Shock-Gard · Rail bulkheads & void fillers
Shock-Gard® Panel
Reusable shock-absorbing bulkhead for railcars, trailers and intermodal units. Foam core, molded sidewalls, fiber-reinforced facing. Tested by AAR and the US Army.
Photo: Shock-Gard panel set between pallet rows in a boxcar
What it is
A bulkhead that absorbs the impact and springs back
A patented expandable polystyrene foam core inside injection-molded sidewalls, faced with fiber-reinforced, anti-microbial material. Panel geometry compresses under rail impact and returns to shape, so one panel protects load after load. Zero-gravity skates and handles let one person move it on the dock.
Where it's used
Cargo × transport unit
- 50 lb bags × railcar
- Palletized cans × railcar
- Bins × railcar
- Auto parts × railcar
- Pulp × railcar
- Palletized cases × railcar
- Kegs and drums × railcar
- Road trailers
- Intermodal units
How it works
Place, lock, ship, reuse
- 01Photo: panel sliding on dock
Place
Slide the panel on its skates into the void between load blocks.
- 02Photo: endcap locking
Lock
Set the endcaps and locking mechanism so the panel stays square.
- 03Diagram: compression under impact
Ship
Panel geometry compresses under rail impact and returns to shape.
- 04Photo: panels stacked for return
Reuse
Unload, inspect, and return the panel to the next load.
Components
Twelve parts, one panel
- 01
Fiber-reinforced facing
High tensile, rub and puncture resistance
- 02
Patented EPS foam core
Shock-absorbent, high compression strength
- 03
Zero-gravity skates
Slide on the loading dock for easy handling
- 04
Internal locking mechanism
Robust edge protection
- 05
Reinforced corners
Impact protection at all eight corners
- 06
Side wall geometry
Absorbs shock and springs back
- 07
Shock-absorbent geometry
Sidewalls provide a spring effect
- 08
Injection-molded sidewalls
Elasticity, compression and snap-back
- 09
Handles
Two-person carry, one-person slide
- 10
Polycarbonate endcap
Locks into place and keeps the panel square
- 11
Anti-microbial coated facing
High-tensile facing for food and pharma loads
- 12
RFID ready
Track panels through the network
Facts & stats
Safer loads, fewer claims, less waste
- 70,000+railcars secured with Shock-Gard in 2021
- 500,000+containers secured with Ty-Gard DS in 2021
- 2 sizes3" × 36" × 108" and 3" × 48" × 96"
- Reusableone panel, many loads; RFID pool tracking
Specifications
Two standard panel sizes
| Panel sizes | 3" × 36" × 108" · 3" × 48" × 96" |
|---|---|
| Core | Patented expandable polystyrene foam |
| Sidewalls | Plastic injection-molded, shock-absorbent geometry |
| Facing | Fiber-reinforced, anti-microbial coated |
| Handling | Zero-gravity skates, handles |
| Tracking | RFID ready |
| Patent | U.S. patent issued 2018 |
Certifications & approvals
Shock-Gard Panel: tested and approved
Each approval is listed with the body that issued it and what it covers.
Rail · USA
AAR
Association of American Railroads
Ty-Gard approved since 2006 for dangerous goods and general cargo; Shock-Gard railroad impact tested and approved.
Rail · defense
US Army
United States Army
Shock-Gard panels tested and approved by the US Army.
Related applications
See it in 3D on Tech Hub
- 3D render: Palletized cases secured in a railcar
Palletized Cases
Protect palletized cases from impact damage during shipping with Shock-Gard shock-absorbing bulkhead and void-fill panels.
Open on Tech Hub → - 3D render: Pulp rolls secured in a railcar
Pulp
Prevent impact damage to pulp shipments using Shock-Gard reusable shock-absorbing bulkhead and void-fill panel solutions.
Open on Tech Hub → - 3D render: Kegs and drums secured in a railcar
Kegs
Prevent impact and collision damage to kegs and drum loads during rail transport using Shock-Gard reusable shock-absorbing panels.
Open on Tech Hub →
Have a representative contact me
Tell us the cargo and the railcar or trailer. We return a load plan and a panel count.