Winsted will be returning to The Security Event at the NEC in Birmingham from 5-7 April. Stand B20 will be the venue for the company to showcase its latest console – The VUE.
The VUE is a highly modular, configurable, connectable and adjustable workstation offering the maximum functionality teamed with modern, ‘clean line’ aesthetics. Ergonomically engineered for comfort and adjustability, The VUE is designed to meet the needs of any security Control Room environment.
Designed with a first-class feature set, The VUE offers unmatched design possibilities. Static or height adjustable, there is a choice of open architectural design or under work surface storage as well as a single or dual worksurface and multi-operator configurations.
The Vue: the new Control Room console from Winsted
Winsted has also delivered a range of accessories to enhance and compliment these new consoles.
Throughout The Security Event, representatives from Winsted will be available to discuss the free design service offered by the business and also deal with customer-specific requirements. In addition, they can provide helpful information and advice on a range of Control Room-based issues.
Genetec – the technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations and business intelligence-focused solutions – has been engaged by the management team at Westfield UK, which has now standardised on the use of Genetec Security Center across its Stratford City and London sites. Together, the two locations attract over 73 million visitors per year and generate a massive £2.1 billion in retail sales.
“It was immediately apparent that Genetec would be an important strategic partner for us,” explained Adrian Howles, security manager at Westfield UK. “The Security Center platform is comprehensive, intuitive and, as part of our five-year strategy, the open architecture gives us so many options.”
The unified security platform is already driving cost efficiencies and economies of scale across the locations’ operations, with further plans to extend its use over the next five years. With a shared platform in place, Westfield UK is now able to manage security functions from centralised Control Rooms, bringing economies of scale and added resilience to its operations.
The common interface has also brought greater uniformity in terms of how day-to-day security issues are addressed across the two sites.
Phased migration
The ability for Genetec Security Center to support a phased migration of security operations to the cloud also appealed to Howles and his security team. To maximise its return on past investments, Westfield UK is currently running most of its security infrastructure within its on-site Data Centres. However, the organisation is already preparing for greater cloud adoption when existing hardware reaches the end-of-life stage.
“Knowing the system is cloud-ready and can support centralised monitoring if and when we need it to is very attractive,” added Howles. “We can realise significant cost efficiencies and further improve our already high levels of security and resilience.”
Looking ahead, Westfield UK continues to push the capabilities of its Genetec systems, looking beyond ‘pure’ security to find other ways it can add value to the business as a whole. One example is the integration of Security Center with Westfield UK’s delivery management system which has automated the granting of access for pre-approved vehicles in and out of the yard. Another is the adoption of Genetec Mission Control and Genetec Clearance to streamline processes, support operators and simplify the General Data Protection Regulation-compliant sharing of video footage internally and with third parties.
All-encompassing role
“Front line security is an all-encompassing role,” concluded Howles, “so we rely on technology to support our people in responding predictably and effectively to whatever’s thrown at them.”
Francesco Serra, Genetec’s vice-president of sales for Europe, responded: “Westfield UK has consistently demonstrated its ability to thrive within a retail and leisure market that’s both dynamic and challenging. We’re proud to support them for the long-term with technology that drives smarter ways of working and even greater efficiency.”
Video wall technology expert Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) has announced that its UVS Lucidity video wall controller now integrates with Synectics’ Synergy Command and Control software platform.
The move is part of an ongoing strategic partnership which dates back more than 14 years, with the integrated Lucidity-Synergy solution now being installed across multiple client sites, subsequently helping to protect people and assets across the UK.
Synectics specialises in the design, integration, control and management of advanced surveillance technology for those myriad environments where security is operationally critical.
The Synergy Command and Control solution is highly flexible and user-friendly, helping to ensure customers can always access the information that counts. Mission-critical data is made manageable, meaningful and actionable.
Inaugural project
Based in the ‘Burnley First’ Burnley Business Centre, UVS provides video wall displays and audio visual solutions for a range of clients across the UK and the rest of the world. The company is led by four senior colleagues who, between them, have more than 70 years’ combined audio visual, Control Room and visual solutions experience.
