SteelNews.com Article
ArcelorMittal Ostrava Tests Retroreflective Strips on Safety Barriers
Mar. 6, 2013 Retroreflective strips installed into the hollow part of safety barriers are being tested by ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions Czech Republic (AMDS), a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal Ostrava. AMDS has joined the Visual Communication project, which aims at reducing the frequency of traffic accidents and minimizing traffic fatality on minor roads. After evaluating the results from the first road stretch near Hluk in the district of Uherské Hradiště, special strips are going to be installed in other regions of the Czech Republic.
Plastic strips will be fixed onto barriers at dangerous road sections such as blind or sharp bends, narrow passages, various obstacles, pedestrian crossings or roundabouts. They will make it easier for drivers to orientate themselves and react to sudden and unexpected situations.
In addition, the strips will make it easier for emergency services to quickly arrive at the accident scene. “Each strip bears a unique identification code which makes it possible for the emergency services to easily locate the site of the accident after it has been reported,“ says Jiří Chvalina, head of technical department, ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions.
The results of pilot testing will decide about further implementation of retroreflective strips on Czech roads. “We are now going to examine the influence of weather conditions or winter road maintenance on visibility and service life of retroreflective strips,“ added Chvalina. After interpreting the results of testing, the strips, which may also carry various warning signs or instructions, will be installed at other dangerous road sections in the Czech Republic.
ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions Czech Republic s.r.o. is the sole Czech manufacturer of certified steel safety barrier systems, mine support and hot-rolled steel sheets and strips. The annual capacity is more than half a million tonnes of products. AMDS CR has nearly 300 employees. It was founded in 2009 as a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s., historically the only manufacturer of safety barriers in the Czech Republic and former Czechoslovakia. Safety barriers produced by ArcelorMittal in Ostrava are found on 70% of Czech highways and on almost all the primary state roads.
ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s. is the largest steelmaker in the Czech Republic and part of the world’s largest steel and mining group ArcelorMittal. It has production capacity of 3 million tonnes of steel annually; about 50% of the output is exported to more than 60 countries worldwide. ArcelorMittal Ostrava and its subsidiaries employ more than 7500 people. Average income of its employees amounted to 34,213 CZK in 2012. ArcelorMittal Ostrava produces iron and steel in compliance with all environmental legislation. It already conforms to the EU best available techniques (BAT) emission limits that are to be binding only from 2016 onwards. The sole shareholder is ArcelorMittal Holdings A.G.