The Power of Galvanizing: How it Protects Your Road Safety Products
Galvanizing is one of the most effective techniques for ensuring the longevity and reliability of steel products. Additionally, this process is essential for protecting road safety equipment, such as road signs, delineators, wire rope safety fences, W-beam barriers, and other steel-fabricated structures from the damaging effects of rust, corrosion, and wear.
At Armco Superlite, we are internationally renowned specialists in galvanizing steel. We preserve the quality and safety of these vital products, especially in preparation for the harsh weather conditions they will encounter across southern Africa. Today, we will discuss how this process protects your road safety products.
What is Galvanizing and How Does it Work?
Galvanizing is a protective process that applies a layer of zinc to steel to prevent rust and corrosion. Dipping the steel into molten zinc creates an impenetrable bond that shields the steel from environmental elements, including moisture, salt, and other chemicals. This layer acts as a sacrificial coating, meaning the zinc corrodes before the steel does, ensuring the underlying metal remains protected for decades.
Galvanization is critical for road safety products, because these items are often exposed to extreme weather conditions and wear throughout their service life. They are constantly at the mercy of the elements, and this process protects them from rusting, which could otherwise weaken their structure and jeopardise drivers, passengers, and other road users.
The Importance of Galvanization in Road Safety Equipment
Galvanization improves the durability and resilience of steel-fabricated road safety products. For example, W-beam barriers or wire rope fencing, which are commonly used to protect road users from leaving the road or crossing into oncoming traffic, require expertly applied coatings to maintain their structural integrity. This process provides this durability, ensuring that barriers remain intact and functional for extended periods, even in areas with high humidity or coastal air exposure.
Moreover, the protection extends the product’s lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements, seasonal treatments, and repairs. Using galvanized products allows municipalities and contractors to save on maintenance costs while ensuring their equipment remains functional and reliable.
Reliability and Longevity for Your Steel Road Safety Equipment
In many regions of southern Africa, extreme temperatures, humidity, frequent rainfall, ice, and snow pose significant challenges for steel infrastructure. Rust and corrosion can quickly deteriorate any metal exposed to these elements, and road safety products require added protection.
The zinc layer covering the metal forms a barrier between the steel and external elements, making it significantly less likely to suffer from the wear and tear that leads to rust. This has been known to extend the product’s life by up to 80 years and more, ensuring it continues to perform far longer than its untreated counterparts.
This process becomes even more critical in coastal areas or industrial zones where salt, chemicals, and other pollutants accelerate corrosion faster. With a professionally applied zinc coating, road safety products remain resistant to these damaging factors, keeping roads safer for longer.
Only Partner with Experts to Galvanize Your Road Safety Products
At Armco Superlite, we are the leading manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of superior-quality galvanized steel road safety equipment throughout southern Africa. We are listed in accordance with the BSI ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, ensuring all our products and services meet the highest global standards.
Furthermore, we specialise in manufacturing galvanized steel culverts, stockpile tunnels, road safety equipment, and many other industrial steel products for contractors, industries, government bodies, and more. All our processes are carried out according to the SANS 121/ISO 1461 specifications, guaranteeing the highest-quality finish that delivers superior protection against corrosion. Additionally, we hold the SATAS mark for hot dipped galvanizing, further advocating our dedication to providing only the best galvanized products to our valued clientele.
Moreover, we offer galvanizing certificates upon request, ensuring transparency and quality assurance in every project we undertake for absolute peace of mind. Our seasoned team ensures every piece of equipment is finished to the highest standard and ready to perform reliably for decades, regardless of the size of your project.