The companies’ first project together using Synectics’ Synergy Command and Control platform was for Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council’s Urban Traffic and CCTV Control Room back in 2007. Since then, the UVS-Synectics partnership has been involved in multiple security Control Room installations across the UK, including high-security prisons, Government facilities, local council security and Shopping Centre security monitoring applications (the latter including Manchester’s ever-popular Trafford Centre). These installations have provided hundreds of thousands of hours of protection for millions of people and multiple assets.
Large-scale viewing
UVS managing director Steve Murphy said: “The integration brings the significant display functionality benefits of the Lucidity video wall solution to Synergy users, including the display of multiple data sources such as web browsers, remote workstations, message boxes, RSS feeds and collaboration devices alongside traditional CCTV images. Any data source can be displayed anywhere on the video wall, thereby allowing large-scale viewing of data sources during specific incidents.”
Murphy went on to comment: “Via the integration, Synergy also provides detailed alarm configuration to ensure that relevant data is displayed automatically when specific events occur.”
The most recent Lucidity-Synergy installation includes multiple video walls and provides multiple collaboration device inputs, allowing data from mobile devices such as iPads, phones and tablets to be instantly displayed on the video walls wirelessly via the integration.
Sree Namelil, product manager at Synectics, concluded: “Synergy is designed to make sure Control Room operatives always have the information they need when and how they need it. Its ability to integrate with leading third party technologies is essential to this mission. We’re delighted to have partnered with UVS on this latest development.”
Johnson Controls has introduced the “reimagined” web-based client for the Tyco Software House C•CURE 9000 security and event management system. With the addition of enhanced functionality for alarm monitoring to the already streamlined search and filtering capabilities, end users are now able to perform personnel administration and alarm monitoring for their C•CURE 9000 system from anywhere, using any PC with a web browser or tablet.
Featuring a modern web design with an adaptive interface, the new web client has redesigned how C•CURE 9000 users are able to view and process events to include a dynamic visual alarm monitoring experience. With the new Event Viewer, operators can easily prioritise the most urgent of alarms and recognise patterns and anomalies with analytical event bubble images that are reflected in importance by colour and size.
Further, manual actions and intrusion zones have been designed to handle core alarm management functions for critical infrastructure projects.
The new web client is also optimised for Control Room operations, where ‘dark mode’ is often preferred, with special consideration given to colour brightness in order to reduce light reflection for optimal viewing. Individual operators can now smoothly transition between light and dark modes with the click of a button to fit their individual preferences.
System administrators are able to customise the web-based interface to fit a variety of different users with Web Views, further streamlining productivity and balancing the end user’s responsibility and workload.
The screen appearance for each web view can be customised to show different tabs, columns and fields based on the individual end user’s role within the organisation. An operator preview mode allows admins to see defined roles and responsibilities as it appears to the user, without having to toggle back and forth between the admin and user logins.
*Additional information is available online at www.swhouse.com
Monitoring platform provider Bold Communications has joined Dahua Technology’s ECO Partner Programme which is designed to create a closer integration and development relationship between Dahua and technology providers, with those parties involved working to deliver an integrated monitoring solution for commercial Alarm Receiving Centres and private Control Rooms.
Security solutions typically require technology from more than one manufacturer. An integrated system will often incorporate legacy equipment, new technology and multiple product types. In the Control Room, a tool is needed to process the interaction between devices and present information – and tasks – to the operator in a clear and simple interface. This requires high level system design and co-operation and the ECO Partner Programme provides a platform for the process.
“Interoperability is key for the monitoring business,” stated James Wang, Dahua’s vice-president and general manager for the business in the UK and Ireland. “Together with our technology partners, we are driven to develop more comprehensive solutions for the industry. The ECO Partner Programme not only focuses on technical enhancements, but also offers our business partners the opportunity to explore our ecosystem and network with vendors with compatible solutions.”
Bold Communications software supports compliance with industry standards for alarm and CCTV monitoring, using video verification to filter false activations and support an appropriate response. Alarm events can be generated by Dahua analytics or a third party detection device and received by Gemini with live and pre-alarm video. With false, nuisance and duplicate alarms filtered out and all information, video and handling tasks presented in a single display, the operator can then train their entire focus on handling genuine alarm activations.
