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New Zealand contract win for VMSL

Variable Message Signs Limited (VMSL), the UK's leading supplier of driver information systems has been awarded a three year contract by Transit New Zealand.

Roger Stainforth, Deputy Chairman of VMSL, was delighted to win such a prestigious order. Transit New Zealand are the equivalent of the UK's Highways Agency, they are the Crown Entity responsible for state highways throughout New Zealand, accounting for half of the 36 billion vehicle kilometres their residents travel every year.


Auckland's North-Western Motorway, westbound

The contract is valued at 4.5 million New Zealand Dollars (£1.6 million pounds) over 3 years, with the scope to supply a range of VMS signs for rural and trunk networks in the country's North and South Islands. VMSL will start work immediately on the first year's requirements, with a plan to deliver 22 signs by the end of 2007.

The order will involve VMSL's MS3 technology. The MS3 road-side mounted signs comprise three or five lines of 200mm or 320mm characters arranged as a full matrix that can display legends and symbols using Rigel LED technology.

Roger Stainforth, commented: "We are very happy we have won this contract, it is particularly pleasing because it contributes to the growing export side of our business."

The order was won by Aspect Solutions Limited (ASL), of Auckland, who have been VMSL's agent in New Zealand for over 6 years. This contract win builds on earlier success in New Zealand, where VMSL have previously supplied six signs for the Auckland Motorway.

Zachary Lawrence, Managing Director of ASL is a frequent visitor to the VMSL South Tyneside plant and regularly sends his staff to the UK plant for specialist training.

Mr Lawrence added "Transit wished to align themselves with an experienced large-scale manufacturer providing leading edge technology, performance and reliability. VMS has a proven record in providing that service."

As a pre-requisite of the contract VMSL had to demonstrate that signs situated in Auckland could be controlled and co-ordinated by the control centre in Wellington. VMSL sent one of their specialist engineers, to work with the ASL engineers to carry out the successful technical demonstration building on the success of the existing Auckland Motorway installations.

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VMSL Win Highways Agency Contract

Variable Message Signs Limited (VMSL), based in Hebburn, South Tyneside, is the UK's leading supplier of driver information systems, and has started the year on a high by being awarded part of the Highways Agency contract to supply, install and provide operational support for message signs and motorway signals throughout England over the next four years.

The contract involves the development and prototyping of the next generation of three types of electronic variable message signs to provide drivers with essential information on road conditions ahead while improving safety and helping to reduce congestion.

VMSL have already started recruiting design engineers to work on the new contract. "We are in the process of recruiting design engineers for our engineering and development team" confirms Roger Stainforth, Deputy Chairman of VMSL. "We also hope the contract will lead to more production staff being needed in 2008 to cope with anticipated volume." The Highways Agency indicated during the tendering process that over four years their total procurement could be in the order of £185 million (€268million).

"We are delighted to have been awarded a part of such a contract. It's good news for our suppliers and sub-contractors, as we purchase over 80% of our components and materials from companies within 25 miles of Hebburn."

The VMSL MS3 signs comprise two or three lines of 320mm or 400mm characters and incorporate a graphics area that can display legends and symbols using Rigel LED technology.

The innovative Rigel LED technology created VMSL's big breakthrough in 1995/96 when it became the first display system to meet and actually exceed optical performance standards set by Highways Agency TR2136 Issue A.

The MS4 enables the display of an almost limitless range of pictograms and text on its high-resolution dual colour LED matrix.

MS3 and MS4 signs are a familiar sight on the Highways Agency motorway and trunk road network mounted on cantilevers, gantries and posts. The signs to be developed under this contract, while introducing many enhancements in the control techniques and communication modes including TCP/IP, will be mechanically and electrically compatible with existing signs and structures and the NMCS2 communication network.

The AMI and MS4 signs employed in the current Highways Agency M42 Trial, of which approximately half were provided by VMSL, were acknowledged at the recent ITS World Congress held in London for their contribution to the success of the trial and in particular to hard shoulder running. Average journey time for motorists on the 17 km trial section has been cut from 18 to 13 minutes.

