Pinetron, Probe, Webgate and WonWoo Engineering Share Viewpoint of Market Strategies

Editor / Provider: Hayden Hsu | Updated: 6/5/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

PINETRON
At Secutech, our newest release is the HD hybrid NVR over coax, PHR-HD1008, that accommodates 8-channel full HD hybrid cameras and 8-channel analog cameras. The hybrid NVR utilizes Intersil's SLOC technology and is easy to set up and use like a DVR, with automatic IP scans and channel allocations. While it only works with Pinetron cameras at the moment, third-party compatibility will be made available later this year. Compared to SDI, the biggest advantage is the transmission distance of 500 meters, without the need for signal repeaters or boosters.

There are still benefits of using analog infrastructure (both hardware and people). Think about the transition from VCRs to DVRs — it took about 20 years! For security, ease of installation and maintenance is everything; it is not easy to retrain all installers and end users. With SLOC, replacement or upgrade projects to HD video are possible, and no expensive rewiring is necessary.

Our biggest challenge is market awareness. With our 13 years of experience and clients all over the world, we will have to build on our partners' and users' trust and spread the word. High-potential markets for us include Brazil, Turkey, Russia and Japan.

PROBE
Our latest release is the PIB-H2000ATIR outdoor full HD bullet camera, with 2-megapixel resolution, 3x zoom and auto focus.

About 80 to 90 percent of our sales come from IP models, as SDI is picking up very slowly but steadily. With SDI, the biggest installations to date are in Korea, and China is testing it out for possible large, multisite, hybrid (local SDI, remote IP) deployments. But without concrete “endorsements” from big brands like Honeywell and Pelco, it is safe to say that SDI will mostly be for niche applications, in the next five to 10 years, as a temporary, nonmainstream solution in the transition to an IP world.

Our key markets now are the U.S. Brazil and India, where we see a new generation of professionals coming into the scene, driving IP infrastructure and networks. Our biggest challenge is time, which is not on our side, as new products always come out and we need time to push forward educational programs, to familiarize young professionals with new technologies and applications.

WEBGATE (DAEMYUNG ENTERPRISE)
We used to OEM for Honeywell and Samsung; but for the past three years, we have repositioned and rebranded ourselves to be an HDcctv total solution provider. Targeting high-end, niche government, traffic and hotel projects, our solutions are almost the same as analog systems in terms of operation, such as adjustable frame rates and motion detection, but at 6x the resolution. Key reference projects can now be found in Korea, Japan and China, and we are helping existing analog SD partners and customers in the U.S. and Russia to move into HD quickly. We work with system integrators and installers directly, to cut out the middlemen.

For 2012, we expect 70 percent of our sales come from HDcctv products (68 percent in the first quarter), and overall revenue growth is set at 50 percent, mostly expected from enterprises, buildings and hotels.

WONWOO ENGINEERING
Our latest release is the SDI camera, with 3 to 20x zoom and auto focus. We are selling more than 4,000 SDI cameras per month now, and with more affordable 4- and 8-channel DVRs, we are very confident in exceeding our sales targets. Large markets now include the U.S., the U.K., Korea, Japan and China. After September, SDI systems will be even more competitive in terms of pricing, and in three years' time, they shall account for 10 percent of the market share.

The biggest selling point to our long-term partners and experienced installers is that it is something new, something that can compete with megapixel image quality, and something that they can handle with ease. They were losing sales and position in the market, and now they can be quickly trained and deliver quality video through the same channels. We are living in a period of fusion and hybrid, where people are moving step by step toward total IP connectivity; SDI is a good fit in this ongoing transition. We are getting good results in the U.K., Turkey, Russia, Brazil and Indonesia, and providing more variety in terms of product offerings will help us grow further. We expect to increase our sales revenue by 28 percent this year.

Korean Manufacturers Respond to Price Competition With Differentiation

Editor / Provider: John Shi | Updated: 10/14/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

Since 2010, competition among manufacturers in China, Taiwan and Korea has heated up ferociously. The rapid rise of Chinese security is catching up to its overseas counterparts, changing Asian dynamics. Chinese security companies have matured, with more players understanding overseas markets better. Coupled with low labor costs, these factors accelerate the profile of Chinese leading companies. The first competitors hammered by Chinese manufacturers are Korean companies, particularly DVR manufacturers. a&s talked to Korean companies about how they deal with challenges. Their strategies include stronger quality and product differentiation. They also bring new technologies to market sooner and work closely with overseas clients. Most importantly, Korean manufacturers are crystal clear about their future directions. The following companies offer insight into Korean security.

HDPRO
HDPRO was established in 2004 and began to focus on cameras in 2007. While the company is new, its management team is made up of industry veterans. It specializes in mechanical design, making cameras easier to install and adjust, while increasing stability and reliability as well.

In the face of Chinese competition, HDPRO distinguishes itself with high-end cameras, said Yoon-Hwoa Ko, President of HDPRO. It dedicates 10 percent of its revenue to R&D, quickly responding to customer needs through intensive trade show attendance and collecting customer feedback. This is demonstrated through 10 new product launches in three month, adding to a portfolio of more than 500 products.

The company grew more than 50 percent each year, even during the economic recession in 2008 and 2009. Most products are brought to market quickly, making product development this company's strength.

HDPRO's sales are evenly split between OEM and branded sales. Its own-brand sales are carried by distributors in different countries. Sales growth comes with the expansion of local distributors.

With the emphasis on R&D, HDPRO currently holds more than 100 patents. Some new developments include:

● Dome cameras with an air purifier function, ideal for dusty indoor environments, such as basements.
● Dome cameras with wireless transmission and wireless power: Connecters are often the Achilles' heel of IP66-rated cameras. Fewer wires also save installers time for cabling.

For now, HDPRO will not develop network solutions because Ko believes the analog market is still large enough. The energy and strength of HDPRO should be saved for enhancing qualities. Ko's focus is not on beating the competition but overcoming challenges.

MicroDigital
Established in 2007, MicroDigital believes own-brand sales are the only way to survive in a highly competitive market. It works with professional distributors to target the middle and high-end markets. In France, for instance, the company partners with local distributors, who set up an exclusive sales team for MicroDigital.

MicroDigital‘s sales and R&D teams focus on developing distinctive features to set the brand apart and create a market niche. The company produces a complete DVR product line, along with a series of network megapixel cameras and HDcctv cameras.

It also launched an IR bullet camera, which enables focus and focal length control via coaxial cabling. MicroDigital's main market is Europe, with planned expansion into the Middle East. Its sales are evenly distributed between DVR and camera products. The company's distinctive approach puts it in a position that is not threatened by Chinese competition, said Bruce Lee, Director of MicroDigital.

Regarding the potential of HDcctv, Lee said that most 16-channel DVRs support two channels for HD and will be upgraded to four channels of HD. He also believes that HDcctv prices will drop soon. While IP surveillance remains dependent on bandwidth and other networking issues, HDcctv offers a good alternative. Lee is optimistic about the future of HDcctv in the next two to three year, as more products reach the market and become more affordable.
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Pinetron
Pinetron was established in 1999 as an ASIC company, then moved toward HDD storage. In 2006 and 2007, as many SoC companies moved into the DVR business, Pinetron remained strong due to its core competence of SoC programming.

When starting its stand-alone DVR business, Pintron won orders from Japanese clients and learned about their exacting demands for product design and manufacturing.

