Siemens launches new version of SiPass Entro Access Control System

The Siemens Building Technologies Division released the market package 6.5 (MP6.5) of its SiPass Entro access control system. The new version of this scalable access control system provides new features tailored for the retail segment such as a customizable emergency open which allows users to select specific doors that open in response to specific events. 6.5 also marks enhanced networking capabilities that provide more flexibility in the use of static or dynamic IP addresses.

To support developers of interfaces to third-party systems such as “Time & Attendance”, the documentation for SiPass Entro’s application programming interface has been updated and structured in a better way to improve usability. A new planning guide is also available, which includes a wealth of useful “pre-installation” information for system designers and installers.

Honeywell Creates Open Technology Alliance to Foster Interoperability

Honeywell announced the Honeywell Open Technology Alliance, a group of global security manufacturers that will collaborate to increase interoperability between third-party IP systems and help businesses more easily secure and protect their facilities. As part of the initiative, Honeywell will work with security manufacturers to integrate their IP cameras and systems with its flagship MAXPRO VMS video management system, as well as make its own devices more-easily compatible with other vendors’ management platforms.

“We’re seeing more companies and organizations today using technology from multiple manufacturers to create the solutions they require,” said Don Roberts, Strategic Corporate Accounts, Honeywell Security Group. “The goal of the Honeywell Open Technology Alliance is to give these companies and their integrators more choices when designing their security systems, and to make the process easier.” 

New Jersey Awards 7-Year Drivers License Contract to L-1 Identity Solutions

New Jersey has chosen L-1 Identity Solutions to provide a secure driver’s license solution that aims to curb ID-theft. The state’s goal is an over-the-counter system that will exceed the recommended standards set by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, making the cards compliant with proposed standards set forth in the REAL ID Act.

The first year of the contract will include the ramp up and implementation of the new system and the remaining six years will consist of card production and equipment and software maintenance. Robert V. LaPenta, Chairman, President and CEO of L-1 Identity Solutions said, “New Jersey is a strategic win for L-1 and an important bellwether to the Nation as a State that is not just focused on the identity management concerns of its citizens today, but also on setting new standards that will ensure the most secure credential possible in the future.”

Duos Awarded $795k for Illegal Rider/Contraband Detection System Along U.S./Mexico Border

A major Class I railroad awarded Duos Technologies a contract to develop an automated method to conduct inspections of inbound trains and railcars crossing the Mexican/U.S. border. The system expands upon Duos’ Train Rider Detection System (TRIDS), which uses artificial Intelligence to automatically inspect passing trains for the presence of unauthorized riders or illegal cargo.

TRIDS performs automated digital video searches of freight trains passing through a portal at speeds of up to 70 mph. Duos’ Praesidium   software interprets the video scenes using proprietary algorithms, and alerts train security personnel to the presence of irregularities. The system includes the company’s proprietary Linear Panorama Generator that enables visual review of an entire train, automatically marking the positions of detections that require further inspection. A unique expansion of this system is its ability to digitally inspect the undercarriage of passing railcars, providing a full 360o view of cars crossing the border. Additional features will include automatic detection of open or missing hatches with automatic notification to the rail operator’s mechanical division.

  “This new generation and enhancement of our successful TRIDS application puts an effective tool in the hands of railroad police and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel,” said Gianni Arcaini, CEO of Duos.  “It provides an effective way to deal with both the growing challenge of freight car use for the illegal transport of contraband, and unauthorized rail ridership for passage deep into the continental US.  Our customers continue to challenge us to develop force multiplying technologies that combine fortified security with operational upgrades.”

Samsung Debuts New Management Team at ISC West

Samsung Techwin America the consolidated Samsung Electronics and Samsung Techwin product lines will make its premiere at ISC West 2010. The company is led by former Panasonic executive Frank DeFina who has been appointed Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America.
In addition to the new company name and management team, there’s also a new vision for Samsung according to Mr. DeFina. “We will capitalize on all the resources Samsung has to offer as a global force in the electronics industry to deliver comprehensive video surveillance and security solutions with the best performance and value proposition,” said Mr. DeFina. “Although an established global leader in the professional security market, Samsung has all the core resources in place to take an aggressive position in the professional security industry, and make the Americas one of our power zones moving forward.”
Perdo Duarte, Vice President for Business Development, Latin America will lead Samsung’s effort in growing the security market share in the Latin American region. GVI Security, who helped to initially establish the brand in the U.S. remains Samsungs’ strategic partner for the distribution channel for all branded video surveillance and security products.
Samsung plans to introduce several new products at ISC West 2010 including a new line of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) cameras, as well as new IP cameras and access control solutions. The company’s comprehensive line of solutions will be on display in its exhibit.
For more information visit Samsung.

IndigoVision Posts Strong Financial Results

IndigoVision announced an increase in sales revenues of 12% to $18 million for the 6-month period ending 31 January 2010, with operating profits of $1.8 million. Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision’s CEO said “These results are encouraging in a challenging economic climate, with sales comfortably ahead of last year and the second quarter stronger than the first. Whilst business and economic risks remain in the short term, we continue to have a high level of confidence in the long term future of IndigoVision.”

