Comelit - Experts & Thought Leaders

Comelit-PAC has partnered with Kings Group SW to deliver a bespoke video door entry solution at the historic Bridgwater Arts Centre, a Grade I listed building renowned for its architectural and cultural significance. Situated in the heart of Bridgwater, now owned and operated by the Town Council, the Arts Centre construction was in 1723 and established on its existing site since 1946 to run a theatre programme of performance, music and film. Enhancing video security and access To complete a renovation programme, the Arts Centre worked with Kings Group SW to upgrade its door entry system to incorporate a modular video design. “The Grade I listing of Bridgwater Arts Centre means that any changes, however minor, must be carefully planned to protect the building’s historic character,” said Scott Mason, Director of Amenities at Bridgwater Town Council. “We involved our teams in the initial design and specification process to ensure the solution could be installed to seamlessly blend with its surroundings while enhancing video security and access.” Latest security standards Kings Group SW specified Comelit-PAC’s Ultra Door Entry system, a high-definition video intercom solution designed to allow staff to monitor all entry points via high-definition video intercoms, providing real-time visibility and secure access control.  Adam Pitman, Security and Life Safety Systems Supervisor at Kings Group SW, added: “Every aspect of the door entry upgrade had to be approached sensitively. This included routing cables discreetly, installation and ensuring the system met the latest security standards. By choosing Comelit-PAC’s modular system, this could be achieved with minimal disruption to the building’s historic fabric while providing a flexible solution that can be adapted as the Centre’s security needs evolve.” Configuration of the door entry solution The Ultra system was selected because its modular design enabled a simple configuration of the door entry solution to meet the specific requirements of the Arts Centre. Its 2-Wire and ViP door stations allow a combination of audio, video, and button modules in a compact layout, giving the team flexibility to adapt the system to access points. Tony Berry, Business Development Manager at Comelit-PAC, concluded: “Working closely with Kings Group SW and Bridgwater Arts Centre early on allowed us to tailor the solution specifically for this site. By understanding the needs of the team and how the building operates, we were able to deliver a system that functions seamlessly for staff, visitors and performers while integrating thoughtfully into the historic environment.”

Comelit-PAC has appointed James Pyle as Business Development Manager (BDM) for the Northwest, reinforcing its commitment to providing specialist support for customers across the region. James joins with a strong background in the security and building technologies sector, having worked with installers, consultants and end users on tailored solutions in both residential and commercial markets.  His primary focus at Comelit-PAC will be Door Entry a continued area of core growth, together with crossover opportunities in Access Control and CCTV, helping customers benefit from the wider integrated product portfolio. Italian design with practical security technology James Pyle says: “I’ve admired Comelit-PAC for some time, particularly its capability to combine elegant Italian design with powerful, practical security technology. It’s a business that truly understands what installers and users need from modern systems.” He adds, “What really stood out to me was the open and collaborative culture. There’s a genuine drive to support customers – whether that’s helping them win a project, advising on the most efficient system layout, or just being available when they need technical input. That’s the kind of team I’m proud to be part of, and I’m excited to contribute to Comelit-PAC’s continued growth across the Northwest.” James’ arrival James’ arrival comes at a time when Comelit-PAC continues to invest in regional support, ensuring local installers and specifiers have access to hands-on expertise and a trusted point of contact for every stage of a project. From initial product selection through to system design, installation guidance and ongoing maintenance support, James will work closely with clients to ensure the right solution is delivered. Strong customer relationships Steve Riley, Division Director at Comelit-PAC, added: “James brings with him a proven track record of building strong customer relationships and supporting projects from concept to completion.” He continues, “His appointment reflects our commitment to being a true partner, providing consistent and proactive support across the regions we serve. With Door Entry at the heart of his role, and a strong awareness of how our Access Control and CCTV systems can integrate, he will play an important part in helping customers and end users to “feel secure.”” James is in post and engaging with customers throughout the Northwest. Installers, consultants and specifiers interested in connecting can reach out to arrange an introduction or discuss upcoming projects. 

