Heald’s Matador Wins Innovation Award

We are delighted to announce that Heald’s Matador bollard system has been presented an Innovation Award at the Made in Yorkshire Awards 2018. Hosted at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds on 1st March,  Heald were also shortlisted in the Manufacturer under £25m category. 

The Matador is currently the world’s only IWA crash tested surface-mount automatic bollard system tested to withstand a 7.4tonne truck travelling at 40mph which requires no excavation whatsoever and can be installed onto a suitable concrete base in a little under four hours. 

This innovation, which also includes the option for sliding bollards to allow access by emergency responders or other permitted vehicles, makes the Matador perfect for short-term or temporary solutions. Whereas for more permanent installations or those where a suitable base is not available, the Matador can be installed with a 100mm excavation to leave the top of the unit flush with the surface of the road.  

The Matadors were used to secure the entrances to the 2012 Olympic Games in London and subsequently removed following the event. More recently Matador’s have been installed on a permanent basis to secure the perimeter of the famous French Quarter in New Orleans. 

Commenting on Heald’s innovation award, the judges said: “Heald behaves like the £50m global leader that it will one day be.” 

Debbie Heald, MBE added: “I am delighted that our Matador product has been recognised for the innovative product it is. We are seeing continued success with the Matador due to its ease of install and high level of security while still enabling permitted vehicles past the perimeter defence”.  

Winners at the Made in Yorkshire Awards will now go on to the Made in the UK finals which will be held in Liverpool in June.