Arecont Vision appoints VP for Europe

Editor / Provider: Arecont Vision | Updated: 5/14/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Arecont Vision has appointed surveillance industry veteran Ivo Drent as VP for Europe. Drent joins the company after more than two decades in the video security industry in positions responsible for sales management, marketing, customer support and business development.

Drent will manage Europe for Arecont Vision and will also take personal responsibility for strategic accounts, building on the company's top level relationships at key distributors, systems integrators and technology partners. Arecont Vision's European headquarters is located in Frankfurt, Germany.

Ivo Drent has spent more than 20 years in the video surveillance industry working for manufacturers such as Dedicated Micros, Pelco and IndigoVision. Drent led Pelco's EMEA operations from their office in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, managing a team of nearly 100 people who were located in various offices across Europe and the Middle East. For IndigoVision, he managed their EMEA sales, marketing and support operations. More recently, Drent has been Worldwide VP for DataDirect Networks, a manufacturer of high end storage solutions, where he was responsible for their Government and Digital Security division.

“Arecont Vision is very excited to have Ivo Drent join our management team. Ivo is a proven leader in the Europe security market and we are looking forward to even faster growth under his leadership,” said Scott Schafer, Executive VP of Arecont Vision. “Key European distributors, systems integrators and technology partners are embracing megapixel IP cameras for their ability to improve image quality, boost system functionality, lower system costs and improve the return on investment for their customers. Ivo will strengthen our relationships with these important selling partners and drive business growth throughout Europe.”

Bringing Security 50 to life

Editor / Provider: Hayden Hsu, asmag.com | Updated: 4/30/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Held from April 24 to 26 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in Taiwan, Secutech International concluded with a resounding success, garnering more than 25,000 visitors and buyers from all corners of the world; one of Secutech's highlights was the Security 50 press conference, bringing the security world's top performers (by product sales revenue) to real life. Four representatives from Bosch Security Systems, Flir Systems, Milestone Systems and Verint Systems were very generous in sharing their respective company's latest developments in product innovations, partner recruitment/training and growth strategies. The event, along with a Q&A session, attracted more than 30 industry media professionals from across the world.

Organized by Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media (formerly known as the A&S Group), Secutech is an annual international trade show for the electronic security, information security, and fire and safety industries. “Secutech is an ideal platform to highlight the Security 50,” said Parson Lee, MD and a&s Publisher. “Many will be interested to know who the top players and growers are, and I believe they can learn a lot from the elite companies in the rankings.”

a&s started the original Security 50 ranking in 2003, two years after 9/11, when security was booming as a business and a fairly high number of new players popped up all over the map by the day. Solution providers, distributors, resellers, integrators and government/MNC end users worldwide were in dire need to keep tabs on who was who. As the industry and market shift from analog and wired to digital/IP and wireless, more new names have surfaced to address new niche market needs, in terms of location, vertical and technology. One annual ranking, based on pure product sales revenues, is no longer enough for us to reflect emerging trends, prospects and best practices in real time. That is why asmag is introducing the all new asmag Rankings microsite and mobile app. asmag and a&s teams are going to great lengths in collecting, processing and presenting the latest news/financial updates, product releases and feature stories, from the security world's movers and shakers: by sales revenue (Security 50), innovation and growth performance (Fast & Furious), Asian prowess (Asia 50) and popular vote/feedback (Customer Satisfaction 50).

At this year's Secutech, 25 companies listed on the 2012 Security 50 ranking were present at the show ground, showcasing their latest solution offerings with special “50” signage. In addition to the four panelists mentioned earlier, other exhibitors included Arecont Vision, Assa Abloy, Axis Communications, C-Pro Electronics, Dahua Technology, Dali Technology, Dynacolor, EverFocus Electronics, Flir Systems, Hdpro, Hi Sharp, Hikvision Digital Technology, Honeywell Security, Infinova, Itx Security, Mobotix, Optex, Tamron, Tkh Group, VIVOTEK, Win4net and Yoko Technology.

