Industrial security systems

Hikvision, the provider of innovative security products and solutions, announces its third quarter financial results, showing a total operating income of RMB 12.93 billion, corresponding to year-over-year growth of 14.58%. Net profits attributable to shareholders of the company was RMB 3.25 billion, corresponding to year-over-year growth of 13.53%. Security industry growth From January to September in 2018, the company's accumulated operating income amounted to RMB 33.80 billion, with year-over-year growth of 21.90%; and accumulated net profits attributable to shareholders of the company amounted to RMB 7.40 billion, with year-over-year growth of 20.20%. During the 3rd quarter, the overall business environment faced by the company was challenging due to the slower pace of China’s economy and trade tensions abroad. Despite these factors, the company remains optimistic for the continuous security industry growth and demand for new technologies and solutions. It is also confident about the expectations for the fourth quarter and the full-year results.

Dahua Technology hosted its ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’ Launch Conference at Damei Center in Beijing, China. At the conference, business representatives, industry experts, as well as security and mass media witnessed the unveiling of the Dahua Heart of City (HOC) New Smart City Framework, as well as the release of Dahua Technology’s latest cutting-edge technologies, which fully demonstrated the leadership of the Dahua HOC in empowering smart industry transformation. Dahua Chairman of the Board, Mr. Fu Liquan, took the stage to make the event’s opening remarks, and expressed gratitude to guests and media friends in attendance on behalf of Dahua Technology. Through deep analysis and understanding of city operations, Dahua Technology has again welcomed an important strategic milestone. Security network architecture Dahua Technology is setting out with the big picture in mind, redefining a new start by releasing its ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’ strategy Mr. Fu Liquan expressed that through the experience and deep knowledge gained in setting the national standards for smart cities as well as hundreds of city projects around the country, Dahua Technology is now perfectly equipped with the capabilities of top-level planning and detailed designing for smart cities. This year, Dahua Technology is setting out with the big picture in mind, redefining a new start by releasing its ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’ strategy. The strategy gathers together the company’s strong technological innovations, top-level security network architecture, and operation services capabilities, while forming end-to-end solutions with supporting technologies such as artificial intelligence, deep learning, IoT, within all areas of smart city operations, to promote development of smart city, thus enabling city operations to become smarter, and satisfying a city life that calls for high quality. Use of AI in smart city construction Later on, deputy director of the National Digitisation Standardisation Committee for Intelligent Buildings and Residential Communities, Mr. Zhang Yonggang, shared the support and guidance that smart city standardisation has brought to urban construction, and explained the significance of artificial intelligence in the construction of smart cities. In Mr. Zhang Yonggang’s view, Dahua Technology has brought tremendous innovation and progress to the development of the industry. The release of the ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’ strategy has provided new ideas and development connotations for the construction of smart cities in China, which will raise the curtains on gaining applications for its new smart city framework, and has important practical significance in building jointly established, constructed, and shared smart cities. Smart city framework Dahua HOC will act as a heart that is capable of sensing a city’s pulse and data, while driving healthy city development" In order to give everyone a more in-depth understanding of ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’, President of Dahua Technology, Mr. Li Ke, made a detailed interpretation. ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’ is a smart city development engine supported by Full Sensing, Full Intelligence, Full Computing, and Full Ecosystem (4 Full) capabilities. It realises the construction of a ‘1 platform, 2 centres, N applications’ (1+2+N) new smart city framework for application at the city, industry, and commercial level. Mr. Li Ke said, “All of Dahua Technology’s future solutions and business systems will be built around the 1+2+N architecture to improve and enhance its end-to end solution capabilities.” He also stated that, “The Dahua HOC not only focuses on the ‘4 Full’ capabilities of products and solutions, but also gives the network ‘4 Full’ capabilities from a global perspective, thus driving professional, efficient, and intelligent operation. We hope that as the engine of cities and industry, Dahua HOC will act as a heart that is capable of sensing a city’s pulse and data, while driving healthy city development.” Intelligent networking capabilities The subsequent unveiling ceremony of the ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’ strategy pushed the atmosphere to a climax. Dahua Chairman, Mr. Fu Liquan, and Dahua President, Mr. Li Ke jointly initiated the launch ceremony, and the ‘Dahua Heart of City (HOC)’ was officially released. At Security China, and with the support of HOC’s Full Sensing, Full Intelligence, Full