Rennick’s make road safety a priority

As part of the drive to bring increased levels of safety to Irish roads, Rennicks Sign Manufacturing recently announced the first installation of electronic speed limit signs in Ireland at Ballytarsna National School in Co. Tipperary. Frank Murphy, General Manager of the company’s Irish Road Signs Division, explains more.

Rennicks Sign Manufacturing, which is Ireland’s leading provider of Road Traffic Safety Solutions, has underlined its commitment to reducing accidents on Irish roads by producing new periodic speed limit signs in conjunction with the National Roads Authority.

The new speed limit signs, which are the first of their kind in this country, are designed for use in locations where a reduced speed limit is required at certain times of the day – around schools, colleges, in towns or villages, and in traffic calming schemes.
The first installation of electronic speed limit signs took place recently on the N8 at Ballytarsna National School in Co. Tipperary. Similar schemes are also taking place at Poulacapple National School on the N76 Clonmel-Kilkenny Road, Derrycreha National School in Glengarriff, Co. Cork and at Filemore National School in Caherciveen, Co. Kerry.

The signs are fully programmable and can be easily set up to start or stop displaying at pre-determined times and dates to provide daily, weekly and yearly control. Available in a range of different configurations and sizes, the signs’ key features lie in their strong aluminium construction, ultra bright LEDs for high visibility, flashing amber beacons and low power consumption.
“The new periodic speed limit signs are an extremely effective and valuable tool in advising motorists that a reduced speed limit is in effect, and provide an increased level of safety to both motorists and pedestrians in areas where the periodic speed limits are in effect,” says Frank Murphy, General Manager of Rennicks’ Irish Road Signs Division.

“We have developed the signs in consultation with the NRA on foot of new legislation introduced by the Minister for Transport last December.
“The signs are operated by a digital timer. In the case of schools, they can be switched on when the children are arriving in the morning and when they’re leaving in the afternoon. The speed limit is perfectly legal and can be garda enforced.”
The mission of Rennicks Sign Manufacturing is to increase safety for all road users. This is achieved through the provision of innovative turnkey solutions, durable traffic signs and traffic management products. Established almost 30 years ago by Robin Rennicks, the Dublin-based company was sold to Fitzwilton plc in the 1990s and is now Ireland’s leading provider of customer-specific solutions to all road traffic safety, management and signage requirements

This ever-increasing range of signage is testament to the company’s commitment to continuously developing and investing in new products. To this end, Rennicks are the sole suppliers of Nikkalite reflective sheeting products, anti-dew coatings and specialist overlays. Rennicks are also Ireland’s leading specialists in portable changeable message signs.
Most civil contractors and local authorities use Rennicks as their sign supplier.”
“We’ve been producing road signs at our 130,000 sq ft premises in Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 since the late 1970s and have a very good working relationship with the NRA. The NRA is striving to improve the quality of road signage throughout Ireland and they can rely on us to produce a top quality product.
“The NRA is currently linking up with the Irish Tourist Board (Failte Ireland) with a view to improving the information given on town signs. There is a strong feeling that there is room for improvement in this area.”

Rennicks has secured a number of prestigious contracts down the years. Undoubtedly the biggest contract in recent times involved the supply and installation of signs under the Speed Limit Metrification Programme in January 2005. Rennicks has also secured major contracts for new motorways such as the M1 and M4.
“59,000 new speed limits signs were erected following the changeover to the metric system last year, and roughly half of them were manufactured by Rennicks. We’ve also supplied and installed thousands of signs for the NRA on the country’s new roads and motorways.
There is a significant amount of new road construction ongoing at the moment, and Rennicks are providing the signage on a large number of these projects. The NRA is committed to continuing the improvement of our National road network for some years to come and we hope to be involved with as many of these scheme as possible.”

The key areas of Rennicks’ business are: traffic signs and poles; sign installation; sign care and maintenance; Portable Changeable Message Signs (PCMS); crash cushions; traffic management solutions and vehicle hazard markings and number plates.
Recently, Rennicks started hiring impact protection vehicles to its customers. “This is a new area we’ve branched out into. We have a fleet of six impact protection vehicles which take the impact out of a crash where road building or maintenance is taking place.”
Rennicks have opened new markets for Nikkalite reflective sheeting products in the Middle East and South Africa, and export to these countries. The same product is also used in the manufacture of car licence plates.

Rennicks Sign Manufacturing is a sister company of Rennicks UK Ltd. This company supplies the most comprehensive range of aluminium, stainless steel sign fixings, extrusions and retro-reflective materials to other sign manufacturing companies in the UK.

During almost 20 years’ involvement in the signage industry, Rennicks UK has developed a unique portfolio of traffic signage products and services. The company’s total package offers consultants, specifying authorities and sign makers a reliable and competitive single source for all their requirements.
Rennicks’ environmental policy defines the company’s commitment to the prevention of pollution. It is fully endorsed by top management and directors, and is on prominent display in the company’s offices and warehouse. It is Rennicks’ policy to prevent pollution wherever possible when it supplies reflective materials, sign faces and ancillary products.