January 08, 2021, Madrid, Spain |
100 years at society’s service through technology
Last 8th January 2021, SICE has turned 100 years old and every day during this last century, we have been very present in people’s lives.
It is not easy to find a major city or town in Spain where SICE has not operated during its 100-year lifespan. Our presence ranges from street lighting, the intelligent management systems and security systems for urban traffic and motorway management systems, tunnels, tolling, and transport; to the handling of water resources, air quality, and many other services that are part of what we know today as “Smart Cities.”
SICE has been working for 100 years to improve society’s quality of life through technology. One hundred years committed to the innovation of technology in the transportation sector; the development of telecommunications and environmental control networks that contribute to the sustainability of natural resources; controlling processes in different industries; and finally, since 1921, providing energy efficiency solutions through street lighting in many cities.
Nowadays, we are more than 2,500 employees with a presence in more than 30 countries across five continents. When on the 8th January of 1921 in Bilbao, the Sociedad Ibérica de Construcciones Eléctricas was born, the founding partners could never have imagined the growing and national and international projection that the company would have. We have turned from building and selling electrical materials in Spain and Portugal into changing millions of citizens’ daily lives. We grew from delivering the first traffic lights in Madrid and Barcelona to centralizing the traffic management systems for complex infrastructures like Madrid Calle 30 or the Waterview (Auckland, New Zealand), WestConnex (Sydney, Australia), Miami, and Seattle (USA) tunnels.
The list goes on and on. A century full of technological milestones shows the excellence, ability to evolve, innovation, anticipation, and adaptation that the company and its professionals have had throughout these years. We have always remained true to our values – a strong commitment to our clients, adding value, efficiency, and a drive to lead.
A drive that dared us to undertake our first international projects in Latin America in the 1990s. Since then, we have continued growing and expanding worldwide: from the first international tolling project in Puerto Rico to the large tolling projects in Mexico and Free Flow in Chile, the United Kingdom, North America, and Australia. From the setting up and operation of security systems for Madrid Metro to the subway projects for Santiago, Chile, and Canada’s trams.
We then saw SICE’s entry into the motorway operations and management system world through our firsts projects in Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza, and Seville with the Spanish Transport Authority (DGT), that grown into the management of large tunnels like the Somport or the Calle 30 projects, replicated and expanded upon in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA.
Not many companies can see and celebrate their 100th anniversary. SICE has stood the test of time, and outlived regimes, wars, and changes of all types. All of this has been possible thanks, undoubtedly, to its clients that have trusted the company’s professional work - some of which have been with us for many years; thanks also to its partners, collaborators, and shareholders who have provided much-needed financial support in this long journey. However, especially thanks to its team of professionals: to their effort and tenacity, their perseverance, their drive to go further by developing technology for progress. All of this has placed SICE as a top player in global markets with its solutions for urban and motorway management systems traffic, tunnel control systems, transport systems, tolling, and environment.
It is said that the past cannot be rewritten, but by looking at the past we can clearly identify the values that have, for the last century, remained unchanged as part of the company’s essence. This being the backbone of responsible work culture: one that is austere and honest, always willing to serve, and based on technology and innovation.
SICE continues to be committed to contributing to society’s progress and well-being in a context that – at present and over the short term – continues to be difficult and full of uncertainties. We are more demanding and competitive than ever, in permanent evolution, facing new challenges and opportunities with our maximum capacity and solvency. Embracing digital transformation as the key to our business’ future development and working to become innovation leaders.
Since 1921 the world has certainly changed a lot - and SICE has evolved with it. Today we know that thanks to 100 years of effort and hard work, SICE will continue to greatly impact society, as it has done to date. So today, on our 100th anniversary, we just want to say: congratulations and that let’s go for the next century!!!
