The project has involved a lot of work to review and check our existing ISO9001 processes and subject them to a two stage external audit. The second stage audit was completed in December 2012 and following our response to that audits finding we have been awarded our Sector Scheme 6 Accreditation.

Our work to improve our processes will continue during 2013 and we will progress towards further Sector Scheme Accreditations, principally Sector Scheme 20.

With Crown International Ltds range of CEC Cabinets, the strategic relationship allows Crown International Ltd to offer turnkey solutions for the design and build of bespoke cabinet solutions.

The Crown CEC cabinet has been designed to allow a host of different configurations, this is achieved with a simple modular bay system. A range of different bay types are available and these bays can be bolted together to form a variety of different cabinet configurations.

This system means that we can construct a cabinet to suit the desired specification without having to customise the design for each configuration. This also means a cabinet can be altered to allow it to be used for a different or additional purpose.

Cabinet Bays

Each bay has been designed for a different purpose and can include 19″ racking, a simple back board or an array of shelving and 19-inch racking. Custom bay designs are also available on request.

Individual bays can be open into its neighbouring bay or can be sealed off and have different keys, allowing control over access to different equipment for different departments or companies.

Cabinet Design Features

The Crown Combined Equipment Cabinets have been designed to meet the MCE-1227 specification for Combined Equipment Cabinets, and have the following key features:

• Modular bay system to allow flexibly in configuration
• Welded stainless steel construction, but also available in galvanised and painted mild steel on request
• Powder coated or wet painted to any colour in the RAL and BS4800 range
• Manufactured to BS EN ISO9001 standards to ensure quality and reliability
• High security Mul-T-Lock Cylinder & Key + Euro Shutter Locking System with S/S Multi-positional throw bars, however custom locking systems and remote locking systems can be fitted on request
• Individual bays can be open into the next bay or it can be sealed off. Each bay can also have a grand master locking system to control access to equipment for different departments or companies
• Custom designed bays available on request
• Anti-vibration equipment rack mountings to reduce shock on equipment
• Front and rear access is available on most bay styles
• Internal hinges for added security
• Keyed access to inside the plinth via individual removable panels
• High quality rubber seals

The Adjustable PV Mounting Frame has been designed to be adjusted every season to maximise the yield of each solar panel, helping to recoup investment costs quicker and maximise investment. It is believed that seasonally adjusted panels see an increased yield of  around 15% in winter and approximately 25%  in the summer in comparison to fixed mounting solutions.

For more information on the product take a look at our dedicated Season Adjustable Solar Panel Mounting Frame product page.

Adjusting the angle of solar panels at various times of the year ensures that the panels maintain a better perpendicular alignment with the sun.

This perpendicular alignment enables the panels see an increased yield of ~15% in winter months and ~25%  in the summer months in comparison to fixed mounting frames.

Solar Panel Mounting Frame Features

Simple Mechanism

The Crown seasonal adjustable PV mounting frame has an easy to use manually operated single axis tilt mechanism. The frame locks into one of three pre-defined positions aligning the panel at the optimum angle for each season. The motion is regulated by dampers to ensure easy and safe use.

Flexible System

The mounting frames are extremely flexible. They can facilitate any number of PV panels that are required. The standard arrangements are in sets of 8 panels. So you can have 8, 16, 24, 32, 40… panels in one continuous row.

Modular Design

Each time you increase by another set of 8 you only require one additional frame and one standing post. This halves the installation time required in preparing new foundations as well as reducing materials. This results in a cheaper price per new installation.

Flat Packed

The ‘Crown PV Mounting Frame’ has been designed to be flat packed. This enables the entire mount to be delivered in one small pack of parts with assembly instructions, fixings, ground roots and foundation jigs.

Foundation Jig

Components from the frame itself are first used to make up a jig. This jig sets out the foundation roots into the correct positions, ensuring that the roots are perfectly aligned to accept the frame.

