As car park occupancy rates start to rise again with the relaxation of Covid travel regulations, PSD and its sister company The Parking Shop are relaunching the innovative, simple, and effective Pillar Protector into the UK market. The product, already popular in Europe with installations including Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, is aimed at multi-storey and surface car park operators. Concrete and metal pillars have always been a cause of major issue for motorists. By necessity they either reduce the number of spaces available or restrict the size of a significant number of parking bays. Due to limited spaces, customers are often forced to use these small spaces making parking difficult and, in some cases, minor misjudgements can cause significant damage to cars. Sometimes, the pillars themselves are damaged leaving car parks looking shabby and uninviting, or worse requiring expensive infrastructure repairs.

The Pillar Protector is produced under license from a Dutch company. The product consists of a unique combination of printable vinyl and cushioning that utilises a unique fixing system that takes account of the huge variability of materials and sizes of pillars even within a single car park. The materials make it resistant to collisions and scuffing ensuring both car and car park remain undamaged from any collision.

A further advantage of using the printable vinyl is that the space can be used for advertising. In contrast to the usual dull and blank exterior of car park pillars, Pillar Protector allows for an effective refurbishment of a car park for a fraction of the cost. Important customer service messages can be displayed on the vinyl, such as entry and exit signs etc. Useful additional advertising revenues can be produced particularly in shopping areas. PSD’s marketing executive Annie Reddin commented that “Pillar Protector has four great advantages. It maximizes car park occupancy, it prevents damage,
it brightens up otherwise dull areas and it can generate income for the operator. It is proving very popular in Europe and we have high hopes for the UK market.”