Watch: The new bomb proof bin designed by Birmingham company
A special bin designed to withstand a terrorist bomb blast has been launched by a Birmingham company.
The Elonex blast-proof bin are made from the same material and technology used on armoured military vehicles and are designed to be used in public places vulnerable to terrorist attack.
Litter bins were removed from many rail stations and public buildings during the 1990s following the explosion of an IRA bomb in a litter bins at Victoria Station in 1991 and Warrington in 1993.
The company, based at Edgbaston Stadium is offering 100 free of charge to councils, city centres, sports stadiums, airports and train stations to road test them on the streets of Britain. It hopes to win orders from all over the world.
It believes the bins are the answer for keeping vulnerable buildings and visitors safe and clean.
With a weight of 1.3 tonnes each the bins can also be used as safety barriers to prevent vehicles from ploughing into pedestrian areas.
They also have digitial screens which can highlight warning messages in the case of emergencies, as well as display adverts or public information.
Chris Green of Elonex said: “It has a reinforced steel chamber. That chamber will withstand very very high pressures and retain a blast. So if a bomb goes off what you won’t get is a blast going off to the sides. It will keep the blast contained.”
He added that there would be no fragmentation of the material either.
The company says the patented bins have been subject to rigorous testing and are Home Office and Ministry of Defence approved.