VMSL have built a reputation for innovative, high quality and reliable technology, specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of LED based products that can be seen in growing numbers on both strategic and urban roads in the UK.

Highlighting their ambitions to continue their progress abroad, the developments will follow the long established practice adopted by VMSL of conforming to the European Standard BS/EN12966 and will therefore be appropriate for international use. VMSL have already supplied MS3 signs in Greece and Ireland and recently supplied MS4 signs for the Amsterdam A10 ring road (Click here to see details).

This contract was awarded by the Highways Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport (DfT), responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England. VMSL have worked with the Highways Agency for 20 years.

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ITS World Congress, London, 8-12 October 2006

Variable Message Signs Ltd played an active part in the successful ITS World Congress held in London at the splendid ExCeL conference and exhibition centre.

The photographs our stand, L29, which was ideally located adjacent to the Refreshment area, Wales internet café and close Traffic Scotland, the Highways Agency, Dft and Transport for London. We also had a Freeway 3000 solar powered mobile VMS in the outside demonstration area.

Our immediate neighbour was Northern Ireland Road Services and we took the opportunity to showcase their Foyle Bridge weather warning driver information system. NIRS had a MS4 dual colour high resolution LED technology sign typical of the Foyle Bridge signs on their stand and we had the TRAMS control system on L29. The Foyle Bridge schemes has lots of novel features including the ability to send SMS messages and e-mails to duty staff in the middle of the night if the wind speed exceeds predetermined thresholds!

ITS World Congress, London, 8-12 October 2006

John Raffle, Glynn Hutton, John McCann and Roger Stainforth manned the stand ably assisted on 9 October by Harrie van Houte of ARO Electronics our Benelux representative. We were certainly busy; the delegate ticket we purchased so that we could attend the wide range of sessions on offer was hardly used. We were too busy renewing past and present acquaintances from the UK and overseas. I suppose it is not too surprising when you meet a UK acquaintance not seen for a couple of years at a London event, but meeting an Aussie business friend at the end of the Session covering the M42 Active Traffic Management scheme was fair dinkum.

It was great to catch up on news of old, current and forthcoming projects. The M42 ATM scheme has been and remains project VMSL are very proud to be associated with. We have supplied 180 AMI and 36 MS4 together with ambient light monitoring, cable marshalling and roadside controllers. It has been a steep learning curve for everyone associated with the project, but now that hard shoulder running has been switched on, the HA seem to be getting impressive preliminary results. David Grant, the HA’s M42 Project Director, commented in his Session that the average times to travel the 17km of the scheme before and after switch on were 18 and 13 minutes respectively. That’s a fantastic result for the application of technology and where better to tell the world than at the ITS Congress.

If anyone came to our stand on Thursday afternoon to see John Raffle or me, we are sorry to have missed you. We had to pop into the Home Office in Marsham Street, London to sign, witness and seal the Home Office Type Approval document for our Enforceable type AMI. The test regime to achieve HOTA is rigorous and VMSL were first to sign and seal.

It was good to see the industry in such an enthusiastic mood with technology delivering results like the M42 ATM.

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Rijkswaterstaat recognise the tremendous possibilities on offer from MS4 technology

MS4 high resolution dual colour technology was the logical progression of Rigel LED technology introduced by Variable Message Signs Ltd (VMSL) in 1996.

The Highways Agency in England started MS4 development as their contribution to a pan-European project initiated by WERD - Western European Road Directors convention - to have electronic signs that could display text and pictograms. The purpose was to ensure that regardless of the driver's mother tongue the information on the sign would be understood throughout Europe.

Tremendous Possibilities on offer from MS4 technology

VMSL designed the first MS4 based on a dual colour Red and White/Yellow matrix comprising 192 x 128 pixels horizontal and vertical pitch between pixels of 20mm. The resulting high resolution display area allowed text and pictograms of great clarity to be displayed.

