A Brief History of SSL

Simulation Systems Ltd (SSL) was Founded in 1979 and was originally located at the Gables in Yatton.

In 1998 SSL moved to the Market Industrial Estate in Yatton (where they currently reside) and has been steadily growing ever since.

Projects over the years

CO306 / CO308
In the 1980s – 1999: SSL made a major step into the highway control systems world with the contract to developed the CO306 (Control Office Motorway Sign Controller) and then later the CO308 systems to set motorway signals using NMCS1. These systems were exceptionally successful and were used by the police nationwide. Additional add-ons like AID (Automatic Incident Detection System), which was the first automated motorway signal setting system in the UK. Increased the longevity of the CO306 system well into the 1990s.

Tester / WinTester
Late 1980s – Current: SSL developed and maintain a product called Tester. Tester was primarily used as a tool to test message signs and is widely used within the motorway industry. Recently SSL modernised the software with a windows interface and in turn renamed the product to WinTester.

SAC (Stand Alone Controller)
Early 1990s – 1998: In the early 1990’s SSL developed their first message sign control system, which was called the SAC (Stand Alone Controller). The SAC was used in both England and Wales and was operated by the police to control message signs in response to motorway incidents.

PCOSAC (Police Control Office Stand Alone Controller)
1996 – Current: SSL developed the PCOSAC (Police Control Office Stand Alone Controller), which was a vastly upgraded version of the very successful SAC. Not to be confused by the name the PCOSAC was by no means just Stand Alone (See RNMS). At its peek the PCOSAC was controlling well over 1700 message signs throughout England, which at the time was a large proportion of the signs in England.

RNMS (Regional Network Management System)
1996 – Current: Originally developed for the MDIS (M25 and Midlands Driver Information System 1996 - 1997) the RNMS (Regional Network Management System) was developed to control message signs countrywide, which it did in conjunction with the PCOSAC. After MDIS the RNMS was used for the ELSE (East London Driver Information System 1999 – Current), which is a wide area diversion system for controlling traffic approaching East London from the M25.