Exhibitor profile: Tensator

Ernie Reading, Managing Director of Tensator Ltd., is a busy man. His company is a major player in the supply of customer guidance and queue management systems and in between collecting the Queen's Award for Exports (the company also won the award in 1994 and 1997) he spends his time making sure that the business remains at the top.

To achieve this there is a considerable investment in new product development. This is led by a policy of constant communication with customers which ensures that the right products are being offered to the marketplace.

"Tensator has always maintained a philosophy of working with customers to develop new products and it has held us in good stead over the years," says Reading. "Back in the early 1970s we worked with London Heathrow to develop a system to guide and control the flow of passengers at the world's busiest international airport. The result was the first ever, free-standing, retractable webbing barrier system -- Tensabarrier was born.

"BAA embraced the new product with enthusiasm and from then on it has been in constant demand. Today Tensabarrier is a familiar sight around the globe," he adds.

Tensaguide was subsequently developed to compliment and integrate with Tensabarrier. A fixed beam system, for use in extremely busy environments where flow change is not critical, it is a quality product and competitively priced. "We are always price conscious and value engineering is a key focus of the company," says Reading, "I was delighted that in spite of the aggressive competition we won the contract to equip Singapore Changi with a Tensaguide system for their new terminal.

"Additionally, we are also developing a range of seating in response to a request from Changi Airport and we will be showing this at the exhibition."

Tensator is active in Europe, too. The Spanish Airports Authority is currently evaluating a hybrid Tensaguide system in the check-in area at Madrid. This incorporates Tensabarrier units, which provide the flexibility to allow the queue layout to be varied according to traffic concentration. If all goes well the system will be put into use in airports throughout Spain.

One of the company's most significant recent developments, however, is the Dual-Line Tensabarrier. This has been designed specifically to help solve some of the problems associated with airport queues. The sight impaired and disabled may have difficulty with existing barrier systems and the Dual-Line with it's second, lower belt aims to address this situation. It will also prevent young children being separated from their queuing parents.

"Airports are still particularly important to us, after all it is where the business started and we have remained committed to them," Reading points out.

Tensabarriers unique dye printing process is another example of this. Working with airports, webbing can be colour coded (incorporating logos or messages) to help ease the identification of routes clearer and traffic flow. "We are in the business of leading and by continuing to work with our customers we can make sure Tensabarrier stays in the lead," concludes Reading.