Computing, and Full Ecosystem capabilities, Dahua Technology has brought dozens of new technologies, products, and solutions to the industry. Mr. Yang Bin, Vice President of the Dahua Technology R&D Center, said that Dahua Technology will always build sensing systems around real-life customer scenarios, continually deepening the computing and intelligent networking capabilities within its products and solutions to maximise value delivered to customers. Multidimensional IoT Sensing Dahua will promote application of AI technology by releasing its AI series Dual 4MP Super Starlight Bullet / Dome integrated camera In order to achieve continuous, all-weather multidimensional IoT sensing, Dahua will promote the comprehensive application of AI technology by releasing its AI series Dual 4MP Super Starlight Bullet / Dome integrated camera. With the use of multi-spectral imaging technology, combined with Dahua Technology’s self-developed splicing algorithms for excellent low-lighting effects, the camera provides a complete color imaging experience. The AI series 6400W Multi-Sensor Panoramic Network Camera + PTZ Camera can not only achieve full-scene distribution analysis of crowds and traffic density, but also uses an AI dome to achieve the capture of details for facial feature analysis, behaviour analysis, etc., at ultra-long distances. Intelligent security inspection In the field of intelligent security inspection, Dahua has launched AI series all-in-one intelligent inspection system & intelligent X-ray inspection server, which support the identification of guns, knives, liquids, sprays, and electronic products. It also supports features such as the linking of people to their bags, image searching, and playback, revolutionising the current methods for security checks. In order to solve the complicated deploying issue of software platform and intelligentisation experienced during the application of artificial intelligence projects, Dahua Technology has launched the AI series Smart 7016 platform, which integrates intelligence, management, storage, and forwarding into a single platform that supports an up to 100,000 face image library and 64 video stream channels or 160 facial image comparisons per second, which accelerates the realisation of intelligent industry applications. Video centric IoT Dahua management answered each question, giving the media a better understanding of Dahua Technology and Dahua HOC In addition, Dahua Technology has comprehensively deployed video structuring solutions, launching its AI series structured server and video cloud big data platform to satisfy next generation city level intelligent application scenarios. The creation of this series of products, technologies, and solutions completely supports the realisation of Dahua HOC. During the final media interview segment, the media asked questions pertaining to the strategic considerations behind Dahua HOC, how Dahua HOC smart police affairs solution helps police enhance their effectiveness, and the status of Dahua Technology’s development within the overseas market. Dahua management answered each question, giving the media a better understanding of Dahua Technology and Dahua HOC. Dahua will continue into the future by working together with its upstream and downstream partners and broad customer base across the globe to jointly create a new era of video centric IoT.

Dahua Technology signed an agreement with Laser 2000, independent European supplier of innovative laser and photonics solutions headquartered in Germany, authorising Laser 2000 to be the distributor of Dahua Machine Vision Products. Customers can now buy Dahua Machine Vision products at Laser 2000. At present, Dahua’s machine vision product portfolio includes area scan cameras, line scan cameras, smart cameras, code reading cameras, 3D measurement cameras, and industrial lenses covering a wide range of resolutions from 0.3MP to 50MP. With camera interface supporting Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, CoaXPress, and Camera Link, those products are widely used in many industry and manufacturing applications, such as OCR recognition, industrial defect inspection, target identification, traffic control solutions, medical and life science, and other applications. Developing products for local customers Working with Laser2000 will help us get closer to the local customers and develop new products specified for their needs" For Dahua Technology, cooperation with Laser 2000 is an important step for both product innovation and business development. “Germany is not only a birthplace of machine vision technology, but also an important global market. Working with Laser2000 will help us get closer to the local customers and develop new products specified for their needs.” Jiaqi Gao, Overseas Marketing Director at Dahua Technology said. Laser2000 is also very proud to be a party of the agreement. “Dahua Technology has around 20 years’ experience of image acquisition and is believed to be the reliable supplier of designing and manufacturing various high-performance industrial cameras. We will launch the products in German, French and Iberian markets and we are sure that Dahua Technology can offer these markets high-quality product solutions. Together let us make vision into productivity.” Armin Luft, CEO of Laser 2000 commented. With the distribution agreement set up, Dahua Technology and Laser 2000 will be anticipating a great success in the future as both sides are ready to take more effort. For Dahua Technology, the further steps into enabling a Safer Society and Smarter Living keeps on, and Innovation, Quality, and Service will continue to be the key to success.

