Excel Signs up to Sponsor the UK BICSI Breakfast and Pub Club Events

Excel Networking Solutions, the copper and optical cabling infrastructure provider, is proud to announce it will be sponsoring the series of Breakfast and Pub Clubs hosted by BICSI that will take place throughout the remainder of 2010.

BICSI’s Breakfast and Pub Clubs are designed to keep members updated on the latest information on BISCI.  Attendees are given the opportunity to enhance and share their knowledge while earning Continuing Education Credits (CECs) as they do.

Excel sees great value in these events and what they offer to members of BICSI and is delighted to be associated with them for the rest of the year.

Commenting on the agreement, Tracey Calcutt, Marketing Manager, says, “We recognise the contribution that BICSI brings to the market.  They are continually striving to improve the standards of installation across the networking market by offering industry leading training courses and, more importantly, continuous learning for their members.  We are therefore keen to support their programme of activities and feel that both the Pub and Breakfast club events provide a great learning and networking opportunity in an informal surrounding.”

Andrew Stevens, BICSI UK Chairman, comments, “We are pleased that Excel recognises the benefits of the BICSI organisation and that they are keen to help develop the members by sponsoring these events.   Each event will focus on a key business requirement or standard and we will invite relevant industry experts to speak at each event.  Further details will be available on our website on the topics that will be covered.   Those members that attend will receive CECs that help to keep their membership up to date.”

Each event will take place at the Docklands Museum in London.  The dates are as follows:

Thursday 22nd July 2010 – Pub Club

Thursday 21st October 2010 – Breakfast Club

Thursday 9th December 2010 – Pub Club

For further details and to book to attend visit http://events.bicsieurope.org.  For more information on Excel go to www.excel-networking.com.

The wireless bridging solutions are producing financial savings for the client by removing the need to lay cable as well as eliminating the risk of damage to water supplies, mains power and other utility trunking. Client revenue is protected since there is minimal disruption to the core activity of the filling stations which can remain open throughout the installation.

The most recent application has been at an Asda store in Havant, Hampshire, where FreeSpace have implemented an IP67-rated point to point wireless Ethernet bridge system with in-built hardware encryption.

At the Havant store, FreeSpace are transmitting a constant feed from a Samsung IP-addressable dome camera which can be monitored live or viewed retrospectively. The FreeSpace units have been supplied by the company’s distributor, Anixter, and the installations performed by Scope Electrical Contractors who specialise in CCTV systems within the petroleum industry. Return on investment has been immediate.

Karl Belmar, Operations Director at FreeSpace, said: “A conventional approach at the Havant project would have seen a single cable run of just 900 metres produce a bill running to many thousands of pounds after a channel had been dug, services suspended and the forecourt closed to customers. While this wireless technology has commercial benefits for Asda, the footage also assists the client in exercising duty of care to colleagues. On arrival at the station, unaccompanied tanker delivery staff can advise store management of their presence and be observed in case of accident or equipment malfunction.”

The FS2000-cp bridge kit used here is a distribution-focused product that is supplied as a configured pair. Essentially, the customer need only provide a mains power source on either end and point the devices at each other, adding encryption and passwords as required. The solution has an integrated 23dBi antenna and is optimised for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).

At the Asda Havant store transmission distance was minimal, but line of sight was far from ideal with a 25-metre height difference between the filling station and the main store as well as obstruction from trees. However, the radio supplied as standard offered connectivity significantly in excess of the location’s requirements. With no obstruction the units can cover up to 40km.

As part of the project, FreeSpace performed a full site survey taking account of likely seasonal changes in foliage and aesthetic considerations when mounting units on the Asda storefront. Extensive local area scans were performed with special attention paid to a satellite transmission mast no more than 50 metres from the forecourt. FreeSpace delivered full spectrum analysis and wireless scanning across the 5GHz U-NII and ISM spectrum, these services being part of the company’s standard site survey.

UTC Fire & Security Awards Mayflex for Outstanding Sales Performance in 2009

Mayflex, the cabling infrastructure, networking and physical security solutions distributor, is very pleased to have been awarded “Outstanding Sales Performance” for 2009 at the UTC Fire & Security (UTCFS) awards in mid-June.

UTCFS was proud to award Mayflex with such a prestigious award as a reward for their sales performance.  Mayflex produced a fantastic sales result for 2009 making them UTCFS’s number one business partner in EMEA.

UTCFS, previously GE Security, aims to make the world a safer place.  Through their portfolio of market-leading brands they deliver a full-range of fire safety and security solutions.  Working with Mayflex for several years, Mayflex supplies their fibre transmission range which provides a key solution for end-to-end connectivity of both analogue and digital security systems over fibre.  These products can also incorporate transmission of data, Ethernet, audio and contact closure, as well as video.

