SmartWater Technology Ltd has won a European award for its innovative approach to combating railway metal theft.
SmartWater gained the 2009 Innovation Award at the Rail-Tech Europe exhibition in Utrecht, Holland.
Judges saw SmartWater’s work to combat railway metal thefts, which can have a major impact upon the rail infrastructure. Theft of trackside metals is a major concern across Europe, with all police forces facing a similar challenge: how to prove that goods recovered from known thieves is stolen.
SmartWater has developed a forensic coding system for use by the railway sector to defend against metal theft, and which is a tool for police officers. SmartWater places a unique forensic signature onto trackside metals, such as signalling and earthing cables, and fixed metal structures. The solution is only visible under ultraviolet (UV) light, and unlike DNA-based products SmartWater is the firm says resistant to sunlight, which makes it ideal for use on railway.
To ensure SmartWater works as a deterrent, the company is partnering with major European recyclers who are refusing to handle SmartWater marked metals. This cuts off the means for thieves to sell on stolen goods and effectively removes the point of stealing it in the first place.
In the UK SmartWater is already working with companies including Channel Tunnel Rail Link and Network Rail to combat railway thefts.
SmartWater Chief Executive Phil Cleary, who accepted the award at the event, said: "We are delighted to receive this award, which is an acknowledgement that the railway industry in Europe views SmartWater as a solution to the problem of metal thefts. Across the UK, through partnerships with the Police and other law enforcement agencies, we are achieving massive crime reduction successes."
"SmartWater’s achievements go far beyond metal theft and include crime issues such as domestic burglary, robbery and vehicle crime. We are dedicated to crime reduction, and there is now a real opportunity to roll out our crime prevention solution right across Europe," Mr Cleary added.