The first MS4 was installed at the Transport Research Laboratories test track at Crowthorne, England for a series of legibility trial. One outcome confirmed that signs with large polycarbonate front screens can produce specular reflection that detracts from the message. Consequently, a non reflective front was developed for all subsequent MS4 to eliminate specular refection.

The leaflet produced by Rijkswaterstaat, which we use with their kind permission, shows the tremendous possibilities that MS4 technology offers to traffic managers to display trusted, timely, useful and effective information. The signs installed on the Amsterdam Ring are Red and White and meet the Optical Performance of EN 12966.

We and our representatives in the Benelux, ARO Electronics are proud to be working with Rijkswaterstaat.


Dutch leaflet (390kb pdf)


English leaflet (180kb pdf)

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ITS UK holds Annual Conference on Safety Aspects of In-vehicle and Infrastructure Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

Nearly one hundred members of ITS (UK), the intelligent transport society for the UK, gathered at St James’ Park Football Stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne for the Society's Annual Conference, 16-17 May 2006.

Experts including Professor Mike McDonald from Southampton University and Dr Alan Stevens from TRL spoke on how current and imminent ITS applications, both in-vehicle and within infrastructure, would need to be integrated into the road safety agenda over the coming years.

There was lively debate, but all agreed that there would not be one crucial application or policy that would further reduce road accidents. The picture was far more complex and the measures taken to safeguard and further improve the UK’s standing as one of the world’s safest road networks would need to be equally wide ranging, and carefully researched.

The event included a very convivial dinner, sponsored by Variable Message Signs Limited, at the Stadium, and was made possible by additional sponsorship by Serco and RedSpeed International.

The pictures show conference delegates visiting the VMSL factory.

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First order for MS4 signs in Holland

Variable Message Signs Ltd (VMSL) has been awarded a new order from the Dutch roads authority, Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat), for six MS4 signs for use in the Noord Holland region, around Amsterdam and one MS4 sign for test purposes in Lelystad.

The MS4 signs, designed to help manage traffic flow, will be installed on the A1, A2, A8 and A10, one of the most important highways in Holland. Six of the signs will be positioned at key points on the Amsterdam ring as part of a new strategy to reduce congestion. The seventh sign will be installed at a test centre, to enable authorities to undertake analysis of driver response to variable message signs.

The relationship between VMSL and traffic authorities in Holland began in earnest two years ago at the 2004 Intertraffic Exhibition in Hanover. VMSL were approached by ARO Electronics who were looking for the right high quality partner for variable message signs systems and became their agent in the Benelux countries, building up on the existing contacts VMSL held in Europe.

The seven cantilever mounted MS4 signs will display pictograms and messages on a high-resolution dual colour matrix, which is particularly appealing to overseas transport organisations. The signs will undergo the same rigorous testing which is carried out for the UK Highways Agency, to ensure longevity of components, using software and hardware functionality tests as well as environmental tests to ensure that the signs will operate in different climates.

The Benelux countries, which compromises Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, operate some of the most modern transport infrastructures in the world and are constantly updating their roads to ensure smooth flows of traffic. This will be the second overseas application of VMSL’s MS4 technology, following the recent order by the Ayalon Highway Company in Israel, in December 2005.

Variable Message Signs Limited was the first company to design all equipment in anticipation of the introduction of EU standards EN12966. Deputy Chairman Roger Stainforth was one of the three UK members of the European VMS committee, working with them for over six years to formulate and establish the EU standard. All VMSL products have been designed and developed with this standard in mind.

Geoff Rogerson, Project Director at VMSL, is delighted with this order, "We have been involved since inception with MS4 technology and have signs installed on the M4, M25 and M42 motorway projects in England and installations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and very recently, Israel. We will put all this experience to good use for the benefit of Directorate-General for Public Works and Water."

Management Deputy Chairman, Roger Stainforth added, "The UK Highways Agency has set a high standard of quality and reliability in traffic management equipment which other authorities recognise. VMSL has a strong history of delivering this standard. Our expertise and experience in LED technology means that we can supply complete driver information systems to suit the high level of requirements for the Benelux traffic market."

