Traffic signaling during the ages
The first use of light signals is not known, but surely human communication needs took advantage of
the discovery of fire. As early as 300 BC, light was used to guide ships
navigating the coast of Egypt. Alexandria becomes the home to one of the Seven Wonders of
the World by building a 122 m tall lighthouse, visible from 65 miles away.
Urban development brings traffic to the point that some control is needed to avoid accidents.
The first traffic light is installed in 1868 outside of the House of Parliament in London.
A pair of alternating red and green gas lamps was trying to keep the large number of horse
drawn carriages from having collisions.
The automobile increases the need for traffic control at intersections. Salt Lake City, Utah,
creates a traffic police squad and its leader, Lester Wire, installs the first electric
traffic light in 1912. It uses 8 inch railroad type lenses and the red and green lights
are manually operated by a traffic policeman.
The development of traffic light technology goes through many stages until we get to the
familiar traffic light we all know.
Get to know VIEREX
Vierex was founded in 1962 in Athens by Christos Degaitis, who returned from Switzerland armed
with the experience he had acquired from the Swiss industry.
Its name comes from the initials of the words: Industry of Tools and Parts in Greek since
its initial activities was the manufacturing of metallic tools and parts. Later on, with
the first installations of traffic lights in Athens, VRX started manufacturing
parts for traffic lights which where supplied to the Greek public sector as spare parts
for their maintenance. At the same time, VRX was designing and producing
other traffic signals such as:
- 1964: Acetylene hand-lights made of brass
- 1969: Security buoys
- 1973: Road traffic lights
- 1988: Airfield obstruction lights
- 1997: Variable message signs with fiber optics
VIEREX (VRX) company headquarters are located in the Zografou section of Athens.
Its first facility is a 1.710m2 land in a site of 14.530m2)
at the industrial zone of Attica Panormos at Lavrio, and it's second facility
is an area of 1.500m2 at Tavros in Attica.
The company's latest 5 year profitable course, in combination with
the investment of 60% of it's profits on the develpment of new products,
enables it to offer state of the art products that are innovative
and hold many patents. VRX with a client base of more than 1.500, has
created a continually growing network in Greece as well as abroad.
Vierex designs its products with special concern for the environment and human needs,
specializing in the construction of light signals, using recyclable materials that are
friendly to the environment. A fully organized distribution network is responsible for
monitoring and providing feedback that eventually is incorporated in the design of our
products.
Vierex is a member of the following Associations and Societies:
- Hellenic Illumination Committee "H.I.C." member of International Commission on Illumination "C.I.E."
- International Municipal Signal Association "I.M.S.A."
- Optical Society of America
- Opto-electronics Industry Development Association
- Athens Commercial and Industrial Chamber
- Industrial Association of Attica and Piraeus
- Greek Corporations Association
- The International Society of Logistics “SOLE”
