Shropshire Star

Boost for bikers thanks to Shropshire firm

A manufacturer in Shropshire hopes to see a boom in trade after designing a new motorbike-friendly manhole cover.

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BUSINESS. James (right) and Ian Russell of R and B UK JT Ltd. Madeley.

A manufacturer in Shropshire hopes to see a boom in trade after designing a new motorbike-friendly manhole cover.

R and B UK JT Ltd has enlisted the support of British superbike rider Michael Rutter to promote its new product, which could help reduce crashes on wet and icy roads by improving traction for bike wheels.

Now bosses at the Madeley, Telford, company hope they have found a solution to a problem which has been dogging bikers in recent cold winters.

Managing director Ian Russell said: "Other than there being something in the road there is nothing worse for a biker than stopping on a slippery manhole cover.

"It is bad enough when they are wet, but when it's freezing then trying to brake or stand up is an art in itself.

"As manufacturers in the industry it's something that we have only recently been asked to look at. Until three or four years ago skid resistance hasn't been a factor but it has been driven by motorcycle action groups and has snowballed recently."

He added: "I'm not a biker but if you stopped 100 in the street they would tell you it is an absolute nightmare.

"There has been a push from various directions – bikers' groups, the Highways Agency, and various parts of the industry – to come up with non-slip covers and frames for road use and pavements."

The Tuftac cover provides the seemingly straightforward solution of embedding asphalt into the cover before it is laid in the road.

"We have been working on the Tuftac for the last two years," Mr Russell said.

"It's an adaptation of a standard traditional cover in the road.

"One producer took their standard cover and bonded material to the top. They have been in test for a couple of years , initially with great success, but the reports are it is wearing off.

"We went for a recessed version, so instead of looking like a shiny top piece."

The business has sponsored Michael Rutter's superbike team, and say he has shown off the item to bike users at shows around Europe.

Mr Russell added: "Everyone Michael has shown it to is very excited.

"We are talking to the Isle of Man – every year for the TT Race they cover up their covers, and as soon as it is finished they have to send gangs out to remove them again. We hope next year to come to an arrangement to take out the existing covers and frames and replace them with these."

The company, which turns over £3 million each year, is also hoping to make headway with its products in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

It will see two of the company's products rolled out in the city, which is among the hosts of the 2022 football World Cup.

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