An important addition to Mayflex’s product portfolio, the UTFCS range responds to today’s need for greater and greater bandwidth as rapid advancements in technology and the industry’s demand for high resolution video and high-speed data communications pushes the requirement.

Mark Staples, Sales Manager at UTCFS, explained, ”The awards night was an opportunity for UTC Fire & Security’s Fibre and Transmission group to bring together customers and partners and thank them for their business.  As part of this we wanted to acknowledge significant achievement from the previous year and presenting Mayflex with the Outstanding Sales Performance for 2009 award was an obvious choice.”

The awards ceremony was part of UTCFS’s annual Business Partner event.  This year it was held in Belgium at the Atomium, a well known tourist attraction in Brussels because of its unique, futuristic shape.  Mayflex’s award was accepted by Peter Male, their Internal Security team leader.

Andrew Percival, Managing Director at Mayflex, commented, “The UTC Fire & Security fibre transmission range is an important part of Mayflex’s offering.  With these products we can offer customers a complete IP security solution, whatever their requirements.  We have chosen to partner only with manufacturers that can add real value and bring something new and innovative to product use or functionality.  This award means a lot to us and we will continue to work hard to remain UTC Fire & Security’s number one business partner in EMEA.”

For more information on UTC Fire & Security and Mayflex’s whole IP solution, go to www.mayflex.com or contact the Mayflex Security Sales team on 0800 881 5199 or securitysales@mayflex.com.

Mayflex holds a range of free IP Surveillance Courses

Throughout 2010, Mayflex, the cabling infrastructure, networking and physical security solutions distributor, has been working with its suppliers to offer a range of free IP Security courses, including general education on IP solutions and introductions to individual products.  These courses have been incredibly popular so far, with more and more people booking their places every week.

Last year Mayflex announced it was holding a series of CCTV Over IP courses, in conjunction with CNet, that aimed to help those who already had experience of working with analogue security solutions, but had little or no experience of IP.  The take up on these courses was huge, with every session overbooked.

Mayflex has worked with CNet training for years to provide customers with bespoke courses that suit their needs.  CNet is Europe’s leading independent training provider in the communications industry and has been since 1996.  Its core function is to design and deliver technical training programmes for installers, technicians, designers, project managers and specifiers.

Responding to the fact that the global demand for conventional CCTV systems is showing a downward trend as the demand for IP-based CCTV surveillance escalates, Mayflex worked with CNet to create a bespoke course to help those installers who currently only work with analogue systems.

The balance of the CCTV market is changing rapidly in favour of IP. Global manufacturers are now focusing all their efforts on IP rather than analogue, so it’s becoming more important than ever that integrators understand the benefits of IP and how to install it.

Following the huge popularity, Mayflex has recently expanded its CCTV Over IP course so that more people can attend each session, and dates are planned throughout the year, right up until December.  They have also worked with other suppliers to provide customers with the next step in their learning and now offer free one day ACTi training courses and Mobotix overview courses, again with dates throughout the year.  The newest addition to Mayflex’s security events is a Fluidmesh webinar.  There have already been two very successful sessions, inviting people to learn more about Fluidmesh and its Channel Partner Programme, and more are planned during the year.

Customer response to the training has been incredibly positive, with the vast majority of attendees saying they’d recommend the course.  And quite often they do just that and send their colleagues on the next session being held.  And for more information, all delegates to the courses held at Mayflex’s headquarters in Birmingham are given the opportunity to visit Mayflex’s M-Tech facility, where they can see the full range of security solutions in action.

Tracey Calcutt, Marketing Manager at Mayflex, comments, “Our customers are very important to us and we always listen to their needs.  We work closely with our suppliers to provide training sessions that will give them more information on the products they want to know about.  This is ongoing for us as we are constantly developing new training sessions across our range of products, including networking and infrastructure solutions.  We always keep our website up to date with the latest event information, so we encourage people to keep checking back to ensure they don’t miss out on an opportunity.”

The free courses that Mayflex holds are aimed at people who want an introduction to IP solutions, but Mayflex also caters for those who want more detailed sessions and works with its suppliers to provide courses that are bespoke to a customer’s further training needs.  Whatever the learning requirement, Mayflex always strives to help its customer base.

Full details of all the current courses can be found on the Mayflex website – www.mayflex.com/events.

For more details on the Mayflex physical security range, including details on ACTi, Mobotix and Fluidmesh, go to the Mayflex website – www.mayflex.com – or contact the Mayflex Security Sales team on 0800 881 5199 or email securitysales@mayflex.com.

The Dutch security group Bavak BV already has a large installed-base Europe-wide, with gates, barriers and blockers protecting a number of high profile military and government sites.

