following the devastating 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, the original PwC building was destroyed. Replacing several former offices and apartment buildings along Cashel Street, the new PwC building now stands as a statement in modern architecture and resilience. Home to multiple blue-chip tenants including PwC, Chapman Tripp, Air New Zealand, Crombie Lockwood, and Tonkin and Taylor, the development delivers a modern and functional solution for a busy CBD site, designed to support safer workplaces. So, given we are not the architects, you may be wondering where Tru-Gard fits in. Our involvement focused on a key but often overlooked area of new builds: the car park. With a constant flow of vehicles and bikes, the structural elements of the car park needed added protection from everyday impacts. That is where our barrier systems came into play. The 610-1 Barrier was the ideal piece of kit for the job. Rated to withstand impacts from vehicles up to seven tonnes, it was more than capable of protecting walls and other vulnerable areas from bumps, scrapes, and grazes. Think of it as the band-aid before you need it. When minor accidents happen, the barrier takes the hit, protecting the building itself. That peace of mind was exactly what the building owners were looking for. If you are investing in a new build, planning a retrofit, or upgrading an existing site, asset protection should be part of the conversation early. Talk to our team about practical, fit-for-purpose safety solutions designed to protect your space long term.
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Custom Colours and Critical Access at Marsden Point Refinery
If you need custom colour combinations or tones that match your branding, no problem, we’ve got you covered! This multicolour barrier was a custom request for a client at an enormous oil refinery site, where their onsite warning colour scheme is black and yellow. This colour combination can be found across the site, indoors and out, to indicate high-risk areas. It is something that is well drilled into their team. Our team was more than happy to calculate the metreage of barrier required to provide a full traffic safety zone around the site and arranged for half to be in our traditional Safety Yellow, with the other half in black. Installed in an alternating pattern, these were instantly recognised as part of the hazard warning system on site. The added bonus is that it looks great. Not only was colour a special requirement for the client, but they also needed removable pins in the barrier to hold it in place. In the case of a fire or other emergency, the fire brigade or other first responders need to be able to remove sections of barrier to access areas of the site with hoses or other equipment. It was vital that this could be done quickly and without the need for specialty tools. After all, the last thing a site dealing with highly flammable materials needs is an obstacle that prevents an emergency response. Our team got to work redesigning our usual permanent bolt assembly, creating a pin connection system to ensure the barrier was safe on site, but easily removable. The result was the ideal solution and a very happy customer. If you have a site with very specific requirements, need product colour matched to your brand standards, or find that nothing on the market quite works for you, contact our team today to discuss a bespoke solution that works.
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Built to Take the Hit: The Story of Tru-Gard Downpipe Protectors
Back in 2019, we started seeing a clear trend across factories and warehouses. Sites were busier, vehicles were bigger, and the knock-on cost of damaged building services was becoming harder to ignore. Downpipes in particular were taking a hiding in high-traffic areas. That growing demand for better asset protection led to the launch of our Downpipe Protector range. This Christchurch warehouse project was one of the first to put them to work, with 17 Downpipe Protectors installed as part of the site fit-out. From the outset, the focus was simple. Protect vulnerable services, reduce repair costs, and help drivers spot hazards before contact ever became an issue. Typically, Downpipe Protectors are installed from ground level to shield the most exposed section of pipework. On this site, however, some downpipes were positioned in areas used by larger trucks. To suit the traffic profile, several protectors were installed slightly above ground level to guard against higher impact points, showing the flexibility of the system to suit real-world conditions. Finished in high-visibility safety yellow, the protectors act as an early visual warning for drivers moving through the yard. In most cases, that visibility alone is enough to prevent contact. If a minor collision does occur, the 3 mm steel guard absorbs the impact, keeping fragile pipework intact and maintenance crews out of reactive repair mode. Our Downpipe Protectors are available in standard and large sizes, with adjustable widths to suit a range of pipe diameters. Each kit is designed for straightforward installation and supplied with fixings and clear instructions, making them easy to integrate into new builds or retrofits. What started as a response to a growing problem has since become a core part of our asset protection range. Today, Downpipe Protectors sit alongside our Column Protectors and Pallet Racking Protectors, helping sites across New Zealand and Australia protect critical infrastructure and keep operations running smoothly.
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