Success at Highways UK and Traffex Scotland 2019

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November has brought a few busy weeks for MVIS, with not one, but two successive trade shows in as many weeks. The final industry trade shows of the year kicked off with Highways UK 2019 at the Birmingham NEC on the 6th – 7th November which was then followed by Traffex Scotland 2019 at the SECC in Glasgow on the 13th – 14th November, both keeping the MVIS team on their feet, ready and waiting to network with those interested in what we can offer.

Highways UK was very well attended, from exhibitors to visitors and all those in between, there was scarcely a moment that the MVIS stand was empty of attentive visitors. With many new and old faces in attendance, Highways UK provided an invaluable opportunity to raise the profile of the MVIS product range to a highly interested and concentrated audience. The other exhibitors all put on their finest display, with some very impressive and entertaining stands and exhibits on show to represent the very best of the industry.

MVIS - Highways UK

The following week brought Traffex Scotland, offering its true value to us in the form of the amazing geographical networking opportunity. Since the opening of our new depot in the North East, Scotland is a location that MVIS can cater to easily, paving the way for a whole new route of conversation for us at this show.

The guest speakers in attendance were exceptional, bringing the very best of innovation in the industry from across the UK to this one location in a celebration of industry excellence, success and hard work. As with Highways, we saw many familiar faces along with new faces who were interested in seeing what the MVIS team and product range had to offer.

Traffex Scotland 2019 - MVIS

At both shows, our HD Compact VMS was one of the products that came out on top. With many visitors and exhibitors alike interested in this innovative and pioneering creation, we were delighted to be able to demonstrate its brilliance in such high profile and important environments.

Both events were a big success for us, bringing different strengths to the table that offered fantastic opportunities. For more information about future shows we will be attending, please contact marketing@m-vis.co.uk, or for more information about our products, please contact sales@m-vis.co.uk.

MVIS Delivers Fast Results for the Construction Industry

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With a wealth of experience working on large highways and construction projects over the years, MVIS is well aware of the challenges that these projects can throw up on a daily basis.

After talking to our trusted customers, we’ve highlighted some of the biggest challenges facing the construction and highways sectors today, and how MVIS delivers fast solutions to overcome these.

Benefits of pre-hiring VMS units from MVIS

1. Time

Tight deadlines are a pre-requisite of highways projects and with tighter and tighter time constraints, it makes sense to pre-hire your equipment to ensure it’s been delivered before you even arrive onsite. MVIS’ variable message signs (VMS) can be pre-booked to arrive onsite, and with our handy BartcoLive app, you can create and program your content ahead of your project so you are ready to hit the ground running as soon as you arrive.

2. Cost

Budgets for highways and construction projects are ever shrinking, so the more in control of project costs you can be, the better. Pre-planning and pre-ordering your highways and construction solutions equipment direct from MVIS means there are no unexpected surprises when it comes to your budget.

3. Quality

The last thing you want when you’re in the middle of a high-speed project is for your equipment to malfunction. MVIS’ portfolio of traffic management solutions for the highways sector is hard-working and high quality, meaning you can rely on MVIS to deliver solutions you can trust. And – as unlikely as it is – if something does go wrong, all MVIS customers have access to our 24/7 support service which guarantees an initial response from our team within 4-hours

4. Weather

From time to time, extreme weather conditions may cause a project to take longer than it should, but they won’t affect your traffic management equipment. Made with the highest quality LEDs, the non-glare screen is designed to offer maximum visibility when when conditions get tough, and our VMS units are completely weatherproof, so come rain or shine, you can depend on MVIS to deliver time after time.

5. Safety

Safety is the upmost concern of anyone involved in highways and construction projects. MVIS’ Overhead Service Unit was developed to further enhance site safety for the workforce by using editable text or pictograms to warn in advance of overhead obstructions.

For more information on MVIS’ traffic management portfolio, please call MVIS on 01629 580 570 to speak to one of our friendly team.

Exhibiting at Traffex Scotland 2019

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Come and find us on Stand E46!

On November 13th and 14th, Traffex Scotland welcomes MVIS Ltd as we take our place at Scotland’s major highways exhibition.

