RAA Group

Systems integration firm Adesta, which provides security technology services for a variety of large clients including critical infrastructure projects, has been purchased by global security solutions company G4S. The purchase price is $66 million, and was based on annual revenues from Adesta of $92 million in 2008.

“As a leading systems integrator in the design and operation of security systems and command and control centers for Government and Regulated sectors, the Adesta acquisition is an important strategic step to deliver advanced secure solutions combining G4S manpower and technology to U.S. seaports, where Adesta has an impressive market penetration, and extend this to chemical/petrochemical site security and other critical infrastructure,” said Keith Whitelock, president of G4S Technology North America.

Adesta is a 20-plus-year business that provides full service systems integration for electronic and physical security, and key markets have been ports, critical infrastructure and petrochemical industries, as well as public safety. Recent contract wins have included a utility firm near Chattanooga, Tenn., and the Stafford County Public Schools in Virgina. The firm’s skill sets have include wide-ranging sensor installations, video surveillance and access control. Besides security, the firm has also worked to manage and install communications infrastructures used for non-security communications platforms.

Systems integrators get their hands on new products from Axis as they test out improvements designed to make installation easier. Integrators divided into teams to compete, and the fastest team installed 3 cameras in less than 4 minutes.

Photo by Geoff Kohl for SIW/IPSW

Oct. 20, 2009 — At the Axis Channel Convergence Conference last week in Austin, Texas, channel and vendor partners enjoyed a look at the direction IP video is heading. Axis, considered one of the top companies producing IP networked video surveillance products (and one of the top camera vendors globally in terms of marketshare), brought together a number of its top channel partners (systems integrators) for three days of training, product roadmap discussions, and industry analysis.

One of the top focuses at the event was how Axis products are developing to make projects easier for installing partners. The company had already showcased such solutions as a snap-in, can-style enclosure for its M3011 dome camera, but that’s only part of the story for Axis’ product line. I had a chance to hear from Axis Director of Sales Larry Newman as he showcased improvements that will affect your lives as installers and end-users.

Without going into model specifics, here’s what we’re seeing from Axis that are improvements designed for easing the task of deploying cameras:

1. Modular units: Design is separating enclosures from camera heads and even mounting units, which allows for step-by-step installation
2. The screws: In one case, Axis recognized the challenges that side-mount screws can have for installers and switched the position on these screws to make them vertical, and easier to reach with an electric screwdriver/drill from below.
3. Covering the circuit boards: A simple addition of a plastic cover ensures mounting screws can’t be mistakenly drilled into the vital circuit board.
4. Threads: They’ve adopted the National Pipe Thread Standard for pole-mount type cameras which means you’re likely to get a fast install when you’re 20 feet up on a cherry picker.
5. A new video monitor: Their hot new product isn’t even a camera, but a handheld video monitor (the T8412) for setting focus and other camera functions.
6. Sun covers: Sounds simple, but it’s a welcome addition to control glare issues for domes.
7. PTZ start-up smarts: The engineers have implemented a start-up protocol for their forthcoming higher-end outdoor PTZs that checks humidity/condensation inside the enclosure before starting up to ensure you don’t short out the camera. Additionally, the camera start-up checks temperature to make sure it is warm enough to start moving PTZ parts, and if it’s not, it turns on the heater to warm things up to a safe level for starting the PTZ camera.
8. Pixel counting: A part of the software running for the cameras allows installers to select any area of the image and do a real pixel count, which lets you know if you’re getting enough pixels on target for identification purposes of someone or something in a scene.
9. Remote focus: Point the new cameras at the area of interest, then let the software do the actual focusing, instead of trying to do micro-adjustments while on your 16-foot ladder.
10. PoE encoders: New encoders allow PoE pass-through for powering of devices.
11. P-iris: This is a new iris technology developed by Axis and the Kowa company that allows for micro adjustments to maintain focus. It’s not an Axis-exclusive technology, and we may see this appear in other camera companies products.
12. Hot swap on encoder racks: We’ve been seeing hot swappable drives on NVRs and DVRs and on network storage, but this takes that concept to their dense encoder racks, meaning you don’t have to shut down the entire encoder rack to swap a single encoder blade.

