Techspan wins City of York UTMC signs order

Two sizes of sign are to be supplied under the contract with messages being displayed on four rows of fifteen characters with 100mm or 160mm height. The design of the signs is based on Techspan’s well-proven LED technology, which is used on large variable message signs that are in service throughout the UK on the motorway network.

This contract, which will be managed by City of York Council and Consultants FaberMaunsell, establishes Techspan as a new supplier of smaller urban variable message signs into the rapidly expanding UTMC market place. The contract is particularly significant as York is regarded as one of the cities leading the development and implementation of UTMC.

Note to Editor:
Launched in 1997, the UTMC programme is the UK Department for Transport (DfT) main initiative for the development of a more open approach to Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in urban areas. During the first three years, a number of research projects were undertaken to establish and validate an approach based on modular systems and open standards. These have contributed to the UTMC technical specifications, which define UTMC standards.

In January 2001, the programme embarked on its demonstrator phase, which takes the opportunity to consolidate the results of the earlier research. Preston, Reading, Stratford-upon-Avon and York are implementing, in a pragmatic way, full scale demonstrator projects based on the UTMC approach.

A key element of the UTMC programme is to facilitate the continuing development and implementation of UTMC. To this end, the UTMC Development Group (UDG) of stakeholders, consisting of Local Authorities and suppliers has been set up.

Techspan is part of the Signs and Technology business of Jarvis plc. The company’s purpose-built headquarters in Aylesbury includes an advanced research and design department and a fully equipped manufacturing facility.

Techspan has installed more then 700 variable message signs on the UK’s strategic road network – about half the VMS in use. Techspan signs are operating on the majority of the UK’s major trunk roads including the M4, M25, M42, M6, M62 and across Scotland’s trunk road and motorway network.

For further information, please contact:

Mike Tate		Richard Cox
Jarvis PLC	or	PResence-PR Lt
Tel: 0207 4626674		Tel: 0115 921388
Email: mike.tate@jarvis-uk.com		Email: richard@presence-pr.com

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