GKD Technologies shows off 'intelligent workwear' vest

GKD Technologies has introduced a link for 'intelligent workwear' to its proximity monitoring system. High viz vests or other workwear fitted with the link will display flashing lights and sound an audible alarm when the company's SensorZone system detects the wearer is in a danger zone. SensorZone comprises a sensor system that detects the presence of workers near a vehicle and activates an alarm beacon, and transmits a warning to vibrating tags fitted to the workers' helmets.
April 25, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Nicholas Ground, founder of GKD Technologies, with 'intelligent workwear' vest
8740 GKD Technologies has introduced a link for 'intelligent workwear' to its proximity monitoring system. High viz vests or other workwear fitted with the link will display flashing lights and sound an audible alarm when the company's SensorZone system detects the wearer is in a danger zone.


SensorZone comprises a sensor system that detects the presence of workers near a vehicle and activates an alarm beacon, and transmits a warning to vibrating tags fitted to the workers' helmets.

In addition, the system alerts the operator to the presence of workers in the danger zone via a display in the vehicle cab. SensorZone is unique in offering this bi-directional alarm, claims GKD Technologies founder Nicholas Ground. Furthermore, because each tag has a unique ID, the system will let the operator know how many workers are in the zone at the time, avoiding the danger of the operator assuming an all clear when they see one worker moving away from the vehicle.

The tag ID also allows organisations to monitor workers and understand their risk profile, says Ground. By analysing individual worker data, organisations can identify workers who might need retraining or redeployment if necessary. Because SensorZone also collects location information on machines, organisations can analyse the data to identify danger hot spots on sites over time.

GKD Technologies has also introduced a wireless display and battery base station version for SensorZone that can be quickly mounted on vehicles that come on site temporarily. This gives immediate protection without the need to wire in the equipment to the vehicle.

The SensorZone system has been on the market in the UK for two and a half years with around 1,500 systems in operation across a number of industry sectors, including construction, quarries and waste management. Sales in Europe have been limited so far, says Ground, although there is growing interest. The system is available via T2S in France. Visitors to Intermat 2018 from around 20 countries have also shown an interest in the system and GKD Technologies is looking to arrange distribution deals globally.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Brigade warning device
    February 15, 2012
    The Workzone Backsense pulsed radar system from Brigade boasts close-in corner-to-corner blind-spot detection, and is said to be ideal for light to medium duty mobile plant machinery. It completes Brigade's portfolio of Xtreme and Standard pulsed radar obstacle-detection systems.
    Read More
  • In control - with machine control technology
    June 21, 2016
    Advances with machine control technologies are providing major benefits right across the construction sector - Mike Woof writes With the massive bauma 2016 exhibition now having run its course, the construction sector look set to benefit from a range of new machine control technologies. These systems are being offered across a range of different segments in the equipment sector. Bulldozing was one of the first portions of the earthmoving segment to benefit from machine control systems, but a vast array o
    Read More
  • Hot Bitumen Safety – Still an Issue, Eleven Years On
    April 22, 2016
    Despite clear industry guidelines published over a decade ago and revised in 2015, level measurement experts Hycontrol still regularly encounter asphalt plants with insufficient safety protocols for preventing spills of hot bitumen. Introduction – Bitumen Storage in the UK Recently-issued information from Eurobitume UK has reinforced the need for stringent safety precautions on sites with bitumen storage facilities; key amongst them being the implementation of a robust level monitoring and alarm system (‘Si
    Read More
  • Securing safer transportation infrastructure through non-destructive technology
    June 16, 2014
    Kevin Vine reports on the use of non-destructive testing for structural analysis of bridges Seven years ago, the overpass collapse in Laval, Québec that led to the death of five people brought to light severe issues with the state of the country’s bridges and transportation infrastructure. More recently, a crack in the Champlain Bridge to Montreal that forced over 160,000 commuters to find alternate routes to work reaffirmed a need for greater emphasis on early detection before a crisis occurs.
    Read More

Highlighted Content