Since OEM constitutes 70 percent of Pinetron's business, its brand is less well-known. Pinetron promotes its own brand by having one distributor per country. Chinese brands did not come to the attention of Pinetron's customers until 2010. However, current Chinese products do not directly threaten Pinetron. To accentuate its brand position and company values, Pinetron came up with a new slogan: “Our passion is your safety.”

To distinguish itself, the company focuses on its technological proficiency. Pinetron targets middle and high-end markets, such as military projects, retail stores, casinos and prisons.

Banks are an especially important target for the company. For gaming, casinos demand HD resolution but not necessarily IP.

Sales growth for 2010 to 2011 is expected to double due to the company's complete product line for storage. Its lineup includes five DVR models ranging from entrylevel to high-end and DVRs supporting IP transmission over analog cables through Intersil's security link over coaxial (SLOC). Pinetron has also developed and IP lineup of network cameras, NVRs and hybrid DVRs.

The company is an early adopter of SLOC cameras, as HDcctv's bottlenecks include limited transmission distances and one-way transmission. Pinetron wants to offer an alternative with SLOC video surveillance, befitting its guiding principles of innovation.

Comart SYSTEM
Comart started with PC - based DVRs. To avoid price competition, Comart began its HD-SDI development in 2009. The results were well-received, as its solutions have been deployed along Korean highways and pachinko parlors in Japan.

As the market grows, more players have entered and have shrunk Comart's profit. For example, Comart's 1,080p DVRs with four channels were undercut by 720p models from competitors at half the price. To overcome this price war, Comart plans to launch products with higher price-performance by the end of this year. Beside DVR price wars, camera prices have also dropped precipitously. An analog camera that retailed for US$600 in 2008 is now worth $150 and could plummet to $100 by next year. The bright side of this price drop is that market share for HD-SDI may reach 1 percent next year and could pick up fast.

HD-SDI's compatibility is one of the urgent issues to be solved. HD-SDI selections are limited and not interoperable between vendors.

Chang Hoon Seol, CEO of Comart, felt that insufficient R&D know-how is the main reason why cameras failed to meet SMPTE standards. As a result, when various HD-SDI cameras are connected to third-party DVRs, compatibility bugs occurs. To make it worse, valid transmission distances varied between companies as well.

Currently, HD-SDI cannot handle PTZ camera controls, audio or bidirectional transmissions. While establishing related standards is important, Soel felt that reaching a consensus between manufactures would take too long. Soel said SLOC is most relevant for network cameras, as it presents a transmission alternative.

KT&C
KT & C acquired a machine vision and traffic management camera company three years ago, expanding its portfolio. It focuses on developing and launching new products, such as megapixel cameras, HDcctv cameras and DVRs.

KT&C's target verticals for HD-SDI are mainly government and police projects, prisons and royal palaces. The maximum resolution for traditional surveillance cameras is 600 to 700 TVL. Once the distance between objects and cameras reaches certain distance, it is difficult to identify, which is overcome with HD-SDI. KT&C's main oversea markets include Russia, the U.S. and Europe. Sales in the Middle East and South America have also done well. It entered the China market in 2004, which is now one of its top five markets. Zoom cameras are among its bestselling product in China, resulting in KT&C establishing Chinese factories to meet local demand.

This year, KT&C will launch HD PTZ cameras,2-megapixel HD-SDI cameras and compact HDcctv cameras. The HDcctv cameras are small, but are easy to integrate and withstand high temperature. KT&C's major competitors are CNB and HDPRO, while several Taiwanese companies are co-petitors. Its revenue has yet return to prerecession levels, particularly in the Russian market, but the company expects a strong recovery in 2010 and 2011. [NextPage]

Kocom
Established in 1976, Kocom got its start in audio phones. It branched out into home automation, surveillance, LED lighting and eventually solar power — positioning itself as a provider of home automation and energy solutions. Kocom's CEO once said, “Anyone who purchases Kocom products has to be rich.” Besides clear strategies, Kocom emphasizes product quality and partner relationships.

Chun-Ho Ko, Overseas Business Manager, Kocom, points out smartphones and the emergence of a middle class with more education, income and familiarity with technology allow more end users to embrace home automation. While this group represents a fraction of the market, they can attract a large following. However, due to the dominance of single-unit homes in the U.S., widespread deployments will take longer.

Kocom's broad product portfolio targets real estate developers, so it goes to market with the same channel partners for intercoms, home automation, video surveillance, LED lighting and solar products. Its newly launched network camera line is carried through existing partners, but not all of them are able to support network video solutions. To promote its network line, Kocom is open to recruiting new distributors.

When asked about future IP application for security, Ko pointed out that market adoption for network solutions is still in its early stages. Most customers are considering IP but not yet purchasing related solutions. However, it is clear that market is moving toward IP.

Pixelplus
Pixelplus was established in 2000 as a maker of consumer image sensors, formed by a team of semiconductor and CCD experts. It initially targeted the mobile phone market, but the returns were small in a saturated market.

The company now focuses on security, automobile and medical applications. Its new production process has won business worldwide, creating a market niche. SK Lee, CEO of Pixelplus said the company is among the few component suppliers developing sensors for professional security users. About 60 to 70 percent of sales come from security business.

Unlike mobile phone sensors, which try to cram as many pixels onto a sensor, smaller pixels are unacceptable for security's sensitivity demands. For clear images, pixels on the sensor must be sufficiently large to improve light sensitivity.

Chip design also affects image quality, as analog and digital components can create noise. Noise reduction is crucial for sensitivity and WDR, as automatic gain control will increase image noise as well.

The company develops CMOS image sensors for their low cost with fewer accessories and ease of integration, Lee said. This results in increased reliability. As labor costs increase in China, more production will shift to countries such as India and Brazil. Lee is considering opportunities in these emerging markets for the future.

Young Kook
Starting in 1979, Young Kook is a leading system integrator in Korea. It specializes in thermal imaging for industrial applications, such as metal production, nuclear plants and military projects.

The company developed a 360-degree fisheye dome, which won a product excellence award from the Korean government. It holds patents in more than 20 countries. An outdoor night vision camera can monitor objects from a distance of 70 meters. This solution is suited for education and traffic monitoring.

The Korean market has strong demand for HD, as analog solutions are being replaced. Young Kook also plans to expand overseas, with its specialized product know-how. It is partnering with system integrators for government projects in emerging South Asian countries and China.

HT
HT provides high-end image sensor processors (ISP). It is a fairly young company, established by semiconductor experts with more than 20 years of experience.

To increase its market share, HT plans to launch midrange and budget solutions. It understands security imaging need for quality footage, regardless of the application or time of day.

HT believes that a good camera should deliver WDR for daytime imaging, along with high resolution with low noise, stable AE, AWB and superb color accuracy. At night, the camera should include DNR, 2-D and 3-D filters and clear low-light capability. HT strives to produce solutions that have strong performance.

Sejin Kang, CEO of HT, explains the differences between WDR solutions. One way is to put WDR on an ISP, while another way is to include it on the image sensor. However, the latter method is not recommended. As higher sensitivity is required for nighttime surveillance, WDR image sensors require more processing resources and could sacrifice sensitivity.

Two of HT's future developments for ISPs include intelligent video analysis and full HD imaging, requiring H.264 encoding with low power consumption, Kang said.