More than 2,000 downloads/shares took place at the Security 50 Gallery on-site, where a few from the 2012 ranking, along with asmag staffers, were invited to demonstrate their latest and interact with visitors. A frequent compliment on the Security 50/asmag Rankings app was how practical it is for those who are always traveling or rushing between sites to stay connected to the industry's largest in real time.

Watch this space and stay tuned for exclusive video interviews!

Arecont Vision partners with Brazilian distributor WDC Networks

Editor / Provider: Arecont Vision | Updated: 4/19/2013 | Article type: Security 50

WDC Networks, a distributor of IP-based video surveillance, wireless and VoIP products in Brazil announced a partnership with Arecont Vision. WDC has pioneered the distribution of IP surveillance solutions in Brazil. In 2002, WDC developed the first public surveillance project using IP cameras over wireless transmission. WDC will promote Arecont in Brazil and FOB - Miami to more than 1,000 active resellers.

"This partnership comes at an interesting time, as we create a new sales division, specializing in projects that serve digital cities and public surveillance projects that require robust products. The Arecont cameras with 180-degree panoramic view and 12-megapixel with WDR meet this demand," said Vanderlei Rigatieri, President of WDC.

"Arecont is very pleased with the beginning of this partnership because we know the potential of WDC in the Brazilian market, and the quality of support offered to their customers," said Alex Mathieson, Regional Manager for LatAm, Arecont Vision.

Robust security technology will be important for projects like the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, as well as all the infrastructure development surrounding these events. WDC will feature Arecont cameras during the 120 Digital City Expedition visits throughout Brazil.

7 cream-of-the-crop IP cams

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 3/18/2013 | Article type: Tech Corner

As technology advances and product choices proliferate, it has become increasingly challenging to pick out what one really needs. a&s has identified seven IP cameras that truly stand out, for their aesthetics, application-specific design, sensors and other “extreme” specs.

Gigapixel
ipConfigure's wide-area gigapixel camera provides situational awareness over vast areas, delivering up to 4 billion pixels of image data from a single surveillance platform. Constant horizontal and vertical scanning of the field of view collects high-resolution images. Through an intelligent stitching process, a seamless panoramic image is continuously refreshed with a high-resolution, deep-zoom image.

Panoramic
Axis P-5544 enables flexible coverage over a wide area with sharp, zoomed-in views at 720p. Its 360-degree panoramic view covers more than 950 square meters, which is more than the size of three tennis courts. Also, the analytic algorithms enable the camera to automatically move to a preset position when motion is detected in a predefined area.

Arecont Vision's AV20365DN can substitute up to 65 analog cameras. It delivers comprehensive coverage with forensic detail, without the need for an operator or control software. The camera is suitable for areas that require critical detail and panoramic views, such as entrance and exit points.

Mobotix's D14D provides highly detailed 180-degree panoramic images of up to 6 megapixels. Equipped with a shock detector for all IT and secure models, the camera can simultaneously take a video of the offender, trigger a sound alarm, and notify the security company by a call when it receives a blow to the housing. With no mechanical moving parts, the camera can remain fully operational even if it is subject to strong vibrations.

Wide Coverage
The Dallmeier DF4910HD-DN/IR is equipped with image-processing technology specifically for security applications. The algorithms provide clear, high-contrast and true-color pictures, in conjunction with the software developed especially for the security field. With the algorithms, the picture information of each individual pixel is converted digitally at the point of capture and processed in the most optimal way. The camera can, thus, display considerably more detail in shaded and very bright sections of a picture.

CohuHD's 8800HD series combines full-HD resolution with HD-performance lens optics for delivering image quality and detail for long-range (48 kilometers or 30 miles) surveillance applications in the visible spectrum. That is six times the resolution and detail of traditional SD long-range camera systems. With this kind of performance, the 8800HD is ideal for perimeter security and border patrol at critical infrastructure.

Endurance
Moxa's VPort 36-1MP is designed for use in harsh environments, from -40 to 75 degrees Celsius. It was designed to provide stability, robustness, ease of use and flexibility. With the industrial-grade specs, the camera is suitable for both mission-critical applications and general-purpose surveillance systems.