Simple On-site Assembly

The mounting frame is made up of a series components that simply bolt together on site, all of the components are manageable by hand and the assembly can be completed by two people. The mounting frame comes complete with a comprehensive assembly manual that explains how the frame goes together.

Tall Mounting Frame

The mount holds the solar panels around 900mm off of the ground in its lowest position, this helps protect the solar panels in fields that also contain live stock.

The work demonstrates Crown International Ltd capabilities in delivering one-off bespoke pieces to customer requirements.

The first inspections started last week and should be finished by the end of this week. The VMC was designed to require limited maintenance overhead and the cost of the work reflects this. The inspections will conform to LOLER standards and provide Traffic Wales with a report on each VMC Pole.

For future VMC Pole installations, Crown International Ltd will offer a similar low cost service. The unique design of the VMC Pole means that the Traffic Management requirements for the work are zero and risk to operatives is minimised. The travelling public are unlikely to be affected by the work.

The creator of the piece, Luke Jerram was very pleased with the fabrication work done by Crown International Ltd. Over 300 polished stainless steel tubes had to be rolled and welded with no weld penetration visible from inside.

Several other sheet metal fabrication companies had been approached to do the work but were unable to meet the requirements of the artist.  It is a testament to Crown International Ltd’s technical capabilities in fabrication and welding techniques that we were able to deliver to time and budget on such a demanding project.

For more information on Aeolus and to see it in situ, visit http://www.lukejerram.com/aeolus

This agreement follows on from several months of collaboration between both organisations which included supplying prototypes and a mark 2 version to Mole Valley Farmers’ test site in Somerset. The learning gained from this work has been used to develop an improved mark 3 version which has been engineered to ease manufacture and reduce price to the customer.

The design has ensured that the frame is both easy to install and mount the solar panels onto as well as being simple to operate.

Seasonal adjustability is believed to provide as much as a 20% increase in yield from solar panels, significantly improving returns. The Crown International Ltd frame is simple to use and install.

Crown International  have been manufacturing road side and rail side cabinets for many years and have built up a high level of experience and quality in the manufacture of enclosures. Now looking to expand their cabinet portfolio they have developed a range of modular cabinets that meet the MCE-1227 specification for Combined Equipment Cabinets. These include:

• CECR
• CECLB
• CECEB

Modular Cabinet System

The cabinets are based on a simple modular system, that enables multiple configurations by adding a variety of additional bays. Each bay has been designed for a different purpose and can include 19″ racking, a simple back board or a custom array of shelving and 19-inch racking.

Individual bays can be either open into its neighbouring bay or can be sealed off and have different keys, allowing control over access to different equipment for different departments or companies.

For more information on CEC cabinets contact us.

More information on other road side and rail side cabinets and enclosures.

Whilst he was here he created a short video showing parts of the process of manufacturing the 340 polished stainless steel tubes, see the video below.

The Aeolus Wind Pavilion is going to be toured around the UK this Autumn it will appear in Liverpool Festival Gardens, Lyme Park (Cheshire) and the Eden Project. For more information on the project see out previous news stories and take a look at Aeolus website.

After a few months of planning and preparation the 165 polished stainless steel steel sheets arrived and fabrication of the 340 tubes is now under way.

The Aeolus Wind Pavilion has been designed allow you to hear the silent shifting patterns of the wind whilst also tunnelling light from the surrounding landscape enabling you view the changing scenery.

Luke Jerram gave the below interview a few months ago where he explains his inspiration for this sculpture.

For more infomation on the Aeolus Wind Pavllion see Luke Jerram dedicated website

See the orignal news story on the announcement of  Crown International taking on the Aeolus Wind Pavilion Project

In some parts of the UK, the use of camera technology for enforcement was temporarily suspended although the technology was left operational. The statistics captured where this occurred, showed both a marked increase in the number of enforceable events – up by 88% – and regrettably an increase in deaths and serious injuries.

