Ball Arena: MERIDIAN barriers can be found at Ball Arena as well as other sports venues in Colorado.
Safety Solution: MERIDIAN provides not only a security solution but a safety solution for the ever-changing needs that arise to protect people, communities and places from hostile vehicles doing damage and harm.
MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group started in Australia in 2005 and migrated to the United States in 2012. MERIDIAN provides not only a security solution but a safety solution for the ever-changing needs that arise to protect people, communities, and places from hostile vehicles doing damage and harm.
“The orange cones you see on construction sites don’t do anything,” said Ian Zawacki, Territory Sales Manager at Meridian Rapid Defense Group. “We at MERIDIAN do what’s called a nudge test. Can I nudge the barrier with my car or do I have to get out of the car and physically move it?”
MERIDIAN also provides safety services through their technology and products with fully certified and trained field specialists, standing by their commitment to make the world a safer place.
Every situation in the field is unique. Due to their modular design, MERIDIAN products can be adapted to create a barrier system that is just right for any situation where people and vehicles meet. Their vehicle barrier systems can be customized in any color and logo the customer wants. Their wayfinding signs meet all the necessary conditions to point vehicles and people in the right direction.
The Archer 1200 Barrier is unanchored and “Drop and Stop.” It is made of 100% American steel and is the strongest mobile steel barrier in the world. The Archer 1200 Barrier is the barrier of choice for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM). The Archer 1200 Barrier is rapidly deployable in sets of eight in under 10 minutes. The Archer 1200 Barrier solution allows for pedestrian access and emergency vehicle access for every deployment option. The Archer 1200 Barrier is not a bollard which is permanently fixed. Its mobility makes it a primary security safety system for entry points, roadways, and perimeters.
The latest product from Meridian Rapid Defense Group is drawing praise for its ease of use and increased ability to ensure the safety of road workers around the nation. The Archer-Guard is a safety barrier system which, because of its mobility, is ideal for creating safer work zones quickly and securely. “I want people to know that this product is out there,” said Zawacki. “We offer several different ways to get acquainted with the product. We offer a free trial.”
Meridian, with its MASH (The Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware) tested products, has a history of protecting people, communities, and places at crowded events using its patented safety barrier technology. Now with the Archer-Guard that same quality protection is available in the world of transport and traffic management.
Meridian CEO Peter Whitford said, “We designed the Meridian Archer-Guard to bring a vehicle to a slow controlled stop if it passes into a restricted area, particularly work zones on freeways and roads. If this happens each of the three connected barriers will surround the vehicle upon impact and drag the vehicle to a stop.”
“As we recognize National Work Zone Awareness Week, we are pleased to know that this new technology will help ensure greater safety for those who are out in work zones on the highways and roads across the nation on a daily basis.”
This recognition of work zone awareness takes place annually across the United States, with partnerships between state departments of transportation (DOT), national road safety organizations, government agencies, private companies, and individuals.
Unfortunately, deaths in work zones of pedestrians, including many road workers, are still on the rise. In 2020, 857 people were killed in 774 fatal work zone crashes, according to the most recent data available from workzone safety.org.
One of the major causes of accidents is cell phone use while driving. But other common distractions include people changing settings in the vehicle, talking with others in the car, grooming, texting, and eating.
The advantage of the Archer-Guard system is its mobility. Each Archer-Guard has wheels and can be quickly moved from location to location. For instance, in a situation where a road crew is filling potholes, the Archer-Guard can quickly move along with them. The barriers can be moved by one person, doing away with the need to bring in heavy equipment which other systems use.
“A lot of their big entities are police and fire departments, professional sporting venues, and local concert halls, parades, arts festivals, fairgrounds with events,” said Zawacki. “Anywhere you can think of that makes a road enclosure and stops cars from coming through. What separates us from typical cones and concrete slabs, is that their barrier product which is 700 pounds, can be picked up in five seconds. We have the capability to move it for an emergency vehicle if need be.”
“Although it is a relatively new product,” said Whitford “we’re already getting very positive feedback from organizations using the Archer-Guard system. With the option of either buying or renting, organizations using their Archer 1200 Barriers to protect crowded events for years are now also seeing how they can ensure greater safety for their road repair crews.”
“Mainly they tell us about the huge advantage of having something that ensures even greater safety for their workers and at the same time being so mobile. They can get much more work done in a day because of the way the Archer-Guard can be set up and then quickly moved on to the next location.”
Meridian Archer 1200 Barriers are “SAFETY Act Certified” by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) providing the ultimate standard in keeping people, communities, and places safer. For more information about Meridian Rapid Defense Group and the Archer 1200 vehicle barrier visit www.meridian-barrier.com.