Dahua Technology has participated in MVTec’s Image Acquisition Partner program, and now its machine vision products with GigE and USB 3.0 interface are compatible with MVTec’s HALCON and MERLIC software. MVTec software users are now able to enjoy Dahua Technology’s cutting-edge technologies. With over 20 years of experience in image acquisition and processing, Dahua Technology focuses on ‘turning vision into productivity,’ offering an extensive portfolio of cutting-edge, high-precision machine vision products. Dahua Technology’s suite of high-range and high-accuracy machine vision solutions include area scan cameras, line scan cameras, smart cameras, code reading cameras, 3D measurement cameras and industrial lenses. Image acquisition devices MVTec demonstrates its openness to a large number of suppliers of image acquisition devices which can be seamlessly integrated Further enhancing the products’ applicability, Dahua machine vision cameras are equipped with resolutions ranging from 0.3MP to 50MP and support Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, CoaXPress, and Camera Link. MVTec Software GmbH is an international manufacturer of software for machine vision used in all demanding areas of imaging like the semi-conductor industry, inspection, optical quality control, metrology, medicine, or surveillance. With its well-established Image Acquisition Partner Program, MVTec demonstrates its openness to a large number of suppliers of image acquisition devices which can be seamlessly integrated with MVTec’s machine vision software. Acknowledging the significance of MVTec’s certification, James Wang, Deputy General Manager of overseas business at Dahua Technology, stated that “It’s particularly significant to us given MVTec’s leading position within the machine vision software, as well as its German origins. Germany is where machine vision technology began, and to date, it still leads the world. MVTec’s certification further affirms Dahua’s position in machine vision industry. Moving forward, I look forward to Dahua developing in the global market, meeting and exceeding customer needs with our cutting-edge image processing products and solutions.” Machine vision products Dahua Technology has been one of the leading companies in image capturing with an excellent technology" Christoph Zierl, Technical Director at MVTec, also noted that “Dahua Technology has been one of the leading companies in image capturing with an excellent technology. Through our certification, we look forward to offering our users outstanding machine vision solutions by enabling the integration of Dahua products with our software. We’re confident that our partnership will bring technology and business growth, whether it be in Germany, in China, or throughout the entire world.” MVTec’s certification further showcases Dahua’s position and pioneering capabilities, plus the software users are offered new options when choosing machine vision products. In partnership with companies such as MVTec, Dahua Technology will explore new synergies to accelerate growth and pioneer new technological breakthroughs. With a mission of ‘Enabling a safer society and smarter living’, Dahua will continue to focus on ‘Innovation, Quality and Service’ to server partners and customers around the world.

