Firm gets green light to keep traffic moving

Sep 16 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

AN IT company is speeding up its expansion plans after clinching a multi-million-pound contract to help keep traffic flowing in Sweden.

Launched earlier this year by Nick Drew and Derek Lister, Teesside firm Nicander will be involved in the development and maintenance of a traffic management system in Stockholm.

The five-year contract – with an option for a further two years – is worth at least £4m to the company, which is based at Wynyard near Redcar.

The Central Technical System (CTS) provides traffic managers with the information they need to keep the traffic moving smoothly around the Swedish capital even if there are accidents and roadworks.

The CTS system currently works through 29 different external computer systems which enables the system to control functions such as CCTV and devices such as motorway signals, traffic lights, variable message signs and road tunnels.

Working from Wynyard Business Park, the company has already created seven new jobs and says it has the potential to create more as the business grows. It has recently moved to a newly-leased 2,500sq ft office in anticipation of future expansion.

The founders have more than 40 years experience between them in information technology, including experience in areas such as strategy, planning, system design, implementation, testing and commissioning of large projects.

They previously worked on a range of high-profile projects for organisations worldwide before deciding to devote their expertise to starting their own company.

Their first major contract sees them providing the project management and the future software development for Stockholm’s CTS alongside Swedish partners, Infracontrol and Viati, who carry out local co-ordination, consultancy and contract management.

The company won its contract from the Swedish Roads Administration (SRA), the country’s equivalent of the Highways Agency and Nicander is now working to extend the system to create a further three traffic control centres over the next year.

Longer term, the system will be enhanced to provide the capability of controlling the traffic across Sweden from any traffic control centre.