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“As an entrepreneur and founder of GKD, Nick Ground is widely acknowledged as the originator of the excavator rated capacity indicators as sold by GKD and fitted to a significant number of Road Rails vehicles used by operators working on the UK rail infrastructure.
With an electronics degree, a willingness to get his hands dirty and a 'customer first' ethos right from the start, Nick has ensured that the company is focused on providing a comprehensive and practical solution for the rail industry.
The challenges faced by the rail industry to reduce risk and to operate in a safe way have been greatly supported by the rated capacity indicator, alerting the operator to a potential unsafe state and if needed motion cutting the machine to retain stability.
In designing and developing the solution, electronics was the obvious answer and Nick Ground, as a new graduate with knowledge in new microchips, saw the opportunity to apply the technology.
The challenge was not just the processing, to measure load but to convert pressure to voltage. To measure angles Nick designed his sensors and wrote the complex mathematics too. All of this was previously achieved with springs and mechanical cams.
His work has spearheaded the design, development and delivered of the rated capacity indicators and the use of virtual walls on the rail infrastructure. This has supported the seven day rail programme and his knowledge has helped shaped safety regulations that provide safe working around on track plant.
As Managing Director, Nick works on the vision and strategic direction for the company and remains heavily involved in the technical development of new products that will further support the rail industry. Nick through the UK construction machinery trade association champions UK engineering worldwide.
His company GKD Technik has grown from strength to strength and his systems are fitted on a significant number of Road Rail vehicles used throughout the world.
Thanks to Nicks development, vision and dedication, machines are now fitted with systems that reduce risk and support safe working practices, directly supporting health and safety programmes and critically ensuring that staff working on the infrastructure are warned as to potential risk enabling them to take mitigating actions.“
“Thank you so much for an amazing evening. The attention to detail that goes into the Rail Staff Awards does not go unnoticed, everything from the décor, food, entertainment and most importantly the awards themselves was first class. It was a privilege for me to present the Samaritans Life Saver Award in recognition of all those who went above and beyond and approached a vulnerable person, truly amazing, incredible work! A huge well done to you and to the Rail Staff Awards for providing the opportunity to publicly recognise such care and dedication. Keep up the good work!”
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