Clearly, speed enforcement is needed unless the UK wants to see an increase in speed related road traffic injuries.

The work that ACPO have been doing has seen a move towards using education of the driver via speed awareness courses as opposed to straight forward fines and penalty points for speed offences.

Whilst this in itself has helped to ease the budget pressures of the operators, ACPO have now published the guidance document for the outsourcing of safety camera operations and offence processing, which is expected to assist in creating a different business model for the future.

As a result of these initiatives, some of the operators are beginning to think about renewing investment in their infrastructure, particularly the use of digital equipment to replace existing wet film cameras.

With some of the world’s safest roads the enforcement of safe speeds will continue, but the business model employed to support the infrastructure and processing will change over the next few years.

Crown International have completed the second prototype solar panel frame ready for testing on the Mole Valley test farm. The first solar frame has already been installed on site and initial feedback is very positive.

See here for more information on our design services of manufacturing facilities.

The Gantry Pole design will consist of a bespoke body and mounting structure to enable the pole to take a multi head signal array and attach to a cantilevered railway gantry.

The structure will be unique but it shows the versatility and utility of the original design that it can be modified to suit different applications.

Timescales are for the new gantry pole to be delivered by the end of May.

More information on the Gantry Pole

Crown have been looking at getting into the CCTV pole market for a while but have not had a set of products to offer the their clients. However the development of this new CCTV pole range gives Crown the opportunity to supply CCTV pole solutions for a wide range of applications.

This new range includes 3 main types of poles:

Fixed CCTV Pole

The fixed CCTV camera pole is a standard pole, it does not allow ground level access to the equipment, but there is a built in cabinet at the base of the pole to mount electrical equipment. This pole is available in a large variety of heights ranging from 4 meters up to 9 meters, but is also available in custom heights to suit requirements. The pole can also be fitted with a washer jet to clean the camera lens.

Hinged CCTV Pole

The hinged CCTV pole looks similar to the fixed version, however it folds over just above the cabinet. This allows ground level access to the camera for maintenance or repair. This pole much like the fixed version also comes with a large cabinet for fitting electrical equipment and can be fitted with a washer jet to clean the camera lens remotely.

Lowering CCTV Pole

The lowering CCTV pole also allows ground level access to the mounted CCTV camera. However the pole does not fold over like the hinged pole, instead it lowers the camera equipment straight down, this means it requires a smaller obstacle free footprint.

The Pole is completely hand driven, no electrical or hydraulic systems just a simple counter-weight system the allows a single operative to quickly lower the camera by hand.

Much like the standard and hinged CCTV pole it has a large cabinet at the bottom of the pole to store electrical equipment and has the option to have a remote controlled wash jet to clean the camera lens.

To find out more and download a spec sheet see the CCTV Poles page.

Aeolus – Acoustic Wind Pavilion is a project by Luke Jerram into acoustics, wind, architecture and light. A viewer stands underneath the arch and can explore the surrounding landscape in a entirely new way. The structure will make audible the otherwise silent wind patterns by humming low frequencies, allowing the listener to hear every slight change in the wind. The tubes will also channel light down from the sky and surrounding landscape displaying an inverted and magnified view. As the wind and sky changes throughout the day the experience within the pavilion will dramatically change for the viewing public.

Crown International will be contributing to the project by fabricating the 310 stainless steel internally polished tubes that will be drawing the surrounding light and wind acoustics into the viewing arch.

Once completed the pavilion will be touring the UK before finally being installed permanently somewhere in the UK.

Bristol with Watershed.
Canary Wharf London.
Liverpool Biennial, located in Everton Park.
The Eden Project celebrating its 10th birthday.

Read more about the Aeolus – Acoustic Wind Pavilion project

The VMC Pole has been designed to hold traffic safety equipment above a carriageway. However the unique design of the VMC Pole means that it can be rotated to above the verge and then lowered down into the verge for safe ground level access to the mounted equipment. This feature protects road workers by eliminating the need to traffic management, thus removing the need for them to be exposed to a live carriageway.

