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| History of the Rubber Speed Bump by GNR Technologies |
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Do you know when and where the first speed bump was installed?
According to Wikipedia, the earliest report of a speed bump in the United States was in 1906 in New Jersey. In an attempt to slow speeding vehicles, they planned to raise crosswalks five inches above the road surfaces. About 60 years later, in 1970, the first speed bump in Europe appeared in the Netherlands. There are few resources on the 'history of the speed bump'; however, and even less on the origins of modern alternatives to typical asphalt or concrete devices. |
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Rubber parking products, for example, are a popular and reliable solution. They can be purchased and installed immediately and easily (two very significant benefits over traditional asphalt or concrete). How and why did rubber parking solutions enter the market? When and where were they first produced?
We will take a look at one manufacturer who has been producing these products for over a decade. Although it is uncertain if they were the very first to launch such solutions, they were definitely influential in bringing awareness to rubber parking products in the market:
GNR Technologies is a leading manufacturer of recycled rubber parking lot safety solutions, distributed worldwide - let's take a look at their story and how it all began... |
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1995:
GNR's
Beginnings |
GNR opens business manufacturing the infra-riser ring made from recycled rubber tires. The product is used to protect manhole covers from damage due to vehicles and weather conditions. |
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1996:
Expanding Into
Other Markets |
GNR believes the product attributes that made the infra-riser so successful could also be applied to other products for other industries. |
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They start looking into other markets (highway safety in particular) and see the need to provide an alternative to concrete, water, and sandbag bases for highway traffic products. GNR begins to manufacture OEM products; rubber ring bases - to fit over traffic cones and barrels. |
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There is also a need in the traffic safety market for alternative solutions to asphalt / concrete traffic control products (i.e. speed bumps). Asphalt / concrete often break, crack, chip, and deteriorate; damage vehicles and is difficult to install. |
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Why not transfer the expertise in molding products from recycled rubber to the traffic control industry? |
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1996:
Designing &
Manufacturing
the Rubber
Speed Bump |
After extensive R&D, paying particular attention to the product attributes and aesthetics, GNR manufactures their first ever recycled rubber speed bump (Easy Rider Speed Bump) from shredded tires. The unique recipe for the speed bump (consisting of shredded tires and polyurethane glue) provides a uniform and consistent profile with a tensile |
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The Easy Rider Speed Bump includes painted stripes and in-molded cat's eye reflectors to emphasize visibility to drivers and pedestrians, especially at night. |
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End caps are also developed for the product to protect the bump ends from wear-and-tear, as well as provide a smooth, safe ride for drivers. |
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Flexibility and lightweight features, along with immediate and ease-of-installation capabilities are significant benefits of the GNR line compared to typical concrete / asphalt solutions. |
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The Easy Rider Speed Bump is a unique solution in the market and immediately gains attention of business owners / distributors, developers, contractors, and architects. |
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1996:
GNR Installs
1st Rubber
Speed Bump |
GNR's first rubber speed bump is installed in Illinois! |
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2000:
Patented
Markings |
GNR obtains a patent for the pattern of the yellow stripes on the Easy Rider Speed Bump. |
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2001-2002:
Product
Improvements |
Yellow stripes on the rubber speed bump are modified and improved by in-molding reflective highway tape into the product during the molding process. This helps prevent the markings from rubbing off over time or fading due to sun exposure. The tape includes glass |
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beading, further increasing reflectivity and visibility. The yellow markings are thus more sustainable and require virtually no maintenance. |
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2009:
Increase in
Competition |
According to Thomas Net, there are 79 manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of rubber / plastic speed bumps in the United States and Canada.
As competition in the marketplace for rubber (and even plastic) speed bumps increase, no one has been able to replicate the quality and durability of GNR's solution. With over 14 years of experience in molding recycled rubber solutions, along with worldwide distribution capabilities, the Easy Rider Speed Bump is built to last and will continue to remain a dominant player in the industry for many more years to come. |
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The Easy Rider Speed Bump is available in 4' and 6' lengths. For more information or if you are interested in our Distribution Opportunity, please visit our website.
Our full-line of recycled rubber parking solutions also include: |
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All of these solutions are manufactured from 100% recycled rubber. They can be installed by 1 person and used for permanent and / or temporary use.
Get in touch with an expert today to find out how you can maximize safety and damage prevention in your parking facilities:
Visit our website: www.gnrtech.com
Send us an email
Call our office: 800-641-4143 or 514-366-6116 |
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GNR Technologies
990 Upton
LaSalle, QC H8R 2T9 |
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