Comelit-PAC has successfully upgraded the access control infrastructure at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, ensuring a seamless and secure environment for staff, patients, and visitors. Blackpool Victoria Hospital is one of the largest and busiest hospitals in the Northwest, providing essential healthcare services to thousands of patients each year. As a pioneering medical facility, ensuring a secure and efficient environment is a top priority. Integrated PAC Access Central Security technology works programme integrated PAC Access Central with multiple PC workstations Designed to provide a robust and scalable security solution, the security technology works programme integrated PAC Access Central with multiple PC workstations for comprehensive global administration across the hospital’s network To safeguard critical areas within the hospital, Comelit-PAC’s advanced 500 series controllers were utilised. This includes the 511, 512 model door controllers linked into the existing 500 Access & Alarm servers on site, offering a mix of ethernet and RS485 connectivity to enhance system flexibility and efficiency. Security and administrative control Martyn McKechnie, Head of Digital Identity at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, commented: "As a busy hospital with multiple departments and critical areas, we required an access control system that could integrate seamlessly while offering high levels of security and administrative control." Martyn McKechnie adds, "PAC Access Central provides the scalability and reliability we need to manage hospital-wide access efficiently. The ability to oversee all access points from multiple PC workstations ensures our Digital Identity and Security teams can respond quickly to any situation." Future-proof access control system Blackpool Victoria Hospital benefits from a resilient and future-proof access control system A key element of the installation is its server-based architecture, providing enhanced security measures and fail-safe redundancy. This ensures Blackpool Victoria Hospital benefits from a resilient and future-proof access control system, capable of meeting the bespoke demands of the healthcare environment. Advanced security infrastructure Jason Sullivan, PAC/GDX Strategic Development Manager at Comelit-PAC, said: "We worked closely with Blackpool Victoria Hospital right from the initial specification stage to deliver a solution to balance security with ease of management." Jason Sullivan adds, "PAC Access Central presents a future-proof system that allows the hospital to maintain strict access control, while adapting to evolving needs. By adopting this advanced security infrastructure, Blackpool Victoria Hospital continues its commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment, leveraging Comelit-PAC’s expertise in access control technology."

With the postponement of tradeshows and events due to the effects of COVID-19, Vanderbilt and ComNet have taken their high quality, innovative solutions online, directly to their customer base. Through an Online Events and Training resource, you can stay connected with the brands’ top resources and products, as well as join upcoming product webinars hosted by their in-house experts. With a majority of the world currently working from home, businesses must respond to this changing landscape. As such, Vanderbilt and ComNet have turned to online resources to share new product demonstrations and other company news. One cornerstone of the ACRE brands approach was the launch of their Online Events and Training resource page. Ross Wilks, Head of Marketing Communications at Vanderbilt, credits this online resource as the anchor to their communicative success with customers at present. “Through weekly webinars delivered by our in-house experts, Vanderbilt and ComNet have embraced more virtual opportunities to continuously communicate to our customers regarding our latest and most relevant products,” he says. “To date, our webinars have covered a wide range of industry topics such as Why Physical Security and Cloud go together, and The most recent developments in card cloning and reader hacking. Attendance to these online events has proved popular and effective in keeping communication with our customer base open and engaging.” Each webinar ends with a Q&A section, as well as follow-up articles on the most asked questions, plus recordings of the webinars being made available to attendees. As such, the webinar approach has proven a receptive approach for Vanderbilt and ComNet. The Online Events and Training resource acts as a one-stop-shop for all virtual information. Overall, the page outlines the brands’ value-added resources for customers, including the ability to request a remote product demonstration, the availability of free online training, 24/7 access to the Vanderbilt webshop, plus the aforementioned weekly webinars. Vanderbilt and ComNet’s business mantra is built on a foundation of customer-focused core values such as empowerment, collaboration, and high performance and Wilks credits this mentality with their ability to keep information flowing to their base during the present pandemic. “The ACRE brands moved early to kick-start online webinars and ramp up awareness of their already existing online training and shopping options. Now more than ever, it is important to keep customers up to date on the latest offerings,” Wilks explains. “Our commitment has always been to make their customer’s security journey the best possible experience, and that is what this Online Events and Learning page primarily focuses on,” he concludes.

