Engineering safety software gains important Network Rail contract

ENGINEERING software firm LimitState has won a contract with Network Rail as it looks to expand.

The Sheffield firm checks the safety of constructions, including bridge abutments, foundations and retaining walls.

The publicly-owned rail track firm has bought a type of network licence which means LimitState: GEO software can be used by engineers in company offices nationwide.

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LimitState will also train staff to use the software following the introduction of new European design standards, known as the Eurocodes, which came into force on April 1.

Matthew Gilbert, managing director, said the technology could be used with any structure that has earth in it and it helps the owner see how it can respond to stress.

"How much (weight) can you put on the soil? How would it fail if it is overloaded?"

He added: "We are extremely pleased that Network Rail and other forward looking organisations are choosing LimitState software to meet their needs as we move into the era of the Eurocodes."

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The firm turned over over 75,000 last year and hopes to reach between 120,000 and 150,000 for 2009-10.

The underlying technology used by LimitState:GEO came out of the University of Sheffield, which remains the firm's largest single shareholder. Limitstate has also had support from seedcorn investments made by South Yorkshire Investment Fund in 2007-08.

The firm recently appointed a business development manager, Avin Wong.