IndigoVision has continued to focus on R&D with a 30% increase in engineering spend in the current financial year. This has resulted in the development of a number of new products, including the addition of a high-performance PTZ dome; High-Definition (HD) IP camera range; and a family of standalone ‘Green’ Network Video Recorders (NVRs), which deliver much lower costs per Terabyte of storage than centralized recording servers. The company recently unveiled a technology preview of ‘Control Center’, its Security Management Software, displaying live video from ONVIF-compliant IP cameras. IndigoVision are active members on a number of the ONVIF working groups and are totally committed to providing a complete standards-compliant end-to-end IP security solution.

IndigoVision systems are employed across 20 different market sectors, with strong presence in casinos, rail, government, retail and city-wide surveillance. The transport sector has been particularly strong for the company with major wins in both rail and airports. These include the 775 camera system for the Santiago Metro in Chile, a surveillance upgrade to Eurotunnel’s French passenger terminal and the 2,800 camera solution at Delhi Airport’s new terminal 3. March 16th will see the official opening of the new 250,000 m2 passenger terminal at Shanghai’s Hongqiao International Airport, ahead of the World Expo in May. The terminal is being protected by a 1,880 camera IndigoVision system that is fully integrated with other security and airport systems.

IndigoVision continues to widen its channel to market with over 373 partners now authorized in over 76 countries. The company completely develops its technology in-house, including a rich suite of hardware products and ‘Control Center’ its flagship Security Management Software.

Full results statement is available from IndigoVision here.

NitroSecurity Reports 90% Annual Growth in 2009

NitroSecurity, Inc., a content-aware security information and compliance management (SIEM) solutions reports annual revenue growth exceeding 90% over the past four years and 85% year-to-year growth over 2008. Financial highlights include:

  •     60% of sales channel-driven
  •     Achieving positive cash flow results for the second half of the year

The company reports that customer demand is high for solutions that help manage the flow of risk and threat information, which expands exponentially even as overall IT and network technology spending decline. NitroSecurity experienced dramatic growth in both Federal and state/local government sectors, including the Department of Defense. As government mandates to improve security at all levels remain top priorities, the company attributes specific certifications for success in this sector– FIPS 140-2 level 2 and Common Criteria EAL3+.

The company also introduced products such asthe new NitroGuard 5400 IPS to satisfy the 10 gigabit interface requirements of ever-expanding government networks.

“We appreciate the trust that our customers have placed in our people and technology,” said Ken Levine, CEO, NitroSecurity. “We look forward to working collaboratively with these sophisticated security teams to address the ever-evolving threat and compliance landscape.”

FLIR Systems Revenue Up 3%

FLIR Systems, Inc. reports revenue from its Commercial Vision Systems was up 22% over 4th quarter 2008. The company’s overall revenue was $311.6 million, up 3% compared to fourth quarter 2008 revenue. Net income for the quarter was $60.3 million compared with net income of $65.0 million in the fourth quarter a year ago.
FLIR reports a backlog of firm orders for delivery within the next 12 months of $563 million on December 31, 2009, fully $100 million less than at the same time in 2008.
Looking ahead, FLIR reports it expects net revenue in fiscal 2010 to be in the range of $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion, an increase of approximately 9% compared with 2009, and net earnings to be in the range of $1.48 to $1.53 per diluted share, an increase of approximately 4% compared with 2009.

“We are pleased with our financial performance in 2009, as we recorded our ninth straight year of record revenue, operating income and earnings per share, and achieved the highest operating income margin and cash flow from operations in the Company’s history,” stated Earl Lewis, President and CEO of FLIR. “We are well positioned for long-term growth as we continue to execute on our strategy to drive down the cost of infrared technology. Our 2010 outlook anticipates solid growth from the newly formed Commercial Systems and slower growth in Government Systems as a result of the anticipated decrease in deliveries under BETTS-C and related programs. We remain optimistic that our commercially developed, military qualified model will drive growth in Government Systems in the years to come. I’d also like to thank Steve Bailey for his decade of contributions to FLIR. The transition from Steve to Tony has been well planned and I am confident it will go smoothly.” –Press Release

IDenticard Launches PremiSys 1.4 Total Access Control System

IDenticard Systems has released PremiSys 1.4, its next-generation access control system that offers a scalable solution that integrates proprietary access control software, a sophisticated badgemaking system and Mercury Security card access hardware.

The PremiSys fully integrated solution includes:

  •   PremiSys access control software engineered to optimize operating efficiency and elevate security.
  •   Controllers, card readers, keypad interface and peripherals manufactured by Mercury Security, the “gold standard” for access control hardware.
  •   expressionsID™ photo ID system for quick card design and custom badgemaking.
  •   IDenticard product support and customer service.

New features of PremiSys 1.4 include the ability to manage multiple cards per cardholder, support for multiple log-on methods, the ability to quickly import data from commonly-used databases like SQL, optional “two-card” protection for elevated security areas, easier photo manipulation and sharing, and software-based licenses that eliminate the need for a hardware key.

Rothman Named President Honeywell Security Group

Ron Rothman has been named president of Honeywell Security Group. In his new role, Rothman leads the global security business, a leading innovator, manufacturer and supplier of electronic security technology protecting millions of homes, businesses and government facilities. Prior to the appointment, Rothman served as president of Honeywell Security & Communications.

Rothman will report to Roger Fradin, president and CEO of Automation and Control Solutions.

“Ron is a highly accomplished industry leader with many years of experience building our security business, growing new and long-term customer relationships, and bringing product innovations to market,” said Fradin. “Under Ron, our stable industry leadership, superior customer service, brand recognition and new product pipeline will continue to position Honeywell as a strong industry leader.” –Press Release