Arecont panoramic WDR models ready for shipping

Editor / Provider: Arecont Vision | Updated: 3/7/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Arecont Vision announced that their true WDR technology is now available in three different camera series. The MegaDome 2 WDR, MegaBall WDR and MegaVideo Compact WDR cameras are all on display at CeBIT, Hall 13, Stand C57.

Arecont Vision WDR cameras are available in resolutions of 1080p and 3-megapixels. In addition to its superior performance under challenging lighting conditions, Arecont Vision’s new 12-megapixel WDR 180° panoramic camera is less than half the size of previous SurroundVideo models. Arecont Vision’s WDR technology delivers a dynamic range of up to 100dB at full resolution and without lowering the frame rates. By combining long and short exposures in the same field-of-view, WDR maximizes the amount of detail in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The WDR performance of Arecont Vision cameras represents an up to 50dB improvement (300X) in dynamic range compared to non-WDR cameras

"WDR is a highly sought-after capability in the European security market,” said Peter McKee, VP of EMEA Sales, Arecont Vision. "These WDR models expand the usefulness of our megapixel technology by making it possible to capture sharp images in scenes with challenging lighting conditions, such as the lobby of an office building or the loading dock at a distribution facility."

Arecont showcasing WDR panoramic cam at CeBIT

Editor / Provider: Arecont Vision | Updated: 3/6/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Arecont Vision, announced the availability of the 12-megapixel 180° panoramic dome camera with true WDR. The revolutionary camera is on display at CeBIT. In addition to its superior performance under challenging lighting conditions, Arecont Vision's new 12-megapixel WDR 180° panoramic camera is 25 percent smaller than previous SurroundVideo models. Arecont Vision's WDR technology delivers a dynamic range of up to 100dB at full resolution and without lowering the frame rates. By combining long and short exposures in the same field-of-view, WDR maximizes the amount of detail in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The WDR performance of Arecont Vision cameras represents an up to 50dB improvement (300X) in dynamic range compared to non-WDR cameras.

"Panoramic cameras are superior solutions for general surveillance, covering wide areas with sufficient resolution to zoom-in for details," said Peter McKee, VP of EMEA Sales at Arecont Vision. “By adding WDR to the panoramic view, our engineers have delivered a camera without equal in the industry."

Arecont Vision megapixel technology delivers superior image quality and reduces overall system costs by covering larger areas with fewer cameras. Four 3-megapixel WDR image sensors inside the 180° camera each provide 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution for a total resolution of 8,192 x 1,536-pixels. The WDR 180° panoramic camera's dome housing is IP66 environmentally rated and IK10 vandal resistant. The camera is both ONVIF and PSIA conformant.

Milestone concludes biggest partner event in Vegas

Editor / Provider: Milestone Systems | Updated: 2/23/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Milestone Systems, the open platform company in IP VMS, held its biggest ever annual partner event February 18-19 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Management, sales and development experts combined in a heady mix to share knowledge and ramp up future initiatives with the market's leading video surveillance solutions based on Milestone XProtect VMS.

The Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS)  has grown in size every year and this conference continued that dynamic: a record-breaking 380 people attended with 46 exhibiting companies.Camera manufacturers Arecont Vision and Axis Communications were the Platinum Sponsors, joined by Gold Sponsors Optex/The Hawkeye Effect, Razberi Technologies, Seneca and Sony. Milestone system installers, integrators and consultants checked out cutting-edge solutions and sales opportunities for new distribution, video synopsis and analytics, access control, storage and server hardware, cameras, perimeter and tracking/locator devices, wireless and other network infrastructure options.

Lars Thinggaard, President and CEO of Milestone Systems, gave the opening presentation. He reflected upon Milestone's 15-year anniversary and how they have been "Thinking Bigger":
"Milestone's idea was the open platform. We introduced this into the industry and we have grown an international business ecosystem around it. The effect has been to redefine the industry's expectations about the way surveillance video is used. Our partners in the MIPS Technology Showcase are proof-points of this with some of the latest technical innovations enabled by our open platform."