This video has now been completed and here is the final edit.

Special thanks to Portishead based Hanover Pictures who filmed and edited the short video.

The new brochure now includes more information on the current range of motorway poles including both the VMC Pole and Slip Road Pole. As well as more information about the design and manufacturing services that are offered at Crown International.

Also included in this latest brochure is the new Lowering CCTV Pole concept and the latest development in the VMC Pole family with the new Lightweight VMC Pole.

We are based in Portishead in Bristol and have been getting a high level of local interest  in our fabrication services. Due to this high level of interest we have now added a new page to our web site detailing our fabrication skills and capabilities, view here for more information on our fabrication services.

All our products are produced to a high standard of quality and we work to the approval of ISO 9001:2 and all our welders are BS EN 287-1 and ISO 15614-1 qualified.

Metal Fabrication Capabilities

• Sheet Metal Fabrication
• General Fabrication
• Stainless Steel Fabrication
• Mild Steel Fabrication
• Aluminium Fabrication
• Laser Cutting/ Laser Profiling
• CNC Bending

Portishead based Hanover Pictures are shooting the video today, keep checking the news section of the website to see the final video after editing.

Find out more about the VMC Pole or our design services

Our design led approach to problem solving created the VMC Pole and the Slip Road Pole which were successfully delivered during the summer and which gathered 3 Industry Awards for Innovation. We showcased the prototype VMC Pole at Intertraffic in Amsterdam and created global interest in this product and our overall design and manufacture capabilities which we expect to generate significant growth opportunities over 2011 and beyond.

We strengthened ties with existing customers and were able to broaden our offering to them by demonstrating our new products and concepts for innovative designs for road and railside infrastructure.

Potential new customers in our core business sought us out to discuss ways Crown could design and supply motorway poles to their markets.

The change of Government created some uncertainties amongst Speed Camera Partnerships and we have yet to see the full result of the austerity measures but towards the end of 2010 we began to hear some positive news from the market place.

Following up on our plans to branch out into new sectors where we can apply our design and manufacturing competencies has led to establishing new relationships in exciting areas in the renewable sector.

Crown was invited to present to the CIHT in November and we became a member of Balfour Beatty Zero Harm.  Both of these are recognition of an increased presence and awareness of Crown in the roadside infrastructure supply chain.

All in all it has been an outstanding 2010. With the current interest and activities this will lead to an exciting 2011.

The VMC Pole and the Slip Road Pole are two new products from Crown International that have only recently been implemented on the M4 motorway, there are 27 VMC Poles and 8 Slip Road Poles between junction 24 and 28.

The VMC Pole is a brand new design of motorway pole that has been engineered to hold variable message signs above the carriageway whilst still allowing safe and easy access to the sign for maintenance or repair at ground level. The pole does this by rotating away from above the motorway and then lowering down to ground level in the verge. This allows the traffic to continue to flow with no traffic management, eliminating disruption to a busy motorway.

UK Government is suggesting setting a target for 1.7m electric vehicles to be on the road by 2020. The need for a robust and affordable recharging infrastructure is part of that target. With the second round of bidding underway for Plugged in Places aimed at creating a UK wide integrated recharging network, there remain a number of complex technical and commercial issues to be resolved. Crown International and ChargePoint have committed themselves to providing innovative solutions to these problems and the non-disclosure agreement allows greater exchange of ideas to take place.

Research on possible solutions has already been taking place and working prototypes are expected to be available in the New Year.

For more information on the services that we offer take a look at our design services section

It is expected that the emphasis will change from a strategy firmly weighted towards penalty points and fixed penalty notices to a policy which encourages more use of speed awareness courses to help modify behaviour. The change is expected to help bridge the gap in funding that exists.

