ARB Frontal Protection

Vital for rural and remote area travel, ARB frontal protection will provide substantially improved protection for vulnerable mechanical components against animal strikes whilst providing a solid base for mounting other accessories like driving lights, winches and CB antennas.

ARB bars are superbly engineered and manufactured to not only maintain maximum functionality, but also to ensure they complement the look of the vehicle.

ARB manufactures a number of different bars from the sleek deluxe and Sahara styles, to the more functional commercial bar, as well as nudge bars for smaller SUVs and utes.

Engineering a bull bar requires careful consideration of a number of factors to ensure it properly serves its purpose. Factors such as vehicle design, crush rate, air bag deployment, approach angles, accessory fitment, strength, weight and aesthetics are incorporated into every ARB bar before it enters production.

You simply won’t find a more thoroughly designed and manufactured vehicle protection system than an ARB bull bar.

ARB has invested heavily in vehicle crash barrier tests to validate the performance and compliance of its air bag compatible bull bars. To ensure compatibility, ARB assesses each vehicle’s frontal crush characteristics and replicates the crush rate in the design of each air bag compatible bull bar and mounting system.

Using this method ensures that the vehicle’s crush rate and air bag triggering are not altered when a bull bar is installed.

Each ARB bull bar is specifically designed to complement the unique contours of individual vehicle models. This ensures the best possible fit, look and functionality for a particular vehicle.

All ARB bars are finished in a durable powder coat with the option to colour code to your vehicle in order to further enhance the bar’s appeal and provide a more integrated look.

Bull Bar Production Steps

Laser Cutting

Every bull bar starts its life as a flat sheet of steel. Individual components are cut to shape using ARB’s state of the art, computer aided laser cutters which can cut to a tolerance of just 0.2mm with no heat distortion, resulting in superior surface finishes and accuracy.

Folding

Individual components are then folded to make up the sections of the bull bar using a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine which ensures maximum accuracy and consistency. Most bull bars utilise ARB’s five fold design, with each fold providing additional strength.

Tube Work

ARB bull bars are made with strong, 2.6mm wall thickness tubing. The tube is cut to the desired length and bent with a CNC Eagle internal mandrel bender ensuring consistency, accuracy and an even wall thickness across all sections.

Robot Welding

Once folded, each section is welded utilising a robot welder. Robot welders are used for straightforward, repetitive welding jobs that require deep penetration, speed and accuracy.

Assembly

When individual components are complete, the bull bar is assembled. All sections including pan, wing, uprights, outer frame and chassis brackets are placed in a jig and tack welded. This is followed by finish welding and grinding for strength and aesthetics. Jigs are assessed regularly to ensure accuracy.

Post Assembly

To complete the manufacturing process all ARB bars are shot blasted, before entering a 5 stage chemical wash to prepare the surface for maximum powder adhesion. They’re then powder coated and oven baked to ensure a rich and durable finish. As well as being an attractive and durable finish, power coating provides an excellent base for painting if colour coding is required.