APRIL 2014 Pushing boundaries
Intelligent transport systems will continue to play an important role in the future of the UK’s road network. That was the message from exhibitors at this year’s Intertraffi c exhibition in Amsterdam. Alec Peachey reports
Intertraffi c Amsterdam is billed as the international trade fair for infrastructure, ITS traffi c management, safety and parking. Did it live up to its reputation? The short answer is yes.
More than 26,000 visitors attended the biennial event at the Amsterdam Rai which took place over four days towards the end of March. They came from 128 different countries and were presented with a wide variety of different products from close to 800 exhibitors.
P&D Specialist Services and Bartco Traffi c Equipment were among the exhibitors and used the show as a platform to announce a joint venture.
The intelligent transport system (ITS) providers will bring the benefi ts of their ITS solutions to new international markets.
Bartco UK will become Europe’s fi rst manufacturer of portable, solar powered, fi ve colour matrix variable message signs (VMS).
Based in Derbyshire, UK, Bartco UK will be the sales and manufacturing division of Bartco’s portable electronic VMS for the UK, European and northern hemisphere markets. It will be located alongside Mobile Visual Information Systems (MVIS), part of the P&D Specialist Services (Holdings) Ltd group.
MVIS will continue to manufacture portable ITS solutions including ANPR, CCTV, radar and lighting and supply these to the UK, European and northern hemisphere markets. While Bartco’s VMS will still be available via MVIS as part of its rental business, the signs will now also be sold directly to those markets by Bartco UK.
Speaking at the show, Pat Musgrave, managing director of P&D Specialist Services, MVIS and Bartco UK, said: “We’ve decided that it’s a good mix. In the short to medium term we’ll be looking at manufacturing in the UK and assembly. We’ve got some partners that we’re discussing things with at the moment and eventually we’ll be in a position where certain products for the UK and European market will be built in the UK. It cuts down transport costs, order times, exchange rate fl uctuations and ticks a big box with the Highways Agency and local authorities.
“The ITS market in the UK is very buoyant for us and we’re getting a lot of business from smart motorways. Whatever anyone chucks at us we can do within the group. Whether it’s a hole in the ground or a piece of technology that someone wants.”
Troy Wollard, managing director of Bartco Traffi c Equipment and MVIS AUS and chairman of Bartco UK, added: “I think it is a great move for everyone.
There are a lot of synergies with what we do and I think we can take the expertise with what we’ve learnt and implemented in the UK and bring it back into Australia.”
Bartco UK and MVIS AUS will commence operation on 1 June 2014.
Siemens unveiled new software that helps reduce downtime and increase road safety.
www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk
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