Helping the commercial vehicle sector reduce ‘blind spots’ has led the Wolverhampton-based safety solutions’ provider, Spillard Safety Systems, secure a record year. CVW finds out how the company wants to build on this success.
Spillard Safety Systems, founded by Vic Spillard in 1992, won a number of new contracts with DHL, Marston’s and Tesco’s One Stop stores to fit its vehicle video surveillance four camera system to over 1,500 vehicles in a bid to improve driver performance and reduce accidents. Over £800,000 of business has been achieved that will see it expand by nearly 20% over the first half of this year, with ten additional engineers already taken on to cope with current and future demand.
The firm has also enjoyed huge success with its new video telematics service ‘Spillard Live’, which gives companies real- time, remote access to footage taken on all of its camera systems. In just over 12 months, it has installed over 2,000 systems and this figure is expected to double in 2019.
“Mining, construction and plant have typically been our core markets and, whilst we are still seeing market share grow in these sectors, it is the sudden spike in orders for commercial vehicles that has seen us secure £5m in sales,” explained Pete Spillard, Managing Director of Spillard Safety Systems.
“Major retailers with big fleets and distribution companies are switching on to the dangers of ‘blind spots’, not to mention the additional benefits that come from giving their drivers improved all-round awareness by using our four camera system.”
He continued, “One of our engineers will conduct a visibility study on-site and then work with the customer to develop the right solution for their vehicles or mobile equipment. This could be a camera system, specialist mirrors or warning lights…and in some instances all of those solutions in one centrally- controlled system.
“As well as reducing accidents and improving safety, our technology is increasingly being used to prove liability in the case of accidents, a previously expensive issue for companies who often had no way of proving what actually happened.”
Spillard Safety Systems has evolved into one of the UK’s largest mobile safety equipment suppliers to the construction, quarrying and mining industries, with a customer base ranging from global conglomerates to OEMs. It has created 15 new jobs over the last 18 months, increasing the number of service engineers to more than half of its workforce. A focus on developing its own talent has also seen the company invest in four apprentices, with the need for three more field service engineers to cope with anticipated demand.
Craig Spillard, Finance Director, commented, “We are constantly innovating our product range to make sure we are at the forefront of solutions that help ‘kill blind spots’ and make driving or operating equipment safer.
“An increasing number of organisations are adopting our technology and we will continue to work with local authorities and other safety providers to remain the authoritative force in mobile safety solutions.”
He concluded, “The commercial vehicle sector has switched on to the benefits of using technology to improve road safety and to protect their own drivers…there is a real groundswell of desire to get more involved and shape solutions that are specific to their industry.”
