WJ held an innovation day at its manufacturing depot in Elland, West Yorkshire, with technical presentations and practical demonstrations both taking place.
Led by the company’s truck design and build engineering team WJ highlighted technical abilities and its forward thinking ethos.
The regional event was attended by around 150 delegates and supported by the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) with a programme of CPD endorsed presentations.
Richard Stuart, project director at Costain, commented: “The thing that came through to me was the culture in the organisation. There’s a real drive towards making things better.”
Safety and sustainability proved to be at the heart of all WJ do with personal protective equipment (PPE) providing enhanced protection for their workforce, innovative materials development in collaboration with the Open University and ‘solid works’ designed trucks for effective delivery, low emissions and advanced safety features.
WJ group managing director Wayne Johnston said: “It’s important to show what we are doing but the objective for me is to get feedback and direction from our clients as much as it is to showcase our thinking and latest innovations.”
Guest speaker Andrew Martin, head of highways at Dorset County Council, provided the clients view and reminded delegates of the challenges ahead with sustained pressure on local authority maintenance budgets and the urgent need for cost effective solutions.
Delegates were invited to take part in a road marking challenge and try and mark out the ‘S’ in Slow, using mineral sand for safety.
The winner was Tom Barnes, national sales manager of 3M Traffic Safety Systems.
Trafficlear, Volvo and Viz Refelectives were among the suppliers who demonstrated their supporting innovations in the depot.
