Despite challenging economic times, Australian forklift fleet monitoring provider Collective Intelligence (CI) has started its expansion overseas with a start-up business in the UK.

Company director Garry Squire, who re-located from Sydney, Australia to the UK Midlands, says the start-up, CI Monitoring UK Ltd, will also be a base for future expansion in Europe.

"Though challenging for everyone, CI has continued its growth through the difficult last four years and the recent move into the UK market is expected to see them increase and continue this upward trend," Squire says.

He adds that CI had been investigating growth opportunities for over two years and saw a need in the UK market for its "simpler, more economical and reliable systems".

CI claims its remote monitoring products stand out from competitors because they are web-based solutions "that require no site infrastructure for data capture". This could mean lower costs and easier installation for equipment end-users.

"Equipment can be moved and relocated multiple times without the worry of installing site repeaters, routes or dedicated computers," Squire explains.

CI says it works with many forklift OEMs and blue-chip organisations. It aims to achieve closer, long-term relationships with "one or two organisations that want to add value to their customers and take more control of their rental fleets".

Established in Sydney by James Hayes, Collective Intelligence started marketing its remote monitoring solutions for the forklift market in 2003. Staffed by 20 people, it is now creating solutions for other equipment markets.