Road plates and trench covers

The products are designed to ensure the safety of contractors, pedestrians and vehicles during utility, cabling and maintenance projects, as well as reducing the noise pollution associated with steel road plates.

Made from composite materials, Oxford Plastics road plates feature an integral flexible edge made from a PVC compound, which acts as a noise dampener when vehicles drive over them, providing the ideal solution to noise pollution in urban areas caused by the knocking of steel plates.

Popular with utility firms, road plates are particularly successful in allowing the temporary re-opening of the roadway during the rush hour to reduce traffic delays.

Oxford Plastics products are much easier and safer to maneuver than heavy steel plates and can simply be lifted into place by two people, eliminating the need for heavy lifting equipment – yet they are strong enough to withstand the weight of an 97,000-lb truck. As a modular system which can be locked together to create a range of sizes, the plates also offer flexibility to suit each specific situation.

Meanwhile, Oxford Plastics trench covers for sidewalk use include Safe Cover 16/12, currently being deployed in Yonkers, NY.

Popular with utility companies working on gas, water, electricity and communication services, contractors are finding them much easier and safer to lift into place than heavy steel plates – and much more stable and durable than plywood.

Molded from a single piece of glass-reinforced composite, the company’s trench covers are much lighter than traditional steel covers and are tested to a distributed vehicle weight of up to 4,400 lbs – so they are every bit as strong and durable as their steel equivalents, with a ribbed framework on the underside providing added strength.

Both Oxford Plastics road plates and trench covers have a permanent slip-resistant surface to make them safe for pedestrians too.

Oxford Plastics Systems Business Development Director Peter Creighton says: "We’re delighted to be exhibiting at the ICUEE and showcasing our safety products to utility and construction industry professionals in the USA, where we are rapidly expanding our customer base.

"As a company, our strength is creating products to meet the specific safety challenges faced by our customers and our range of road plates and covers are among the latest innovations being developed for the utility and construction industries.”