Traffex Scotland and Bridges Scotland are Scotland’s only dedicated events for the roads and bridges sectors under one roof, providing a platform to see and learn how new technology is driving change on the network.

The event provides the platform for debate and discussion around the areas of:

  • Improving road maintenance and delivery
  • Traffic management and Mobility as a Service
  • Future proofing the Scottish network
  • ITS-how is ITS technology driving change on the network
  • Transport schemes, planning and delivery
  • Delivering safer roads
  • Identifying and promoting innovation

Visitors to the expo are invited to pick up a brochure and head over to stand E46 to discuss MVIS’ capabilities.

July 2019 saw MVIS unveil a new depot in the North East of England which facilities the build and storage of more units for our hire fleet. This location and increase in fleet size services contracts across the north of England, as well as Scotland, and also provides a more regional hub for further growth in these areas.

At the event, we will be looking forward to discussing our product’s capabilities and what they can bring to the Scottish market.

Our Sales Manager based at the Newcastle Depot, Graeme Lee commented:

“We’re looking forward to heading north of the border to Traffex Scotland and seeing both our existing clients and some potentially new ones too.

“With our new depot just below the border, we’re set up to support contracts in Scotland better than ever before in terms of both geographical locations, as well as the number of units in our fleet.

“We’ve had 40 Solar IP units added very recently in addition to almost 70 VMS of various sizes, to our ever increasing fleet of 500+ units. This will continue to grow, and the fleet will continue to expand to support the demand for our products on the network.

“We look forward to being able to discuss more in detail at Traffex Scotland.”

For more information about Traffex, please visit their website. 

If you’d like more information about any of our products or services, contact the team on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

 

 

 

MVIS returns to Highways UK

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Come and find us on Stand F60!

6th / 7th November, NEC Birmingham

MVIS will be returning to Highways UK this year when the showcase event returns to the NEC Birmingham in November.

MVIS Highways UK 2019
After a successful visit to the event in 2018, MVIS return to Birmingham NEC for Highways UK 2019

 

Highways UK is now in its 5th year, with 4 of those shows being held at the NEC. The event has rapidly become a ‘go-to’ for the sector, with over 3,500 attendees in 2018 passing through the doors.

Over two days on November 6th and 7th, MVIS will be found on stand F60 exhibiting numerous products from our diverse range of ITS equipment and solutions. 

Since our last appearance at the exhibition in 2018, there have been some major changes to the company. One significant addition is in the form of a new depot located in the North East to support contracts across the north of England, as well as Scotland, as the company continues to thrive and grow.

MVIS General Manager Anne Ashman comments: 
“We’re looking forward to inviting people to stand F60 over the course of the 2-day show. It’ll be fantastic as ever to see our clients, and we look forward to making some new connections too.

“As we continue to increase our capability, regional presence and fleet size there’s plenty to talk about, so we look forward to seeing everyone at the show!”

If you’d like to find out more about the exhibitors and sessions available at Highways UK, or to book your place, take a look at the website: https://www.highways-uk.com/huk/whats-on

First published on HighwaysIndustry.com

In the meantime, if you’d like more information about any of our products or services, contact the team on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

Vast hire fleet supports major schemes nationwide

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In 2012 following the London Olympics, VMS hire specialist MVIS had a fleet of 180 units. Their role at London 2012 was a landmark, being involved in one of the most prestigious events the UK has ever held.

MVIS-Fleet-size-and-staff

Now, 7 years on, the hire fleet is gargantuan, with over 550 hire units – showcasing a 7-year growth that sees an increase of over 200% in fleet size.

General Manager of MVIS, Anne Ashman comments:

“Year on year we are having to increase the hire fleet by 100 units minimum just to keep up with the demand for hire from MVIS.

“Our reputation goes before us and our focus on service and quality is seeing consistent, fruitful growth.”

MVIS-Fleet-size-and-staff

 

Anne continues:

“Over the years, we’ve developed a reputation for quality, and our capabilities have led to being trusted with the planning and implementation of major schemes.

“The way we work with a client is very simple; you give us your plan, and we’ll make it work for you.

