Notes from Norstrom

The ChallengeCambridge University's Wolfson College has completed a major upgrade of its campus security system. Dubbed 'the most cosmopolitan college in Cambridge', Wolfson was the first college to be established for both men and women.  It has over 700 students, most of whom are post-graduate students with a focus on research and scholarship.Following a freak accident last summer when lightening struck at the heart of the previous surveillance system, the college was looking at more cost-...

 The ChallengeOne of Scotland's leading tourist attractions, the Falkirk Wheel, has used its networked security system to help reduce customer queuing time and improve their visitors' experience of the day - as well as increase security.The world's only rotating boat lift and the centrepiece of the 85M Millennium Link restoration project, the Falkirk Wheel joins canals from the east to west coasts of Scotland, bridging two water levels that are 35 metres apart.Paul Bettison of Fairfield Con...

There are big changes happening out there, and there will be big winners and big losers in the security industry, Prof Martin Gill told audiences at the recent Norbain LIVE! roadshows. In his words: are you up for it? Martin Gill's first words set the tone: “One thing is certain; we are in a period of change. Some people will be winners and will win a lot; and some will be losers and will lose a lot. The winners and losers are being decided now.”  Security Industry Authority r...

Europe’s premier IP networked security event ‘IIPSEC 2006’ due to be held in Coventry (UK) on the 24-26th January 2006 report an increase in overseas support for the show from countries such as Taiwan, Korea, China, India, Germany, Spain, Holland and the USA. Commenting on the increased interest to exhibit event director Kevin Fagan said “In the last month we have been inundated with enquiries from almost all corners of the globe concerning the show.  Everyone it see...

Axis Communications and HP announced today that they will partner to deliver a network scanning solution for small & medium-sized businesses (SMB).  The HP Scanjet 7650n Network Scanner is an out-of-the box solution consisting of the AXIS 70U Network Document Server and the HP Scanjet 7650 Document Flatbed Scanner.  The HP Scanjet 7650n Network Scanner is the ideal business document communicator and fax replacement for the specific needs of SMBs.  The total value of this...

The Board of Croma, the specialists in the design, development and production of overt and covert surveillance, security and defence related products, is pleased to announce that following the announcement on 1 December of its final results to June 2005, and the exchange of contracts for the first of two acquisitions, the Company has now exchanged conditional contracts for the second of the two proposed acquisitions.  This exchange allows it to adopt further due diligence on the target comp...

The first people-counter in the new Vista Vi-Count range is now available, providing an easy and cost-effective means of gathering vital intelligence about trends and usage in all kinds of situations. The Vista Vi-Count Lite (VIC22L) unit is an advanced system which uses standard CCTV cameras to count people.  It obtains both ‘in’ and ‘out’ counts for two cameras, each covering up to two ‘lanes’, such as doors.  Accuracy is extremely high - up to 95%...

The ChallengeWest Midlands Police have invested in a state-of-the-art digital CCTV system to significantly improve the quality of city centre surveillance in Birmingham. The SolutionNine Dedicated Micros' high-end BX2 digital video recorders have been rack-mounted in the newly refurbished, temperature controlled communications room at Steelhouse Lane Police station, located next to the city centre HQ of West Midlands Police. High quality digital images are recorded from the 50 plus fixed an...

The Challenge The London Aquarium and County Hall - formerly the London GLC building - have upgraded their interlinked CCTV control systems with Dedicated Micros digital multiplex recorders.Located on the south bank of the Thames, the buildings are now using five Digital Sprites in conjunction with 75 video cameras covering the County Hall's two miles of corridors and leisure facilities; which include the London Aquarium, Dali Universe exhibition, Namco Station pleasure dome and several res...

One of the UK's fastest growing fashion retailers has invested in the latest digital CCTV recording technology to protect its stores from crime.  Oasis, renowned for its highly fashionable high street clothing has installed digital video recorders manufactured by Videoswitch at 60 of its stores.Oasis store managers take the lead in respect of reducing shrinkage.  Instead of security officers patrolling the stores, the managers capitalise on a combination of well-trained staff and C...

