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Panasonic Buys UK Rail-Telecoms Integrator
(23 Jun 2016, BWCS Staff)In a move designed to boost its capabilities in the rail technology sector Panasonic Europe has acquired Alan Dick Communications. The UK-based company, which will now trade as ADComms, specialises in technology integration and provides telecoms-based services to the transport and mobile communications industries.
Part of the once-sprawling Japanese industrial giant known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Panasonic Europe, has previously focused on CCTV-based solutions in the rail industry. More recently, however. it has made a play to add information and entertainment systems to its portfolio.
In a statement Panasonic said its purchase of AD reflected the company’s continued commitment to the “Digitisation of Transport”. It also said “ADComms will join the System Solutions division within Panasonic Business, to develop solutions for larger customers, providing a single point of contact and improved accountability.”
Tellingly Tony O’Brien, Managing Director of the System Solutions division within Panasonic Business, said “We already provide a range of technologies and services specific to the aviation and automotive industries, rail is our next strategic key vertical.” He went on to praise ADComms saying “our position will be significantly strengthened with the transport infrastructure experience brought to the table by ADComms.”
The two have some form together, back in July of last year, Panasonic teamed up with ADComms to provide a trackside trespass warning system for the UK railway network. The solution used a combination of Panasonic’s security cameras and analytics software to alert the operator to people leaving the platform. ADComms will continue to operate as a stand-alone business, with its own brand and with the current management team continuing to lead the business.
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