Specialist security services
Integrated Visual Protection, a National Security Inspectorate Gold-accredited Alarm Receiving Centre in London, provides specialist security services throughout the UK. The Bold Gemini platform enables Integrated Visual Protection to provide a range of alarm and CCTV monitoring services, with Dahua being a popular option.
Operations director Piers Brown commented: “To deliver a premium monitoring service for our clients means that our operations have to be robust, seamless and efficient. Combining high-quality CCTV images with fully-featured Alarm Receiving Centre software helps us to meet that standard.”
Bold Communications’ integration development and design is driven by new technology and the needs of the monitoring sector. Becoming an ECO Partner with Dahua Technology is another important step forward in that process.
Winsted Control Room Consoles has announced the appointment of Andy Graham as the company’s new sales director for the EMEA region. This appointment is part of a reorganisation of the leadership team serving the business.
The aim of the reorganisation is to further strengthen the company’s long-standing customer relationships and embolden the brand further across the EMEA region. Joining Winsted from Legrand, Graham brings over 25 years’ experience to the role from his time in the AV industry.
Andy Graham
Speaking about his appointment, Graham informed Security Matters: “I’m really excited to be joining Winsted at such an important time. I’m very much looking forward to building on the success the brand has already achieved by working with our partners and customers alike.”
Lee Schalk, vice-president of sales at Winsted, commented: “On behalf of everyone here at Winsted, I’m delighted to welcome Andy to the company. He’s highly regarded within his field and will be a huge asset to the team, giving us the ability to better serve our customers. We’re thrilled that Andy’s on board and wish him every success in his new role.”
Winsted, the Control Room consoles specialist, has announced the appointment of Paul Brady as business development manager for the UK.
Brady brings with him a wealth of experience gained across the security industry having served in roles at Morse Watchmans. Speaking about his appointment, Brady stated: “I see tremendous potential within the UK market with upcoming opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with our partners and customers and taking on the challenges that the role will bring.”
Paul Brady
Terry Shough, Winsted’s general manager, commented: “On behalf of Winsted, I’m delighted to welcome Paul to the business. He’s highly regarded within his field and will be a huge asset to the team, giving us the ability to better service our customers. We’re thrilled to have him on board and wish him every success in his new role.”
Since its inception back in 1963, Winsted has consistently pioneered console design and development. The company’s product concept and design is driven by industry needs and demands, with many equipped ideas suggested by customers and developed with their input.
A dominant force in the US market for 55 years, Winsted expanded into overseas markets in 1975, primarily in England. In 1976, the business also began concentrating its efforts to establish distribution channels in the Middle East.
Winsted’s international distribution was firmly established in 1984 with the formation of Winsted Ltd in the UK. Since then, Winsted Ltd has become a design and manufacturing facility serving the European, Middle East and African markets.
Percepto, the autonomous industrial drone solutions developer, has announced that it will operate and broadcast live overseas autonomous drone missions from Stand IF2146 at IFSEC International 2019 (which runs at London’s ExCeL from 18-20 June). The company will also launch the next generation of its industrial and enterprise grade ‘Drone-in-a-Box’ system solution, including new software improvements and an enhanced all-weather base station.
This is the first time that Percepto has brought its autonomous drone solution to the UK and Europe’s leading security event. The company will afford security practitioners the opportunity to discover how current drone technology can be used to improve security and safety, reduce risk and optimise operations.
On Wednesday 19 June at 11.00 am, Percepto is hosting an exclusive media event including a live broadcast of an autonomous drone mission being carried out in Israel. There will also be a Q&A session with Ariel Avitan, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Percepto, who informed Risk Xtra: “We will demonstrate how the Percepto solution delivers aerial surveillance through patrols, real-time detection and tracking of humans and vehicles, as well as anomaly detection, all without the need for an on-site operator or pilot.”
Visitors to IFSEC International will witness how Percepto’s Sparrow drones take-off automatically to perform pre-scheduled missions such as patrolling a perimeter. Should a drone detect an object of interest (ie a person or a vehicle in a restricted area), an alert is automatically triggered and the Control Room operator is able to instantly view the real-time camera footage as the drone tracks the object.
Sparrow drones can also be used as first responders when launched on-demand by an operator or when triggered via an integrated system such as a smart fence.