DigiCert Inc., the global provider of scalable PKI solutions for identity and encryption, Gemalto, a global provider in digital security, and ISARA Corp., the provider of quantum-safe security solutions, announced a partnership to develop advanced quantum-safe digital certificates and secure key management for connected devices commonly referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT). “DigiCert, Gemalto and ISARA are collaborating today to solve tomorrow’s problem of defending connected devices and their networks against the new security threats that the implementation of quantum computers will unleash,” says Deepika Chauhan, Executive VP of Emerging Markets at DigiCert. “The work we’re doing now will ensure that the connected systems that serve as the brains of automobiles, industrial control systems, medical devices, nuclear power plants and other critical infrastructure are safe from those threats in five, 10 and 20 years.” ISARA recognises DigiCert’s track record in advancing many of the certificate innovations in use Secure key storage and management The partnership provides significant advantages for enterprise security teams looking to secure connected devices with lengthy product lifetimes to avoid expensive security retrofitting as quantum computing becomes more prevalent. Organisations can deploy these solutions at any scale, given that DigiCert is already capable of issuing and reliably hosting billions of digital certificates for public trust and private PKI systems. The work of DigiCert with ISARA and Gemalto will enable quantum-resistant certificates with the full capability of hosted, on-premise and hybrid deployment options. DigiCert already works with many companies and consortiums using PKI to authenticate, encrypt and provide integrity for their connected devices. ISARA recognises DigiCert’s track record in advancing many of the certificate innovations in use, as well as its robust certificate management capabilities, and in operating the industry’s most ubiquitous, trusted roots. Gemalto offers secure key storage and management via its SafeNet Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) that integrate with DigiCert APIs to enable large-scale, automated credential issuing for connected devices via an internet-enabled gateway to distribute identity over the cloud. Certificates obtained through this partnership will be enabled with quantum-safe cryptography ahead of any breakthroughs that could eventually lead to quantum computing threatening connected device security. Quantum-safe cryptography Gemalto’s SafeNet Hardware Security Modules act as the root of trust to secure the most sensitive data and applications" “Experts estimate that the dawn of large-scale quantum computing will arrive in the next eight to 10 years, bringing with it the moment when all current public key cryptography can no longer be trusted,” says Scott Totzke, CEO & Co-founder at ISARA. “The work we’re doing today ensures that a fundamental element of the security stack, root certificates, is secure by embedding quantum-safe cryptography. This means that IoT manufacturers and other large organisations will have the solutions and tools they need to prepare for the quantum threat well in advance of that date, keeping confidential information and high-value assets safe.” “Gemalto’s SafeNet Hardware Security Modules act as the root of trust to secure the most sensitive data and applications and protect billions of the digital transactions every day around the world,” said Todd Moore, Senior Vice President for Encryption Products at Gemalto. “This partnership with DigiCert and ISARA will help organisations build secure and future-proof cryptographic operations that can guard against the potential security threats of quantum computing and ensure a more secure world for connected automobiles, devices, machines, smart cities and mission-critical infrastructure.” Quantum computing security Many IoT devices rely on RSA and ECC cryptography to protect the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of electronic communications. However, NIST and others in the security community predict that within a decade, large-scale quantum computing will break RSA and ECC public key cryptography. DigiCert, Gemalto and ISARA recognise that crypto-agility becomes paramount for manufacturers of connected devices that will be in use a decade or more from now. Efforts to address quantum computing security will support connected device manufacturers and users well into the future To advance the use of reliable quantum-proof certificates, DigiCert, Gemalto and ISARA are collaborating with industry standards bodies that also are pursuing the advancement of post-quantum cryptography such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Efforts to address quantum computing security will support connected device manufacturers and users well into the future.  Sustainable security management Consider the automobile industry, which is producing more vehicles with semi- and fully-autonomous driving capabilities. A car should last for 20 years or more, and manufacturers will need to ensure that the IoT devices they install will be secure and continue to function even if there is a breakage in the RSA algorithms that would render digital certificates ineffective. “The automotive industry is very focused on long-term and sustainable security management that covers the lifecycle of our vehicles," said SAE Hardware Security Sub-Committee Chair Bill Mazzara. “Crypto agility is one of the key areas we consider and that includes quantum-resistant technology.”

iluminar Inc., the specialist manufacturer and supplier of infrared and white light illuminators, is proud to announce that CEO Eddie Reynolds has been selected as an ambassador for the 2018 IoT Now Applications in Connectivity Conference. The seminar will take place Sept. 19, 2018 in the Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, in Tysons, Va. 2108 IoT Now Applications in Connectivity Conference IoT Now will focus on innovations in physical security, cybersecurity, industrial automation, digital transformation and connectivity requirements IoT Now will welcome CEOs, CISOs, IT managers, network operations managers, facilities managers and other senior executives from various companies in manufacturing, utilities, healthcare, transportation and infrastructure. This high-level, one-day seminar will focus on innovations in physical security, cybersecurity, industrial automation, digital transformation and connectivity requirements. Senior executives will be able to listen to education sessions that provide valuable insight on what solutions to invest in for increased productivity and efficiency in security. Attendees will also be able to network with peers and see cutting-edge solutions on the expo floor. Bringing over 20 years of security experience, Reynolds will serve as an ambassador for IoT Now, driving collaboration and facilitating important discussions between industry leaders. IoT devices to grow exponentially by 2030 “With the number of Internet of Things devices predicted to grow to 125 billion by 2030, it is critical that we discuss the implications of this technological revolution for security,” said iluminar CEO Eddie Reynolds. “I am honored to serve as an ambassador and host for IoT Now.” iluminar's lineup of Power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled lighting solutions will also be showcased on the expo floor in the Alternate E Source/ Kentix US booth, demonstrating the tight integration between lighting and IP video as well as keypads provided by Alternate E Source/ Kentix US.