Eric Fullerton, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Milestone, followed with a motivating call to action for continuing the forward momentum, to "Think Bigger" in all facets of the industry to get the most out of the Milestone open platform approach by tapping into the wide ecosystem of solution partners across the globe. All attendees at the conference received the book "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz to further ignite Milestone partners to be on the forefront.

Illustrations of integrated Milestone implementations were presented by end users and installing partners: the Church of Latter Day Saints by Stone Security, Clark County School District, Life Time Fitness by Affinitech and Pier 1 Imports by Direct Source. Milestone also celebrated partners' top performances of the past year with a series of awards presented on the final evening:

- Milestone Camera Partner of the Year: Sony
- Milestone Solution Partner of the Year: AMAG Technology
- Milestone Technology Partner of the Year: BCDVideo
- Milestone National Partner of the Year: Johnson Controls
-  Milestone Regional Partner of the Year: Direct Source 
- Milestone Integration of the Year: Mango DSP
- Milestone Installation of the Year: La Fortaleza for Liverpoo
-  Milestone Distributor of the Year: Anixter

With a greater focus on segmenting the market and delivering products optimized for customer needs of all types, Milestone also announced that new versions of the entire XProtect VMS product line will soon be released. The Milestone XProtect 2013 portfolio will focus on ease of deployment in the low-end as well as flexibility and centralized management in the mid- to high-end of the market.

Looking beyond the 2012 ranks

Editor / Provider: By Tevin Wang and Judy Wang, a&s International | Updated: 12/6/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Consensus among the physical, electronic security industry is that the marketplace out there is highly fragmented and support-intensive. Cream of the crop, by unbiased financial performance, is not easy to muster, let alone gathering a representative 50. In this feature, a&s looks into the 2012 Security 50 who survived and/or thrived, to highlight changes, trends and directions for the near future.

The 2012 Security 50 ranking was based on 2011 financial results. 2011 was supposed to be a “rebound” year, and yet not everyone passed with flying colors. Some gained momentum, sales and market share, while others continued their struggle to find the best approach to defying declining revenues.

Video surveillance, compared to other product groups, had fairly strong revenue growth with an average of 19.5 percent. Avigilon saw its revenue grow to US$59.1 million, up 86 percent from 2010; its gross profit also grew a whopping 89.7 percent. Asian manufacturers Hdpro and Vivotek have also scaled the ranking ladder. As a matter of fact, nine of the top 10 companies for revenue growth are dedicated providers of video surveillance solutions. Chinese manufacturer Tiandy Digital Technology made its debut in this year's ranking; this company is coming on strong with 50.1-percent and 60.6-percent growth in revenue and profit, respectively.

The average revenue growth for the access control manufacturers on the Security 50 ranking was a mere 0.5 percent. Access control giant Assa Abloy (Global Technologies division) clinches the spot as top player again with $826 million in revenue, up 14.8 percent from 2010. According to its financial report, demand for RFID devices rose sharply in 2011, as it upgraded its numerous customers' previously installed locks, which used a magnetic stripe card locking system, to more secure, flexible and user-friendly locks that employ RFID. SimonsVoss Technologies also performed well, growing 18.4 percent in 2011. Korean manufacturer Suprema posted considerable revenue growth, up 21.9 percent from 2010 to $36.4 million in 2011, while another Asian vendor RCG restructured and suffered.

In profit growth, the top 10 include IP video solutions providers Avigilon, Mobotix and Synectics, security and safety systems provider Napco Security Technologies, and Asian elite Hdpro, Tiandy, Hikvision Digital Technology, Dahua Technology, Kocom and Win4Net.

Fast Growing Companies
Last year was quite significant for Avigilon, Mobotix and Arecont Vision. Avigilon achieved 86-percent growth, the highest among the 2012 ranking. Mobotix grew 35.9 percent, and Arecont Vision rose 25 percent. All three are pioneers in multimegapixel cameras and are enjoying the growth phase of the network camera product life cycle.

