Tekmar Share Discussion Threads

[supreme mo] 05/9/2008 21:31

thanks for input guys - the reason I ask is because on Look North - after bbc news at 6.30 the other night showed an eco monitoring system that switches off the diesel engine when going down hill, and that drivers are competing against each other to be the most efficient!!! - i think there is a cash prize for the winner too!!

[qut] 05/9/2008 21:22

Of course there's competition nod - show me a market with great potential where there isn't competition! How many makes of beer can you buy down the local offy, for example??

[nod] 05/9/2008 05:35

There are a number of these vehicle management systems - it looks like quite a competitive market. Older toadies will remember that Toad went down this path with their telematics development but found it too tough and cut their losses.

There are some portals that focus on telematics and they show the vast potential of telematics products, some of which TGP has been trying to breake into. They also reveal how much European and global competition there is.

[nod] 05/9/2008 05:30

VeriLocation has developed a CANbus (Common Area Network) interface for advanced real-time vehicle telematics and performance monitoring. VL-CANbus takes data straight from the engine management system and monitors over 120,000 records a minute. It summarises these into "journey events" for ease of referencing and understanding.

We appreciate that clients want "exception reporting" as well as in-depth analysis when required.

CANbus interface monitoring allows for the transmission in real time of the following messages using FMS-standard protocols from various fleet HGVs.

Fuel used per journey
MPG
Over-revving
Over braking (greater than 1.2 m/s)
Over torque-ing
Use of cruise control
Over speed
Use of PTO
Temperatures
Sensor activations
Axle weight
Use of brakes
Fuel siphoning alert



Controlling fuel consumption with VL-CANbus
Wreford's Transport believes that it can make further significant cost savings by using the VL-CANbus driver performance tool from VeriLocation. Andy Wreford, Fleet Engineer says: "We're always looking at fuel consumption, we must think about how we could reduce it every day." Apart from load weight, the biggest factor to affect fuel consumption on a typical HGV is driver behaviour. VL-CANbus gives fleet managers control over driver behaviour by providing information by driver then ranking the key indicators within a company's fleet. The main indicators that can be monitored are: mpg by journey by driver, harsh braking or acceleration events, over rev'ing, excess torque and engine idling where it's greater than a set period. The combination of these factors results in a score or rank for each driver, so good performance can be rewarded to achieve the best results in the short term.

[nod] 05/9/2008 05:00

Stagecoach trials GreenRoad driver system to improve safety, fuel efficiency and emissions

05/08/2008

Hi-tech driver behaviour aid can reduce accident rates by more than 50%
System proven to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions by average of 7%
Stagecoach has launched a six-month trial of a hi-tech in-cab driver system to improve safety, reduce fuel costs and cut carbon emissions.

The initiative has been launched in partnership with GreenRoad Technologies, a leading driver safety company.

Research has found that GreenRoad Safety Center™ can reduce accident rates by more than 50% and reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions by an average of 7%.

The system improves driver behaviour behind the wheel through an in-vehicle sensor monitoring up to 120 driving manoeuvres, such as speed, braking, acceleration lane handling and turning.

Data is sent in a continuous stream to GreenRoad's web server and analysed, providing information about a driver's performance. Instant feedback is given to the driver using red, amber and green lights on the dashboard and optional SMS or email messaging.

Fleet managers and drivers can also access a password-protected web site to review an individual's driving skills and see recommendations for improvement.

The Stagecoach trial will cover 60 vehicles and more than 100 drivers on the company's bus network in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria with the support of local trade union representatives.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: "Safety is our top priority. We have a good safety record, but we are committed to further improvement and the trial of this new technology will help improve the skills of our drivers to make our operations even safer.

"Public transport is the greener, smarter way to travel, and we are also working hard to reduce our own carbon footprint. With the continuing high price of oil, more than ever there is a real incentive to follow fuel efficient driving techniques. As well as reducing carbon emissions, it can save money and allow us to invest more in improvements for passengers."

[nod] 04/9/2008 08:10

Ecomanager is basically a fuel saving concept. It tracks driver behaviour such as over-revving (rpm), hard braking, and miles per gallon. It feeds the driver and route data into a central computer and can compare drivers over the same route. Obviously the route is important as this would directly influence the driving factors. There wouldn't be any point in comparing winding routes around housing estates with an open road route.

They claim the monitoring can improve passenger safety, which is probably true if it encourages more careful driving.



I don't think it would transfer directly to trains as driver factors are very different (long straight tracks). It could transfer to other vehicle fleets such as lorries, but they have had driver monitoring systems for many years.

[supreme mo] 04/9/2008 07:43

not sure - rose quite sharply towards the end of the day didn't it??

could i ask a stupid question?? - what exactly is the eco manager and can this be installed on trains??

