As warehousing and industrial operations become more automated and complex, the need for consistent, reliable performance data for protective guarding solutions has never been greater. At MODEX 2026 — April 13–16 in Atlanta, GA — the Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) will present an education session explaining why standardized testing is essential for protective guarding solutions.
ProGMA’s session, “Verify with Confidence: Why Standardized Testing Is Essential for Guarding Compliance and Safety Assurance,” will take place on Wednesday, April 15 at 1:30 PM in the MHI Industry Group Theater.
The session’s three presenters will underscore the importance of evaluating protective guarding systems under uniform and reproducible conditions. They include:
- Ray Niemeyer, Vice President of Sales at SpaceGuard Products, Inc.
- Dave Dalleske, Senior Vice President of Sales at A-SAFE, Inc.
- Kyle Nobile, Senior Research and Innovation Engineer at 4Front Engineered Solutions.
Why Standardized Testing Is Important
The session will detail the importance of using products that have been subjected to rigorous, repeatable testing protocols. It will also outline the risks of using unverified products, including potential hidden failures, regulatory exposure, and damage to brand reputation, said Niemeyer.
“One of the goals of the session is to help attendees connect standardized testing practices with real safety and operational outcomes,” he explained.
“Facility operators need more than manufacturer claims about a protective guarding solution’s expected performance,” added Dalleske. “They need objective data that allows them to compare products on an apples-to-apples basis.”
The best way to do that, Nobile continued, is to look for products whose performance has been verified following a prescribed, standardized testing methodology.
“ANSI standards — developed by ProGMA — provide that degree of objectivity by specifying how products should be tested, documented, and reported,” he said. “Session attendees will gain insight into how standardized testing improves design validation.”
Additionally, standardized testing supports supply chain accountability, noted Niemeyer. “It also enables third-party certification that instills buyer and end user confidence.”
Three ProGMA ANSI Standardized Testing Methodologies Reviewed
Intended for facility managers, safety professionals, and design teams, the presentation will overview ProGMA’s three American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. The trio will walk attendees through:
- ANSI MH31.1 – Steel Mesh Containment Panels. This standard defines uniform test methods for evaluating steel mesh panels used in vertical storage applications. It details procedures for measuring strength, deflection, and performance under load.
- ANSI MH31.2 – Industrial Guardrail Barriers and Posts. This standard establishes a repeatable crash-testing method for guardrails and barriers. It helps users understand how systems will perform when struck by powered industrial vehicles.
- ANSI MH31.3 – Topple Barriers. This standard outlines a consistent approach to testing how topple barriers resist leaning or falling loads. This is critical for preventing product collapse and related injuries.
What Attendees Will Gain
Open to anyone, the session is especially valuable for persons responsible for safety, risk reduction, or equipment specification in distribution, warehousing, and manufacturing environments. Key takeaways include:
- How standardized testing ensures safety and reliability across protective guarding categories.
- Why consistent methods enable meaningful comparison of products from different manufacturers.
- How testing contributes to compliance and reduces legal/financial exposure for end users.
- Ways that validation and transparent data build market trust and support smarter purchasing decisions.
To attend MODEX 2026 and learn more about protective guarding standards and compliance, visit the show website and register today.
Find Protective Guarding Solutions, Resources Online
Can’t wait until ProGMA’s session to learn more about how protective guarding? The Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) offers multiple resources and information about safety solutions. These include a Protective Guarding Search Tool, a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), case studies, and more.