“We’ll consult, plan how many units are needed and where they ought to be deployed via a site visit and evaluation, then we deploy and deliver the required number of units on time for the scheme to commence.”

Recently, MVIS has opened a new depot in the north east to further increase efficiency in servicing the north of England as well as Scotland. This additional space means more units can be housed for the hire fleet, as well as placing an increased demand for units with the capability to service more contracts.

As a result, MVIS has recently added another 40 Solar IP units which Bartco UK built, plus almost 70 VMS of various sizes.

Additionally, MVIS are looking to add another 40 HD compact units to the fleet over the next few months, as well as 40 new Solar IP units and 30 new VMS-C units.

 

MVIS can build 150 units in 5 months for large schemes and have them on the Highway, as they did with corridor orange on the M1.

Currently, the MVIS fleet contains over 500 units, with a breakdown consisting of 181 VMS-A, 192 VMS-C, 81 x Solar IPS and 43 x HD Compact amongst other refurbished units.

With the aim of 110 new units in the next few months, the fleet could now see a 20% boost in size by the new year.

Anne commented on the upscaling:

“Simply put, we need a larger hire fleet due to demand, as well as our increased presence in the North East.

“With our build capability and emphasis on servicing our clients, we’re striving to make these fleet additions in the near future as we continue to keep Britain moving.”

First published on HighwaysIndustry.com

For more information on how our solutions can help you, please get in touch with the team at MVIS on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

High speed capabilities goes above and beyond

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We know how vital our high-speed road network is for the road user

MVIS-High-speed-in-bad-weather

We all have an idea of just how many users drive along our motorways and major A-roads daily, and if we don’t – we certainly can’t imagine an infrastructure and a road network without these high-speed carriageways.

So, when it comes to keeping Britain moving, MVIS are playing their part.

Keeping Britain Moving: High Speed

  • The relationship of MVIS with P&D Specialist Services for the use of hiabs, trained hiab operatives and slinger signalers for delivery, installation and removal. By having such a close working relationship with one major specialist, it means P & D fully understand MVIS as a company, the needs of their customer base, and the consistency & level of service expected.
  • Fully health and safety trained staff. Internally, MVIS has a programme of Health and Safety training that is ongoing for every operative, in addition to externally completed health and safety training to ensure quality across the board.
  • CSCS: Depending on their role on site, MVIS workforce are all on site with the appropriate and relevant CSCS card.

MVIS-high-speed-works-motorway-guidance

Expertise is shared…

The MVIS expertise in the high-speed arena means that very often, the company are consulted with and requested to aid with the planning and setup of major high-speed schemes.

MVIS regularly are called upon to plan the number of units for a major high-speed scheme, as well as where they should be situated for maximum efficiency.

Over the last 7 years MVIS has been involved in, and had units being utilised on most of the major schemes nationwide. These include:

  • M1 J16-J19, J23a-J25, J28-J35a, J39-J42
  • MSM M60
  • M27 J4-J11
  • M62 J10-J12
  • M20 SMP
  • M23
  • Oldbury Viaduct
  • A14 IDT

MVIS-High-Speed-capabilities-cover

Anne Ashman, MVIS General Manager comments:

“Over the years as we’ve grown, we’ve made a step up on the eyes of the industry I believe, to the point that we now provide lots of consultation on these major schemes. People trust MVIS, the MVIS brand and our level of quality is now our reputation.

“High speed works for us is about more than just having units out, it’s being involved in the planning and bolstering our reputation, it’s about making sure that the people delivering units are as qualified as can be from a safety point of view, it’s about making a genuine contribution to keeping Britain moving for the benefit of the road user.”

First published on HighwaysIndustry.com

For more information on how our solutions can help you, please get in touch with the team at MVIS on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

MVIS Call to Action New Internal Marketing Team

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MVIS take a big step towards growth in their latest appointment of a new internal marketing team, they take over from the excellent job marketing agency Fig have done for several years.

After years of agency marketing management, MVIS are bringing their marketing in-house under their new marketing team. MVIS welcome newly appointed Marketing Manager, Sean Brown to the team in this confident move of growth.