With a heritage stretching back over 500 years, Gebrüder Weiss is one of Europe’s oldest transport and logistics companies. Based in Vorarlberg, Austria and with more than 7,000 employees in 150 locations around the world, it is also one of the largest. Sony video security in logistics centers Customers of all sizes trust Gebrüder Weiss to ship their consignments quickly, safely and undamaged to their destination Customers of all sizes trust Gebrüder Weiss to ship their consignments quickly, safely and undamaged to their destination. To guarantee this and make the entire logistics chain traceable, the service provider relies on comprehensive video surveillance in its logistics centers, which is regularly updated to reflect the latest state of the art. Gebrüder Weiss has now expanded its existing monitoring solution at the company’s largest distribution centre in Maria Lanzendorf near Vienna that previously featured almost 500 Sony cameras and Milestone's video management software (VMS). This has been supplemented with the addition of 33 Sony SNC-VM772R 4K video security cameras. Sony 4K cameras The upgrade ensures greater security, comprehensive package tracking and the ability to track any damage. The new Sony 4K cameras are used mainly to monitor reloading from larger trailers into smaller trucks. Their field of view covers the actual transfer area as well as the interior of the trailers and conveyor belts. The SNC-VM772R features a large CMOS sensor with 4K resolution that combines excellent image quality and large depth of field, even in difficult lighting conditions. The camera’s robust design with integrated image stabilization ensures smooth, clear video images despite vibration, dust and exhaust fumes from passing trucks. Video monitoring The new 4K cameras can track several objects simultaneously with either VGA or Full HD resolution The cameras’ installation ensures that the entire transshipment area is monitored at all times, with no blind spots caused by vehicles or pallets. In addition, the new 4K cameras can track several objects simultaneously with either VGA or Full HD resolution. The SNC-VM772R's 20-megapixel image sensor also enables capture of high-resolution Evidence Shots – still images with greater than 4K resolution that allow even the smallest details to be viewed clearly. For Gebrüder Weiss, the Sony solution is thus an outstanding alternative to multiple PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) cameras or multi-sensor systems. Installation and integration into the existing environment were carried out by local Sony partner ÖWD Österreichischer Wachdienst Security & Services. With 2,800 employees, ÖWD is one of the largest security companies in Austria and maintains 24/7 technical teams in all Austrian states. "Since it opened in 2006 we have been using Sony cameras at our terminal in Maria Lanzendorf, which is our largest in the world" says Werner Drnec, Operations Manager at Gebrüder Weiss, Maria Lanzendorf. "Both the image quality and reliability – with failure rates close to zero – have always exceeded our expectations, and even in the current project they proved themselves in a direct comparison. Our confidence in the Sony brand plus easy, seamless integration into our existing environment added to this."