Overall, the message from Axis in this regard is that they have been focusing on imaging and camera features, and now they’re really getting to a point where they’ve had enough time in the field to make the small improvements (like something as simple as moving screw slots) that take their product line to the next level.

That said, there were also some pretty hot new products being showcased at the conference, but most of these aren’t out yet, so stay tuned as the company releases those.

GE Security is being sold to United Technologies Corporation (UTC) for $1.82 billion, the two companies announced today. The deal includes the purchase of eight manufacturing facilities and the efforts of approximately 4,700 employees, who produce and represent a variety of security products, from the Simon alarm panels to TruVision cameras, and a mix of software-based security management systems like the Topaz and Facility Commander solutions. The deal also includes GE Security’s fire alarm systems business, which stemmed heavily from GE’s acquisition of Edwards Systems Technology (EST).

The sale price of $1.82 billion is little more than what the company paid for the Edwards fire business five years ago, when it spent $1.4 billion to bulk up its fire business. Earlier this year, in April 2009, GE sold a portion of its security business off to French company SAFRAN for $580 million. In that deal, GE relinquished 81 percent of its ownership of that “homeland protection” business unit, which was a sub-category within GE Security. GE Security also sold its Edwards Service unit to Atlanta, Ga., contracting company Carter Brothers in March 2007. That unit was the service division of EST; it included 10 branch operations and 150 employees.

Much of GE Security was the result of acquisitions. Besides the purchase of Edwards Systems Technology in 2004, the company bought then-defunct high-definition video surveillance firm CoVi (Feb. 2008), access control company Casi-Rusco/Interlogix (2002), networked/IP video company VisioWave (June 2005), and digital and fiber optic data signal transmission systems International Fiber Systems/IFS (April 2003).

UTC itself has made significant acquisitions to move its business into the security space. It purchased Lenel Systems in March 2005, bringing aboard one of the world’s leaders in access control systems market share (the Casi-Rusco systems which GE owns are generally thought to be strong competitors to Lenel’s solutions). On the fire systems side, UTC Fire & Security owns the Chubb, Kidde and Marioff brands, as well as fire and security systems integration arm Red Hawk, which UTC purchased in September 2006. Marioff was acquired in September 2007; Kidde was acquired in April 2005; Chubb was acquired in 2003; Initial Electronic Security Group was acquired Match 2007. UTC Fire & Security also includes the Onity access control business (formerly TESA Entry Systems before the UTC acquisition).

UTC’s President and CEO Louis Chenevert said the move “strengthens our North America footprint, extends our capabilities and complements our existing fire and security businesses.” Chenevert said the acquisition was expected to be “earnings neutral” in 2010 due to the costs of restructuring and general transaction costs but would be profitable for UTC starting in 2011.

GE Security has operations in 26 countries. The acquisition still awaits standard regulatory approval.

Samsung Techwin’s new 4-channel SVR-470 DVR with built-in LCD monitor.

Carson, CA (November 5, 2009) – Samsung Techwin America-CCTV Division (www.samsungcctvusa.com), a global leader in the digital video security system industry, today announced the new Samsung Techwin SVR-470 – a 4-channel DVR with a self-contained 3.5” LCD on the front panel for convenient monitoring.

“Small shops, retail and convenience stores, pharmacies, and gas stations are often without digital CCTV systems due to the high installation cost and space considerations,” said Henry Kim, Senior Product Manager for Samsung Techwin America. “Because the SVR-470 DVR is equipped with a built-in screen, the need for an extra monitor is reduced, lowering cost and space requirements. In addition, the H.264 image compression and Centralized Management Software (CMS) provided with this DVR offer a full recording solution making it ideal for any small business.”

The SVR-470 employs the H.264 high performance image compression algorithm for excellent image recording quality. Equipped with a default 500GB HDD, it can record at least one month’s worth of data without compromising image quality. This system also has network monitoring options that are especially necessary for small-sized businesses; this DVR helps grasp real-time situations of one or more store simultaneously from any remote location.

Samsung Techwin offers the most advanced digital security products available in the world. This technology coupled with its commitment to provide superior service makes Samsung Techwin an unbeatable solution in the Americas and around the world.

All Samsung Techwin products are supported by a highly experienced team of Samsung Techwin industry professionals. For more information about Samsung Techwin and its products, please call 877-213-1222 or 310-632-1234, or go to www.samsungcctvusa.com.