Winchester: Observant Innovations' camera to be manufactured in Hampshire
Morgan Innovation & Technology has won a new manufacturing contract to support Winchester-based panoramic imaging company, Observant Innovations. The companies met at Nucleus Expo in Southampton Science Park in 2016.
Morgan IAT will manufacture the Patrol, a vehicle-mounted panoramic camera, at its manufacturing facility in Petersfield. A research team is also guiding the company through regulatory conformance with the Vehicle Certification Agency, commonly known as the E Mark.
Observant Innovations is a British company founded in 2013 to develop a range of panoramic cameras using proprietary software and specialist optical technology. The small team has so far undertaken R&D, sourcing and assembly in-house, but has reached a critical growth stage. The manufacturing contract with Morgan IAT is part of a strategic plan to scale-up its operations in the UK and abroad.
John Scholes, chairman of Observant Innovations, said: “We need certified, competent, high quality manufacturing. Not only can Morgan’s enable us to scale the production, but they also have a credible track-record.” The firm beat other competitive quotes on manufacturing prices. “They have a special approach whereby they will invest in new innovations if they believe in the product,” added Scholes.
Morgan IAT is ISO 9001-2008, ISO 13485 certified and is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved company with exceptional experience of regulatory approvals.
CEO Nigel Clarke commented: “We’re very pleased to support another local company, and to help bring a new high-tech product to market. Cost-effective high-tech manufacturing is alive and thriving in the UK.”
Patrol is a new and disruptive technology for police, emergency services, military and safety and security professionals. Designed to be vehicle-mounted, it gives a complete, 360-degree video image from one single camera in one position. It operates by providing comprehensive views of the full scene, either as a full panorama, or multiple virtual pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, or a virtual reality feed, allowing a user to see images from any direction. For example, you might have one view of a path, but will also be able to see someone walking up from the other direction.
A winner of two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise (International Trade), Morgan IAT manufactures medical and non-medical, commercial electronics goods. Every year, the company invests 20% of its turnover into helping inventors bring their products to market.