There is a new event on the calendar for the security industry in 2019: The Security Event 2019, 9-11 April, at NEC, Birmingham. For additional details and a preview of the new trade show and conference, we spoke with Tristan Norman, Founding Partner and Event Director, The Security Event. Q: It seems recently that some trade shows have been on the decline in terms of exhibit size and attendance. Why does the physical security industry need another trade show? Norman: I think there are numerous factors that play into the decline of trade shows in general and not something that is limited to the security industry. Those events that are suffering are no longer serving their target market or have failed to adapt to the changes in the industry they serve. However, what we are seeing now is the rise of focused, more “evolved” trade events which fulfil a gap in the industry event calendar and provide something new and fresh to a disillusioned audience. Q: What will be unique about The Security Event, and what role will it serve in bringing together buyers and sellers in the market? Where (geographically) will attendees come from? What we are seeing is a rise of trade events which provide something fresh to a disillusioned audience Norman: The driving ethos behind The Security Event is that we are “designed by the industry, for the industry.” We were able to start with a blank canvas and take onboard all the feedback from stakeholders throughout the security buying chain and create an event that is sustainable and fit for purpose. We see the role of the event as a very important one – to truly reconnect the currently fragmented UK commercial security industry, back at the NEC in Birmingham. We had originally anticipated that this would be an almost-exclusively UK event in year one. However, we have seen significant interest from potential visitors from across the wider EMEA region who are keen to do business in the UK. We formed a strategic alliance with Security Essen to help facilitate and strengthen our reach in these regions through additional marketing and PR activities. Consequently, early registrations indicate that it will be approximately an 80% UK and 20% international split. Q: What conference programming is being planned to augment the trade show event? Norman: Content will be delivered across three focused theatres, serving the needs of our audience throughout the buying chain. Emphasis will be placed on the latest technology innovations impacting the industry, practical advice on the most pressing issues facing security technicians, and important industry updates and insights. All sessions are focused on delivering tangible benefits to ensure professionals are equipped to stay relevant and to grow their business and we’re excited to be working with key industry bodies, innovators and experts to deliver the programme. We look forward to announcing those in coming weeks. Exhibitors want to re-engage with the thousands of industry colleagues who no longer attend other events on offer Q: Comparisons to IFSEC are inevitable. How will The Security Event be different than the IFSEC Security and Fire shows? What are the advantages of locating at Birmingham NEC? Norman: Both The Security Event and The Fire Safety Event, based at the NEC are completely different to any other trade show in the UK. We pride ourselves in creating a business platform that puts the exhibitors’ needs first, by limiting the size of stands and total number of exhibitors as well as creating a comprehensive CPD accredited educational programme for the visitors. Q: Which big industry players are supporting the launch of The Security Event, and what feedback are you hearing in terms of why they signed up at the show's inception? If a global manufacturer has a footprint in both the US and Europe, any tradeshow will be managed locally Norman: Our founding partners are Assa Abloy, Avigilon, Anixter, Comelit, Dahua, Honeywell, TDSi, Texecom, Tyco and Videcon. The full list of exhibitors and supporting partners can be found on our website. The reasons why they have signed up are very simple. They all see the exact same gap in the industry event landscape as we do. We believe there is a need for a 3-day channel focused commercial security exhibition based at The NEC in Birmingham. Our exhibitors want to re-engage with the thousands of industry colleagues who no longer attend the other events on offer. Q: Your 2019 show will be the same week as ISC West in Las Vegas. Do you think the competitive calendar will be a factor? Norman: In terms of our both our audience and our exhibiting base there is very little overlap with ISC West. Generally, if a global manufacturer has a footprint in both the US and Europe, any tradeshow will be managed locally so we haven’t observed any issues so far. We do acknowledge that having two shows at the same time globally isn’t ideal and we have moved our dates in 2020 to the 28-30 April to mitigate this going forward. The Security Event 2020 will not clash with Las Vegas' ISC West 2020 as it will in 2019, says Norman Q: How will you measure success in the first year of the show? What measurements (show size, number of attendees, exhibitor feedback, etc.) will constitute a "successful" first year for the show?Security Event will continue to evolve year after year, but will intent to stay true to the event's original concept Norman: Great question – the most important barometer of success for me and the team next April is the general industry reaction, after all, this show was created for them. Furthermore, it is vital to us that our exhibitors feel they have achieved their objectives for the show, whether it be quality, quantity of leads or raising awareness of a new product launch. We’ll also be keen to understand how satisfied visitors are with the event, including their views of the content, access to new products/services, effectiveness of the out of hours networking, etc. We are anticipating 6,000 visitors over the 3 days and I believe if we achieve this goal, we will have a strong rebooking on site, laying a great foundation for our 2020 event. Q: How would you expect/hope the show would continue to evolve in coming years? Norman: I hope over the next few years The Security Event cements itself as the industry’s favourite trade show and that exhibitors and visitors alike look forward to every year for both the business opportunities at the event and the networking outside of it. The Security Event will continue to evolve year after year, but I am determined that we stay true to our original concept and the principles on which the show was founded. After all, it is this formula that has proved to be so popular to date.