Following a busy spell of exhibitor bookings during the last two months including 3LCD and Belden, the organisers of ISE 2006, Europe’s biggest trade show for AV Systems Integrators report that the event next February in Brussels will be twice the size of the 2005 show and is almost sold out. Mike Blackman, Managing Director ISE 2006 is delighted, but not surprised by these figures.  “The AV Systems Integration market continues to grow at an increasing rate, the outlook for new...

Integrated Design's Fastlane Door Detective won the Merlion Award for the Open Category at the Safety & Security Asia 2005 exhibition in Singapore.  The winning product was displayed on a special Merlion Awards stand at the exhibition. Door Detective uniquely solves the problem of tailgating through access controlled doors.  Door Detective creates an infra-red field across a doorway to monitor the passage of every individual passing through the door, only alerting security staff to...

G4Tec is pleased to announce that Richard Jess has been promoted to Sales Manager of Scotland. Richard will be responsible for all sales initiatives in Scotland including the recruitment of additional sales staff.  He reports to Brain Fallon, division manager-Scotland.“It is my intention to grow G4Tec business in Scotland by providing exceptional customer service and hiring a world-class staff,” said Richard Jess, sales manager-Scotland.   “I am honored G4Tec has...

Arco, the UK’s leading supplier of safety clothing and equipment, has won a major design award for its state-of-the-art national distribution centre (NDC) in Hull.The flagship NDC triumphed in the Design Excellence category of the Hull Daily Mail’s British Business Awards. Harold Hardcastle, Arco’s Divisional Director, Estates, said: “The standard of competition this year was very high so it is particularly pleasing to win this award. “It’s a credit to the Mar...

Organization  Archipelago Marine Research Ltd is a world leader in the field of fisheries monitoring and marine environmental assessment. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Archipelago has been providing marine biological services since 1978. The firm is responsible for monitoring analysis of several commercial fisheries, providing over 10,000 days of at-sea observing per annum. Successfully managed commercial fisheries must ensure that harvesting practices fit within long-term resource c...

The South Fens Business Centre is a new facility.  Purpose built with a funding package of 3 million pounds.  The building is attractive with aluminium framed windows and wood cladding to part of the structure.  It sits nicely in the surrounding countryside.  Situated close to Cambridge next to the A142 Chatteris bypass, the business centre provides economically priced office space for firms keen to be near Cambridge.  It is also hoped it will attract new business and em...

Pentax 8~120mm lenses have been installed in the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate by Baydale Control Systems of Darlington, as part of the city’s rolling surveillance expansion programme.Harrogate Borough Council takes a multi-role approach to the deployment and usage of surveillance systems.  Owing to the fact that so many aspects of crime detection, traffic monitoring and general city and asset management strategies depend on quality images, Pentax lenses were ‘non-negotiable...

Pentax lenses have been specified for round the clock surveillance in Victoria Park in the Tower Hamlets area of East London.  At just under 90 hectares, the park covers a massive area, especially for this part of the capital.  Managing its assets as well as the wellbeing of the people who use the park is a major undertaking.It’s a favourite destination for joggers and young families who use the adventure playground, ornamental gardens, tennis courts and bowling green.  The...

An innovative surveillance system installed by Intrepid Security Solutions is helping the Co-operative Group combat warehouse theft and improve staff performance.The Co-operative Group, which operates nearly 1,800 food stores throughout the UK, has introduced a Sentry SmartTrack CCTV system at its new National Distribution Centre in Coventry to detect internal theft.Intrepid has mounted two separate SmartTracks onto the ceiling of the Coventry site. Together, the tracks are 225 metres long, suff...

The ChallengeNewcastle's Telewest Arena has recently completed a full overhaul of its security system with the help of CCTV system consultants and installers Integrated Electronic Security (IES) - and has found an unusual benefit of going digital.The 11,000-seat Telewest Arena, that has played host to stars such as Justin Timberlake, Elton John and Cher, had suffered a spate of thefts, involving publicity material being stolen from outside the premises, where traditional pan and tilt cameras wer...

