Above: ZonePro safety and loss-prevention barriers block aisles, restrict access to hazards and promote OSHA compliance while offering customization and messaging opportunities.
February, 2025- Modus, the Park City, Utah-based company recently launched an industrial barrier system called ZonePro, according to President and CEO Andrew Reiner. “This is not just a new product, but a new product category.”
The company initially identified the need for a retractable barrier at big box home improvement stores to more effectively block shopping aisles when heavy-duty equipment such as a forklift is being operated. Later, a different use case was developed to promote loss prevention by blocking closed checkout aisles to inhibit customers from walking out with unpaid merchandise, Reiner says. With an easy exit for would-be thieves blocked off, barriers funnel customers into checkout aisles that are attended.
Unlike some other types of stanchion or gate systems that act like a stop sign, which people frequently roll or run through, Reiner says ZonePro is more like a stop light. “It’s much more attention getting.”
He says Modus soon realized the basic ZonePro concept could be expanded to different environments, including distribution and service centers, warehouses, railway stations, and manufacturing and fabrication facilities. For example, the company reports that oil and gas conglomerate TechnipFMC plc was an early adopter and placed the safety barriers at a facility in Houston to separate work cells and clear walking areas using safety messaging in English and Spanish.
In addition, the barriers can guard against workers entering production processes where moving parts on manufacturing equipment can cause harm, Reiner notes. “The ZonePro product also provides a very large messaging space. The benefit of that is when people have the right message delivered to them at the right moment in time, they understand what the risk is or what they’re not supposed to do.”
The retractable barriers are 3-ft. high and 14-ft. long for the mounted and single stanchion models, while the dual stanchion model extends up to 28 ft. Modus says its patented technology enables banners to swivel to a 120-degree angle in either direction for flexible deployment. When not in use, the banner retracts into a 4-in.-diameter aluminum canister. “One of the nice things about the product is that the units can easily connect to each other, creating as long a daisy chain as needed for any space,” Reiner says.
TechnipFMC placed the safety barriers at a facility in Houston to separate work cells and clear walking areas using safety messaging in English and Spanish.
MESSAGING MATTERS
The barriers can be plain or custom printed on blue, orange, red or yellow fabric, Reiner says, ordered with standard safety messaging such as “area temporarily closed” or custom printed in black with any desired messaging, or on white fabric in full color. For the latter, the company offers graphic design services.
“It is a veritable billboard, so people are not going to miss the warning signs and messaging that’s offered by a ZonePro product when it’s deployed,” he says.
Although it would be an uncommon application at a fabrication shop, barriers can be printed with advertisements, and a barrier can be changed without any tools in about 15 seconds, Reiner adds. Users “could actually generate revenue from it.”
The safety barriers are available in mobile and mounted configurations, allowing a barrier to be moved on wheels to wherever there is a need, such as for accidents or temporary hazards, or kept in the same spot for a recurring need.
The units come equipped with a heavyduty hook on the deployed end, which connects to any stable area. If there is no connection area available, such as a wall or racking, the single mobile stanchion doubles as an attachment stand and can be used with or without a canister.
A ZonePro double stanchion consists of two banners for wide aisles and large industrial spaces.
Mounted barriers come with a universal mounting kit, with breakaway brackets to protect the unit from damage. Reiner says it can be mounted to any surface, including concrete, drywall and plywood, as well as a rack or shelving system.
Two fabric options are available, he notes. One is a mesh fabric that was enhanced to function effectively and extend barrier life and a fabric with a custom engineered architecture that helps to keep the fabric flat.
“We have a cycle tester we had built, and it pulls the fabric in and out 10,000 times a day,” Reiner says. “It works through the night, holi - days, weekends, days off. We’ve tested hundreds of thousands of cycles, and it is a highly resilient product. We grew out of an environment like Home Depot, which is about as challenging of an environmental sit - uation as you can find.”
He notes that the barrier functions best indoors but does work well outdoors as long as it isn’t too windy.
The U.S. is the largest market for the ZonePro safety barrier, but the company has distribution on several continents, Reiner says. “We haven’t made it to Mars yet, but that’s only because Elon Musk hasn’t gotten there yet.”
Modus’ team believes in “servicing every customer need, which often goes beyond just the product.” In addition to providing graphic design services, the company offers consultancy assistance to make sure people are kept safe and the product is used for the optimal benefit of customers. “The whole idea is to keep people away from hazardous areas,” Reiner says.
Modus, 801/881-0011, madebymodus.com
