Pilomat Enhances Safety for Schools and Students

A new pedestrian zone in Sorisole, near Bergamo, has been protected with Pilomat 275/P 600A automatic bollards, installed on public roads to temporarily close the section of roadway serving the town's primary and lower secondary schools.

The project focused on Via Tonale, between Via Piazzalunga and Via Aldo Moro, where the streetscape has been redeveloped with concrete block paving, large wooden seating areas and newly planted trees. Pilomat bollards were installed at both ends of the street, temporarily closing it to traffic during school arrival and dismissal times and transforming it into a safe pedestrian area.

Developed by Pilomat—one of the world's leading manufacturers of vehicle access control systems—the automatic bollards are positioned at the entrance to Via Tonale from Via Aldo Moro and near the schools' main entrance. This configuration prevents unauthorised vehicle access while protecting students, parents and pedestrians.

The operating schedule is automatically managed through a programmable timer, while manual operation remains possible via remote control or the integrated GSM system.

Fully compliant with current regulations, the two Pilomat 275/P 600A bollards are equipped with a GSM control unit, allowing authorised users—including police and designated personnel—to operate the bollards remotely by telephone.

An acoustic siren detection system automatically lowers the bollard whenever an approaching emergency vehicle is detected, ensuring immediate access for rescue services.

An inductive loop detector, installed near the exit bollard, automatically lowers and raises the cylinder should a vehicle remain inside the pedestrian area, allowing it to leave safely without manual intervention.

Production of the Pilomat 275/P 600A bollards began immediately after the order was received and took approximately six weeks. The units were then delivered to site, where installation was carried out in several phases to align with the overall road redevelopment programme.

The final installation, commissioning and testing of the bollards were completed in a single day, enabling the system to become fully operational within a very short timeframe.

Installation was carried out directly by Pilomat to ensure full compliance with applicable standards and to maintain the highest quality throughout the installation process.

Annual maintenance, recommended to preserve long-term performance and reliability, is also performed directly by the manufacturer through rapid and efficient service operations that minimise disruption while ensuring continuous system availability.

The Pilomat 275/P 600A automatic bollard consists of an underground foundation unit equipped with anchoring brackets that securely fix the system to the ground while housing the moving cylinder together with the hydraulic, electrical and control components.

The moving cylinder has a 275 mm diameter and extends 600 mm above ground when fully raised.

The foundation casing is manufactured from Aluzinc-coated steel to provide maximum strength and corrosion protection, while the 6 mm-thick cylinder is available in painted AISI 304 stainless steel.

The bollard reaches full operating position within seconds thanks to its high operating speeds, with a raising speed of 16 cm/s and a lowering speed of 30 cm/s.

The hydraulic operating system ensures maximum reliability, even under intensive use of up to 2,000 operating cycles per day. Reliable operation is maintained in all weather conditions, with an optional low-temperature kit featuring a transformer and thermostat for installations in cold climates.

To maximise visibility and user safety, the bollards are equipped with a 55 mm reflective top band, an acoustic movement warning device, an 8-LED flashing warning light, and red/green traffic signal lights.

The system can be managed locally or remotely via the dedicated control unit. Available control options include a security key switch, proximity card reader, radio remote control, telephone operation, programmable timer and smartphone app.

An optional inductive loop detector can identify the presence of vehicles, while emergency vehicles can be automatically recognised through an acoustic siren detection system with emergency override.

The electrical supply (IP67 protection rating) can operate on either 230 V single-phase or 400 V three-phase power at 50/60 Hz, and may also be connected to a UPS to ensure continued operation during temporary power failures.

As standard, the system includes anti-crushing safety devices and an automatic emergency lowering function.

The hydraulic power unit is fully integrated within the bollard and can be supplied with environmentally friendly biodegradable hydraulic oil to minimise environmental impact.