Other initiatives are being considered with a move to digital technology being seen as major step forward in both reducing operational running costs for local authorities whilst improving the ability to identify speeding infringements in more cases.

In addition some thought needs to be given on the organisation and running of the multiple groups with some industry members looking at schemes in Ireland and the US as a blueprint for the future.

For transport, some £800m will come out in cash terms over the period with the majority of savings being found in the resource – maintenance and operation – budget. The capital spend element remains largely flat at around £7.5bn.

Of key significance for Crown are the decisions to proceed with Managed Motorway Schemes on the M4/M5, M62 and the M1. We believe that the savings offered by using the VMC  Pole provide the platform for enabling operational and management cost savings.

Also of interest is the decision to go-ahead with plans for Cross Rail. With the changes envisaged, Crown gantry and cess systems can provide the same solution that they did for the West Coast Line Upgrade.

Despite the gloomy outlook from some quarters the changes that the spending cuts will bring about will create opportunities for companies who can supply creative solutions and innovative designs. We believe that Crown with the VMC Pole having already proven itself on the M4 in Wales, is ideally placed to take advantage of these changes.

The Highways Magazine Excellence Awards highlight and celebrate the achievements of products, services, companies and authorities that display innovation and excellence within the highways industry over the past year. This was the 7th annual award ceremony and they are now recognised as one of the major industry events. The awards spread across a wide range of categories, which gives a greater opportunity for involvement across the industry.

The VMC Pole is a ground breaking new product that has been designed to vastly reduce traffic management costs when maintaining and repairing traffic equipment that is hung over the highway. The VMC Pole rotates the mounted equipment from over the road to over the verge, and then lowers it down to ground level for easy and safe access. This removes the need for traffic management and hire of mobile elevating working platforms, as well as increasing safety by eliminating the need to work at height.

Read more about the VMC Pole

Crown International have a vast experience in the design and manufacture of this type of product if you have a similar requirement then have a look at the design services on offer to see what their design engineers could do for you.

The VMC Pole was designed and manufactured at Crown International, it is a revolutionary new pole that holds many types of traffic products including variable message signs, CCTV cameras, ANPR cameras and tolling equipment. Its prime feature is the ability to rotate from over the road and then lower down into the verge to allow easy access at ground level for maintenance and repair.

More on the VMC Pole

More on the CIHT Annual Seminar

The VMC Pole is a new and innovate pole that hangs over a carriageway supporting various equipment such as variable message signs, speed cameras, ANPR cameras, CCTV cameras or any other traffic equipment. The unique feature of this pole is the ability for it to rotate away from the carriageway and over the verge next to the road, it then lowers down to ground level allowing access to the mounted equipment for maintenance, replacement or cleaning. This new product, designed and manufactured by Crown International, is a world first, it has huge cost benefits as it negates the need for traffic management for maintenance and repair of the mounted equipment.

This year the VMC Pole has already won two other industry awards, the CIHT Innovation Award and the Intertraffic Innovation in Infrastructure Award.

Find out more about the VMC Pole

More on the Highways Magazine Excellence Awards

The VMC Pole is a unique product designed and manufactured by Crown International that allows safe, secure and easy access to equipment mounted above the carriageway, it rotates away from the road and over the verge before lowering down to ground level for easy access to any mounted equipment.

Find out more about the VMC Pole

The result of the design project is a very sleek designed product that is more in-line with contemporary street furniture than roadside engineering equipment. The curved aesthetic enables the pole to sit comfortably on the roadside at any angle, essential for their renowned bi-directional capability. The new fully integrated pole and cabinet design and high security MUL-T-LOCK mechanism help improve the vandal protection of the product.

UK Home Office approval of the Gatso digital camera system late in 2007 Serco (Gatso’s UK distributors) were extremely keen for Crown to commence in the Gatso type bespoke Smart Pole™. We have been working alongside Serco/Gatso in developing new design poles for both Speed & Red Light camera systems which offer substantial benefits compared to the conventional poles, the new Gatso speed camera Smart Poles™ are now on many UK roads.