Secutech 2011 Holds the Key to Future Security

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Messe Frankfurt New Era | Updated: 6/15/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

Secutech 2011 reached new heights for its 14th annual exhibition. This Asia's most international exhibition and conference for total security solutions took place from April 20 to 22. Over three days, tens of thousands of security professionals came for the latest in products, solutions and conference topics.

Asia's security demand has boomed in recent years, due to growing security awareness and strong economies. The 14th edition of Secutech, the international exhibition and conference for electronic security, showcased the latest products. Offerings included the largest IP equipment pavilion in Asia, access control/biometrics, HD surveillance, intrusion alarms and home automation. Numerous global brands displayed a wide variety of products, enabling buyers to find the right solutions for their needs under one roof.

A strong turnout of 23,782 international and local visitors packed the floors, making their way to exhibits as well as attending educational seminars. Attendance increased by 5 percent from 2010, with visitors flying in from more than 95 countries to Taipei. The show was a one-stop shop for distributors, resellers, importers and integrators to connect with solution providers.

Business-matching sessions connected buyers from specific countries with reputable suppliers. Buyer groups included decisionmakers from Japan, Singapore, Turkey, Italy, Thailand, Vietnam and India.
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Total Security Lineup
Secutech 2011 hosted 550 suppliers spread out over 35,873 square meters. Exhibitors showcased a total security lineup, hailing from more than 20 countries. From key components to finished products and vertical-specific solutions, Secutech was the best sourcing platform for professional security buyers. Global manufacturers and component suppliers turned out for Secutech, making it a truly representative exhibition.

Video surveillance was represented by more than 150 manufacturers, including Brickcom, CNB Technology, DynaColor, GVD, Hikvision Digital Technology, iCatch, Infinova, ITX, Koukaam, Nuuo, Pinetron, Qnap, Sony, Vivotek, and many more. Products displayed featured software, recording storage, megapixel cameras, video analytics and VMS.

Two new product zones made their debut this year: Software and Storage.In conjunction with the show's themes of HD/Megapixel, Software and Storage, the software zone featured globally renowned providers such as Milestone Systems, ObjectVideo and Pelco (a Schneider Electric company). The Video Storage and Recording zone covered 200 square meters in the IP surveillance pavilion, rounding out the range of video solutions in the HD era.

The access control and biometrics pavilion of 116 booths covered everything from card readers, IP access control solutions, e-home systems, face recognition, fingerprint scanners, palm vein technology to intercoms and electronic magnetic locks. Security auditing solutions such as RFID products and technologies were also displayed. Leading brands on-site included Assa Abloy, ChiYu, Entrypass, HID Global, Kaba, MicroEngine and Rosslare.

The third CompoSec — the only international expo for components in security technologies and applications — was held concurrently with Secutech. CompoSec completes the security supply chain, covering a spectrum of key components ranging from chipsets and modules to subsystems and embedded software.

Exhibitors include Intel, Intersil/Techwell, Hitachi, LG, OmniVision, Grain Media, Stretch, Texas Instruments, Xilinx, Gennum, Clairpixel, Pixelplus, Kiwi Semiconductors and Macro Image. A new zone for CompoSec 2011 was the Memory Storage zone, gathering hard-disk drive (HDD) and flash disk providers under one roof. Renowned brands such as Western Digital, Transcend, Innodisk, Apacer and Hitachi displayed storage solutions expressly for surveillance purposes.
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Show Attractions
Intelligent Buildings and Smart Homes
Intelligent buildings and smart homes are increasing, as building automation becomes a reality. Secutech 2011 enabled greater dialogue at the Home Automation pavilion, which welcomed representatives of intelligent building associations and organization from China and Korea.

Camera Excellence Award
The Camera Excellence Award was a world-first camera shootout at the showground, allowing objective judges and discriminating buyers to determine the best megapixel and HD cameras from live performance.

A total of 25 cameras were tested on-site, including 19 megapixel cameras and six HDcctv models. HDcctv camera entrants included CNB, Hi Sharp, EverFocus Electronics, Micro Digital, Mintron and Shany. Megapixel cameras on display featured Axis Communications, Arecont Vision, Brickcom, Brainchild, Dahua Technology, D-Link, EverFocus, Etrovision Technology, Hikvision, Huanghe, Panasonic System Networks, Shany, Sony Corporation, TeleEye and Vivotek.

Hundreds of visitors stopped to observe how the cameras delivered and cast their votes for the top performers. After a two-day voting period and professional judge panel discussion, the winners were announced. HDcctv camera awards were presented to Micro Digital, Mintron and Shany. For megapixel cameras, six models from Axis Communications, Brainchild, Brickcom, Panasonic Systems, Sony Corporation and Vivotek were recognized.

Country Pavilions
Country pavilions allowed security professionals to identify mutual growth opportunities and develop a competitive edge. This year's pavilions included the U.S., Korea and China.
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Quality Education
Secutech 2011 not only featured comprehensive sourcing options, but also showcased top-notch security education. A total of 20 seminars, comprising 115 interactive sessions, makes Secutech the premier security destination in Asia. Conferences held concurrently at the show were the Global Digital Surveillance Forum (GDSF) and CompoSec.

Three Keys: HD /Megapixel, Software and Storage
GDSF is a conference dedicated to digital video solutions. In its 10th year, the conference was divided into three tracks: HD/Megapixel Surveillance, Software and Integration, and Storage Management.

1. HD/Megapixel Surveillance Forum
The keynote of the HD/Megapixel Surveillance Forum was delivered by Hiroshi Sekiguchi, IP Security Product MD, Panasonic Systems. He delved into the IP video surveillance market trends, discussing how to truly integrate megapixel technology.

Followed by Panasonic were Axis Communications, Hikvision, Vivotek and EverFocus. Fan Look, VP of Axis North Asia, explored market development in network video in storage, new sensors and adaptability. Both Hikvision and EverFocus showcased real-life applications of traffic monitoring with network surveillance.

Vivotek presented the latest breakthroughs in storage and recording. This was followed by D-Link's presentation on video analytics and VMS solutions. The last two sessions were delivered by Plustek and Osram, detailing how to best make use of video surveillance.

2. Software and Integration Forum
The Software and Integration forum kicked off with a presentation by Firetide. Firetide discussed video mesh technology and how to deploy it for critical applications. It was followed by a keynote speech from Pelco (a Schneider Electric company). “Integrated security meansbetter protection for people, assets — and the bottom line,” said Pramoud Rao, Security Ambassador for Asia
Pacific, Schneider Electric.

ObjectVideo discussed the value of analytics, along with addressing issues with interoperability and flexibility. Open platform VMS providers Genetec and Milestone Systems discussed third-party integration, a critical issue as more convergence takes place.

3. Storage Management Forum
The Storage Management forum's opening speech was delivered by Seagate. Danny Lim, Marketing Manager for Asia Pacific, Seagate, explored how the adoption of HD and megapixel cameras changes storage requirements. As a newcomer to GDSF, Promise also addressed storage management.

Three sessions focused on IP product launches from Brickcom, ArcSight and NVT. Taking place over three days, GDSF was made up of 18 sessions, covering the full spectrum of IP video.
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Product Design for HD Surveillance
CompoSec 2011 covered four themes geared toward engineers and R&D professionals: HD Surveillance, Improved Transmission and Interfaces, Next-Gen Identification and Management, and Green Security. This year's opening speeches were delivered by Intel and Huper Laboratories, discussing HD performance.

