Last checked at 1 Nov 2011 07:00
1 November 2011
21st Century Technology plc
("21st Century" or "the Company")
Contract award from leading UK Bus Operator
21st Century, the supplier and installation service provider of public transport CCTV and vehicle monitoring systems, today announces that it has been awarded Preferred Supplier status to supply and maintain on vehicle CCTV systems for FirstGroup plc's ("FirstGroup") bus operating companies in the UK.
With a fleet of 8,000 buses, FirstGroup is the UK's largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services. FirstGroup is also the UK's largest rail operator. In North America it operates the iconic Greyhound coach services and is the largest provider of student transportation with some 57,000 yellow school buses.
Under the terms of the contract, the Company has entered into a two year agreement to supply and maintain the on vehicle CCTV as Preferred Supplier for FirstGroup in the UK, with the option to extend the contract for a further year by mutual agreement.
In 2010, 21st Century won its first order to supply on vehicle CCTV to FirstGroup UK Bus with sales reaching £0.9m for that year. The Company's sales to FirstGroup have already reached £1m for the first six months of 2011 and the Board anticipates significant growth as a result of being awarded Preferred Supplier status.
Commenting on the contract win 21st Century's Chief Executive, Nick Grimond, said:
"To be awarded Preferred Supplier status with the UK's largest bus operator cements our position as the leading supplier of on vehicle CCTV.
"21st Century now supplies on vehicle CCTV to three of the five top bus operators in the UK and we are actively looking to enhance overseas revenues of both our CCTV and EcoManager products by developing existing relationships including FirstGroup and via new opportunities which we are pursuing globally."
Ian Grindlay, FirstGroup's Procurement and Supplier Management Director, said: "Since 2010 21st Century has worked with FirstGroup supplying on vehicle CCTV for our buses. We were impressed with the company's approach, professionalism and delivery. I'm pleased therefore that we've extended our working relationship."
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Enquiries:
21st Century Technology plc | ||
Wilson Jennings | 020 8710 4016 | |
Finance Director | ||
MHP Communications Ltd | ||
Barnaby Fry | 020 3128 8100 | |
Vicky Watkins | ||
Daniel Stewart & Co plc | ||
Nominated Advisor | Paul Shackleton | 020 7776 6550 |
Noelle Greenaway | ||
Corporate Broking | Sean Lunn | |
Martin Lampshire |
Company website: www.21stplc.comNotes to editors:
21st Century Technology plc is the preferred supplier of on vehicle CCTV systems for Arriva UK Bus, FirstGroup UK Bus and the Go-Ahead Group in the UK and also the preferred supplier to Keolis in Stockholm.
The Company has pioneered the use of WiFi with on-board CCTV systems and Transport for London commissioned the Company to undertake a trial of 'LiveView' - a system which transmits live CCTV pictures from on board the bus to a public transport and police control centre. 21st Century was also the first company to successfully launch Automatic Video Downloads and a bus CCTV monitoring system (HeartbeatTM) which allow the CCTV manager to remotely download CCTV footage from the bus to his computer and check that all the CCTV systems fitted to his buses are fully operational, without leaving his desk. The company's overhead camera passenger counting device, known as Passenger Analysis System ("PAS"), links to the ticket machine and enables bus operators to analyse specific bus route ticket sales and passenger numbers.
21st Century's EcoManager product has made a significant contribution to sales since its launch in July 2008. The EcoManager black-box system is aimed at reducing fuel and maintenance costs, reducing emissions and improving safety for bus operators by monitoring individual driving styles against fuel consumption. Following a successful trial, in April 2009 Arriva UK committed to install the device on all their new buses and to retrofit a large proportion of their existing fleet. In November 2009 Arriva North West and Merseytravel won the industry recognised Alexander Dennis Award for Innovation following their installation of the EcoManager system which yielded fuel savings of up to 12%, associated CO2 emission reductions and a 62% reduction in accidents. This was followed in 2010 with a driver safety award for EcoManager presented by the road safety charity, Brake.
For further information go to www.getecomanager.com