The international pole is the bigger of the two poles as it holds more speed enforcement equipment, it  has been taken on in the UK by Siemens.

Our prototype poles have featured on Robots stand at various traffic exhibitions around the world. Siemens have installed a number of test sites in the UK which are being submitted for UK Home-Office approval alongside their new digital camera system.

This domestic version of the Robot Smart Pole is the slimmer of the two poles as it contains less internal speed enforcement equipment. Prototype domestic type poles have featured on Robots stand at various traffic exhibitions around the world and they have  installed a high spec prototype currently located outside there world headquarters in Germany.  They are now starting to roll the pole out to customers with a number of these poles now installed around Germany and Canada.

In 2008 Redflex officially added the Smart Pole™ to there range of products. At Intertraffic 2008 in Amsterdam Redflex appeared with a comprehensive range of digital enforcement systems, a major new innovation on the Redflex stand is the company’s SmartPole™, a next generation of a combined camera head and counterbalanced system for the worldwide market, designed in partnership with Crown International. According to John Harris, Redflex business development director, Smart Pole™ offers the ability to have “fit and forget” camera technology or the more traditional semi-mobile camera system, where cameras and dummies are interchanged. “All camera operations are carried out at the technicians eye level,” says John Harris.

It delivers significant cost savings over fixed posts, removing the need for lane possession and additional safety and access equipment when maintenance is required. The new and innovative design has already won three industry awards.  The pole’s first implementation is on a managed motorway scheme in the UK, holding reduced size MS4 variable message motorway signs.

The inbuilt safety features ensure the pole must be fully rotated before the lowering mechanism can be driven, removing the risk of it being inadvertently lowered over the carriageway.

Designed to fulfil a number of functions the VMC Pole™ is currently used for mounting VMS (variable message sign) equipment as well as traffic monitoring and enforcement equipment over highways. However the design is not just for use with motorway signs, it can be extended to other applications and can be both upscaled and downscaled depending on need.

VMC Pole Operation Guide

Illustration shows the transition from the operation position to the maintenance position.

1. Unlock the pole
2. Release rotation locking pin
3. Wind the handle to rotate the pole
4. Once the pole has rotate through a minimum of 90 degrees the lowering locking bar will be able to be released (the pole has been designed so that it is not possible to release this handle until the pole has rotated a minimum of 90 degrees)
5. Release the lowering locking bar, once this is released the pole can now be lowered
6. Wind the lowering handle to lower the arm to ground level
7. Lock the arm in the desired position (can be locked at any height)
8. Maintain your equipment
9. Unlock the arm again and wind the arm back up into position
10. Engage the lowering locking bar (this can only be engage when the arm is in its up most position and until it is engaged the pole will not rotate back over the road)
11. Ones the pole is back over the road the rotation locking pin can be engaged
12. The pole can now be locked

VMC Pole Video

This quick video shows the VMC Pole in action and demonstrates how it works. 

Highway Industry Awards

Intertraffic, Innovation Award within Infrastructure
CIHT (Chartered Institute of Highways & Transport), Innovation Award
Highways Magazine, Highway Industry Product of the Year

VMC Pole Images

Operation Guide

Smart Pole Range

Crown International have spent the last two years developing their innovative new range of Crown SmartPole™ products. They work closely with each specific client to ensure that their bespoke design meets their aspirations both aesthetically and technically. Listed below is the current range of Smart Poles.

The CCTV Poles are available in both a fixed and hinged (tilt over) configuration, they also come in a range of standard heights though they can be produced to your specification on request. All the CCTV Poles are fitted with the standard 101.6 PCD CCTV fixing holes.

All the CCTV poles can be finished in any paint colour in the RAL or BS4800 range or can be hot dip galvanised depending on customer preference. The maximum load at the top of the pole is 80kgs, however this can be increased to customer requirements.

