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Trimble set to sell satnav
Date: 21 October 2010 | Author: Rachel Burgess
Telematics firm Trimble is planning to focus its growth on 250-plus fleets after acquiring continental telematics firm Punch Telematix for an undisclosed sum.
MD Andrew Yeoman said it would take "Punch solutions, which are designed for all aspects of the transport and logistics industry, and drive it into the UK". It has been rebranded as Trimble Transport and Logistics.
Trimble's current products focus on tracking, but Yeoman said the acquisition means the company can now offer a "complete solution" whatever the fleet size. Punch Telematix's products, traditionally used in trucks, include driver behaviour and mpg-monitoring systems, navigation as well as built-in telephones, and in-car printing and scanning facilities.
Yeoman added that aspects of the Punch systems were being transferred into car products including satnav, scanners and in-built telephones: "There is increasing legislation over mobile phone use in cars - our built-in phone can only be used when stationary, which may well suit the environment moving forward."
According to Yeoman, Trimble has gained 35,000 telematics subscribers in the past 12 months and said he would be "disappointed if we didn't maintain a similar aggressive level of growth".
He added that he was seeing increased interest from fleet operators due to corporate manslaughter, duty of care and firms having a green agenda.
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