The appointment reflects a marketing strategy more in-line with the growing needs of MVIS, being such a fast-paced and ambitious environment.

Indeed, Anne Ashman, General Manager at MVIS comments:
“Fig have been fantastic in the years we have been with them and they have done a really great job. The only downside is that they aren’t on-site with us and we have to share them! Taking on an internal marketing department allows us to be more reactive and experimental in our efforts, which is highly important in this fast-paced industry.”

By bringing a marketing team in-house as a company directive,  they are working alongside the heart and soul of the business, allowing the new team to understand the company’s needs almost as second nature without it taking as much time and coordination as it would to bring a third party up to this level of understanding.

The team themselves are just as keen to get going, comprising of Sean Brown as Marketing Manager and Tillie Wooliscroft as Marketing Assistant. Sean, who’s new to the company, has a background in both B2B and B2C marketing, working with a diverse range of products during his career that include household brands to cutting edge display AV technology. Whilst he is new to the highways industry, he brings with him a solid marketing foundation that will help to diversify the company’s current marketing infrastructure, allowing them to perform to the highest level in this sector possible.

Sean notes:
“Working within a market where contracts play such a pivotal role is a brilliant opportunity for me as it’s not something I’ve done before. The pressure to constantly bring in new business has always been a huge part of my job. It’s clear that MVIS know what they’re doing; in the time they’ve been trading, they’ve achieved an awful lot and built this industry leading business. But there’s still so much to explore on the marketing front, which is what makes this such an exciting time for me as things can only get better from here.”

He brings with him years of marketing experience, fittingly specialising in digital marketing infrastructure.

He adds:
“In a nutshell, my career to date has largely encompassed helping businesses transition from traditional marketing practises to this new field of digital marketing. Having an intimate knowledge of what digital systems are best to achieve different goals is what I do well, so building an internal infrastructure of my own to manage seems like a perfect application of my skills at this stage.”

His experience equips him perfectly for the task before him, expanding on the work Fig have done as well as exploring and building new marketing avenues for the company that will see them through the next stages of growth that they ambitiously look forward to.

Sean is joined by MVIS veteran, Tillie, who previously worked in the Operations team and has been moved to marketing to grow her social media marketing skills further.

Anne explains:
“Tillie has been with us for a number of years now and during this time, she has taken on new responsibilities that do fall under the marketing remit, such as social media management. Without an in-house marketing department, Tillie’s role was kept in Operations due to her incredible ability to build relationships with customers. But since we made the decision to expand in this way, she can easily apply these skills here so it was a logical choice to move her.”

The part Tillie plays as Marketing Assistant is welcomed by Sean too, who has experience in teaching, education and IT / marketing related CPD.

He recalls:
“When I found out Tillie had been awarded Learning Unlimited Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award in 2018 for her work at MVIS, I realised I was going to be training a hard worker. Tillie is a bright and enthusiastic individual and I very much look forward to working with her and teaching her everything I know.”

MVIS welcomes both Sean and Tillie to the marketing team, eagerly awaiting what’s to come in future. If you have any questions related to marketing, you can contact them via marketing@m-vis.co.uk.

Event safety made easier with MVIS

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When you’re tasked with organising a large scale event, we know that there is a long list of things you need to consider. So why not depend on MVIS to help make your event planning easier.

In a recent trend report event planners surveyed highlighted event security as one of their main concerns. As one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of portable variable message signs (VMS) and Portable Solar Powered CCTV, MVIS aims to offer effective solutions to help ensure your event runs as smoothly and safely as possible.

Starting a week or so prior to your event, we deploy VMS to notify road users of the upcoming event, giving them time to find an alternative route. Not only does this reduce frustration for local traffic during the event but it also eases congestion for those attending. Pair this with CCTV and Web Studio™ and you’ll be able to monitor traffic and manage messages on multiple signs, updating them in an instant from any internet enabled device or using the Bartco Live app, as situations change.

Unsure which sign you would need? Our VMS-A is perfect for notifying road users on roads with speeds up to 50mph while our larger VMS-C is more commonly used on roads where the speed is greater than 60mph.

Whilst you’re setting up the event and have personnel and valuable equipment on-site CCTV is a natural deterrent, helping security staff to monitor the site 24 hours a day.

