The LCRIG Innovation Festival, held a little earlier this year, was without doubt a huge success in exposing innovative solutions to over 60 different local highway authorities. A number of the clients who were present at the Festival are now placing works orders with the exhibitors and there is much more in the pipeline.
It was particularly pleasing to see the SME community so well represented at the event which included all those organisations LCRIG had supported with last years Innovation Fund to speed up the process of bringing their products to market.
One of these organisations was Connor Specialist Paving who have developed the Tac-Grid smart tactile paving system, using BBA-approved MMA technology.
The tactile paving uses a recycled plastic and MMA resin and the recycled plastic injection moulded grid is installed directly onto the existing surface with no need for excavation or heavy plant. The tactile is then laid continuously negating the need for cutting or jointing and adheres to the existing surface with the use of high-quality resin, therefore reinforcing the sub base which can then withstand heavy vehicles without cracking or subsidence.
Purely as a result of meeting at the Festival, Connor Specialist Paving performed a demonstration of the TAC-GRID product for Doncaster Council. The issue they were having was with a triple BT service box which was causing problems with regards to installing traditional tactiles around it. No problem for the TAC-GRID system, innovative tactiles installed by a 2 man team within an hour, extremely neat finish and vibrant red colouration.
I wanted to share this with you as it represents innovation in action. Yes, it’s a small job, but hopefully a big step forward for this SME.
I expect to provide you with regular updates on projects of all types and sizes that will have happened because of the LCRIG Innovation Festival.