Lowering CCTV Poles

The Lowering CCTV pole is a counter balanced pole that has been designed to lower CCTV cameras down to ground level for safe maintenance and repair. Its unique design allows the camera to be lowered vertically negating the need to fold the pole over on a hinge. This method of lowering the vastly reduces the obstruction free space required around the pole compared with hinged poles, which means taller poles can now have ground level access and it can be easily placed within dense urban areas.

Key Benefits

• Safe ground level access to equipment even on tall CCTV poles
• High quality bearings for smooth lowering motion
• Contemporary design
• Large obstruction free space not required
• Large base cabinet
• Single man hand driven mechanism
• Low maintenance product
• Bespoke sizes on request
• Hold multiple cameras

Custom Lowering CCTV Poles

The Lowering CCTV Pole Can be custom designed to suit the customers requirements, it can be as tall as 15 metres or as short as 4 metres. As each pole is custom designed it can be tailored around the technical specification required including localised wind loadings equipment size, equipment weight and the environment it is going to be situated.

It delivers significant cost savings over fixed posts, removing the need for ladders and additional safety and access equipment when maintenance is required. The pole’s first implementation will be on a managed motorway scheme in the UK.

Designed to fulfil a number of functions the Slip Road Pole™ will be used for mounting motorway sign equipment as well as traffic monitoring and enforcement equipment. However the design can be extended to other applications and can be both upscaled and downscaled depending on need.

Operation Guide

1. Unlock the pole and open the door handle
2. This will now allow the support arm lock to be released
3. Disengage the support arm
4. Now open the door
5. Pull down the “T” bar handle
6. Release the “T” bar from the saddle of the handle
7. Use the “T” bar to effortlessly lower the equipment
8. Release the rotation locking pin
9. Rotate the sign to a convenient angle
10. Maintain your equipment
11. Reverse the above steps to close the pole

The Crown Gantry Mounted Counter-Balanced Signal Support Post is installed in a vertical position on a gantry. The post mounting brackets have a number of location points allowing the post height to be adjusted (vertically) to achieve the ground to signal head clearance required for signal sighting.

The Crown Gantry Post provides robust support for various combinations of signal head equipment. The function of the post is to provide improved safe access to the signal head equipment for maintenance purposes.

The post is relatively maintenance-free and incorporates a number of ‘duplicated’ safety features to safeguard personnel and equipment when carrying out maintenance activities.

The post is designed to comply with British Standards, BD51/98 Portal and Cantilever Sign and Signal structures, and relevant Railway Group and company Standards.

This pole is often used on railway engineering projects in conjunction with our CESS Pole.

Product design and operation overview

1. The Gantry post signal head equipment, mounted on a signal head platform (moveable carriage) is connected, via a chain and sprocket mechanism, to a moveable counter-balance weight carriage.
2. The signal head carriage is fitted with a wheel-block (roller) assembly that runs in guide rail channels formed by the post structure.
3. The chain and sprocket mechanism and counter-balance weights ensure that minimum effort is required to raise or lower the signal head into position.
4. The chain and sprocket mechanism and counter-balance carriage are located inside the post which has a lockable door. The door allows access to the counter-balance mechanism and, when fully closed and locked, ensures the signal head remains in its fully lowered Operating Position.
5. Two dampers, located at the top of the post, one mounted inside the post parallel to raise/lower hand-wheel, and the other just below the post end cap, cushion the signal head from a hard impact when it is raised or lowered to the full extent of its travel.

The Crown CESS Pole is positioned to attain equal distance between the centre-line of the signal head and track and the centre-line of the post and track.

The pole design provides robust support for various combinations of signal head equipment. The function of the pole is to provide improved safe access to the signal head equipment for maintenance purposes.

The pole is relatively maintenance-free and incorporates a number of ‘duplicated’ safety features to safeguard personnel and equipment when carrying out maintenance activities.

