34 FOCUS AUGUST 2018 so it’s possible to track when and by what method items were cleaned. School Boards track equipment, too.” As technology has improved, the sophistication of North Line’s prod- ucts has kept pace. “Road hoses we’d call ‘intrusive,’ because drivers must interact with them,” Shelley explains. “But today, ‘non-intrusive’ tracking devices can be installed in the roadway or mount- ed on an existing pole. The device can detect speed using radar, or act like a flashlight beam across the road to count traffic every time the ‘beam’ is broken by a passing vehicle.” Kayleigh expands on the impact of technological progress. “At one time, the person collecting the data – and that’s done by the end user, not us – had to go physically to the counter to retrieve the informa- tion it gathered. That task can be done remotely now.” Research and development is of- ten driven by customers’ needs, but in North Line’s history – not at all surprisingly, given family history – a little good old-fashioned ingenuity also contributed. “Dad came up with ‘Auto Link,’” Shelley recalls. “When a Distance Measurement Instrument (DMI) was needed in a car, at one time a mechanic had to install it. But Dad’s Auto Link allowed the DMI to connect easily with the vehicle’s onboard computer.” JimSheehancurrentlyheadsNorth Line’s R&D. Listening and adapting are skills key to his portfolio’s suc- cess, daughter Kayleigh suggests. “The most important question we ask potential customers is ‘what are you going to use it for?’” she says. “Their replies often allude to a pur- pose we hadn’t considered before, and that inspires further innovation. At our end, Jim is constantly asking ‘how can we make it work better and make the customer’s job easier?’” North Line’s reach is international. “There’s great demand for this kind of product nowadays,” Kayleigh explains. “Municipalities are a good example: they’re becoming ‘smart- cities’ by integrating technology into their operations to improve the lives of their citizens. We fit nicely into that trend, because we have answers to many of the questions they’re asking.” Shelly and Jim Sheehan, along with daughter Kayleigh, are the second generation behind North Line. North Line (continued from page 33) Corn Stalks and Straw Bales Pumpkins, Mini Pumpkins and Gourds 905-985-2672 • 1431 Hwy. 7A, Port Perry www.centurygreenhouses.com Family Owned by John, Karen, Colleen, Jeff and Felicity Where the Spirit of Gardening Lives We know it’s coming... So is our Fall Collection FALL MIXED PLANTERS (Assorted Sizes) Open every day from 9 am to 7 pm Quality beyond Compare Fall Mums (4”, 6”, 10”, 12”, 14” pots) starting at $2.99 and up Fall Planters (10”, 12”, 14”) $24.99 and up