The annual award of the Croatian Inventors' Association (UIH) was presented to Altpro CEO Zvonimir Viduka by Assistant Economy Minister Tomislav Rados and UIH Chairman Marko Bubas at a ceremony on Monday.
Viduka said that this innovation increases safety at level crossings and can be applied throughout the world. "The innovation has been developed, designed and produced in Croatia and the device is intended for installation on the existing unprotected level crossings or future level crossings without signal infrastructure. It is currently the most complete certified maximum safety solution for rail safety products," he said.
Apart from Croatia, this product is already in use in Austria, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Indonesia and South Africa.
"Thanks to this product and its commercialisation, we have increased sales, exports and the number of employees," Viduka said, adding that there were great chances for its delivery to another 15 countries, namely Chile, Romania, Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, Uzbekistan, Zambia, France, Congo, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Bangladesh, India and Australia.
The market success of this innovation will result in the investment of 3 million euros in a new plant, which is due to be opened in mid-2016, Viduka said, adding that the company plans to hire about 70 people.