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The Signs of Resilience

Worldwide, natural and man-made disasters and terrorism are a very real threat to life, health, social stability and the economy. The UK and US in particular, are seeing an annual increase in both man-made and natural disasters as well as terrorism.

In the UK, the Civil Contingencies Act gives Category 1 responders (Emergency Services, Local Authorities, Hospitals, Environment Agency and Coastguard) the responsibility of ensuring that the nation is prepared for all future major and catastrophic incidents. Part of the responsibility assigned is a duty to communicate with the public, in order to promote and foster resilient communities through all phases of the disaster cycle, providing timely and appropriate warnings and information.

Category 1 responders are therefore required to put in place arrangements to warn as well as provide information and advice to the public if an emergency is likely to occur or has occurred. The National Steering Committee for Warning and Informing the Public (NSCWIP) works to encourage improvements in UK public warning arrangements, advising Central Government on national strategy and providing support and advice to local emergencies management communities.

The means by which this duty of communication should be carried out is not mandated, but left to the responders to decide. As the London Tube bombing showed, mobile telephone networks are not resilient and are not under the control of emergency services.

In response to this new duty of communication, Variable Message Signs Limited (VMSL) and Tyco Fire and Integrated Solutions - Traffic & Transportation working in partnership with the Civil Protection Service of Thurrock Council to develop a Mobile, Emergency, Traffic Management and Security System based on the versatile and robust Freeway 3000 range of mobile platforms.

The Freeway 3000 mobile platform will be designed to cater for any requirements which may arise in an unpredictable situation, including audible and visual information, directional flood lighting, PA systems, surveillance, detection and operation all working independently of public power supplies.

The proposed system, to be demonstrated for the first time at the end of April 2006 hosted by the Civil Protection Service of Thurrock Council, can be used by Emergency Services, Road Authorities, and Combined Forces. The facilities may be operated remotely over the GSM network or locally by direct operation in the event that the GSM system does not have coverage or fails.

A recent report published by the US House of Representatives claims that the death and suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina could have been avoided had the US government learnt from the 2001 terror attacks and implemented a comprehensive disaster plan in anticipation of future catastrophe. The findings allocated blame to the state and local authorities who failed to fully mobilise federal assets. It is anticipated that authorities beyond the UK will have need of such sign information systems to help avoid additional complications through a lack of communication with the public as experienced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

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VMSL contract award from Trafford MBC

Trafford MBC will invest in SAFEWATCH vehicle activated signs from Variable Message Signs Limited. The VMSL SAFEWATCH range of vehicle and timer activated signs are specifically designed for use in the vicinity of schools and accident hotspots. VMSL will supply 28 units for Trafford's first phase of roll out. Some signs will also be used in conjunction with existing Speed Camera installations for additional reinforcement to the driving public.

Large scale evaluation conducted by the UK's Transport Research Laboratory concludes that vehicle activated message signs are highly effective in reducing speeds, particularly those of disproportionately faster drivers to whom the majority of accidents can be attributed. This positive effect can be realised without the need of speed cameras.

The range of coloured text and pictograms available using the SAFEWATCH signs will be assigned to a wide variety of applications within Trafford Borough. The new installations will give context-sensitive, advance warning to advise not just of school sites but also many different hazardous road features.

Trafford Council were particularly impressed by the functionality of the web-enabled Datalogging facility that complements the SAFEWATCH range. The specially designed Datalogger can monitor traffic density, speed and time, and produce an overview on a simple web-based graphical interface. This allows authorities to assess and demonstrate the reduction in vehicle speeds as a result of the sign installation, as well as pinpointing the time at which drivers are most regularly exceeding the speed limit.

The password-protected web interface is configured to show 85th percentile figures by day and even by hour of the day. Data can be appended to a single chart over a period of weeks/months to give the user a high level of confidence in the resultant figures. The use of a website negates the cost and inconvenience of site visits for data collection and also ensures that data is not lost where an isolated unit would exhaust its internal memory capacity.

