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The RUBBY by BORFLEX flooring system is designed for high-traffic environments, such as railway stations, and all types of infrastructure. This innovation represents a significant step forward in the field, offering a flexible and comprehensive turnkey solution. Focused on longevity, safety, sustainability and environmental responsibility, the RUBBY system can be customised to meet specific requirements, whilst ensuring a high proportion of recycled materials and optimum safety for pedestrians.
The challenges encountered
With a constant flow of up to 25,000 passengers a day, railway stations require robust and safe floor coverings. Changing standards, extreme weather conditions and the demands placed on these heavily used sites mean that stricter criteria are required. Ensuring safety and durability, whilst addressing societal concerns regarding environmental responsibility, represents a major challenge in this context.
Current issues
Traditional floor coverings now face new challenges in terms of safety and durability, particularly in busy railway stations. Wood presents problems in terms of slip resistance and long-term durability, meaning it needs to be replaced frequently.
The RUBBY innovation by BORFLEX
Developed by the BORFLEX Group, RUBBY offers a revolutionary alternative to traditional floor coverings. This innovation combines the benefits of wood whilst comprehensively addressing safety and sustainability issues, as well as wider societal concerns.
By combining over 65 years’ expertise in elastomers and composites with a holistic approach, RUBBY offers an integrated solution to meet every challenge.
Station Security: An Unavoidable Challenge
– Floor coverings must provide a stable surface for passengers to walk on, thereby minimising the risk of slips, falls and other accidents.
– The presence of structures such as overhead catenary wires above passenger walkways highlights the crucial need for flooring designed to minimise the risk of electric arcing and other potential hazards.
– Adverse weather conditions and climatic variations can increase the risk of slipping, particularly on surfaces such as wood, thus requiring flooring solutions that offer both grip and durability.
RUBBY by BORFLEX: A Sustainable Innovation
– The RUBBY system, made from composites and rubber, offers exceptional durability compared with wood, which has a significantly shorter lifespan.
– Unlike timber, which shows signs of deterioration after just 7 to 8 years of use, the RUBBY system retains its quality and performance over time, thereby reducing the frequency of replacement and the associated costs.
– Thanks to its innovative design and the use of sustainable materials such as composites and recycled rubber, the RUBBY system helps to protect the environment by minimising waste and extending the lifespan of floor coverings in stations and other high-traffic areas.
Addressing Societal Challenges
The RUBBY system incorporates a proportion of recycled rubber, ‘Value-Rubber*’, reflecting BORFLEX’s commitment to environmental sustainability. This initiative forms part of a drive to reduce the ecological footprint and promote a circular economy, thereby contributing to environmental conservation. *Value Rubber is the result of a European project aimed at recycling rubber.
In terms of aesthetics, the grooved rubber surface offers a visually similar alternative to wooden flooring. This design helps to maintain aesthetic consistency whilst offering the benefits of rubber in terms of durability and safety.
Furthermore, rubber’s ability to absorb noise is a major advantage in meeting the needs of urban public spaces. Unlike wood and other materials, which amplify noise through vibration, rubber effectively dampens the sound of footsteps, suitcase wheels, pushchair wheels and even scooters. This property helps to create quieter and more pleasant environments, thereby addressing a growing societal concern for the well-being and quality of life of users of public spaces.
RUBBY by BORFLEX: Maintenance Optimisation
Quick and Easy Installation:
The RUBBY® by BORFLEX flooring system not only revolutionises the passenger experience but also significantly simplifies maintenance operations. Thanks to its ingenious design and ease of installation, RUBBY® saves time and optimises organisation for maintenance teams.
Optimising Maintenance with RUBBY®:
Unlike traditional floor coverings, which require regular maintenance and repairs, RUBBY® is designed for exceptional durability and resistance to extreme conditions. Its non-slip surface eliminates the need for gritting or sanding in bad weather, thereby providing a safe solution and reducing the workload for maintenance teams. Furthermore, RUBBY® maintains its quality and performance whatever the weather conditions, ensuring the smooth flow of passenger traffic without compromising user safety.
Built-in anti-vandalism system:
In addition to its design, which prioritises passenger safety and weather resistance, the RUBBY® system also incorporates anti-vandalism features to ensure the infrastructure remains intact in high-traffic environments. Recognising the challenges posed by acts of anti-social behaviour and vandalism, RUBBY by BORFLEX is designed to withstand physical and chemical damage, thereby ensuring the floor coverings have a longer lifespan. This initiative aims to maintain not only safety but also the visual and functional integrity of public spaces, thereby offering a comprehensive and sustainable solution for urban infrastructure managers.
Conclusion
The RUBBY by BORFLEX system represents a significant breakthrough in the field of flooring for high-traffic commercial environments. As the undisputed benchmark, RUBBY offers a comprehensive, durable and environmentally friendly solution to meet the specific challenges of railway stations and other high-traffic areas. In summary, RUBBY® by BORFLEX does not merely provide a high-quality floor covering; it also improves maintenance operations by offering quick and easy installation, simplified upkeep and the ability to withstand the most extreme weather conditions.