Two leading civil construction companies – Heijmans from the Netherlands and New Zealand‘s Fulton Hogan – have formed a strategic alliance to share products and intellectual property in the markets in which they operate.

Fulton Hogan managing director Nick Miller said technology transfer between the two companies was an effective way of bringing proven products to market.

“At Fulton Hogan, we strive for a balance between R&D innovation, and collaborating with those who have products and technologies that would benefit Australia and New Zealand. Our strategic alliance with Heijmans means we can help each other market products, and adapt them for use in the countries in which we operate. The agreement could see us making complete end products or semi-finished products, sharing IP for asphalt mixes or production techniques, as well as providing our people in a consultancy capacity on specific projects.”

Heijmans‘ managing director Joziene van de Linde said the alliance would benefit the two companies‘ customers by broadening the range of innovative products they can offer.

“We are delighted with this agreement. It enables us to offer our products in Australia and New Zealand in an efficient way. Rather than establishing a company, we will work closely with Fulton Hogan, which already has an established and respected presence in these countries.”

Heijmans products include BikeScout, which helps to improve safety for cyclists by using smart signals to warn drivers when cyclists are approaching a dangerous intersection, and FairyTrail, a Glow in the Dark Concrete system.

The agreement was signed 3 November in Sydney as part of the Dutch economic mission to Australia and New Zealand, in the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.