[bearable] 04/9/2008 02:27

A whisper maybe?

[mjcrockett] 01/9/2008 18:29

TG21 mentioned in the September Aimzine published today. Register free at - the article to read is 'Significant Shareholders'.

MJ

[gogoneko] 27/8/2008 20:38

I doubt they'll fall further so long as PG keeps buying and so long as no further bad news arrives - the former alone almost makes it a safe investment! It just may take more news before people get the confidence to buy again. It's the strength of downturn in non-CCTV/eco business that catches my eye rather than the potential in other areas.

[rivaldo] 27/8/2008 15:53

For my sins I'm still in this one :o))

TGP now has a mere £3.67m m/cap, which compares to:

- £4.4m of NTAV, including a substantial property
- £12m of annualised turnover
- £0.44m of annualised net operating cash inflows

No-one here has mentioned the new 21st Century web site, with a number of news stories from the last few months:



In particular, it's worth noting that as well as CCTV in buses and the new products which appear to be selling well, 21st Century are also implementing solutions for:

- emergency vehicles, and
- bus/transport depots

These offer entirely new and large markets, as well as the possibilities from Arriva's relentless European growth and the reeling in of Go-Ahead as a customer.

The waiting for this one to come good has been ridiculous. In particular I'd like to see some more director share buying (there were some bits and pieces in 2006 and 2007).

I do believe TGP are on the right lines. The transformation has obviously not gone as well or as quickly as hoped - the Norwich Union decision was unexpected, though I think this side of the business could still take off eventually in one form or another - but I find it hard to believe given the above stats that the share price could fall any further. But who knows in this market?!!

[gogoneko] 23/8/2008 12:36

I seem to recall reading that the margins are good (can't remember where though), although that revenue stream is growing 27% whereas revenues from other divisions are falling 64%. Maybe it's time for some more disposals given that there seems to be a shift in lifestyles (and gov't policies) which will exacerbate problems in the latter but benefit the former.

[whatlp] 23/8/2008 00:16

Anyone know what the margin is on the EcoManager? An order of 1000 has come in from Arriva and the potential market is massive.

[gogoneko] 22/8/2008 22:11

It looked like Arriva's business has been doing ok so at least that's hopefully going to keep the revenues coming in from that business.

[qut] 21/8/2008 20:01

Seems like PG hoovering up again. IMHO

[bearable] 20/8/2008 03:58

WHY THE NOSEDIVE GENTS?

[nod] 10/8/2008 05:34

woodie - hmmm, you could be right there.
they could take this away for around 5 million which would be a 25% premium to the market price.

[woodie3] 09/8/2008 19:39

this has all the makings of a mbo with the backing of pg imo

[nod] 08/8/2008 22:05

I don't have any more info than any other PI. It's all available in the company reports and RNS news...


maybe PG knows more than the directors are letting on, but I doubt it.


I see TG21 now has a Wikipedia entry.

[qut] 08/8/2008 19:32

Perhaps they should employ you as a consultant nod - you seem to know it all! LOL!

[gogoneko] 07/8/2008 17:20

I think PG is letting his pride come into play here. He appears desperate not to let other investors get in below his "support" level whereas he could theoretically let the price fall of it's own accord to 3p and pick up more shares per £. I wish I was that wealthy!

[nod] 07/8/2008 11:52

not a lot to say about the results, is there?
the most notable thing is how the business continues to shrink... from 36m revenue in 2005 to maybe 12m in 2008.
as i've said before, it's hard to see where TGP is heading now the payd venture is dead.
maybe the only way to survive as a listed company is to acquire other small companies in the transport sector, but risky.

[woodie3] 06/8/2008 09:48

gogoneko the bad news was highlighted a month ago, they were not going to set the world alight hence the drop in the s/price, the good thing is there is no more bad news in these results.
with regard to pg he will only buy shares to just below the 30% thereshold,otherwise he will have to bid for the company which he wont do as he is a mate of pw.

[tanelorn] 06/8/2008 09:41

These results are as good as we could hope for.

[gogoneko] 06/8/2008 09:23

Plenty of jam tomorrow in a mediocre set of interims.

The management don't give me the impression of knowing their business - they don't predict markets well (black box hasn't been adopted, faster than expected declines in vehicle installation revenue) or deliver on promises (CCL seems to have hit a wall). Thankfully CCTV and Ecomanager have prevented a truely awful set of interims thanks to their relationship with Arriva.

If they can grow profits from CCTV and Ecomanager to compensate for poor performances in other areas there's a chance they'll do well but given their history and current performance I wonder if they can increase revenues significantly. If I were to invest for the long-term I'd probably buy at this price, hoping that PG would provide support, but I'd be nervous.