The York Hinge Company (YHCO) started life in 2005 as an offshoot of MDB Associates. It grew up around an idea, patented by Rodger Flude (one of three principle shareholders)

For many years, local councils have been maintaining street lamps and replacing bulbs by use of men and ladders. As the litigious society has developed, European legislation has gradually restricted the use of ladders to the point where many local councils have now banned their use. The only remaining option is the expensive solution: a scissor lift with an operator and a machine controller.

Rodger met this challenge with a simple and neat solution: The York Hinge can be retro-fitted to existing lamp-posts in less than 30 minutes. It then permits one operator, with only one key, to hinge the lamp-post to a horizontal position, allowing the operator to clean the lamp and replace bulb in minutes. The payback period on this invention is expected to be less than one year – hence the high levels of interest shown in the product to-date.

There are, of course, competitors for this product. The main competition has a product which is fitted only to new lamp-posts – and it requires a cumbersome tool to be put in place for operation. There are also other less robust versions available.

The York Hinge has been tested to breaking point to simulate wind loading – it is always the lamp-post itself which fails first.

The Managing Director of YHCO is Jamie Powell who has worked with MDB Associates for over 10 years. Together with Mick Brown of MDB, Jamie is also a principal shareholder. As a young, dynamic and enthusiastic leader, he is in the right place at the right time with an exciting product which will rapidly capture the market.

The impressive business plan for YHCO is based on a conservative assumption of 3% market share by 2010. However, there are over 5million lamp-posts existing in England alone – quite a challenge!

Commercial issues within YHCO are handled by David Southworth. David has been project Director for power stations in South Africa, India and China and for Rolling Stock in York. He has also established a business school in China on behalf of the EU.