The pole is designed to comply with British Standards, BD51/98 Portal and Cantilever Sign and Signal structures, and relevant Railway Group and company Standards.

This pole is often used on railway engineering projects in conjunction with our Gantry Pole.

We now also offer an adapted version of this to hold matrix signs for use on A roads and motorway slip roads, find out more about the Slip Road Pole.

It uses a counter balance system to lower the client’s equipment to ground level for effortless and safe maintenance of their equipment. This simple mechanism is still operational on installations over 15 years old.

This same mechanism is so reliable that it has been used in the newly developed Smart Pole, the Smart Pole is a modernised version of the Crown Pole that offers greater vandalism protection and a contemporary aesthetic.

RedSpeed™ International is a leading supplier of digital solutions to the traffic enforcement industry. Specialising in the development, research, manufacture, installation and maintenance of digital enforcement cameras. Fixed and mobile digital enforcement solutions have been implemented across the world, from the USA, Africa, West and Eastern Europe to Asia.

We also manufacture a range of stainless steel enclosures for Redspeed which include high security ground mounted cabinets & 2 & 3 lane camera housings.

Crown has been designing/manufacturing cabinets for over 15 years using materials such as Stainless Steel, Aluminium & Mild Steel. Almost every speed camera enclosure in the UK has been supplied by Crown International. They are offered in a wide range of finishes including metal sprayed, galvanised or painted to any colour in the RAL or BS4800 range.

We have a range of standard cabinets that are available including sizes suitable for use with 19” racking equipment.

Combined Equipment Cabinets (CEC)

Crown International are now offering manufacture of the Highways Agency new Combined Equipment Cabinets.

Designed to meet the new specification set out in MCE-1227.

Custom Designed Cabinets and Enclosures

Alternatively we have the in house capabilities to design and manufacture bespoke cabinets to your exact requirements or cabinets can be produced to a supplied set of drawings.
We offer extremely competitive prices by using the latest design software & manufacturing techniques including laser cutting and CNC bending.

Available in a number of bespoke designs Crown have a vast knowledge in cabinet design for roadside use. As with all of our products our cabinets come complete with 10 year paint warranty (terms & conditions apply) and host many features including high security locking mechanisms (up to six way), fireman access locks, double skins, stainless steel hinges, ground roots (where necessary).

Crown International have designed and built GATSO camera trailers, tripod equipment for mobile speed cameras and have designed many other custom mobile equipment such as motorway matrix sign trailers.

Crown International’s VMC Pole won the Innovation category, which is its second industry award.

The CIHT Awards celebrate and reward remarkable achievements in the highways and transportation industry, it is big opportunity to appreciate the  hard work of those working in the sector. The host for the evening was Jonathan Agnew, from Test Match Special.

More information on the CIHT Awards

Find out more about the VMC Pole

Crown International have huge experience in the design and engineering of new innovative products, take a look at our design services to see if we can help you.

The VMC Pole is a brand new product from Crown International that allow equipment such as traffic signs to be hung over the motorway however it also allows the equipment to be rotated off over the carriageway and over the verge and then lowered down to ground level for easy access to maintain or replace.

Read more about the VMC Pole

If you would like Crown International’s engineering team to develop a new and innovative product for you, then take a look at our design services.

Find out more about the Intertraffic Innovation Award

Crown International took advantage of this huge stage to exhibit the new and revolutionary VMC Pole with great success. The VMC Pole is a innovative new pole that holds equipment such as traffic signs, ANPR cameras, CCTV cameras and speed cameras over the carriage way, but also allows the user to rotate the equipment back over the verge and then lower it down to ground level for easy maintenance and repair.

The VMC Pole was one of the most striking products at the exhibition and  received a huge amount of interest, it was nominated for the InterTraffic Innovation Award, and won in the Infrastructure Category.

Find out more about the VMC Pole