Motorway signs: global patent for maintenance

A simple yet extremely effective system (which nobody had thought of before), which allows motorway signs to be covered and uncovered in a matter of seconds, thereby improving safety for workers and making temporary signage clearer for motorists. This invention – for that is what it is – is called Rollo and has already been installed on various motorway sections throughout Italia, as well as being recognised internationally with a worldwide patent. It was developed, thanks to experience gained in the field, by an Italian company, Bio System, a company based in San Salvatore di Cogorno (Genoa), founded in 1991 and which has been working on Italy’s motorways for the past 10 years, dealing with roadworks, emergencies and maintenance.

“Rollo,” explains Mirco Grandi, technical director at Bio system and the system’s creator, “wasn’t conceived in a technical office, but right there on the motorway. It’s the result of years spent on construction sites, observing real-world problems and seeking a practical solution. Those who work on the motorways every day are fully aware of the critical issues and know where real innovation is possible. This proves that even from a somewhat remote area, such as the eastern Ligurian coast, ideas can emerge that are capable of improving the safety of infrastructure throughout Italia.”

It is no coincidence, Grandi explains, that the concept for the device took shape in 2022 ‘along the Ligurian sections of the A7 and A12 motorways, where there is a clear need to reduce the time spent by workers covering road signs positioned at heights of up to four or five metres during temporary roadworks. Following an extensive phase of prototyping, field testing and in-house development, Rollo was first granted a patent for its invention in Italia, followed by a European patent, and finally registered internationally through the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Today, the system is already installed on hundreds of signs along the Ligurian motorways and has also been adopted on various sections of Italian motorways, from Naples to Treviso, via Rome, Bologna, Florence and Bari.”

The main advantage, adds Grandi, “is safety: we drastically reduce the time that workers are exposed to traffic, whilst also improving road users’ understanding of road signs. A temporary sign must be immediately legible, leaving no room for doubt or misinterpretation. It’s a detail that can make all the difference.”

And, as mentioned, it is simplicity that is one of Rollo’s key strengths. ‘Once installed,’ concludes its creator, ‘the device requires minimal maintenance, can be operated quickly even in emergency situations, and comes with instructions accessible via a QR code directly on the back of the sign. The project was developed almost entirely in-house, with prototypes created using 3D printing and subjected to continuous stress tests, also involving local companies.”