ARRB’s first spin-off business developed over 57 years is finally here!

On the 28^th of September 2017 the sale of the equipment assembly and software development business officially took place at the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) headquarters in Vermont South. 

ARRB delivers solutions to future challenges as well as the everyday problems, by utilising next generation smart devices to assess road pavement performance.  ARRB has been extremely successful in the development of world-leading road information collection services that will now go global as the VNA Group takes on the ARRB equipment assembly and software development arm into a new company to be a truly global entity.

After a public expression of interest process and a detailed negotiation phase, the successful purchase was made by one of South Africa's leading built environment solutions companies, VNA Group. The sale also includes the ARRB United States operation (AGI) and the operational plant and equipment in the US.

Michael Caltabiano, Chief Executive of ARRB, and Vikash Narsai, Chief Executive of VNA Group, finalised the sale in front of onlooking staff, in what is one of the most momentous days in ARRB’s history.

“For ARRB this means we will continue to own and operate our road condition data collection services for Members in Australia and New Zealand, while the new company will provide support to ARRB by way of vehicle maintenance and software upgrades” Mr Caltabiano said.

'ARRB will continue to be the source of excellence in service to road agencies across Australia and New Zealand and the travelling public, creating the knowledge for tomorrow’s transport challenges and solutions for todays’ problems' Mr Caltabiano went on to say.
 
VNA Group has been a longstanding client of ARRB and has exclusively used ARRB equipment in their business operations and is also an exclusive distributor and supplier of ARRB equipment in South Africa. The close relationship was a natural fit for the new business to have an optimal start, enabling them to grow into a truly global supplier of road performance testing devices.
 
The new business is named “Automated Road Rehabilitation Business Systems Pty Ltd” (operating in Australia and New Zealand), to which VNA Group is the parent company. ARRB will be the exclusive distributor of the new company’s products and services in Australia and New Zealand and the strong links between the two entities will continue to grow.
 
Mr Caltabiano said 'ARRB will continue providing Member agencies with next-generation research and information services. Our vision is to provide an adaptable connected future, which is grounded in the understanding and knowledge generated in our rich history'.