A RAILWAY systems engineering firm has completed an agreement to extend distribution of its speed probes to France and French-speaking overseas territories.

The deal between Bury-based Rowe Hankins and Dipostel, a rail engineering specialist in France, is part of the local company’s strategy to seek complementary engineering partnerships to ensure wider availability and local technical support for their speed probes and motion sensors.

Dipostel, founded in 1991, is a highly respected distributor of rail engineering systems. Technical and commercial director Paul Di Natale said: “The Rowe Hankins product will fit comfortably within our existing portfolio and will mean that we can make a complete offering on high performance bogie components.”

Mike Hankins, sales director of Rowe Hankins, in Parker Street, explained: “Our speed probes are used by international rail companies such as Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens. The Hall-effect technology makes them extremely robust and tolerant of harsh rail environments.

“In Dipostel we have a company that has the right connections and technical background so we are confident that our customers in France will be well served.” Established in 1984, initially as a distributor of high integrity rail safety products, Rowe Hankins is now a manufacturer of speed probes and sensors, wheel flange lubrication and other safety-related electro-mechanical systems.

The Bury company is one of the first component supply companies to have achieved IRIS accreditation, the internationally recognised rail quality standard.