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co., Ltd. (TBEA), Shenyang Transformer Group Co., Ltd. (Shenyang TBEA) is one of the largest transformer manufacturers in China, and a major exporter in the industry with manufacturing and R&D capabilities. Shenyang TBEA is the first transformer company publicly listed in China and has an annual productivity that has reached 30 million kilovolt-ampere (KVA). It is the only company that provides 840,000 KVA/500KV main transformers and converter transformers for the left bank of the Three Gorges Project. Shenyang TBEA has a world-class industrial park occupying 720,000 square meters for production of UHV AC and DC electricity transformers. Featuring dispersed entry points over a large area, the company needed a new access control system to safeguard the plant’s integrated factory, R&D building, administrative offices, elevators, mixed working areas and key equipment rooms. Access control system with TCP/IP connection Shenyang TBEA required specific technical features for the new physical access system including TCP/IP connection and high-speed processors In particular, stringent access control for the general manager’s office, financial department, conference rooms, elevators, and core mechanical room was mandatory and the new system needed to also perform time and attendance and data generation for night patrol. In addition to security and stability, the access control system needed to enable seamless integration with the plant’s existing security equipment from third-party vendors, and be interoperable with the cards already deployed in the field to save cost. To address these challenges, Shenyang TBEA required specific technical features for the new physical access system including TCP/IP connection and high-speed processors, as well as data generation and communication capabilities. In addition, each access point needed to execute all commands offline in case of network failure. Centralised web-based access control solution After a thorough analysis of Shenyang TBEA’s requirements, HID Global provided a comprehensive solution that included 17 VertX V1000 network controllers, 107 VertX V100 door/reader interfaces, 173 iCLASS R10 contactless smart card readers and ten iCLASS R30 contactless smart card readers. The new system leverages Shenyang TBEA’s existing TCP/IP network for a centralised, web-based access control solution that provides central monitoring, report generation, the ability to establish staff access level settings and visitor management. The security officer on duty can then verify the employee’s identity to prevent unauthorised entry, enhancing the efficiency and internal security  iCLASS R10 and iCLASS R30 readers are installed at each access point and connected to VertX V1000 network controllers through the VertX 100 reader interface to transfer entry records to the host. Each entry point can still execute all commands when communication is lost with the central station. By integrating with the system software, the administrator can restrict staff access based on job function. For example, only authorised staff members are allowed to use the elevator to access specific floors. Enhancing security by preventing unauthorised entry HID Global’s solutions also meet Shenyang TBEA’s access control system requirements and perform the following functionality: Staff management: The solution is integrated with system software and main entrance and factory monitors. When a cardholder presents his/her card to the reader, the cardholder information and photo is displayed on the monitors. The security officer on duty can then verify the employee’s identity to prevent unauthorised entry, enhancing the efficiency and internal security. Enhanced Security: HID Global’s iCLASS readers and credentials deliver increased security with the readers’ data encryption and mutual authentication capabilities. Additionally, HID Global’s VertX networked access solutions enable access level settings and area control to prevent unauthorised entry to specific areas. All employees must present their cards when entering or leaving the main gate of the site, and the entry records are transmitted to the central server to further improve security management. Integration with surveillance and fire control systems When any abnormal alarm signals are received, the new access control system can activate a pop-up camera to perform video monitoring and screen capture Interoperability: VertX access control solutions are interoperable with a wide range of hardware and management software, enabling additional deployments such as time and attendance, remote area control, visitor management and more. The readers support the factory’s existing MIFARE credentials, offsetting the cost of swapping out all of the cards at once. Integration with other sub-systems: The solution can seamlessly integrate with multiple sub-systems such as surveillance and fire control systems. When any abnormal alarm signals are received, the new access control system can activate a pop-up camera to perform video monitoring and screen capture. For fire control, the system can determine the incident type and location and unlock emergency doors for evacuation in the case of a fire. Lifetime warranty on products and solutions “After our extensive assessment, we selected HID Global and its physical access control solutions for its leading technology and comprehensive product functionality. We had an experience where some HID Global controllers were accidentally submerged under water and the products still functioned properly without any defects, validating HID Global’s robust product design and quality,” said Mr. Yu Liuyi, project manager with Shenyang TBEA. “As a global leader in secure identity solutions, HID Global offers a lifetime warranty to their customers. HID Global and its channel partners has promptly responded to our requests and provided quality support to achieve satisfying results, eliminating our concern regarding post-sales service and support,” Liuyi added.