Avigilon
“In November, we went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange,” said Keith Marett, VP of Marketing and Communications. “In less than a year, we doubled our ITO price. In this day and age, that's a significant achievement to be able to deliver those kinds of results to shareholders. In 2011, Avigilon was named the fastest growing software company in North America by Deloitte's Fast 500 ranking.”

Mobotix
“Mobotix is like Apple,” said Magnus Ekerot, CEO of Mobotix. “We have full control of what we want to be. Putting standards aside, we should think about end users; they should have the freedom with installations and no extra fees for buying management software. Why we do something different is for the sake of end users. We also think about how we can help systems integrators and distributors make money and keep the margin they should have.”

Arecont Vision
“When it comes to surveillance, pixels (resolution) are all that matters,” said Becky Zhou, VP of Sales for APAC. ”Think about how much area can be covered by a camera. For a VGA resolution camera, you get about 1,500 pixels per dollar. For a 10-megapixel camera, it is about 1,800 pixels per dollar. This is more cost-effective, and the ROI is better. The megapixel camera is right in the initial, high-growth phase of its product life cycle. We are expecting more growth in the near future.”

EU Results, Surprisingly Good
For European companies, the average revenue growth was 17.4 percent, which is roughly 6 percentage points higher than the year before. Despite the financial struggles in southern Europe, double-digit revenue growth was posted by Assa Abloy, Axis Communications, Geutebruck, Mobotix, Milestone Systems, Nedap, Safran Group, SimonsVoss, Synectics and TKH Group, averaging at 22.3 percent.

It is worth noting that the three German companies that made the 2012 ranking — SimonsVoss, Mobotix and Geutebruck — all enjoyed consistent, uninterrupted growth, thanks to their strong domestic market and high market presence, averaging an uptick of 23.7 percent.

Minor Bumps in APAC
The average revenue growth from APAC companies, on the other hand, had somewhat lost momentum. Over the past three years, Korean and Taiwanese companies, which used to be the security world's go-to-factories, have been facing stiff challenges brought on by global financial and economic crises and the rise of Chinese manufacturers. Hikvision and Dahua, apparent locomotives of Chinese security manufacturing, have intensified the price competition for their geographically adjacent opponents. Over the past three years, the 10 Korean companies have been able to hold on to and remain in the Security 50 ranking, while two of the nine Taiwanese companies dropped out of the ranking this year.

Interestingly, with an average 17.5-percent revenue increase, the ranking's Korean manufacturers outperformed the overall average growth of 14 percent. While Hdpro's exceptional 83.7 percent lifted the bloc's average, ITX Security's 11.7-percent dip was a clear indication that the days of siloed analog devices are numbered.

Taiwanese players, in contrast, did not enjoy a fruitful 2011, the average revenue growth was a mere 8.8 percent, and three out of the seven Taiwanese companies suffered revenue losses. Dynacolor, Yoko Technology and Everfocus Electronics reported 16.4 percent, 16 percent and 12.3 percent revenue losses, respectively. Vivotek and Geovision, on the contrary, represented a small number of Taiwanese companies who did well in 2011 and invested in IP-based and vertical-specific solutions, with revenue increases of 62.1 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

Despite the successes of Hikvision and Dahua, another prominent Chinese (Hong Kong) company, RCG, encountered a severe organizational and financial struggle, with a revenue decline of 54.2 percent. Average growth for Chinese companies also turned lukewarm in 2011, which might be an implication that the domestic market has slowed, and those looking to grow will need to figure out how to make their mark in the international market.

Warning Sign
The average gross profit margin from 2012 Security 50 was a humble 12.6 percent, a clear warning sign that the security industry is following in the footsteps of the IT industry in terms of ever-decreasing profits.

To stay profitable means to differentiate and stay unique. Mobotix enjoyed a 76.8-percent gross profit margin to lead the top 50, followed by Milestone Systems' 75.8 percent — these were just two stellar examples from many in terms of system architecture and channel distribution.

