News

Royal Philips Electronics is boosting its portfolio with a move to acquire Indal, a leading Spanish professional luminaires supplier. The two firms have made an agreement over the proposed acquisition deal. Indal’s product line centres on outdoor lighting solutions and this acquisition will boost both the product range and geographical spread for Philips within the European market.

McCain has announced approval of its 336L traffic controller cabinet on the Caltrans Qualified Product List (QPL) – the third ‘L’ version traffic controller cabinet on the QPL - the 332L, 334L, and now the 336L. McCain says the “L” cabinet series are more ecologically friendly and energy efficient, decreasing energy consumption through the use of a power-saving, high-efficiency power supply and eliminating the use of the harmful toxin mercury.

ITS America has released the Preliminary Programme for the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), an interactive e-brochure that is a one-stop resource for the latest information on the major activities planned for World Congress week which will take place in Orlando, Florida from 16 – 20 October, 2011. The event is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees from 75 countries including legislators, transport ministers and public sector officials, international business and technology l

Turkey's General Directorate of Highways (KGM or Karayollari Genel Müdürlügü), is ordering power, lighting and ventilation equipment from Siemens for a major tunnel project. The Dorukhan Tunnel linking Mengen and Devrek will be equipped with the package from Siemens, which includes associated safety and communications systems. The size of the deal has not been released and the handover of the new system is scheduled for January 2012.

As part of the New Hungary Development Plan, NNG has developed a new, automotive line-fit navigation solution based on the iGO My way engine. The company, which was awarded an EU subsidy for the 18-month development project, has now delivered its first line-fit navigation product to a market-leading global motor-vehicle Tier 1 supplier.

AeroVironment has been selected by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODoT) to install its high-power Level 3 electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations along the I-5 corridor from the California state line to the Willamette Valley. This is the beginning of the “Green Highway,” a vision for safe and consistent charging infrastructure spanning the West Coast, allowing EV drivers to travel with confidence from San Diego to Vancouver in Canada.

The UK’s Highways Agency (HA) has turned to international logistics specialist Norbert Dentressangle to handle, store and distribute variable message signs for the UK motorway network. Previously, the HA paid manufacturers to store its signs but, under the new arrangement, it will benefit from consolidating all the stock at Norbert Dentressangle’s Telford site. The company will also be responsible for the phased migration of product from manufacturer sites in Gatwick, Aylesbury and Newcastle Upon Tyne.

AC Desarrollo, the capital risk firm of Ahorro Corporacion, purchased a 21.3% stake in the Spanish firm Postigo, that specialises in road safety equipment, signalling and other traffic elements. The aim is to increase the stake to 31%, and the operation was performed through a capital increase. Postigo reported a turnover of EUR 72 million (US$103.22 million) in 2010.

Honeywell has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EMS Technologies, a provider of connectivity solutions for mobile networking, rugged mobile computers, and satellite communications, for approximately $491 million. Honeywell says the acquisition will enhance its existing capabilities in rugged mobile computing technologies and satellite communications within its Automation and Control Solutions (ACS) and Aerospace businesses.

The results of the latest traffic study from TomTom are in, revealing some of the most congested hotspots in Europe. Brussels is still topping the chart as the most congested city in Europe and congestion in the Belgian Capital is getting worse, showing a 1.2% increase in traffic since 2010.

Traffic Tech (Gulf), currently the sole provider of parking management systems (PMS) at The Pearl, in Qatar, has been awarded two new PMS contracts to be implemented at Medina Centrale and Qanat Quartier Districts. The company will supply, install, commission, operate, and maintain complete car parking systems with revenue control and management systems in ten buildings that house retail and residential areas at Medina Centrale and Qanat Quartier districts. Traffic Tech first implemented PMS at the district

The Italian region of Lazio is to take part in the European Community's Pilot4Safety road safety pilot scheme. The regional authorities will apply European guidelines when managing the rural road network that will include analysing current safety levels, carrying out inspections and performing project management work. The results of the scheme will be pooled to improve expert safety training at an experimental level.

Siemens and Hyundai have made a proposal to Moscow’s government to form a concession company for underground construction. The company is not only to build the metro and supply the rolling stock but also get a concession for land plots.

Leading Russian diversified transport infrastructure construction company Mostotrest and Kapsch TrafficCom have formed a joint venture, United Tolling Systems, to develop the strategy for the introduction of intelligent motorway management systems. Media reports suggest that the partners intend to bid jointly for the construction of a toll road in southern Russia.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is helping to inject private finance into the modernisation of Poland’s municipal transport system with a loan for the construction and operation of an underground car park in the historic part of Wroc³aw, Poland’s fourth largest city.