Another ‘sign’ of improving economy

City celebrates arrival of SES America

Posted 1/13/15

Mayor Scott Avedisian found another “sign” that the economy is improving and that Warwick is the place for business development and growth.

Actually, it was Phil Perult who picked up on the …

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Another ‘sign’ of improving economy

City celebrates arrival of SES America

Posted

Mayor Scott Avedisian found another “sign” that the economy is improving and that Warwick is the place for business development and growth.

Actually, it was Phil Perut who picked up on the “sign.”

Perut is the president of SES America, or SESA, which in the last year moved manufacturing operations from Smithfield to 21 Quinton St. just off Warwick Avenue and not far from the Cranston line. When the company made the move in November, it employed six full-time employees. It now has 16, and with a recent contract from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation it looks like this is just the beginning.

SESA manufactures electronic highway signs, the kind that are on Route 95 and are used to warn motorists of slowdowns ahead and, among other things, inform them of the estimated driving time to the state line. SESA is one of the smaller players in the field of highway electronic sign companies. They also manufacture solar roadway markers that can be embedded into the highway to define travel lanes and warn motorists of curves and other areas requiring extra caution.

Perut, who speaks English flawlessly but whose French accent reveals his native land, bought the company that was founded in 1986 in 2011. He says the company has two goals: to better serve its customers and to continue growing. It was what SESA customers, employees and those invited to Friday’s ribbon cutting wanted to hear.

“We’re very thankful you chose to be on this side of the pond,” Avedisian said in welcoming the company to this country and to the city. With the airport, highways and central location, the mayor touted, “Warwick is the place to do business.”

But there was more to the occasion than extolling the city’s assets.

Perut took the mayor on a tour of the plant, explaining some of the technology behind the light emitting diode (LED) signs and how they are designed to shine brighter during direct sunlight and then dim when it is overcast or at night.

And if you ever wondered whether those estimated driving times are anything more than wild guess, just talk with Brandon Tessier, the company’s regional manager for the eastern United States and Canada. Sensors pick up drivers using Blue Tooth wireless in the cars. The devices are individually numbered so that the actual time to drive to a designated location can be tracked. This is done with scores of vehicles and fed into an algorithm that comes up with an estimate that is constantly subject to chance based on real time.

Perut said Massachusetts just embarked on a $12 million project for bout 300 highway signs. SESA’s contract amounts to $3.2 million.

“It’s huge,” Perut said.

Many of the signs will be powered by solar energy, thereby generating savings for the state. Others tie into the grid. But either way, Perut said, SESA is focused on efficiency. An aspect of the business is also focused on retrofitting older electronic signs. Replacing old signs can require removing stanchions, housings and foundations.

Tessier explained by using existing housings and reducing the need to completely replace signs, SESA saved Virginia $2 million. In Texas, the savings totaled $5 million, he said. Signs are assembled at the Warwick plant and bear “made in America” stickers.

Avedisian said SESA and the city are working on a “pilot project” that he expects will be the subject of an announcement in the near future.

As for other “signs” of an improving economy, Avedisian offered an extensive list in his inaugural address on Jan. 6. That included conversion to Rhode Island Mall into an indoor outlet that is projected to commence this year, plans for $75 million of development on the former Leviton property that is part of City Centre Warwick, and a new $12 million Car Max on Route 2 on the site of the former Building 19.

Following the tour and remarks, Perut rallied his employees along with several URI engineering students who are doing internships at SESA for a ribbon cutting. And on the count of three, the mayor clipped the ribbon to make it official.

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