In teaming with ParkSecure and creating Bavak PAS Ltd, the purpose is to extend the range of products and technologies available, enhance local service and maintenance support, and introduce new bespoke services as Managing Director Tony Girard explains:

“As a brand, Bavak is well known in the UK and Ireland and its products are widely specified,” he says. “They recognise, however, that to maximise the potential for their products – and to be seen as a genuine solutions provider – it requires a dedicated UK operation. Bavak Perimeter Access Security with the contacts and the experience in the local market, therefore makes good sense.”

Bavak’s products are currently sold through agents, and Tony accepts that this model will gradually evolve: “Wherever possible we will want to be working closely with installers and existing contractors,” he says, “and over time we will of course be developing our own service and maintenance teams to support our own products in the field.”

The new venture also has plans for more innovative service offerings: “We are currently exploring the ‘temporary’ market,”  Tony says, “where our products can be deployed temporarily, perhaps to protect a specific occasion or event but where a permanent solution is not required.” Recently, Bavak provided the temporary perimeter protection at the United Nations meetings in Sweden and similar protection for the Royal Wedding in Holland.

Bavak manufactures a range of its own crash-rated barriers, fast-acting gates, bollards and blockers, as well as working with and for third parties. Customers include many of Europe’s best-known M&E contractors and construction firms, and its products protect various high-risk sites from military establishments and embassies, through to airports and similar critical infrastructure.

Jan Moberg, Commercial Director of the Dutch parent Bavak BV is excited by the opportunity: “We believe there is a much larger market potential for our products in the UK and Ireland and in developing new services and solutions that have not previously been tried,” he says.

The RLS3060 is a laser-scan detector that can determine a target’s size, speed and distance from the unit. The algorithm ensures accurate and reliable detection of activity with minimal false alarms. To enhance coverage, the detector can be mounted to allow horizontal or vertical detection fields. It has already been awarded Security Excellence and IFSEC awards in the last year.

When mounted vertically, the detector creates a 60 metre detection field that acts as a wall; when mounted horizontally, a 30 metre radius detection field is created over a 180° area. The detection field can be zoned, and the unit offers four independent outputs to allow varied responses to be initiated.

The detector can either be manually configured, or automatic configuration can be applied, achieving best level settings for even complex shaped areas. Held at Moor Park Golf Club, Rickmansworth, the PSI Premier Awards are given in recognition of product quality and customer service. All products and manufacturers are both nominated and voted for by the professional installation sector.

Nigel Hackett, Sales Director for Optex Europe, comments: “Optex has been at the forefront of detection technology for 30 years, our products deliver the maximum capture rates with minimum false alarms, whatever the environment, and REDSCAN sets the benchmark for intruder alarms for the future as the PSI Premier Award demonstrates.”

www.optexeurope.com

Well-known for providing high-level security for a number of prestigious organisations including Rolls Royce, and various parts of the local NHS, Axis Security has responsibility for a number of tasks at Centenary Mill.

The officer’s duties include traditional security, such as patrolling the out buildings with 24 hour public access as well as providing a concierge service during the nights and weekends.

Sarah Dudgeon, Property Director of Adderstone Estate Management, which manages Centenary Mill, comments: “Axis provides us with an excellent service, one that we are regularly complimented on. We are keen to support Axis as a new company, and whenever we ask them to tender for a contract, the client is always extremely pleased with the service provided.”

Built by the John Horrocks Company in 1891 to mark 100 years of successful cotton manufacture in Preston it is an imposing Grade 2 listed building, comprising 5 floors of 50,000 sq. ft. each. It sits on a high escarpment dominating the south and east of the town and the powerhouse chimney is a key landmark feature.

David Riley, Regional Head for Axis Security, believes it is the flexibility of its staff, and the service that Axis provides that sets them apart: “Increasingly we are being asked by clients to provide a reception service more aligned to a 5 star hotel experience. We appreciate that customer care skills are essential and so our officers are trained to deliver a concierge style service, and indeed the majority of our staff are recruited from the hotel industry itself.”

www.axis-security.co.uk

The APT30 Complete, so called because unlike standard bollards it comes complete with the rebar cage, was successfully crash tested to withstand an impact of 7.5 tonnes at 30mph. And unlike normal bollard testing, where the bollards are rammed as a set of three, the APT30 Complete was tested as a single unit – the first bollard to be tested in this manner within the UK.

Commenting on the achievement of PAS anti-terror attack status for the APT 30 Complete, Chris Rowlands, Managing Director of APT Security Systems says that APT’s bollards are attaining new levels of anti-terror capability: “This single bollard, which requires a foundation of just 400mm, shows how intelligent engineering can add strength to the ubiquitous bollard,” he says.

Chris believes the new product is ideal for installers who are in search of a bollard that makes their life easier without compromising security: “The APT30 Complete offers significant savings with straightforward installation due to the shallow foundations required and its lightness, making it considerably easier to position.

“As the bollard does not require costly foundations or the usual design activity, or any rebar or connections during installation, it is simply a case of digging, placing and concreting.”

