News
- Titlee2v at finishing line of Aston Martin’s Driving Home Road Safety 2007 Campaign
- Date21 August 2007
e2v's Mark Garratt (centre) with Richard Meredith (right) and Phil Colley (left).
e2v’s automotive programmes manager Mark Garratt recently welcomed home bold Brits Richard Meredith and Phil Colley. The pair drove into the record books when they and their travel stained Aston Martin V8 Vantage arrived at the finish line in London’s Park Lane on August 14th at the end of an epic 10,000-mile journey from Tokyo to London along the new Asian Highway network of roads.
e2v, who supply microwave alarm sensors to Aston Martin, met the drivers and car in London to welcome them home.
e2v's discreet microwave alarm sensor technology is used by Aston Martin to protect the Iconic DB9 and Vantage carlines, providing greater and more reliable security protection than traditional ultrasonic alarms, as they are designed not to be accidently activated by thunderstorms, gusts of wind or by contact with the exterior of the car.
The duo have become the first people to traverse the full extent of the new Asian Highway road network during an incredible 49-day drive which saw them cross no fewer than 18 countries. In the same time it’s taken to complete the journey, an estimated 150,000 people will have been killed on the world’s roads – a figure which includes 25,000 children. Yet Richard, 58 and Phil, 42 who took on the drive to support the Make Roads Safe campaign, say that this death toll is largely preventable.
The trip saw them visit Japan – from where they set off on June 25 – crossing the East China Sea into South Korea and then encountering a lengthy border crossing into China. After 18 days traversing China, the duo entered Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, reaching the end of the Asian Highway in Istanbul, before completing their drive through Europe to the UK.
Richard and Phil have been using the drive to highlight the following statistics provided by the UN and World Bank:
· At least 440,000 people are estimated to be killed and 30 million injured each year on Asian roads – including the Asia-Pacific Highway.
· By 2020 the UN estimates that two thirds of the world’s road deaths may occur on Asian roads, due to rapid motorisation.
· At least 1.2 million people worldwide are estimated to be killed each year on the roads – more than 3000 people every day.
e2v’s Mark Garratt comments “e2v are proud of our association with Driving Home Road Safety 2007. When Aston Martin contacted us to be a partner of this event, we jumped at the chance, not only for the opportunity to support a "Britain First" motoring milestone in Richard and Phil's intrepid drive across the Asia-Pacific highway, but also to be associated with the "Driving Home Road Safety" initiative. Mark adds “The road/pedestrian casualty statistics make disturbing reading, especially in the knowledge that microwave, radar, and imaging technologies are available today, where if applied would significantly reduce casualties. We need to continue to raise public and government awareness of this fact, so that in the near future collision and pedestrian detection systems become standard fit to family cars, much in the way that today we expect, seat belts, ABS and air bags as standard.”
Press:
e2v press contact: Mike Tarbard: 01245 453255, michael.tarbard@e2v.com
NOTES FOR EDITORS
e2v technologies plc
e2v technologies is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of specialised components and subsystems, falling within two product groups:
o Electronic tubes
o Sensors and Semiconductors
These products enable some of the world’s leading OEMs to deliver innovative systems for medical and science, aerospace and defence, and commercial and industrial applications.
For the year ended 31 March 2007, e2v achieved sales of £173.9m and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (e2v.l). In July 2006 e2v technologies plc acquired a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of specialised electronic components and sub-systems, based in Grenoble, France and in May of 2007 e2v plc acquired MiCS Microchemical Systems SA a designer and manufacturer of semiconductor based gas sensors. These acquisitions strengthen the Group’s position as a major global provider of specialised electronic components and subsystems.
e2v’s products are supplied into three core market areas:
o Medical & Science: Sensor technology includes imaging sensors for intra-oral and panoramic dental X-ray, mammography, life science applications and X-ray microscopy. Electronic tubes are the enabling technology behind radiotherapy cancer treatments, microwave medical therapy and high-energy physics.
o Aerospace & Defence: Sensor technology includes products for military surveillance, targeting and guidance, space-based imaging and astronomy, radar, electronic warfare, and broadband data converters and microprocessors for aerospace applications. Electronic tubes provide the enabling technology behind radars, electronic countermeasures (ECM), electronic warfare and satellite communications.
o Commercial & Industrial: Sensor technology includes marine radars, industrial safety sensors, automotive radars and alarms, thermal imaging cameras used by fire fighters, CCD and CMOS high resolution line scan cameras for industrial inspection. Electronic tubes provide enabling technology behind TV broadcast, satellite communications, marine radar and food & industrial processing.
The overall purpose of the business is to grow sustainable shareholder value whilst appropriately meeting the expectations of customers, people, partners, suppliers and the wider community. e2v’s vision is to create value through bright ideas in technology and materials science. The Company’s mission is to place customers at the heart of the business, providing enabling products of premium quality that extend technical barriers and enhance the competitive position of our partners.
e2v has approximately 1,800 employees worldwide with three UK based manufacturing sites in Chelmsford, Lincoln and High Wycombe, one in Grenoble, France and one in Corcelles, Switzerland. In addition e2v has sales offices in the UK, USA, Germany, France and Hong Kong, as well as a network of distributors and representatives covering other key territories.
Further information on e2v technologies plc is available from its website, www.e2v.com
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