Deputy Chairman of VMSL, Roger Stainforth, is very pleased by the contract award, "The Safewatch signs were chosen because of their high quality and advanced design. We are delighted to offer a web-based graphical interface for data logging. Authorities can now convert site-visit resource into direct data analysis thus saving both time and money."

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December visitors from Israel bring good tidings for VMSL

Variable Message Signs Limited (VMSL) has been awarded a contract by the Ayalon Highway Company in Israel, who visited VMSL in December 2005. The initial order for two Motorway Signal Mark 4 (MS4) signs will be the first overseas application of MS4 technology.
The Ayalon Highway is a 4-lane motorway, the major route from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, connecting the city of Hertzliya in the North to the city of Holon in the south. The Highway crosses the Tel Aviv metropolitan area from north to south, with exits to different parts of the city and other suburban towns. It is the busiest highway in Israel, carrying 750,000 vehicles each weekday.

Israel has an excellent road network, however, the major roads can be very congested. Traffic drives on the right and road rules are similar to those in Western Europe and North America. Built to the highest standards, the Ayalon Highway is one of the best roads in Israel and has one of the most advanced traffic control systems in the world.

The Ayalon Highways Company first came in contact with VMSL at the 1993 Traffex Exhibition. VMSL regularly attends Industry Exhibitions, and will be at Intertraffic 2006. The Ayalon Highways Company were impressed by the high standards of operational performance of VMSL signs, and their longstanding relationship with the UK Highways Agency.

VMSL have a history of producing to high standards, as all of their equipment operates in accordance with all relevant UK Highways Agency, ISO 9001, British Standards and HSE requirements.

Representatives of Ayalon Highway Company, and TMS (Traffic Management Systems) - VMSL Representatives in Israel, visited VMSL's headquarters in Hebburn, Tyneside, in the North East of England. Their December visit allowed them to view their order in the final stages of production. The MS4 signs always undergo rigorous testing to ensure longevity of components, using software and hardware functionality tests as well as environmental tests, which will ensure that the signs will operate in the Israel climate.

During their 3-day visit, they were given a tour of VMSL's design and development facilities, and met with VMSL engineers who are experts in the implementation of MS4 technology. The MS4 technology is especially appealing to overseas transport organisations because of their high-resolution dual colour, which makes it easy to display text from non-roman alphabets - like Hebrew.

Geoff Rogerson, Director of Projects at VMSL, is delighted with the progress, "We are best known for our ongoing projects with MS4 technology on the M4, M25 and M42 motorways. We have been able to put our experiences in the UK transport network to good use for developments in Israel. Whilst the delegates were here, we were able to put them in touch with our other contacts in the UK road and traffic management industry, so that the visitors could make the most of their overseas visit."

Roger Stainforth, Deputy Chairman of VMSL added, "The fact that The Ayalon Highway Company have placed this order now, over ten years since they first encountered VMSL at Traffex, shows how building long term relationships within the Industry helps to establish international links for the future. This is an exciting time for VMSL on the International scene, since we have also recently been visited by delegates from Sweden."

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VMSL features life-size gantry at Intertraffic

With over a quarter of a century's experience, and impressive credentials, VMSL is well equipped for Managing Traffic Safely in both highway and urban environments.

VMSL's variable message products can be seen in abundance on the UK motorway systems and in a number of overseas traffic management applications including both the Sydney and Athens Olympics. Of particular interest is the Highways Agency's flagship Active Traffic Management scheme on the M42 motorway, east of Birmingham, England.

Both the MS4 and Advanced Motorway Indicator (AMI) help to manage traffic flow. The MS4 displays advisory messages to drivers while the AMI displays variable speed limits according to traffic density. Ultimately, the innovative M42 ATM scheme will enable the safe use of hard shoulder running to be implemented.

Both sign types utilise VMSL's technique to eliminate reflection off the sign face, almost entirely. The MS4 is able to display pictograms and text in high resolution dual colour and the AMI displays variable speed limits and symbols within a mandatory red ring, when applicable. The company’s patented RIGEL optical lens technology ensures the highest optical performance and efficiency.

