Article published in Jornal EXPRESSO

Tecmic has developed an on-board computer system supporting all safety requirements foreseen by law. It is already deployed at Carris and may soon reach taxi fleets.

Tecmic has developed a 100% Portuguese designed and manufactured system capable of solving in part the security risks of taxi drivers and other risks related to vehicles and their occupants. “This is a mobile computer system, which automatically collects information, allowing the planning, supervision and management of taxi fleets (automatic payment, location, working hours, kilometres, fuel consumption, abusive driving and open door alarms, SOS pedal, payload and crash sensor, and maintenance alarm). XtraN provides interfaces to several peripherals, such as the on-board activity assistant”, explains José Maria Moniz, managing director at Tecmic.
In case of attack or vandalism, the driver can inconspicuously activate the alarm, in order to immediately alert the control centre and security forces closest to the incident location. Depending on functionality, a system of this kind can cost between 1000 and 2000 euro per vehicle.
José Maria Moniz quotes as examples, the XTraN system installed in Carris’ Buses, featuring all available security options (audio, ambient sound monitoring, video), as well as the system currently undergoing installation across 500 vehicles belonging to the road haulage company Luís Simões, and which allows, based on information collected, (routes, countries, loading and unloading at customer premises) optimization of resources, cost reduction, and improved company competitiveness. “The system installed at Carris is the first in the world operating over TETRA (digital trunking), conveying information every 30 seconds, informing the driver whether he is running early or late, as well as conveying this information to bus stops”, he states.
Tecmic started in 1988 within the AITEC group, operating in the field of design and development of integrated circuits, a market which became stagnant a few years later, forcing the company to redirect its aims towards different fields. Currently, the company develops solutions for fleet management (XtraN), management of remote equipment, management of vending machines, (Post Office stamp vending machines) and management of recyclable waste (Ecogest).
The year 2001 was a turning point for the company, with revenue doubling relative to the previous year, (from one to more than two million euro), with enquiries coming from all parts of the globe. “We have been invited to participate in several international tenders, two in the UK, one in Italy and one in South Africa”, states the managing director.