Additionally, as the bollards from the Complete range use less material than standard shallow mount bollards they are ideal for projects with environmental goals.

VESDA and ICAM Systems Expanded to Provide Reliable and Cost-effective Protection Against Other Airborne Threats, Delivering Added Value for Partners and End Users

Xtralis™, a leading global provider of powerful solutions for the early detection of fire, gas and security threats, today announced that its market-leading very early smoke detection technologies – VESDA® – and ICAM™ have been expanded to include gas detection and environmental monitoring as well as its proven aspirating smoke detection capabilities.

These newly available solutions, VESDA ECO™ by Xtralis and ICAM ECO™ by Xtralis, use new or existing VESDA or ICAM pipe networks to reliably detect smoke and up to nine hazardous/combustible gases to ensure air quality in occupied areas. They also integrate easily with other building management systems for real-time situational awareness and intelligent emergency response, including the activation of demand-controlled ventilation to control costs and save energy.

“Because we want to deliver more value to our customers and end users, Xtralis has extended the integrity and high performance of our ASD systems beyond smoke to also include gas detection and environmental monitoring,” explains Xtralis President and CEO Samir Samhouri.  “Every VESDA or ICAM customer now can amortize the cost of their existing smoke detection infrastructures to reliably and accurately detect certain gases early enough to prevent damage to staff and assets and prevent unnecessary and costly down time.”

Now customers across a wide array of industries, including data/telecom, manufacturing and transportation, can rely on VESDA ECO for very early warning fire detection, protection against hazardous gas leaks, air quality monitoring to ensure safe working environments, and help to reduce energy consumption and costs.

Invisible hazards can originate from the release of toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, or the presence of combustible gasses/vapours. With an ECO detector installed on a VESDA or ICAM pipe network, air can be conditioned or filtered to remove moisture, dirt and other particulates that can cause traditional gas-detection systems to false alarm or become contaminated. As with fire detection, early warning of gas leaks or build-up enables countermeasures to be taken to protect personnel, property and business operations.

Each VESDA/ICAM ECO detector can house up to two gas sensors, and additional detectors can be added easily to the pipe network to monitor more gases if required. In its initial release, the solution can be configured to detect ammonia (NH₃), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H₂), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), methane (CH₄), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), oxygen (O), propane (C₃H₈) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).

VESDA/ICAM ECO provides point, zone or total-area coverage to suit different applications in a wide array of environments, including  battery-charging rooms, underground utility tunnels, boiler rooms, manufacturing facilities, parking garages and transportation centers. The systems easily integrate with fire alarm control panels (FACP), programmable logic controllers (PLC), heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and building management systems (BMS) to provide real-time situational awareness for intelligent emergency response. No construction or electrical conduit is required.

“For more than 20 years, Xtralis has been on the forefront of innovation in the life safety space, delivering powerful solutions to protect people, property and business continuity,” concludes Samir.

About Xtralis

Xtralis is the leading global provider of powerful solutions for the early detection of fire, gas and security threats. Our technologies prevent disasters by giving users time to respond before life, critical infrastructure or business continuity is compromised. We protect more than 40,000 customer sites in 100 countries, including billions in assets belonging to the world’s top governments and businesses. Our solutions include VESDA® by Xtralis – aspirating smoke detection, ICAM™ by Xtralis – flexible fire protection, ADPRO® by Xtralis – perimeter protection and enterprise IP security, and ASIM™ by Xtralis – traffic detection. Visit us at www.xtralis.com to learn more.

Bosch Security Systems announces an interactive website that details the IP video devices, firmware versions and features supported by a variety of software offerings from Bosch and other suppliers. The new IP Video Compatibility Zone provides customers with the information they need to
design dependable surveillance systems using best-of-breed CCTV products that integrate seamlessly.

Customers accessing the site will find the products and features ­ such as tamper detection, streaming capabilities and alarm notifications ­ that are
supported by 12 head-end systems from Bosch and third-party suppliers. Customers can select multiple products and systems at once, allowing them to
compare compatibility across a customized set of suppliers and devices.

“Seamless integration is just one step in Bosch’s efforts to advance the science of surveillance, which focuses on image usability,” said Dieter
Jöcker, senior product manager for IP products, Bosch Security Systems. “The result of our efforts are security products that provide comprehensive
integration and exceptional image quality.”

Two powerful planning tools are also provided on the new site. The Firmware Compatibility matrix identifies the firmware versions that are ideal for
Bosch IP cameras, encoders, digital video recorders, and software. In addition, an Encoder-Decoder Compatibility chart outlines compatibility
between camera/encoder configurations and decoders for both H.264 and MPEG-4 compression. Customers can download the Firmware and Encoder-Decoder Compatibility charts for easy offline reference.

To access the Bosch IP Video Compatibility Zone, visit
http://compatibility.boschsecurity.com