GuarDECK Wins International Industry Award

May 21, 2020

Steel bridge retrofit with GuarDECK weld-free aluminum bridge decking and illuminated guardrails

GuarDECK weld-free bridge decking won 1st place in the Architectural/Structural category at the 2020 Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition, organized by the ET Foundation. This repeat honor for MAADI Group is a testament to the ingenuity of their products.

 

International Recognition

The Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition highlights the work of professionals and engineers in the specialized field of aluminum extrusion design. Organized by the ET Foundation, this international competition showcases bold and innovative applications of extruded aluminum in 4 categories: Architectural/Structural, Transportation, Engineered Products and Alternative Energy. GuarDECKTM weld-free bridge decking features tongue-and-groove assembly and takes advantage of extruded aluminum’s unparalleled design flexibility, as the material can be precisely shaped for any given structure. The judges were impressed by the creative use of aluminum extrusions to create a turnkey solution to the growing problem of aging bridges. According to Nancy Molenda, Vice President of Communications at the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), GuarDECKTM weld-free bridge decking stood out from the competition because of its design innovation and practicality. “Showing how aluminum extrusions work in the real world is not an easy task, but MAADI really nailed it,” said Molenda.

 

The Benefits of Aluminum

At MAADI Group, aluminum is the material of choice for innovative bridge decking because of its corrosion-resistant properties and light weight. GuarDECKTM bridge decking is “passive” to the environment because of its natural protective film (oxide layer) that covers the aluminum and provides excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion. It offers decades of durability and requires no maintenance. The aluminum is 100% recyclable, and recycled aluminum has higher value than other metals. Because the aluminum bridge decking system is also lighter than concrete or steel, it offers superior load-bearing capacity for existing bridge retrofits and can accommodate vehicles of up to 15 tons. With a total cost of ownership far lower than competitors, nothing compares to this corrosion-resistant and lightweight bridge decking.

 

Fast Turnaround and Easy Installation

GuarDECKTMweld-free bridge decking is delivered in 4 weeks, making it the most quickly available product on the market. With customizable guardrail, curb and lighting options, it’s suitable for new bridges or existing bridge retrofits. Custom T-bolt fasteners make it fast and easy to install. Because of its light weight, a team can install the weld-free aluminum deck without any heavy lifting equipment and open the bridge to traffic later that same day.

With this accolade in hand, MAADI Group is working closely with University of Waterloo research laboratories to test vibration effects and continually improve its weld-free bridge decking. GuarDECKTM is on track to revolutionize the world of lightweight bridges and is patent pending.

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