During the event, onsite VMS will help to communicate messages in both text and pictograms, from important safety messages and directional information to promoting sponsors logos (creating another opportunity for event revenue) to visitors. The appearance of CCTV will continue to help deter criminals, monitor visitor activity and help to direct security and medical staff to any incidents whilst also giving reassurance to visitors that their safety and security is a priority.

Both our VMS and CCTV are solar powered, easy to operate and require no external civils, so you can position them exactly where you need them. And with strategic depots located across the UK, MVIS delivers a fast, reliable service that you can depend on. Why not take the hassle out of your next event and pre-hire portable VMS and CCTV units to help take the strain prior to your event starting? And don’t just take it from us, listen to what our happy customers have to say:

“I found the booking process very easy and all the staff were extremely helpful. The system worked well for us as it deterred visitors who were unfamiliar with our area from going down a restricted road. The team who delivered and picked up the system were also very helpful and flexible. As the system worked so well we did not hesitate in booking it again for our forthcoming events.”
Nottingham Trent University

To find out more about hiring from MVIS, call us on 01629 580 570 or email sales@m-vis.co.uk

Make MVIS a fixture at your next event

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With eight years’ experience of working with event managers to help accomplish successful, large scale events and shows, MVIS delivers flexible solutions that enable event managers to communicate information effectively and respond to event changes in an instant.

MVIS has provided event management technology for some of the UK’s biggest music festivals, sporting fixtures, stadium events and country shows. With strategic depots based across the UK, MVIS is perfectly placed to deliver innovative event management technology right to where you need it most.

Our portable variable message signs (VMS) are designed to communicate important information to high volumes of traffic – either vehicular or pedestrian. Fast to install and set up, these mobile units can be easily repositioned if needed, and thanks to our handy BartcoLive app, creating and changing the messages on the LED display screens has never been quicker or simpler.

MVIS has continually provided event managers with not only high-performing and high quality equipment, but with round the clock customer support too. All hire customers have access to our 24/7 support service which guarantees an initial response from our team within 4-hours. The issue will then be explored further with the customer updated on progress from there.

For more information about working with MVIS at your next event, please contact us on 01629 580 570 or at sales@m-vis.co.uk

MVIS Stand Out in Hi-Vis for World Mental Health Day

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This World Mental Health Day, MVIS  Ltd and Bartco UK are saying #HelloYellow in support of the charity Youngminds to show young people they’re not alone with their mental health. Everyone at the companies did their bit, donning the ‘loud and proud’ Hi-Vis clothing that couldn’t say #HelloYellow in any better way.

Kyle giving Tom a cuddle on World Mental Health Day

Mental health is an issue that is particularly close to MVIS and Bartco UK; suicide claims an alarming number of lives each year, with many in the Highways and Construction industries. As transport safety is one of the main cornerstones at MVIS and Bartco UK, there is no denying the moral obligation the two companies have in raising awareness of this to help make the industry safer for everyone.

There are wider obligations tied to MVIS and Bartco UK in the fact that suicide is the biggest killer of men aged between 20 and 49, with three quarters of registered deaths in 2018 being among men, which has been the case since the mid-1990s. It is well known that the Highways and Transport industries are heavy employers of men, so when research from a Samaritans survey uncover that 41% of men still don’t seek mental health support when they need it, something must be done to remedy this with more young men joining these ever increasing industries.

So, in support of this cause on World Mental Health Day 2019, the MVIS and Bartco UK team donated money and wore hi-vis yellow clothing in support of Youngmind’s #HelloYellow campaign, which encourages businesses to wear yellow at work to raise awareness.

Anne Ashman, the General Manager and one of two Mental Health First Aiders for both MVIS and Bartco UK comments ‘It’s always great to be involved in events that are clearly so important, to us, to our industry and to wider society. Too many people are affected by suicide and with an issue that is so close to our business, we felt this campaign was perfect to take part in to help raise awareness and make our contribution to such a worthy cause.’