CriticalArc has announced that it has been appointed by FCC Group (FCC) – a global provider of environmental services, water management and infrastructure works, headquartered in Spain – to help develop and implement SafeZone as a multinational safeguarding solution for all its employees and any accompanying family members while they are working overseas on company projects. CriticalArc’s pioneering SafeZone personal protection and emergency response system is already being used by FCC as part of their initial deployment phase in three very different security challenges: for the FAST consortium to design and build the Riyadh Metro in Saudi Arabia, for all FCC projects in Egypt, and on a gas pipeline construction project in North Mexico. Based on these experiences FCC then plans to integrate SafeZone more widely and to start rolling out the approach from mid-2018 to cover all its international operations in over 35 countries. It gives FCC a reliable method for instant mass communication, for example, to broadcast regional alerts, weather warnings or travel updates" High level of emergency support “FCC believes that SafeZone is the ideal tool to help us provide an even higher level of emergency support and assistance to all employees and their families across all our international operations. The tool will give everyone peace of mind when they are travelling between different work locations or exploring the country in their free time, plus it gives FCC a reliable method for instant mass communication, for example, to broadcast regional alerts, weather warnings or travel updates. “CriticalArc’s ongoing commitment and flexibility in helping customise and deploy SafeZone to meet our specific requirements has been outstanding. FCC is an increasingly global and diversified business with complex security needs but CriticalArc is working closely to integrate SafeZone into our existing systems and to develop new approaches and features as required,” said José Morales, corporate security director at FCC Group. SafeZone gives users the ability to call for immediate emergency assistance by simply pressing a button on their mobile phone Automatic alert in emergency situations One of the key challenges for expatriates and their families is having to deal with the cultural differences, language barriers or growing political tensions that in some regions can lead to even minor incidents quickly escalating out of control. For example: if someone is involved in a road traffic accident or stopped for questioning by the police. SafeZone gives users the ability to call for immediate emergency assistance by simply pressing a button on their mobile phone. They do not need to even say anything, and their phone automatically sends an alert with their exact location details to a centralised control room. Providing security to FCC’s expatriates “SafeZone is already extensively used by universities and other further education establishments where the prime objective is to help protect students and staff both on and off campus. However, with FCC this is the first time SafeZone has been specified by a global security team for implementation across multiple geographies and such a diverse range of operational models. FCC’s expatriates and their families are much more widely dispersed, and in some regions the company’s security assets are not directly under its own control,” said Darren Chalmers-Stevens, CriticalArc EMEA managing director. The initial intention is for FCC to mandate SafeZone for all its own expatriates, but the company is also considering the potential benefits of recommending the tool for use by all personnel working for partner companies involved in FCC-led consortia, joint ventures and the company’s other international activities.

With the value of scrap metal only heading in one direction recently, dealers are having to turn to ever more advanced security solutions to combat theft and break ins. Security specialist Trigion is now providing high-tech solutions at a major Kent scrap yard in the UK, including the use of thermal cameras and a ‘virtual perimeter’ system. On a site such as a scrap metal yard, there can be a lot of material on view, and it is not always easy to determine exactly what is happening on a standard CCTV camera. Simplifying intrusion detection Thermal cameras make it clear where a heat source is and when it moves. They can also display an electronic trail showing where motion has taken place; making detection much easier. In addition, by setting a virtual perimeter on screen, specific areas can be monitored more closely, and an alarm triggered if someone enters it. This perimeter can be altered remotely to meet changing situations, such as the arrival of a greater quantity of metal.With scrap metal prices consistently rising over the past year or two, dealers are increasingly being targeted by unscrupulous elements" Neil Ricketts, Security & Technical Services Director at Trigion, said: “With scrap metal prices consistently rising over the past year or two, dealers are increasingly being targeted by unscrupulous elements intending to cash in. We work with our customers to design the best solution for their individual needs. We’re not tied to any supplier or manufacturer, so can ensure the customer gets what they really need." "In the case of the scrapyard, the thermal imaging gives a much clearer picture of the situation, and staff at our remote monitoring station can ensure the site is secure at all times.”

