Electronic fire and security products manufacturer Elmdene International (a subsidiary of Potter Electric Signal, LLC) used IFSEC International 2014 (which ran from 17-19 June at London ExCeL) to unveil a record number of new product lines – from highly efficient switch mode power PSUs (Power Supply Units) for intruder alarm and fire applications through to an EN54-23:2010-compliant Fire Alarm Beacon and the groundbreaking ‘Flexi-Bell’ modular siren.
The company (which on first assessment has seen a surge in footfall year-on-year) significantly increased its profile for the 2014 exhibition by exhibiting its latest solutions on stand as part of a large-scale Harmony Village also featuring other Harmony Alliance members GJD, Texecom and TDSi.
Looking in more detail at the solutions showcased by Elmdene at IFSEC International, leading the way was an EN54-23:2010-compliant, ceiling-mounted Fire Alarm Beacon. This is an indoor ‘Type A’ VAD (Visual Alarm Device) which is built around low power consumption LED technology.
Crucially, Elmdene reports that the product has already completed a rigorous testing process to secure a certificate of approval from the LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board).
Elmdene’s stand at IFSEC International 2014
Another new concept for which Elmdene has high hopes is the company’s aptly-named ‘Flexi-Bell’ modular siren which is available in Grade 2 and Grade 3 versions. According to Elmdene, what makes this external sounder stand out from competing solutions on the market is its ability to use one common backplate with simple ‘snap in’ clips to accommodate all of Elmdene’s sounder covers: Vertec, HS and Quartz.
This not only minimises the stock that distributors need to hold but opens up the potential for customers to have their own bespoke covers in terms of shape and colour.
Switch mode PSUs for intruder alarm applications
Other industry-leading products that made their UK debut during the show included a number of new models in the GEN2 and GEN3 ranges of 12V switch mode PSUs for intruder alarm applications. The latest additions have been developed to satisfy the requirements of Grade 2 and Grade 3 under PD6662:2010 and EN50131-6:2008.
Also previewed by Elmdene at IFSEC International 2014 were the company’s cost-effective STX fire power supply units. The roll-out of the latest additions to the STX range (1A, 2A, 5A and 10A) reflects the soaring demand that Elmdene is seeing for fire-specific power supplies that satisfy the EN54-4:1997 standard.
In addition to new product launches, Elmdene once again highlighted the virtues of its ever-expanding family of switch mode PSUs, with sales proving particularly strong where CCTV applications are involved. When deployed, switch mode models offer typical efficiency levels of 80-87% and, correspondingly, lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint when compared to more conventional linear alternatives.
Given that they run significantly cooler, switch mode PSUs support enhanced reliability as well as being better equipped to cope with mains input voltage fluctuations.
Beyond this, Elmdene spotlighted the importance of Power over Ethernet (PoE) standby devices. The company has already developed two types of power supplies to bridge what it views as a worrying capability gap across security, access control and information technology applications.
Elmdene’s leadership in this field was underlined as a finalist in Benchmark magazine’s Innovation Awards 2014 (which ran in parallel to the show), with its POE1230-C model singled out for praise in the ‘Infrastructure’ category.
The POE1230-C is a PoE powered PSU (Power Supply Unit) that incorporates a battery back-up capability. Power is supplied from a 50W PoE injector to deliver 12V DC at 1.5A output.
IFSEC International 2014 “exceeded all expectations”
Commenting on Elmdene’s attendance at IFSEC 2014, Ian Moore (the company’s managing director) said: “IFSEC 2014 has exceeded all of our expectations. In fact, it has proven to be the most successful show for us yet in terms of the quality of leads and footfall. We had a much bigger, more prominent stand this time around and, thanks to our strong R&D base, an unprecedented number of product innovations, whether you are talking about PSUs or our EN54-23:2010-compliant Fire Alarm Beacon.”
Ian Moore: managing director at Elmdene International
Moore continued: “Co-locating with other members of the Harmony Alliance represented a major advance for us in the context of IFSEC. Undoubtedly, the benefit of being part of the Harmony Alliance is the way in which it’s focused on pulling together complementary expertise from all of our specialist fields to deliver Best of Breed integrated solutions, most notably at the project level.”
In addition, Moore explained: “The managing directors of the Harmony Alliance member companies took part in a thought-provoking panel discussion around the subject of integrated security during the first day of the show. On a lighter note, we were delighted to play host to over 300 Harmony Alliance customers at an invitation-only party held on a barge near London’s ExCel to help celebrate the success of the Alliance.”
Follow Elmdene on YouTube and Twitter
For more information on Elmdene’s solutions, which are available through the usual distribution channels, telephone: +44(0)23 9269 6638, e-mail: sales@elmdene.co.uk or log onto http://www.elmdene.co.uk
Elmdene has a YouTube Channel which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/ElmdeneInternational and you can also follow the company on Twitter at twitter.com/ElmdeneIntLtd
Further information on the Harmony Alliance is available at: http://www.harmony-alliance.com
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