New signpost holder wins council orders

It has secured the UK patent and intellectual property rights on behalf of SignPost Solutions in Clarendon Drive for its latest product, a cost-effective anti-rotational sign post.

The company, which has been in the highways industry for more than 40 years, has been in the forefront of innovation with different products used by local authorities that help keep roads and users safe.

Its latest product, Signstr8, is a new version of a post holding everyday signs – directions to places, notices about parking restrictions, speed limits, cameras and such. It was thought up by managing director Chris Nicklin, whose project team developed it over 18 months.

Mr Nicklin said that signs can be twisted around for several reasons – by children larking around which can send people the wrong way, sheer vandalism, and even some drivers turning a parking restriction sign around and taking a photo to show it was not visible in trying to avoid a fine.

Signstr8, made of steel and aluminium, looks like any other post and uses the standard fittings and cap on the top.

"The special difference is that it has a designed-in flat portion so that when the sign is fixed it cannot be twisted," he said. "It means that several signs can be put on the one post rather than having two posts to support them, so saving money.

"It can save councils time and money because they don't have to send out workers to straighten signs. It reduces the risk of danger to workers, particularly on fast and busy roads and it means the public can see the correct information."

There is a wide market for such signs and so far 20 councils, including Wolverhampton and Gateshead, have adopted Signstr8 as their standard post. SignPost Solutions recently supplied 2,500 Signstr8 posts to Warrington for new 20mph zones.

Mr Nicklin said "We have had so many people say the product is a classic case of 'It's such a simple idea; why didn't anybody think of it before?'

"We had to make sure that it was made in such a way that it uses standard components on signs that councils use."

He said that SignPost Solutions, which employs 50 people, was grateful to Swindell & Pearson for its work on this and other projects.

"What we like about Swindell & Pearson is that they will simplify what to us is a complicated legal procedure."

Robert Sales, an intellectual property director at Swindell & Pearson, based in Friar Gate, said: "While this was a simple idea it is, in fact, a very clever solution to a long-term problem.

"I was pleased to obtain protection for this and I'm also pleased that this product is popular in what could be a large market helping councils to save money."