Texas Instruments delivered the keynote speed at CompoSec. Sunny Lee, Director of Business Development for Texas Instruments, explained how embedded technology supports more green video products.

Sony's presentation introduced new technologies for generating higher resolution, lowering S/N ratio and improving color reproduction.

Aptina, Aspeed and Pixelplus explored breakthroughs in CMOS image sensors. Aptina's image sensors boost

Secutech 2012

Dates: April 18 to 20, 2012 (15th edition) Venue: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taiwan Website: www.secutech.com

resolution, enabling cameras to perform more accurate video analysis. Aspeed presented how best to perform server management, desktop virtualization and surveillance processing.

HD was the emphasis for Hisilicon and Grain Media. Grain Media not only focuses on network cameras, but plans to expand to hybrid DVRs and NVRs.

Solution design was an emphasis for product development. Stretch spoke on the importance of integration, video analytics and image processing.

Xilinx highlighted effective processor performance, even with lower power consumption. From the HDcctv perspective, Gennum explained how transmission can be extended for HD images.

Storage plays a crucial role in video surveillance, providing effective and reusable evidence. HDD and solid-state disks (SSD) work to provide effective recording. “A good SSD is worth every penny,” said Alex Kuo, President of Memoright. Both speed and performance determine the quality and scalability of storage. Innodisk stressed how different applications require individual SSD solutions. Western Digital, which announced its intent to purchase HDD competitor Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, further elaborated on the challenges of HD storage.

The last session of CompoSec was closed by NXP. RFID usage, ranging from automotive, identification, wireless infrastructure, lighting, industrial, mobile, consumer and computing applications, was discussed. The presentation looked at how the technology could be used in the future.

Secutech 2011 proved to be Asia's top annual security show. Combining technologies, conferences and networking opportunities, the exhibition is consistently the most professional platform for security in the region.

Korea Update (Part I): Driving Innovative Technologies and Services

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 5/25/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Despite the global recession, Korean manufacturers continue to innovate. Delivering competitive products with advanced functions, slick designs and affordable prices is the common goal.


Camera manufacturers are studiously developing reliable HD and megapixel network cameras. DVR manufacturers are providing H.264 models that support larger channel counts with D1 resolution and HDMI streaming. Hybrid and NVR solutions are also on many vendors' R&D road maps. Intelligent functions can be seen in more edge devices and DVRs, and software offerings are becoming more user-friendly with GUIs and powerful features. In terms of environmental friendliness, video door phones and IR illuminators are on their way to be more energy-efficient.


While most of the companies are moving toward IP-based technologies, advances and investments in developing more scalable analog solutions still press ahead. With more Korean companies looking to increase efforts in branding, service improvements will be a key part of their corporate strategies.


<The following 10 Korean companies are presented in alphabetical order.>


Camtron
Founded in 1999, Camtron has been supplying quality cameras for more than 10 years. Camtron products range from 600- and 690-TVL cameras to megapixel network cameras and DNR/WDR cameras.


A 20-percent revenue decline was seen in 2009, due to the global slowdown; sales from Asia and Latin America increased noticeably. Banking on technology developments and emerging markets, the company expects a 15-percent revenue increase in 2010, targeting Europe, America and certain developing regions.


Strategy and Core Competence
Camera customizations are the company's key strength. "Our experienced R&D team allows us to provide tailor-made cameras to more than 100 companies," said Julie Bang, Assistant Manager.


ONVIF-compliant megapixel cameras and servers, cameras with video analytics such as face detection, HD cameras with HDMI/HD-SDI output and wireless CDMA transmission solutions are the company's main launches in 2010.


"Technology differentiates us. While we don't compete on prices by reducing features, we make our solutions more affordable by outsourcing parts and sourcing components in greater quantities," Bang said.


Future Outlook
Competing with multinationals is no small feat for an SMB with limited resources. Bang trusts, however, that Camtron will continue to stay ahead by developing multipurpose products with differentiating features.


Kocom
Founded in 1976, Kocom started its overseas business in 1980. Its key offerings include home automation, video door phone and video surveillance solutions. Today, Kocom exports to more than 100 countries. Europe, South America, Japan, India, Malaysia and Thailand are its fastest growing markets. Most of Kocom's sales are generated from its own branded products, constituting 15- to 20-percent growth in 2009. With growing needs from the residential and retail sectors, Kocom is expecting another 20 percent in 2010.


Strategy and Core Competence
Kocom targets different market segments with different products. Features not needed by targeted customers are left out to keep prices competitive. "For example, tracking is offered in solutions for European and US airports, whereas in India, only image recording is required," said Chun-Ho Ko, Manager.


Software engineering is in Kocom's core, with its user-friendly GUIs and features. "Kocom is not just a manufacturer but a service provider," Ko stressed. Green solutions, such as LEDs for home systems, that consume less power are the company's latest focus.


Future Outlook
Aiming to be one of the top 10 in the industry within two to three years, Kocom ensures quality by developing everything in-house. More than 50 percent of the human resources are dedicated to R&D. "We are working on even better software, easier than smartphone interfaces," Ko said.


MicroDigital
Spun off from Filtech Corporation in 2007, MicroDigital started its exports immediately, with Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East being its major markets.


About 90 percent of MicroDigital's revenue is generated from its own branded products. Its latest products include DVRs with HDMI and VGA I/O transmission, 16-, 25- and 36-channel NVRs with real-time streaming, and CCD 1.3-megapixel cameras. A 30-percent sales growth rate is expected for 2010.


Strategy and Core Competence
Encoding and decoding are the company's core technology. "We reduce image noise with software computations and hardware designs, and are able to offer supreme image quality with advanced features not seen elsewhere," said Jung-Soo Han, General Director.


About 30 percent of the company's resources are dedicated to R&D, with an additional 5 percent added each year. "Quality control is important to us. Apart from the chipsets, our systems are developed and manufactured in-house," Han said.


For its offerings to strike a good balance between cost and performance, the company is willing to sacrifice profits rather than making quality or functionality compromises. This year, MicroDigital plans to open a branch in Amsterdam for localized sales and services.


Future Outlook
"We will continue our analog technology developments; however, developing IP-based technology takes top priority." More storage solutions and 2-, 3- and 5-megapixel cameras will be introduced in stages.


Paragontech
Paragontech has focused on developing infared illuminators by utilizing its own technology since 2004. The technology has acquired a good reputation domestically and overseas, including countries in Americas, Middle East and Europe.


Paragontech participated in various security-related exhibitions abroad. Paragontech attracted great attention with its long range IR and whie light illuminator. The company's strong illumination is suitable for demanding installations, including coastal, marine and border projects.


Strategy and Core Competence
"Paragontech has developed a hybrid IR illuminator by using its state-of-the-art semiconductor technology," said Sung-Soo Lee, CEO. "Unlike conventional illuminators, it has an LED chip guaranteed for 10 years with a semipermanent life span and can easily dissipate heat." The illuminator's high heat resistance and adequate radiant intensity enable the overall system to maintain stable operation.


Future Outlook
Paragonetech will continue its product and technology developments to cater varying needs. With confidence, the company plans for aggressive domestic and overseas market expansions. "We look to enter other market segments and enhance our competitiveness with further R&D investments," Lee said.