Old acquaintances but new entries in 2012

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 12/5/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Among the many changes that took place over the last year, 2012's Security 50 ranking welcomes a few “new” faces — Arecont Vision, Optex, Safran Group, Tiandy Digital Technology, TKH Group and Tyco Security Products. Either through strategic M&A (split in Tyco's case) or organic growth, these companies made it to this year's list with remarkable performance.

Arecont thrived with its continued focus on developing megapixel imaging solutions. Its products are being used in every major vertical market all over the world.

In late 2010, Optex acquired Fiber Sensys, which specialized in fiber-based intrusion detection and had major operations in North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, to facilitate Optex's growth as an international brand. At the same time, Fiber Sensys has been able to accelerate its innovations by leveraging Optex's financial resources. To further expand the business, Optex acquired Raytec, a developer and supplier of LED illumination for security systems and cameras, in the beginning of 2012. By acquiring this company, Optex strengthened its presence in Europe and diversified its product lines.

In July 2011, Safran finalized the acquisition of L-1 Identity Solutions, a leading identity management and biometric solutions provider with the extensive Bioscrypt portfolio. Renamed Morpho Trust, this business unit significantly enhanced Safran's identity credentialing and management capabilities, contributing to a huge portion of Safran's 2011 revenue.

Tiandy, the only “newcomer” from China this year, is becoming a prominent surveillance systems provider, with a broad range of innovative and cost-effective products. The company is seeking out more international opportunities to expand the brand, portfolio of offerings and revenue streams.

In the beginning of 2011, TKH acquired Optelecom-NKF, a global supplier of advanced video surveillance solutions and now operating under the name Siqura, setting itself apart in the fields of VCA, detection systems and integrated security solutions. This transaction helped the company secure larger, international contracts. As a result of broadened business opportunities, this newly acquired business unit contributed to much of TKH's 2011 revenue growth.

Last but not least, Tyco Security Products bought Visonic in 2011 and got separated from Tyco International in September 2012. The Visonic acquisition strengthened Tyco's intrusion detection footprint in EMEA and broadened the DSC wireless portfolio and its target markets. The leaner and meaner Tyco shall ensure quicker response to market conditions and integration of technological advances.

Security and operations at Indonesian textile plants improved with megapixel cams

Editor / Provider: Arecont Vision | Updated: 12/5/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Arecont Vision, the industry provider in IP-based megapixel camera technology, announced that Gistex has chosen Arecont Vision megapixel camera solutions because they deliver better resolution, clarity and depth of field than competing camera solutions. The company has deployed Arecont Vision cameras to view and monitor production activities at two textile manufacturing plants in Indonesia. The Gistex Lagadar and Purwakarta facilities operate 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week, and megapixel video has become an important tool to view and secure the company's production environments.

At the Gixtex facility, a total of twenty-one Arecont Vision SurroundVideo AV8185DN panoramic view day/night cameras and two Arecont Vision MegaView AV2825IR all-in-one IR bullet-style cameras were installed. At the Purwakarta facility 70 kilometers (43 miles) away, another six AV8185DN cameras and an additional AV2825IR camera were deployed.

“In addition to providing wider area coverage, the Arecont Vision panoramic cameras are less expensive to implement because fewer cameras can cover much larger areas than traditional analog and standard resolution solutions,” said Ong Heng Dju, owner of Smart Buildings and Automation, who designed the system. “Using panoramic cameras enables Gistex to save on camera licensing costs and wiring, while at the same time delivering better camera coverage to view and monitor the production operations.”

Arecont Vision's SurroundVideo AV8185DN is a 180 degrees panoramic view camera enclosed in a 6-inch dome that incorporates four 2-megapixel sensors to provide 6,400 x 1,200-pixel images at 5.5 frames per second (fps). Arecont Vision's MegaViewAV2825IR is a full-HD, 1080p H.264 all-in-one bullet-style camera enclosed in an IP66 (environmentally rated) and vandal-resistant cylindrical housing with an integrated IR illuminator. The camera's 48 integrated IR LEDs provide a 25-meter (82-foot) IR distance to view incoming and outgoing traffic at entrances in total darkness.