Latest Updates Italian track inspection and signalling systems developer for railways, MER MEC, establishes LLC in Tokyo

MER MEC S.p.A. is an Italian company founded in 1960 which provides diagnostic systems and signalling system-related services globally for railway infrastructure. The company's system can conduct quick inspections for train failure and track infrastructure, employing the latest technology such as image processing. The company has business bases in 14 locations worldwide and has a delivery record of more than 1,500 systems to more than 150 companies. MER MEC has been engaged in more than 20 international collaborative research programs and has been working on research and development, including conducting joint research, with more than 15 universities and research institutes.。

In February 2017, they established MER MEC JAPAN G.K. as a base for providing customer service for inspection and signalling systems for Japan, expanding sales channels and conducting research and development with Japanese companies. In May 2017, they introduced a "track inspection system" for the line of the Sanyo Shinkansen operated by JR-West. By utilizing image processing and sensor technology, it is possible to conduct inspections automatically through the course of a vehicle traveling instead of through visual inspections, which is expected to improve safety and work efficiency. This is the first time that the system is being introduced in Japan, and it already started to acquire data on rail conditions on a trial basis in September 2017 toward the practical use within four to five years. Through the establishment of their base in Japan, they will continue to collaborate with Japanese companies in order to further expand their business and sales channels.

For the establishment of their Japanese corporation, the JETRO Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC) provided temporary office space and consultation on labor. The JETRO IBSC also made referrals to service providers such as administrative scrivener, tax accountant and corporate labor offices and a real estate company, and provided market information and networking opportunities with potential business partners.