Pinetron
Pinetron, founded in 1999, is a specialized DVR developer. The company maintained 10-percent growth in 2009 and is expecting a 30-percent growth rate in 2010.


With the Americas being its major OEM market, Pinetron sells its own branded products to Russia, Europe and South Africa.


Strategy and Core Competence
Technology and quality are Pinetron's top priorities. "Quality assurance and software reliability are vital to us," said Michael Byun, Sales Manager. "To maintain our image, we thoroughly test our hardware and software offerings in-house to ensure they are completely bug-free."


Keeping up with the latest, Pinetron's new DVRs have aesthetic design and can connect remotely to most smartphones, including Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Symbian and Android. The company leverages market research to strike the perfect balance between price and performance when developing new products. "We need to know what price points are meeting customers' needs, so we can offer them the most cost-effective solutions," Byun said.


Future Outlook
Business expansion is not without challenges. "With lower-cost Chinese products improving in quality, we are facing fierce competition. On the other hand, with our affordable prices, better designs, advanced software and overall reliability, we are confident in our offerings' differentiation and positioning," Byun said. IP-based developments, such as in mobile surveillance and wireless transmission, are also underway.


Rifatron
Founded in 1998, Rifatron has been supplying innovative video surveillance solutions.


Europe, the Middle East, the U.S. and Asia are its major markets with Spain, Iran, Morocco and Libya growing the fastest. By providing a wide range of products, Rifatron was able to maintain a 40-percent growth rate in 2009. This year, the company expects the same.


Strategy and Core Competence
"We offer good picture quality at a competitive price, with efficient compression technology," said Wooyoung Jang, Overseas Sales Manager. "With strict quality control and cost-cutting efforts, we develop everything in-house."


Its 4-, 8- and 16-channel stand-alone H.264 DVRs with D1 resolution and HDMI streaming on all channels are prominent in 2010. To stay competitive and cost-effective to buyers, Rifatron always offers high-end software features and tries to contain hardware production costs.


Future Outlook
"DVRs are still highly demanded. Rifatron will continue to work on video quality, transmission capability and processing speed," Jang said. The company also has plans to offer hybrid DVRs in the near future.


RTS Digital
Founded in 1998, RTS Digital started its export business immediately.
With a background in semiconductor and machine vision, RTS provides quality video servers with storage, DVRs, network cameras and management software with intelligent features like tracking and face detection. Currently, the U.S. and Europe are its major markets, and banks, airports, casinos and corporate offices are its major clients. The company enjoyed 10-percent sales growth in 2009 and is expecting growth of more than 20 percent in 2010.


Strategy and Core Competence
Armed with strong R&D know-how, RTS produces reliable systems with high-quality images. "Codec technology is our key strength," said Andy Bang, Marketing and Sales Manager. "Our strong software development team designs systems with next-to-none system downtime." Good customer services are another key. "We offer great technical and after-sales support to our customers. After an overseas order is placed, delivery is guaranteed within 48 hours," Bang said. "Our rapport with various partners prevents us from sacrificing functionality to lower prices."


Future Outlook
For management software solutions, improved system stability and software features are crucial. "With efficient design and manufacturing processes, production cost can be lowered to maintain our competitiveness." The U.S. will continue to be the company's focus for IP-based technology in 2010. India, China and Indonesia will also be its targets.


Tibet System
Founded in 1998, Tibet System moved from high-speed printing technology to DVR developments in 2000. With Europe being its largest OEM market, the company's own brand mainly sells to the U.S. Positioned as a tech-centric company, Tibet today devotes about 50 percent of the employees to R&D efforts. Despite the global economic crisis, the company enjoyed a 70-percent growth rate in 2009, while expecting 100-percent growth in 2010.


Strategy and Core Competence
H.264 and MPEG-4 embedded DVRs, with a Linux-based operating system, that stream a mixture of real-time D1, half D1 and CIF video are Tibet's forte. The company also offers PC-based DVRs, NVRs and management software with intelligent functions. Compact and aesthetic designs with competitive prices are noticeable in Tibet's products, said Chaewon Yeo, Assistant Manager of Overseas Sales. Good customer services and advanced technologies are the company's additional strength. "We offer door-to-door technical support in Korea and for large overseas companies," Yeo said. "With innovation, great quality and after-sales services, we are confident in maintaining our position."


Future Outlook
Tibet will continue to strengthen its DVR technology and develop IP-based surveillance systems. Management software and intelligent motion detection, alarm notification and remote monitoring will be further developed as well. "Our motto is to offer high-end quality at a lower price. Japan is our next target."


T.O.M. Technology
Founded in 2000, T.O.M. Technology majors in OEM business, with the U.S. being its largest market. The company saw a slight decrease in sales in 2009. Pushing forward network technology advances and user-friendly solutions, it is expecting 8-percent growth in 2010. Coming from a storage background, Tomtech's major offerings include a full line of stand-alone and PC-based H.264 DVRs, with intuitive GUIs to meet various needs.


Strategy and Core Competence
H.264 products, including network DVRs, that allow for real-time viewing by Web browsers and 3G smartphones have Tomtech's attention right now. Web applications such as twitter and Google map are available, making penetration into the consumer market easier.


"Performance may be associated with a bigger price tag, but it doesn't guarantee better sales," said Leslie Park, GM of Sales. "In a competitive market, lower prices are a winning factor if quality and functions are similar." To explore the larger consumer market, Tomtech has added remote monitoring and other Web services to its 4-channel DVRs.


Future Outlook
"Although it is very difficult to meet various network and customization requirements, it is a task that we don't shy away from," Park said.


The company aims to increase market share with more advanced technology. "We are incorporating customer suggestions and concepts into our products."


Xrplus
Founded in 2004, Xrplus started its export business in 2007. The company supplies video surveillance solutions to more than 50 countries. Despite the downturn, Xrplus enjoyed a 40-percent sales increase in 2009, with Europe being its main market. In the U.S., 300-percent sales growth was seen compared to 2008. With new features in its recently launched DVRs, the company expects another 100-percent growth in 2010.


Strategy and Core Competence
User-friendly features are evident. "Our solutions are not only suitable for professional security personnel; users without any IT background can also operate the system with ease," said Sarah Nam, Team Leader of Overseas Business. In 2010, Xrplus is offering 4-, 8- and 16-channel H.264 DVRs with simultaneous live-view and playback functions, 3G surveillance, and D1 and 4CIF dual streaming and access authorization.


Growing needs for lower prices have been felt. "While we're targeting high-end markets, we also want to make our products affordable to some mid-end segments," Nam said.


Future Outlook
The company listens to its customers before deciding R&D directions. "Although pricing matters, we don't want to sacrifice the powerful features in our DVRs. We will keep good relationships with our customers and fulfill every one of their requirements. Customer satisfaction is our only concern," Nam said.

Korea Update (Part II): Focusing on Quality Solutions

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 12/4/2009 | Article type: Hot Topics

Korean security has become synonymous for strong innovation, quality design and affordable prices.


Chip design remains a uniquely Korean trend, with customized offerings from dedicated semiconductor makers like Nextchip and finished-product manufacturers. The migration to IP is well underway, with higher resolution, faster processing and better integration.