The munitions group at Maryland’s Naval Surface Warfare Center was in an access control quandary.  A Sign-in/out log had proved impractical and electronics were too expensive or too dangerous due to the potential of explosion.  The unlikely solution came from a nearby cow pasture.Call it bovine intervention. That’s the best way to describe the solution ESTECH, an electronic security systems integrator located in Annandale, Va., selected to solve the access control quagmire...

The ChallengeDedicated Micros Digital Sprite digital multiplex recorders have been installed as part of an innovative seven-year security plan in a South African "mini-city".  Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, is one of the largest urban development projects in the country, comprising a complex of shops, restaurants, offices, homes and hotels.  The first phase of a three-part security system rollout by Provicom, which will include a total of 1000 cameras when completed, has now bee...

The ChallengeOne of London's busiest shopping centres has upgraded to a digital security system controlled by three Dedicated Micros' DS2 multiplexers.The Plaza on Oxford Street is a 3-floor complex comprising of 38 retail outlets, a food court and a health club.  With long opening hours and a prime location at the heart of the capital's shopping district, security is a key management issue. The existing VCR-based system could no longer meet the stringent requirements for high quality image...

The ClientThe River Rock Casino and Resort opened for business in June 2004, with the hotel portion opened in August 2005.  River Rock is the first resort-style casino to be built in Western Canada, and is one of the newest resort and casino combinations in the Great Canadian family, which includes seven casinos and one horseracing track.  River Rock features 1,000 slot machines, 70 table games and Canada's largest Poker Room.The SituationDoug Gilroy and Mark Bayrock of Advanced Audio...

The new distribution agreement will increase ROKONET’s exposure in North America.ROKONET Industries, a leading provider of comprehensive security solutions worldwide, has reached a nation-wide distribution agreement with ADI North America as part of an extensive contract that also includes ADI International in Europe.  ADI North America will now sell ROKONET’s comprehensive line of intruder alarm products.Rokonet’s products are well known in the US and Canada, varying from...

The ChallengeLondon's most exclusive hotel, which has played host to stars such as Madonna and Michael Jackson, The Lanesborough has turned to Dedicated Micros to keep a tight rein on security.  The Lanesborough has built its world renowned reputation on hospitality and depends on top level security to ensure guests receive the care and personal attention they have grown to expect.  Director of Security Charles Smith had heard a lot about the benefits of digital CCTV technology and was...

Translink is Northern Ireland's public transport provider and one of the largest companies in Northern Ireland with a turnover in excess of £100m.  Over 75 million passenger journeys are made on Translink services each year.  In summer 2005 Translink's new £11.4 million Belfast train cleaning facility was installed with CEM's webEntry™ security system by CEM approved reseller Fire and Security Ltd. The 170 metre long, 30 metre wide and 10 metre high train facility was...

MetroValencia to deploy Verint Solution to enhance passenger safety across commuter rail systemVerint Systems Inc., a leading provider of analytic software-based solutions for communications interception, networked video security and business intelligence, today announced that Spain’s MetroValencia is deploying Verint’s Networked Video Solution to enhance passenger security for the city of Valencia’s commuter rail system. MetroValencia, operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalita...

Dortronics Systems, Inc. Provides University of Boston With Custom Solution For Dormitory Access System.The “Made in the USA” found on all Dortronics Systems, Inc. products confers more than just a country of origin or sense of national pride.  To John FitzPatrick, Vice President of Dortronics Systems, Inc., it also means being able to bring quality commercial off-the-shelf or custom electromagnetic locking devices to market quickly using the in-house engineering expertise and p...

The ChallengeOne of the UK's leading sportswear retailers, JD Sports, has undertaken a security overhaul of some of their stores as part of a major refurbishment program. The SolutionJD Sports worked with consultants and installers Integrated Electronic Security (IES) who specified a digitally networked security system based on Dedicated Micros' DS2 multiplexers and Dennard's dome cameras. AIan Baker at IES says, "With shops on most UK high streets and large stock distribution warehouses in...