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Meet The Level Headed Son of The Level Crossing Father
Once, of course, family railway businesses were commonplace, right down to station masters in station master houses. But spare the nostalgia for The Railway Children days. In our time of short term contracts, temporary staff and the shifting sands of rail politics, HoldFast still shines the virtues of a family business. It is an exciting but challenging time for the UK rail infrastructure industry. There may be considerable investment and opportunity but the customer is ever changing and there is need for engineering companies to be quicker and more efficient in responding to these needs. Typically HoldFast remains unusually proactive and hands on in its approach, offering original solutions, friendly advice and support to specifiers and installers. Peter and Mark pride themselves on listening to the customer and bending over backwards to meet their needs. As is the practice with a prospering family business, Peter, who founded HoldFast nearly 20 years ago, is now handing over day to day management of Holdfast to his Son. He explains: “In recent months Mark has been taking more of a leading role than ever before and I have to say he is very good at it! It is always difficult to relinquish control. However, the Company is more successful than ever and Mark…has been well trained.” While ever inventive Peter is looking forward to spending more time on developing new innovations, Mark is now busier than ever, often travelling thousands of miles in a week, meeting civil contractors, Off Track Managers and Permanent Way staff. There have been many highs, not least winning the Queen’s Award for Innovation – a testament to how HoldFast’s innovative platform system has improved safety at crossings and reduced the environmental impact. Mark also fondly remembers winning the HSBC Rail Supplier of the Year Award at Grosvenor House, ahead of GB Freight and The National Railway Enquiry Line. “Not bad for a ‘Father & Son’ business” However, like his Father, he knows that listening to those on the track is where all product improvements start. Increasing vehicle traffic, vehicle weight and speed have dramatically increased the intensity of forces on highway crossing platforms over the last 20 years and HoldFast has been at the forefront of raising the game by engineering solutions to counter these pressures. This will not change, Indeed, Mark constantly working closely with Network Rail to raise standards where ever possible to improve safety and durability in the face of these pressures. He has a clear vision of where he wants to take HoldFast: “I see our role as keeping the level crossing industry proactive rather than reactive, whilst also identifying and realising new opportunities for the rail and urban transit industries to benefit from our recycled rubber systems. As you will find out in due course, this is set to be another innovative year for HoldFast.” Nothing new there then! Fact File HoldFast supply rubber crossing platforms to increase infrastructure
flexibility, reduce costs and lower the environmental impact. Since
being awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Innovation
in 2002, their continuing product innovation has underpinned continued
growth in the UK and overseas. Products include:
You can find more information at www.railcrossings.co.uk.
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At
6'7" and 18 1/2 stone Mark Coates-Smith
cuts an imposing figure. However having joined Holdfast Level crossings
some nine years ago it is clear that Mark has as much ‘up top’ as
he does in stature – developing into rare expertise and experience
in a narrow field.
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