With major R&D breakthroughs, more Korean solutions are being deployed in projects around the world. As providers seek blue oceans for their solutions, emerging markets are a key focus. Domestic success has also helped these providers grow, making Korea a serious contender in the security industry.

<The following Korean companies are presented in alphabetical order.>


Laice Electronics
Founded in 2004 by surveillance experts and engineers, Laice Electronics aims to be a total video security solution company. It offers all-in-one cameras, dome cameras and WDR cameras. "With reasonable price and full lineups, Laice Electronics supplies the market with a variety of choices," said James Park, CEO.


Strategies and Core Competence
The company has three divisions in engineering, manufacturing and marketing, with R&D fortifying engineering. "Our continuous investment in R&D is our key core competence," Park said. "Laice Electronics is prepared to deliver quality service to suit customer needs."


"With technology know-how and Samsung's DSP technology, our cameras are able to perform capture high resolution and better image stabilization in low-illumination environments," Park said.


Future Outlook
Laice Electronics is thrilled about the economic rebound. "We're excited that our annual profit in 2010 will achieve significant growth due to new product releases," Park said. To compete with Chinese manufacturers, the company will release relevant products for its existing markets.


Nextchip
Nextchip, a provider of semiconductors for video since 1997, offers H.264 compression products. Its imaging sensors and video decoders resulted in positive revenue for 2009, despite the economic recession. The company's H.264 products strengthen its reach into mid- to high-end markets with tailor-made models.


Strategies and Core Competence
"We're an H.264 and total solution provider," said K.S. Kim, President. This year, Nextchip launched its H.264 product line, which offers improved compression rates of up to 8 megabits per second.


The company focuses on intelligent network camera solutions, with motion detection and object tracking. Nextchip's complete product lines are suited for cameras and DVRs.


To combat competitive prices from China and Taiwan, Nextchip incorporates quality and reliability into its products. "Our products are designed according to customer needs, and our strong marketing plan also makes us stand out," Kim said. "Korean manufacturers need to be more aware of the China threat."


Future Outlook
Nextchip has relatively few competitors for H.264. "With our innovation and customer support, we are not afraid of threats from other international brands," Kim said.


Pinetron
Well into its 10-year operation, Pinetron devotes its R&D team to DVR technology. "While Pinetron did feel the impact from the economic crisis in our Russia and European markets, we took advantage of recovery in other markets," said Michael Byun, Sales Manager. "Most DVR manufacturers encountered some difficulties, but we expect revenue growth of about 30 to 35 percent compared to last year."


Strategies and Core Competence
Pinetron prides itself on R&D and product quality. "Our GUI is tailor-made for customers, and our users are satisfied with our product stability," Byun said. "Our key product for 2009 was our first H.264 DVR with mobile-phone viewing and a quick setup menu. Since touch is a trend, the DVR also deploys touch buttons for practical use and aesthetic design."


In the face of Chinese competition, Byun believes Korean products represent quality, dedication and improved technology. "For product selection, stability is a key factor for customers," he said.


Future Outlook
Pinetron is optimistic about the coming year. "Revenue has grown continuously at 20 to 30 percent per year for the past few years," Byun said. "We have accumulated many resources and customers in the business, and we brainstorm about matching customer needs to product designs."


Qtum
Qtum was founded in 2004, specializing in the DVR field. It possesses core technologies such as DSP design, watermarking, H.264 compression and smart search.


Customer satisfaction is Qtum's motto, as it tailors products to client requests. It supplies MPEG-4 and H.264 DVRs. "In 2008, we launched our first H.264 lineup," said Eddy Kim, Senior Marketing and Sales Manager. "We embedded the Linux OS, which was user-friendly with mobile ability and a GUI."


Qtum has global reach. "We do OEM for Korean and US brands while distributing our branded DVRs to Russia and Italy," Kim said.


Strategies and Core Competence
Qtum supports remote viewing for mobile phones. "Unlike other companies, we support interfaces for all phones," Kim said.


Qtum provides affordable solutions for customers. "We supply the market with mid-end, low-priced products with high-end quality, which increases our visibility," Kim said. "We provide fully functional DVRs for economic prices and recommend customers to deploy our solutions."


Future Outlook
Qtum emphasized playback quality for OEM customers. "DVRs that support HD playback will become standard, while one- or two-channel recording may still be an option in the future," Kim said.



Servntec
Established in 2003, Servntec is a relatively young but experienced supplier. The company provides quality service and has technology know-how for DVRs.


The global financial crisis did not hurt Servntec. "Security has seen more demand due to these circumstances increasing crime rates, so our ODM/OEM orders have significantly increased," said Jake Lim, Sales Manager. "The US market made up about 25 percent of our sales, followed by the UK and the local market."


Strategies and Core Competence
"Our core competence is R&D," Lim said. "We think three years in advance for technology, based on surveys and the market environment to suit customer needs. Our hybrid DVRs and NVRs are capable of integrating with megapixel network cameras, video content analytics and other solutions."


Servntec's hybrid DVR and NVR solutions are its key solutions offerings for
2009. "We ensure better solutions with competitive prices," Lim said. "Stability is emphasized on high-end projects, such as casinos, airports and government applications."


Future Outlook
Servntec will focus on emerging markets in South Africa and East Asia by establishing branch offices. "We will consider building up local networks and marketing plans in those areas through media exposure," Lim said.


Seyeon Tech
Seyeon Tech fulfills its motto "Link the World as One" by protecting people and assets with IP-based security products. With more than 10 years of experience and know-how in network surveillance, it cooperates with international brands and maintains its own brand, FlexWATCH.


"The economic crisis was an obstacle for IP surveillance growth," said J.S. Cho, Chief Deputy Director. "We experienced a 30- to 40-percent sales drop in Europe."


However, government projects buoyed sales in Asia with high demand for IP products. Seyeon Tech experienced positive growth for the Korean and Chinese markets.


Strategies and Core Competence
The company partners with major security companies for third-party integration. "Seyeon Tech provides total solutions for users," Cho said.


This year, Seyeon Tech launched an embedded NVR for easy integration. Its network cameras support both H.264 and M-JPEG compression formats at VGA and D1 resolutions. "With competitive functions and product quality, Seyeon Tech sets itself apart from competitors," Cho said.


Future Outlook
Seeyon Tech is optimistic about the IP market. "High growth is expected for network cameras, especially for megapixel cameras and video analytics," Cho said. "The IP market in East Europe and the Americas will increase, and we also expect government purchases in Asia to perform well."


Suprema
As a biometrics specialist, Suprema provides advanced fingerprint algorithms for specific applications. Its fingerprint algorithm was recognized as the most reliable solution in a fingerprint verification competition. With technological prowess, Suprema focuses on commercial markets with reader modules and devices, while targeting public and civil markets with live scanners and passport systems.


Despite the recession, Suprema grew 30 percent in 2009. "Although the module market is flat, the device market is hot," said Young S. Moon, VP.


Strategies and Core Competence
Suprema's IP access control solution has powerful functions. "Our access control solution is programmed for 520 doors and can compete with international brands," Moon said. The company will expand its IP access control system for readers only.


For the overseas market, Suprema launched its passport ID system solution and live scanners in 2009. "By partnering with major system integrators, the Mexican, Brazilian and Indian governments have deployed Suprema solutions," Moon said.


Future Outlook
The company will increase its branded products and sales channels. "Suprema plans to move to facial recognition, with the product available by 2010," Moon said.