Useful Links and Support:
– Youngminds – Parents Helpline – 0808 802 5544
– Samaritans – Support Helpline – 116 123
– CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – 0800 58 58 58
– NHS Mental Health Support – Advice on access to mental health services

Zero Incidents in 8 years as the industry buys into ‘Aim For Zero’

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The Highways England ‘Aiming for Zero’ programme targets those working on the Highways England network who are directly at risk from road users.

Companies within the industry have aligned with Highways England on this, as the aim for zero incidents via a focus on worker safety has come to the fore.

Roadworker safety: Highways England’s Aiming For Zero programme

The Aiming for Zero programme:

  • Sets a clear goal for the Agency’s health and safety performance
  • Confirms Highways England’s leadership role in the industry
  • Brings together health and safety work across the whole business

MVIS and Bartco UK are dedicated to ‘Aim for Zero’ to fall in line with both Highways England and Tier 1 contractors across the network.

The companies place safety at the heart of their operations, with in-house, on-site and off-site training, holding regular briefings and safety workshops as well as attending site instruction meetings.

MVIS and Bartco UK are proud to be able to state that they are both zero-incident companies. This exemplary safety record goes right back to day 1 of the businesses meaning zero incidents is an ‘ever’ statement and not a ‘this year’ statement.

Anne Ashman, General Manager of MVIS and Bartco UK spoke to us about the prized ‘0’ as well as the approach to safety that keeps it intact:

“We invest heavily in our safety ethos to do all we can to remain on zero incidents. Safety is at the centre of the 2 companies, with our ethos ‘Safe Mind, Work Safe, Work Well’ leading the way internally.

“We make sure we support our workforce with site safety workshops, courses and briefings as it’s paramount everyone that goes out on the roads for MVIS or Bartco UK gets home safely at the end of the shift.

“In September, I’ll be starting my NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) to carry on working on continual improvement of our safety practices and protocols.”

 

 

All Eyes on CCTV: Benefits of Portable CCTV

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We all know the saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ and never has this been more appropriate than when talking about CCTV.

A second pair of eyes can be a valuable asset to any task – especially a pair that never misses a thing and is never wrong! If you’re responsible for managing large-scale events with high volumes of traffic and people, well placed CCTV can be extremely beneficial.

MVIS provides portable CCTV for hire across the UK. Ideal for road works, school zones and any event with high footfall or traffic, the system incorporates the latest video technology that enables us to balance the image quality and frame rate in order to provide the best footage even in poor signal areas – so no matter where your event is, MVIS delivers excellent coverage.

Benefits of hiring CCTV from MVIS

Monitoring Activity

Mobile CCTV can quickly and accurately keep track of real-time activity and movement within any area. Couple it with MVIS’ HD Radar to support speed detection and data collection.  The CCTV unit features a 10x optical zoom, offering the user great visual control.

Crime Deterrent

The presence of CCTV has been proven to reduce theft of, and from, vehicles. At large-scale events which see huge volumes of parked vehicles, CCTV acts as a deterrent to would-be car thieves.

Long Lasting Battery Life

All of our trailers are solar powered and come with a large battery back-up on board, enabling them to run autonomously for months at a time.

Robust and Hardworking

Our CCTV units are tried and tested, and have been put through the toughest conditions to ensure they are up to any task. Made with a flat and toughened glass window and including a built-in camera lens wiper, our units are extremely strong and durable. But just because they’re hard working, it doesn’t mean they’re hard to use – our portable CCTV are very easy to operate and reliable under all conditions.

24/7 Support

MVIS is proud of the high level of excellent customer service it provides. All hire customers can access our 24/7 support service which guarantees an initial response from our team within 4-hours, the issue will then be explored further with the customer updated on progress from there.

For more information about portable CCTV from MVIS, please contact us on 01629 580 570 or at sales@m-vis.co.uk

Mobile Visual Information Systems

01629 580 570

MVIS, Units 6-8, Brookfield Way, Brookfield Industrial Estate, Tansley, Matlock, Derbyshire. DE4 5ND

© 2022. Company registered in England No. 8130402 - Registered Office: Units 6-8, Brookfield Way, Brookfield Industrial Estate, Tansley, Matlock, Derbyshire. DE4 5ND