Panasonic acquires technology systems integrator Alan Dick Communications

Alan Dick Communications (which will trade under ADComms), includes ADComms’ companies IPS, AIB, and Rail Order. The acquistion provides Panasonic with an opportunity to expand into the rapidly-growing rail market, incorporating mainline rail, London underground and other light metro infrastructure in the UK.

The acquisition is part of Panasonic’s wider approach to provide solutions that include connectivity, hardware and software alongside engineering services. It also reflects Panasonic’s continued commitment to the ‘Digitisation of Transport’. As part of the acquisition, ADComms will join the System Solutions division within Panasonic Business.

Managing Director of the System Solutions division within Panasonic Business Tony O’Brien said, “We are committed to being a strategic partner for companies seeking end to end business solutions in key vertical markets. We already provide a range of technologies and services specific to the aviation and automotive industries, rail is our next strategic key vertical. Following our review of the UK market it became clear that the ADComms business and its management team have developed a fantastic reputation within the sector, with quality delivery and solid engineering innovation. Our position will be significantly strengthened with the transport infrastructure experience brought to the table by ADComms.”

Jason Pearce, Managing Director at ADComms, said, “ADComms has always adopted a technology-agnostic approach whereby we recommend and implement the best solution for our customers and, as a standalone business within the Panasonic Group, we will continue to support products that are right for our customers on the basis of safety, performance, quality and price. But, now we have the added benefit of being able to access the world-class Panasonic R&D facilities, as well as significant financial strength, in order to help us grow the business. As the transport sector drives for digitisation and the smarter connected infrastructure of the future, we will now be able to help our customers address their operational challenges, and achieve their aspirations, far faster than would have been otherwise possible.”

In July 2015, Panasonic teamed up with ADComms to provide a trackside trespass warning system for the UK railway network, using a combination of Panasonic security cameras and analytics software to alert the operator to people leaving the platform.

ADComms will continue to operate as a stand-alone business, with its own brand and with the current management team continuing to lead the business.