IAD Rail Systems, the Weston-super-Mare manufacturer of specialist track equipment, has been bought by Network Rail for an undisclosed sum.
The firm, part of the North Somerset-based Claverham, the diversified aerospace and defence group, supplies Network Rail with high-quality switching equipment that helps prevent points failure – often a cause of major disruption on the UK rail network.
Its High Performance Switch Actuator (HPSA) and Power Link backdrive products are used throughout Network Rail’s infrastructure.
HPSA was developed in partnership with the UK rail industry to provide a highly-reliable, robust, low-maintenance device for to make points more reliable. It is now used on more than 180 sites across the network. Expertise gained during the seven-year development of HPSA helped IAD engineers to innovate further with the Power Link backdrive which improves the effectiveness of switching equipment on points systems.
All IAD staff haven transferred to Network Rail’s National Delivery Service (NDS). The firm will continue to be based at its existing premises pending a move to a new location in the greater Bristol area, Network Rail said.
NDS director Martin Elwood said: “The purchase of IAD Rail Systems will enable Network Rail to continue to develop IAD’s products to achieve the highest levels of reliability, availability, maintainability and safety.”
