Automatic Systems

Overview

Automatic Systems designs and manufactures secure entrance control equipment from its headquarters at Avenue Mercator 5 in Wavre. The range covers pedestrian products (speed gates, swing gates, tripod and full-height turnstiles, security doors), vehicle products (traffic management, perimeter access, parking and tollway systems), high security products (vertical lift barriers, bollards, road blockers and tyre killers) and passenger products for public transport. Product brands include SmartLane, FirstLane and ParkPlus. The company was created in Brussels in 1969 by Michel Coenraets, with first installations at the Innovation car park and car park 44 in Brussels. In 1971 it exported a hundred rising barriers to Frankfurt international airport. Subsidiaries followed in Paris (1974), Barcelona (1986), Canada (1991) and the United Kingdom (1994). In 1983 it equipped 18 stations of the Manila subway with double turnstiles and in 1984 supplied 323 turnstiles for 12 stations of the Paris East line. The company BCA was created in 1998 after the acquisition of the ASEA-ABB Barriers Division. In 2002 Automatic Systems was acquired by Bolloré and joined IER Group. A Suzhou subsidiary opened in 2013, a Chicago distribution centre and a Dutch subsidiary in 2014, and a German subsidiary in 2015, the year FirstLane launched. The company marked 50 years in 2019. Today it has 7 international establishments, more than 80 distributors on 5 continents, 5 manufacturing plants (3 in Belgium, 1 in France, 1 in Canada) and 3 R&D sites. 200,000 units are installed in 150 countries and its public transport products are in use in 25 countries. The company had 410 employees in 2019 and revenue of €71.9 million in 2016, with 90% of production exported. Nicolas Saillé is CEO.

Funding history

• 2002 Acquisition: Acquired by Bolloré, joined IER Group

Stated facts & numbers

• Founded: 1969, Brussels
• Founder: Michel Coenraets
• Headquarters: Wavre
• Ownership: Bolloré group (IER Group) since 2002
• CEO: Nicolas Saillé
• Employees: 410 (2019)
• Revenue: €71.9M (2016)
• Establishments: 7 (Belgium, France, UK, Spain, Germany, Canada, USA)
• Manufacturing plants: 5 (3 Belgium, 1 France, 1 Canada)
• Installed base: 200,000 units in 150 countries
• Products: SmartLane, FirstLane, ParkPlus; speed gates, turnstiles, barriers, bollards, road blockers