Three Brain Technology
Three Brain Technology (TBT) stands for management, technology and sales. "TBT aims for long-term business, including financial performance, sales and products with a well-managed process," said David Park, Sales Director.


TBT started out in 1999 as a trading company, before becoming a manufacturer and launching its first speed dome in 2004. "If a product is popular in Japan, it can be sold anywhere," Park said. TBT's solutions successfully penetrated the Japanese market, with deployments in Japanese casinos.


Strategies and Core Competence
Serving customers in 35 countries, TBT's core technology includes software, hardware and dual-CCD technology. Its branded products sold well in South Africa, the U.S., Malaysia and Singapore for 2009. Speed domes brought in 80 percent of sales, with another 20 percent from camera and DVR sales.


Future Outlook
In 2010, TBT will focus on Australia, South Africa and the Middle East through local channels. "We prefer to cooperate with system integrators than distributors due to order quantities," Park said.


TBT will remain committed to product innovation and adjusting to customer needs. "We will release speed domes with auto-tracking for multiple objects next year," Park said.


Truen
Founded in 2005 with the motto, "True technology for securing the world," Truen provides network products. Its quality offerings include video servers, decoders and network cameras. Truen solutions have been deployed for government projects, such as military facilities.


"In spite of the economic downturn, IP-based security is still a growing market, and we have achieved higher sales this year," said Eric Jung, Overseas Sales Manager. "We also started some ODM/OEM projects this year to boost our sales."


Strategies and Core Competence
Truen has invested in R&D team to ensure product innovation and up-to-date technology. "With experienced R&D members, we are capable of producing our own software and hardware solutions to keep us a step ahead," Jung said.


This year, the company released a complete product line of cameras supporting H.264. "It's a combination of megapixel network cameras and HD video servers," Jung said.


Future Outlook
"We're expecting remarkable growth in 2010 for sales and market share," Jung said. "We've been investing in human resources and marketing promotion in emerging markets since last year."


Webgate
With more than 10 years of network expertise and experience in military projects, Webgate has provided quality products since 2002. While boasting a wide range of offerings in network cameras, central management software (CMS) and DVRs, the company's DVR line represented 90 percent of its revenue last year.


Strategies and Core Competence
"Our core technologies are image processing, networking, DVRs and management software embedded in the network cameras," said Jerry Lee, Sales Manager. "We're capable of providing total solutions with DVRs, CMS and network cameras to meet the needs of our high-end and mid-end customers."


Webgate is proud of its R&D commitments and image compression technology. "We were the first company to introduce a full D1, real-time model to the market about three years ago," Lee said. The company launched products which support H.264 and full D1, real-time compression in November 2009.


While 50 percent of its sales are from OEM orders, Webgate's products have been affirmed by international brands. "The US market brings in about 40 percent of our revenue, with the remainder from Italy, Eastern Europe and South America," Lee said. To tap into the great potential of the Chinese market, Webgate has set up a local channel.


Future outlook
Webgate will support HDMI monitoring with playback and recording functions. It will release HD video surveillance solutions in May 2010. "To reach out, Webgate will target specific applications to provide professional solutions for product integration," Lee said.


Wonwoo
Wonwoo has dedicated itself to innovative quality products since 1996. It passed international certification, including ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. In 2006, Wonwoo set up its US branch for timely support, enjoying overseas success in the Middle East, Germany and France.


The global economic recession had an impact on the security business. "The security market shrunk about 40 percent for some regions," said Kyu H. Jang, Director of Sales. "Providing competitive prices and strengthening product uniqueness are two ways to bounce back from the recession."


Strategies and Core Competence
Wonwoo's manufacturing strengths include outdoor IR PTZ cameras, network camera testers and mobile cameras for vehicles. "The outdoor IR PTZ market is emerging quickly and Wonwoo is leading the market as a manufacturer in Korea," Jang said.


For its market, Wonwoo participates in major local government projects. "Police, highway, city and traffic surveillance projects have deployed Wonwoo solutions," Jang said. "In early 2009, many outdoor IR PTZ cameras were installed at cultural sites."


Future Outlook
Wonwoo will launch three products for 2010, which includes testers for network cameras, megapixel speed domes and rugged outdoor IR PTZ cameras.

Excellence on Display at SecuTech Expo 2008

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 5/22/2008 | Article type: Hot Topics

Asiaˇs top products featured prominently from exhibitors at SecuTech Expo 2008. From walking the floor, trends toward high resolution and integration were evident from the products on display.
 
Asia's biggest security show boasted the best in manufacturing. From components like lenses and chips to complete products and solutions, high definition was the catchphrase on the SecuTech 2008 show floor. Coupled with IP and management software, integration is poised for mainstream adoption. With Asia supplying products to the world, the future of security equipment has never looked so promising. 

 

Sharp Images

Megapixel and More
Capturing crisp images from the get-go was evident from the wealth of megapixel lenses on display. Offerings from Tamron, Avenir and Space boasted day/night visibility and varifocal length. Avenir's lens also included auto iris, which it claimed was a first for a megapixel lens. For cameras, megapixel technology generated plenty of buzz as well. CNB Technology displayed a hybrid, 2-megapixel camera with dual streaming and triple codec support for M-JPEG, MPEG-4 and H.264. ¨Everybody is talking about H.264, which is a good encoding mechanism, but no one talks about H.264 decoding which requires a lot of computing power,〃 said Charles Kim, International Sales and Marketing Manager for CNB technology
 
Having true H.264 compression was key selling point for Nadatel. Its H.264 IP box, dome and PTZ cameras boast low image sizes of two kilobytes per second, said Martin Woo, Sales Manager.
 
Mintron launched a 1.3 megapixel network camera, using an unusual progressive scan CCD from Sony with wide dynamic range, according to Victor Sun, General Manager's Special Assistant. The camera also supports three codecs (M-JPEG, MPEG-4, H.264), at 30 frames per second (NTSC) in real time.
 
Another camera using CCD image sensors was the A-Linking day/night network camera, which also used Sony's 1.3 megapixel CCD. High resolution was part of Vivotek's 1.3 megapixel network camera, using CCD image sensors and supporting simultaneous dual codec compression for M-JPEG and MPEG-4. For JNS, its hyper dynamic range camera included a 1/3-inch double scan CCD. While Vivotek and JNS did not state whether they used Sony's 1.3 megapixel CCD for their cameras, high definition was certainly a focus of this year's show.
 
Three Brain Technology also opted for CCDs in its cameras for increased low-light sensitivity. "We have IP speed domes and IP IR cameras. Our special product is the dual CCD day/night camera," said Young Lee, CMO. "The two CCDs are switched, by a s tepping motor, based on light conditions; the B/W CCD has extremely high sensitivity as there is no IR cut filter and no color coating." Camdeor also promoted its IP IR H.264 camera.
 
Transmission for all those high definition images were part of Stretch's display. "The nex t generation of H.264 (AVC) is H.264 SVC. SVC-encoded streams inherently contain a layered structure with different resolutions and frame rates," said Mark Oliver, Director of Product Marketing for Stretch. "By selecting the appropriate layers to decode, system bandwidth problems and resolution constraints are resolved. Other advantages include flexible storage/content management and removal of expensive transcoding."
 
With better components enabling improved image per formance in cameras, high definition images were front and center at SecuTech.
 
