Appian Technology PLC

News

Appian wins major UK local authority order and streamlines management structure

Appian Technology Plc, the OFEX listed provider of automatic number plate recognition systems ('ALPR') and traffic management solutions, has won a major order to equip a number of cities and towns within the Avon and Somerset area with its ALPR technology.

The contract is initially worth GBP120,000, a large provincial town within the region being the first to have the new ALPR system integrated into its CCTV network. A further estimated GBP600,000 of orders is expected over the next 12 months as other towns in the region are equipped with the technology. When ALPR is integrated into an existing CCTV system it provides local authorities with a powerful crime fighting tool which helps to significantly reduce crime levels.

The Company's Talon ALPR system reads the number plates of vehicles entering towns and cities on major routes and is able to identify, in real time, suspicious vehicles likely to be of interest to the police. This includes stolen vehicles, or those with information linking them to a crime.

Appian Chairman Pat Ryan said: "I am delighted our team has won this important order as our system was selected from a number of suppliers in a competitive tender process. We have devoted much time and energy in developing our products and building a competitive edge. As a result we have a very good system that our target customers are now recognising."

"With innovative products and an excellent team in place, we are now making progress on all fronts. Encouragingly, we recently announced a breakthrough in the US market by winning orders to equip a Californian highway patrol force with our mobile ALPR systems. "Furthermore, the new order is very exciting as it is hopefully the first sign that our newly implemented senior management and sales structure is beginning to pay dividends."

The new management structure has been designed to improve the business performance and mobilise the sales and marketing department to meet the increasing number of opportunities materialising, specifically with a focus on the police, enforcement, congestion charging and access control markets. It should also lead to improved efficiency on product delivery, better utilisation of financial resources, more focussed product development and improved forecasting of future sales demand.

The defined roles for the management are as follows:

• Tom Keene, becomes Head of Sales & Marketing. His role will be to implement total domestic and international sales strategy with full responsibility for marketing and selling the products to customers, governments and the wider consumer market.
• David Hearn, Finance Director and Deputy Chief Executive, will take responsibility for the finances of the business, including cash flow, credit control, profitability reporting, audit, and institutional and shareholder information.
• Richard Hodgson, Technical, responsible for technical support to sales and customers and new product concepts.
• Neil Clifford, Product Development, manages the development team to produce all new products.
• David Britten, Operations, Maintenance, will support maintenance customers, product assembly and test, and installation of products.
• Shane Brewer, Commercial, Procurement and Out-sourcing, is responsible for the negotiation of supply contracts, procurement of materials and supplies, and bids and tenders.

The directors of Appian Technology plc accept responsibility for this announcement.