Hikvision cameras and a specially designed SKOV VMS allows handlers to monitor the pigs Hikvision worked with farm management solutions provider SKOV to bring the art of weighing pigs into the 21st Century, with the help of mini-dome cameras and a bespoke VMS system. The pig is one of the most populous large mammals in the world, with an estimated 986.6 million pigs at any one time. This also means, of course, that piggeries are big business, as pork is the most commonly meat consumed worldwide. Part of managing a piggery is to ensure that each pig is able to grow to its full potential. The average weight of a pig at market is 275 lbs, but keeping an eye on the weight of individual animals can be tricky. If a pig is smaller than it pen-mates, it is likely to be pushed away when it comes to feeding time. This means it will not grow to its full size. In this situation, pig farmers may move the smaller pigs into a separate pen, so they can get to the food and ‘catch up’ with their larger brothers and sisters. Methods and challenges But how do you weigh a pig? Traditional methods involved a tape measure and many hands and were, of course, very time consuming to complete. And that was without the math part at the end! Later methods saw farmers installing weighing apparatus, which was costly, and also time consuming with handlers needing to ‘persuade’ individual pigs onto the scales. Another issue with this system was that accuracy could be affected, as it was hard to tell if the scales had just one pig on them. “The pig handlers need to drag the pigs physically to the scales, which is not only very hard, time-consuming work, but also stresses the pig out”, said Kasper Ronn Christensen, Strategic Purchaser at SKOV. “Stressed pigs don’t eat, which also affects their growth rate.” Hikvision cameras and SKOV VMS solution Enter a whole new innovative solution, using Hikvision cameras and a specially designed SKOV VMS. After testing various cameras, SKOV approached Hikvision because of the competitive price and clear, reliable pictures even at only 2MP resolution. That, combined with the ability to build a firmware specifically for their needs, persuaded SKOV to work with Hikvision. Between four and eight 2-line mini-dome cameras (DS-2CD2142FWD-I (4mm)) are placed in the pigpens, to allow handlers to see what’s going on and to monitor the growth progress of the pigs. These specific cameras were chosen because of the low amount of spare space in a pigpen and the importance of an affordable solution. Weight calculation and monitoring “We were looking for a solution that could be used by piggeries all over the world”, says Kasper Ronn Christensen. “That meant we needed to make it simple, practical and affordable. The fact that, even at a relatively low resolution of 2MP, clear actionable pictures were consistently available made these cameras a smart choice.” Connection to the SKOV VMS means that the pigs’ weights can be calculated and so monitored. The VMS also gives alarms if a pig doesn’t follow the required growth rate, so steps can be taken. The success of the project in Denmark means it can be replicated all over the world to help piggeries to manage their pigs and make sure they maximise their potential. SKOV is offering the solution to all regions with piggeries, including in Thailand, where they have a subsidiary. Digitalised smart farming systems “The cameras are integrated and working as expected, so we can look to the future”, says Kasper Ronn Christensen. “We are really impressed with the way Hikvision adapted their firmware to our needs. I also love the innovative approach - who would have thought that a technology that was designed to help spot intruders could be used to ensure pigs grew to the correct weight!” Peter Guan, Channel and Marketing Director at Hikvision Europe, said: “We are heading to a future where traditional farming is digitalised into smart farming, where surveillance cameras are not only used for crime prevention at the farms, but also as useful tools for farmers. Hikvision’s ecosystem partner program allows easy software and hardware integration so that end users can benefit from an innovative and more powerful complete solution.”

JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. is an automotive tyre, tubes and flaps manufacturing company based in Delhi, India. The company is the only tyre manufacturer offering the entire range of four-wheeler radials for trucks, buses, and cars. JK Tyre has a worldwide customer base in over 80+ countries. With production facilities in nine plants, total production capacity is almost 20 million tyres per annum. Employee shift and visitor management JK Tyres have its biggest manufacturing setup in Mysore. The premise consists of a manufacturing unit as well as the administrative department. Since the plant runs 24×7 and there are numerous shifts of workers, they found it difficult to manage multiple shifts manually. Managing visitors was also a problem for the company. So, they required a software that would help them keep a record of visitors on time-to-time basis. Creating a visitor’s identity in the form of visitor pass and generating reports of visitors on a monthly basis was a tiresome process. JK Tyres was looking for a vendor who could offer them a complete solution related to time-attendance and visitor management. Matrix time-attendance solution Matrix offered a time-attendance solution, which centrally handled multiple shifts of workers and employees. Numerous shifts were created to manage time-attendance of over 500+ workers. Moreover, they provided employee self service, which helped the employees view day-to-day attendance, apply for leave/tour, etc. JK Tyres further required a record of visitors so Matrix delivered visitor management software, which helped them create a visitor pass, fetch visitor records, and generate reports of the same. Results: Reduction in cumbersome HR tasks Automatic maintenance of visitor records on day-to-day basis 40% increase in productivity of employees and workers