H.264 Recording
Storing high resolution images in smaller formats were a key theme for recording equipment. Argus displayed a DVR with video compression in H.264 playback for 16 channels in full D1 resolution simultaneously. "We are the only one in the world who can do this," said John Wayne, Sales and Marketing Manager.
 
Rigorous testing made some DVRs stand out from the rest. "We test our H.264 DVRs with US$20 cameras, and our image quality is usually much better than what our competitors can offer. That's true H.264," said James Park, Director of Indigo Security. "We are also the first in the world to have H.264-ready mobile DVRs."
 
Mobile surveillance in high resolution was seen in KND Technology's compact, 4-channel, mobile DVR with an 8-inch LCD and H.264 compression.
 
Ultracker Technology featured a four-channel stand-alone H.264 DVR with 1280 by 1024 pixel output, while is four times the resolution of most DVRs at 420 pixels. Another stand-alone H.264 DVR from Kingwave Technology uses a proprietary ASIC and allows for remote monitoring through Internet Explorer.
 
Finally, Dedicated Micros' Taiwan distributor Fine showed off DM's DVR, capable of receiving full megapixel inputs from 16 cameras. The powerful processing capability of the recorder made it stand out on the show floor.
 
Displays
Several display vendors, including Matrixvixion Technology, Neotech Photoelectric and Taiwan Video System, exhibited high resolution surveillance screens compatible with H.264 video inputs.
 
The Taiwan Video System displays integrated alarm signals and DVD inputs. A model with an onboard CPU even perform video analytics, such as face detection, intrusion detection and people counting, said Eric Chen, Associate Vice President of Security Products.
 
Wonwoo's new CCTV tester improves on the company's first model, with a larger screen in a more portable format, said Kenneth Jang, Product Planning and Marketing Manager for Wonwoo Engineering.
 

Management Software

Management software for governing security systems is a growing trend in Asia, integrating surveillance, access control and intrusion alarms. This is no longer proprietary software for a single vendor's DVR, but open systems capable of integrating third-party products. Vpon and Fine both offered management solutions featuring distributed architecture, with video signals going to one server and all other signals like alarms going to another one, to prevent either server from being overloaded. This allows more equipment to be added for a scalable solution.
 
Managing purely surveillance with access control was seen in solutions from GeoVision, Win4Net and Pinetron. As access control is tied to time and attendance, identity management and auditing, surveillance completes these solutions for maximum effectiveness.
 
Video management software for surveillance systems is also becoming less proprietary. Instek Digital is a pure video management solution that is not tied to hardware, meaning it must integrate third-party products. Nuuo's video management software is similarly vendor-agnostic. Finally, Softwell offers a Linux-based video management system embedded on hardware for integration into any product. Integration has become commonplace in Asia, which will translate into mass production worldwide.
 
Video Analytics
More Asian surveillance providers are putting out video content analytics, instead of hardware. Huper Lab's analytics can be embedded on hardware, making edge devices an affordable reality.
 
Video smoke detection, one of the hottest trends in analytics, was the main focus of GKB CCTV. Another trend in analytics is license plate recognition, which Chiper can effectively perform for two lanes of traffic. These practical intelligent video solutions look to be standard for the future.

Integration

Products are becoming increasingly multifunctional as separate security systems work more closely together. Rosslare Security Products offered a video integrated networked access control, featuring a video chipset with embedded Linux OS and a Web server, said Jimmy Ng, Technical Support Engineer. Its network DVR supports 500 GB of storage through a USB or externally through Ethernet.
 
Heart displayed its integrated access control system with customizable parts, flexible enough for different user needs. Another integrated solution was from Peitan, as its environment monitoring system(EMS) man-machine controller supports voice, alarms and DVR integration.
 
In surveillance, remote monitoring showed increased integration. 3H Picaso's DVR can send event notifications by e-mail or to cell phones with images of alarmed event s attached, said Andy Bang, Overseas Sales Manager.
 
Another 3-G remote monitoring solution from iCanTek allows users to cal l a networ k camera from their mobile phones for a real-time update, without having to set up an IP address, said Oscar Yoon, General Sales Manager and Overseas Sales Team.
 
Automated tracking made a splash at the show as well, combining surveillance and search functions. Video Security displayed a 360-degree IP auto tracking IR speed dome. For tracking across multiple cameras, Brotex's solution can keep a target in overlapping focus for 16 cameras, so surveillance personnel never lose sight of a target.
 
Tying surveillance with sensors in mobile applications was among the integrated offerings at the show. D-TEG Security displayed its mobile DVR for cars or buses, integrated with G-force sensors to detect impact or acceleration, along with GPS (Global Positioning System), said Michael Hahn, Marketing Manager Its simple interface was developed with Toshiba, which D-TEG makes OEM products for.
 
As integration requires uninterrupted transmission, some vendors had solutions for those needs . AES displayed its long-range mesh transmission for alarms and non-video sensors using radio, with Internet for backup. As radio is not as easily affected by disruptions like GSM, the AES solution is reliable for receiving alerts, said Mark Brandstein, Chief Operating Officer.
 

IP Everywhere

IP is now a standard feature of new products, which accelerates analyst predictions of widespread IP adoption in the next decade. As mass manufactured Asian products incorporate IP, it is only a matter of time before IP becomes a worldwide phenomenon, rather than a regional trend.
 
Koukaam engineers its software at its Czech Republic headquarters, while manufacturing cameras and NVRs in Taiwan. "There are few, if any, companies who can design a single NVR to accommodate 16 network cameras at once; we are one of them," said Petr Musil, Technical Department for Kouk aam. "For network security reasons, each NVR has a unique firmware key for future upgrades."
 
Other IP products have gone wireless for added convenience. Tranwo Technology makes digital wireless surveillance products intended to be plug-and-play for homes or small offices, said Eva Chang, Account Manager for Sales.
 
Even door phones have entered the IP world, with AmRoad and Pintek displaying their networked door phones. With more effective communication between devices, real-time responses to security events become more of a reality.
 

Off the Beaten Path

Among the products on display were unique ones that were difficult to place in any particular category.
 
Among them was a palm and fingerprint reader from Jantek Electronics , which was also waterproof and dustproof, said Angel Chen, Marketing Assistant. It utilizes Fujitsu's PalmSecure module and supports up to 10,000 users, being one of the few vascular biometric products at the show.
 
Another interesting device on the floor was the Transverse portable surveillance camera, sporting an LCD screen and storage on an SD or MMC card. It bears an uncanny resemblance to a digital camera, blurring the line between professional equipment and consumer electronics.
 
AVerMedia had a one-of-a-kind surveillance solution at its booth  a wireless DVR capable of receiving inputs from four wireless cameras. Another unique product on the floor was KT&C's miniature cameras for the commercial market, designed for uses from undetected surveillance to dentistry, said Teddy Cho of the International Sales & Marketing Department.
 
Judging from this year's products, security hardware requires high resolution, with megapixel and H.264 generating plenty of buzz. Utilizing these sharp images more effectively emerge in management software and the growing area of video content analytics. Networking is no longer optional, as it is becoming standard for al l new equipment, from surveillance to access control. Finally, integrating clear images with other systems blurs the lines between security systems, as they come together for more completed converged solution. With As ia moving beyond pure hardware production to world-class solutions, SecuTech Expo 2008 showcased the region's rapid advancement.