Most people will tell you their most precious sense is their vision, followed closely by hearing. We use sight and hearing to gather information and assess situations quickly. It becomes second nature, and we aren’t even aware it is happening. Imagine losing sight in even one eye, or both, and how you would cope. Imagine what a warning system for dangerous situations could mean. That is precisely what Mar-Bal’s factory in Dublin creates: Tiles that alert to potentially hazardous transitions.
Warning Systems
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 mandated using detectable warning systems (DWS), specifying the design of sidewalk warning tiles right down to the height of the domes and the spacing between them. Think of it this way: When you see a red sign in the distance, you’re reasonably sure it is a stop sign. When the visually impaired feel “domes” underfoot, or their cane connects with them, they know what that means.
More than 10 million of the 40 million disabled Americans are blind or visually impaired, and that number may grow as the population ages. The ADA intends to ensure that public areas are safe and accessible for everyone, regardless of disability. Initially, alert systems were made from stamped concrete or brick, but concrete and bricks break or settle, and grass grows in between. Composites are more durable and long-lasting.
Mar-Bal’s mission is to create the best composite material for cast products, peel-and-stick, and molded tiles for use on transit platforms, curbs and sidewalks at street crossings.
Do These Tiles Make a Difference?
Penny Zibula, a visually impaired guide dog owner and travel writer based in Greenville, S.C., says: “I’ve known life before and after detectable warning strips appeared at crosswalks, along subway and train tracks and other locations. The difference between the presence of these strips and their absence is enormous.”
Penny explains that traveling independently involved a lot of guesswork before detectable warning systems. She recalls several blind subway riders who lost their lives when they stepped too close to the tracks. Even with a well-trained guide dog, she has had some near-misses at street corners and subway platforms.
Splendid, her personal guide dog, would say, while wagging her tail: “When I feel those bumps underfoot, I’m receiving a warning that there’s potential danger ahead.” Both Penny and Splendid know exactly what to do—stop and assess the situation. “Properly installed and maintained detectable warning strips give me confidence and independence to travel,” adds Penny who hosts a blog at SixLegsWillTravel.com.
Meet Your NRV Neighbor
Mar-Bal, Inc. has been an innovative leader in custom composites since 1970. The company began life in the electrical equipment industry, using composite material to mold components, including insulators and circuit breakers still sold today. You don’t see or think about these electrical power distribution parts, but you’d sure be upset if they weren’t there. With plants in Painesville, Ohio, and Cuba, Missouri, as well as Dublin in the New River Valley, Mar-Bal was recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing companies in 2013 and 2014. It is headquartered in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
The company Detectable Warning Systems has provided cutting-edge devices since 1993, when the Florida Department of Transportation installed the first tiles. In 2018, Mar-Bal began working with the Dublin plant, which uses compression and transfer molding to make fiberglass-reinforced plastics for HVAC, appliance and electrical components.
Mar-Bal’s composite, BMC (bulk molding compound), looks like playdough with fibers. BMC lent itself well to the products, and before the end of the year, Mar-Bal acquired DWS. Now part of the Mar-Bal family, the Dublin plant and Pulaski warehouse employ 140. DWS makes one of the most complete lines of ADA-compliant tactile warning surfaces available for contractors, distributors and localities. “We fully assemble this product at the press,” explains plant manager Eric Stump. “It consumes a lot of work area but prevents further handling.”
Michelle Ward has provided customer service at the Dublin plant for more than 20 years, taking nationwide tile orders. Stump has her longevity beat by nearly 10 years. They say the privately-held company Mar-Bal is a great place to work, and the people are like family.
The DWS Product
Mar-Bal considers itself “The One-Source Solutions Provider.” It has developed specialized material formulations and uses customized automation to produce the end results. The Dublin plant’s unique vertically-integrated product line has been integral to Mar-Bal’s growth. Company workers design the molds and the material used, and mold, assemble, package, store and ship the finished product.
The highest-grade UV color pigments are used in tiles to ensure long-lasting color in bright sunlight. Mar-Bal can manufacture its AlertTile products in various colors, including yellow and red, and custom logos can be added. The tiles are lightweight, making installation easy. They can be applied to existing surfaces or set into wet concrete during construction.
Anthony Lignetta, Mar-Bal’s senior director of proprietary products, relates that the company is committed to continually advancing its materials and products. It also focuses on helping the visually impaired through involvement with Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education. “ Mar-Bal has a solid relationship with the foundation, and there is an excellent opportunity to provide stewardship through donations of a percent of tile sales.”
I am filled with pride knowing Penny and her four-legged partner, Splendid. They bravely face the daily challenges of the visually impaired with products from companies like Mar-Bal. Hopefully, you will never need these aids, but it is comforting to know they’re out there, in case you do.
Text by Jo Clark
Photos courtesy of Mar-Bal, Inc.
Jo Clark, always the animal lover, once thought she would grow up to raise seeing eye dogs. She might be a failure since she would want to keep all the puppies, so she’s content being “Auntie Jo” to Splendid! You can see Jo’s travels at www.HaveGlassWillTravel.com.
