TORONTO, ON. T-JI Talfourd-Jones Inc., the North American leader in custom Reflex Bumpers™ and fenders for transit, announced a breakthrough in so-called barrier coating technology that will raise the bar for decorative – and durable – in mold coatings and finishes for transit bumpers and molded fenders. "The days of ‘any colour as long as it’s black’ and expensive, crack-prone top coatings are gone forever," stated Bill Cherry, President of T-Ji. "With our SuperFlex™ In-mold Colour System (SICS), we can match the colour scheme of any branding strategy with durable, crack resistant coatings right out of the mold, from glossy to matte finishes." The advantage of the new system is that a wide range of colours - from solid to brilliant metallic – can be applied to the surface of the mold prior to injecting the substrate. In addition, the system offers superior colour matching of the bumper or fender substrate to the finish coating, an important factor that extends the life span of flexible components exposed to automatic bus washing systems. When the bumper or fender substrate is injected into the closed aluminum mold, it bonds chemically to the SuperFlex™ barrier coating, resisting cracking and peeling common to custom top coatings subjected to the daily abuse bumpers and fenders are expected to absorb without any visible damage. Prior to the development of these new coatings, bumper and fender decoration was limited to black, grey, and white or to post-mold top coating with poorly performing polyurethane paints, effectively limiting the flexibility of branding strategists and graphic designers. "Improving the perceived value of transit services has become critical to increasing ridership; for the first time, graphic designers can look at the bus as a truly blank canvas," enthused Cherry.

T-Ji’s custom fenders and bumpers as well as their new line of standard Reflex Bumpers – black or otherwise - will be finished with the new barrier coating technology. The first beneficiary will be North American Bus Industries of Anniston, AL. The Model-60 BRT’s sleekly styled custom front Reflex Bumper (left, at top) and the RB-SLF60-CR Standard Rear Reflex Bumper are both decked out in LACMTA’s metallic silver gray, closely matching the distinctive colouring of LA’s BRT brand identity. The RB-SLF60-CR is T-Ji’s entry into the stagnant heavy-duty transit bumper market (at left, below). "The contemporary, swept design of T-Ji’s new line of Standard Reflex Bumpers is raising the bar for curb appeal and certified impact protection – our new SuperFlex™ In-mold Colour System will add to the flexibility and market responsiveness of our products," promised Cherry.

T-Ji will exhibit Reflex Bumpers with SuperFlex™ finishing technology at the Canadian Urban Transportation Association’s TransEXPO in Vancouver, November 16^th, 2010, booth #229.