In what is the latest in a growing list of achievements since it was created in 2002, temporary fencing specialist Blok N Mesh recently won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2016 in Innovation for its POLMIL security fencing range.
“We’re incredibly proud of the Queen’s Award, particularly as the assessment process was so comprehensive and challenging,” explains Tim Stewart, Head of Product Design and Development. “All aspects of the company, from our environmental approach and working procedures through to the unique product design and continued sales success over the past five years, were carefully analysed in tremendous detail. We were therefore absolutely delighted to win the award and confident it will help raise our profile as we look to further build the long-term prospects of the business.”
Designed and manufactured at Blok N Mesh’s five-acre production facility in Merseyside, POLMIL on-ground security fencing was originally designed for use at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Against fierce competition from some of the world’s leading fencing companies, the system eventually won through with 25km of the innovative counter-terror perimeter system being supplied to 28 Olympic venues throughout the UK.
POLMIL fencing is designed for both rapid installation and to be effective on all types of surface. It is intended as an equally secure, temporary, on-ground alternative to traditional in-ground security fence systems and is available for both hire and sale.
A high level of tolerance built into every aspect of the system means installation can be carried out without special knowledge or experience, and works well on severely uneven or sloping ground, especially as the panels can be overlapped without compromising fence integrity. POLMIL systems have been tested, utilised, and proven compatible with leading CCTV and Perimeter Intruder Detection Systems (PIDS) on multiple global event venues. Fully adjustable on-ground vehicle gates and multiple crowd ‘blow-out’ gates are available, together with various pedestrian access/egress door options.
Following its success at the London Olympics and Glasgow Commonwealth Games, POLMIL fence systems are now providing protection for Government establishments, nuclear facilities, airports, mining operations, utilities infrastructure and other security-sensitive sites throughout the UK and around the world, including most recently at the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
“We’re incredibly proud of the Queen’s Award, particularly as the assessment process involves a huge amount of work. All aspects of the company, from our environmental approach through to the product itself, were carefully analysed in tremendous detail. We were therefore absolutely delighted to win the award and feel that it will help raise our profile as we look to further build the long-term prospects of the business.”
Tim Stewart, Head of Product Design and Development
With the flexibility and strength of POLMIL, Blok N Mesh is now looking to use the benefits that the system provides, coupled with the Queen’s Award success, to keep the momentum going. “We hire and sell temporary fencing and barriers from 17 depots throughout the UK and have expanded the POLMIL business on an increasing scale since the Olympics contract,” says Mr Stewart. “Back at that time our traditional house-building market, was on its knees due to the depression, which forced us to cast our net a wider. This was one of the biggest factors behind our decision to go after the Olympics contract. After it was successfully secured, we were able to expand our manufacturing capacity to pre-depression levels after a period of mothballing. We have since continued to grow the facility as our business has expanded further, not just with POLMIL but also our traditional temporary fencing products as well. With hindsight – the downturn in the housing market prompted us to look at other avenues which has proven to be a really positive movement for the business. The Olympics contract was won at just the right time.”
Despite making the most of the Olympics opportunity and the successes it has seen in recent years, there remain a number of challenges that Blok N Mesh is having to contend with. “The biggest hurdle is gaining access to the decision-makers in the security industry, who can be very elusive,” adds Mr Stewart. “When operating in the house-building sector the marketplace is quite open and it is relatively easy to identify who we needed to speak to. In contrast, having moved into the security market we’ve quickly learnt it’s much more difficult to get our product in front of the decision-makers. We’ve attended many exhibitions, which have proven the most effective method of contacting the right people and also gives them the opportunity to see the product first-hand. We also show our test videos that demonstrate the strength of the product and its ability to resist hostile vehicle impact. We’re hoping that the exposure we have had at exhibitions will be further strengthened by the Queen’s Award, which in turn will increase our profile in the general market. Hopefully this will allow us to come to the attention of further security consultants and advisors that make decisions on the physical protection requirements for the facilities they are responsible for.”
With awareness growing, Blok N Mesh is planning to keep the success increasing through the years ahead. “We’re continuing to develop other products of a security nature in-line with the POLMIL design and have already supplied the Stade de France with 350 metres of POLMIL fence for the 2016 Euros that incorporates 20 bespoke gates,” concludes Mr Stewart. “All 20 gates can be simultaneously opened from the central control room with the press of a button, should rapid mass evacuation be required in the event of an incident within the stadium. We’re happy to continue on the back of the success we’ve had so far with POLMIL to develop improved products. Our market offering will continue to be based on the fact we are able to provide on ground re-locatable fencing that provides the same level of security as equivalent in-ground systems.”
At a time when global security concerns are at a high, and set to continue, there is sure to be increasing demand for Blok N Mesh’s fencing systems.