Once a mission has been completed, the drone returns to its base station – a highly secure enclosed weather-proof box stationed in the field – where automated post-flight checks and fast battery charging is completed, ensuring the drone is primed for the next mission. Percepto’s all-new base station is a key feature of its next generation release and will be on display for the first time at IFSEC International.
“Drones will become part of the fabric of security and surveillance operations,” added Avitan. “Whether deployed stand-alone or fully integrated with the Control Room’s VMS or other security systems, Percepto’s drones provide today’s security teams with a level of aerial surveillance that was once inconceivable and unattainable for the majority of large-scale enterprises.”
ABB is launching a new digital solution as part of its ABB Ability unified, cross-industry digital offer. The new solution will provide Security Control Room operators with direct insights into their own environmental conditions, allowing them to adjust those conditions according to their individual preferences.
The result is what ABB describes as “a complete micro environment that adapts to each individual’s needs and is achieved through the measurement and grading of factors such as air quality, temperature, lighting, environment and humidity”.
Operators also receive information on factors such as how long they’ll-being. That being so, they can reduce the risk of potential health problems such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity which not only benefits the operator, but also helps to reduce the level of absence due to sickness within a business.
“At ABB, we really understand the crucial role an optimised Control Room environment has for a business,” explained Pierre Skönnegård, ABB’s global product manager for Control Room solutions. “The wrong environment can lead to human error that can cost a business dearly. In fact, 40% of all industrial downtime is due to operator errors caused by fatigue. By creating the right environment, this new solution will go a long way towards addressing the problem.”
A pilot project using the new application is already underway at the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and it will be rolled out globally in the first quarter of 2019.
“Operator well-being in the Control Room is a key element for consideration in project development.” stated Larisa Rizvanovic, senior scientist at RISE. “We will be exploring this new digital solution from ABB with our industrial partners such that they can also maximise the benefits it brings for their operators.”
The solution offers the possibility of creating a number of preferences and personal settings at any workstation, making it ideal for those businesses where there is shift working and also for those running a 24/7 Control Room operation.
Optimised light in the Control Room space, for example, decreases the risk of workers developing eye problems. The right balance between the monitors and the surrounding lights is crucial and can now easily be monitored and adjusted. The cloud-based application works in synergy with many other ABB Ability solutions, and provides a platform for information which can be shared between systems in the near future.
The consolidation and analysis of the collected data stored in the cloud is presented on a well-being/safety dashboard. Data is ranked automatically according to important standards such as ISO 11064. Specific business-related KPIs can be determined in relation to human factors and ergonomics.
Send For Help (the lone worker protection business providing 24/7 emergency response via personal safety alarms) has been featured in the ‘FT Future 100 UK’ list recently published in The Financial Times and on FT.com. The prestigious list selected by an expert panel led by FT journalists features fast-growing UK companies that are also making an impact on their industry or, indeed, wider society.
The list is built on data from the ‘FT 1,000: Europe’s Fastest-Growing Companies’, in which Send For Help featured in April this year with a ranking at 625.
To make it into the first edition of the ‘FT Future 100 UK’, businesses had to excel in one of four categories: Environmental, Social and Governance, Disruption, Diversity and Consistent Growth. Send For Help was selected for the Disruption category, where the judges took into account measures such as R&D spend as a proportion of revenue and the company’s own pitch as a disrupter.
Operating through its subsidiary brands Skyguard, Peoplesafe and Guardian24, Send For Help supplies keyfob-sized GPS personal safety alarms and smart phone apps providing 24/7 protection to over 150,000 lone workers.
Send For Help’s Monitoring Centre has direct links to police Control Rooms, so it can bypass the 999 system and receive a faster emergency response if clients are threatened, attacked or are otherwise in some form of danger.
The Surrey-based tech firm has a varied client roster across a large number of private and public sectors, including over 180 NHS Trusts and major High Street retailers, City banks and national pub chains, estate agents, the police service and more than 200 local authorities.
“It’s very encouraging that Send For Help continues to receive national and international awards from such prestigious publications,” said James Murray, CEO of Send For Help. “Our strategy as a disruptive company which delivers innovative services at competitive prices is clearly working. The whole team should be proud of what we’ve achieved.”
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