The MS4 and AMI signs will be displayed at Intertraffic on a stunning new stand showcasing VMSL’s repertoire of traffic management equipment. The exhibit will incorporate a 7m high passively safe gantry from Juralco of Norway, which has recently been undergoing impact tests.

Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) will also be demonstrated. Variable Message Signs Limited were one of the key project partner’s that successfully delivered the City of York Congestion Management System, the first fully UTMC compliant scheme in the UK, and the forerunner to many successful projects. A host of remote communication methods are available as standard.

Supporting its "Managing Traffic Safely" theme, VMSL will be presenting 2 recently released product ranges. The FREEWAY range offers trailer mounted messaging signs providing pictograms and free text available in single and dual colour, with a host of options delivering stand alone operation and flexible functionality.

The SAFEWATCH series provides many configurations of static and vehicle activated speed warning signs with a multitude of power supply options and operational features.
VMSL are feeling very positive about 2006, being optimistic over international business projects as well as business in the UK.

Roger Stainforth, Deputy Chairman of VMSL, said, "Our product range has expanded and today it extends from mobile signs for temporary traffic solutions to sophisticated variable message signs and traffic management systems. It is therefore with great excitement and anticipation that we attend this year’s Intertraffic 2006."

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VMSL Recognised by Queens Award

Variable Message Signs Limited has once again received recognition for its product innovation and excellence. VMSL has hosted a second visit by senior executives for the Office of the Queen's Award for Enterprise.

Stephen Brice, Secretary of the Queen's Awards Office and David Moore, Secretary to the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Queen's Awards, visited VMSL, based in Tyne and Wear, for a tour of the factory and met VMSL Finance and Operations Director Bill Hamilton to discuss the advantages to the company of winning the prestigious award and to encourage more firms in the North East to take part in the highly respected award scheme.


Stephen Brice, Secretary of the Queen's Awards Office, and Bill Hamilton
at VMSL's Hebburn factory.

VMSL is a leading provider of light emitting diode (LED) variable message signs used for traffic management systems, driver information and public display systems worldwide.

In 2002 VMSL won the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation. It was awarded in recognition of the company’s Rigel LED technology, which is a precision moulded optical device that allows enhanced optical performance of variable message signs. They are used extensively for traffic management on highways, city parking schemes and portable signs for temporary schemes such as construction work.

The aim of the Queen's Award for Enterprise is to recognise and encourage commercial success resulting from outstanding innovative achievements. The three main areas of the award scheme are international trade, innovation and sustainable development.

Many advantages are linked with winning the award, including the creation of new business and enjoying a commercial edge over competitors. Winning the award has even been likened to gaining "a corporate knighthood."

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SAFETY FIRST - Coeval and Variable Message Signs Ltd join forces for safety

Two of the traffic industries leading companies are combining their resources to create a powerful force in speed management, road safety and vehicle actuated signs.

In an agreement signed between Variable Message Signs Ltd and Coeval Products Ltd, the Coeval range of Safer Routes and Vehicle Activated Signs will be manufactured and marketed by VMS Ltd. The market for this range of products is growing rapidly and the combination of the Coeval design skills and VMS Ltd production and sales channels will ensure that the supply of high quality, high performance Type Approved products will meet demand in the UK market and overseas.

"We had planned to enter this market sector with a range of signs suitable for the Safer routes to school campaign" commented Roger Stainforth, Deputy Chairman of VMS Ltd. "I am thrilled that we are able to launch these products at the Traffex 2005 and avoid the duplication of development effort. Like ourselves, Coeval is committed to quality and safety."
Nick Sharp, Managing Director of Coeval added his endorsement to the agreement stating, "I am delighted to be working with VMS Ltd. It makes good sense to utilise the strengths of both companies to bring quality products to the market place."

Safer routes to school and vehicle activated signs are making a significant impact on lowering child casualty figures and improving speed limit compliance. The legibility and performance of this product range is assured by good design, quality management and manufacture backed up by Type Approval. Criteria that will be paramount to all safety conscious purchasers.

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