Infinova - Experts & Thought Leaders

Delta, a provider of power and thermal management solutions, announces its board of directors has approved the purchase of 100% of the shares in Infinova (Canada) Ltd., owner of Canadian-based video surveillance and business intelligence pioneer March Networks® from Infinova International Ltd. for USD 114 million (approximately NTD 3,163,500 thousand) through its subsidiary Delta International Holding Limited B.V. The deal is expected to strengthen Delta's presence in the growing video surveillance market and complement its building automation solutions. Video surveillance technologies Ping Cheng, Delta's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Security being an integral element of smart cities is boosting the global demand for video surveillance technologies. March Networks is a proven leader in providing end-to-end solutions to some of the world's leading financial institutions, retailers, transit agencies, and commercial customers.” Security being an integral element of smart cities is boosting the global demand for video surveillance" “We are confident that the collaboration between March Networks and Delta will expand our overall market opportunity and increase Delta's exposure to the growing video market beyond our surveillance subsidiary VIVOTEK. March Networks' cloud-based video solutions and business intelligence technologies set it apart and are also a perfect fit with our commitment to developing smart green solutions for a sustainable future." Aggressive growth plans March Networks President and CEO, Peter Strom, said, "Delta's financial strength and scale – with around $10 billion USD in annual revenues, over 80,000 employees, and deep M&A capability – will serve as an ideal platform for March Networks to accelerate its strategic plan of offering cloud-based video surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS) and video-based business intelligence solutions to enterprises worldwide." He added that March Networks' customers and partners should expect no change to the high-quality products and services they've come to expect from March Networks as it embarks on its aggressive growth plans. Following the closing of the transaction, it is expected that March Networks will continue to operate from its Canadian headquarters and the March Networks executive management team will continue to lead the organisation.

Attracting trade visitors from across the subcontinent, the region’s most influential trade fair for the security industry, Secutech India, is scheduled to return for its 9th edition from 7 – 9 May 2020 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. With exhibitor registration still open, the fair has already attracted more than 350 of the world’s leading security brands with less than three months remaining before it commences. The 2020 exhibition will feature Axis Communication, CP Plus, Hikvision, ZKTeco, Infinova, Matrix, Toshiba and many more. Security devices and turnkey solutions The 2020 edition of Secutech India is set to reflect the country’s digital transformation Detailing the business value of the fair, Ms Regina Tsai, the General Manager of Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd said: “Catering to local market requirements such as cost efficiency and a need for fast project implementation, Secutech India assembles the full range of security devices and turnkey solutions under a single roof. Benefiting from its position in Mumbai, India’s commercial centre, last year the fair attracted more than 20,000 buyers travelling from across India’s main regions, and we are looking forward to welcoming even more business this coming May.” The 2020 edition of Secutech India is set to reflect the country’s digital transformation. IP cameras are in high demand from SMEs, retail and the residential segment, while biometric access control systems are also gaining popularity in offices and at border controls, with users gradually favouring contactless systems such as facial recognition above fingerprint biometrics. Core security solutions In the view of Ms Tsai, this year’s fair is taking place at a favourable time for the regional industry: “The government aims to transform India into an electronics export hub, which will open up new opportunities for component manufacturers catering to the local manufacturing sector. But just as importantly, as part of India’s proposed Union Budget 2020, infrastructure development across roads, railway, airports, ports, and economic corridors are expected to raise demand for core security solutions including video surveillance, video analytics, biometrics and intruder detection systems." "The governments ‘Digital India’, ‘Smart City Mission’, and ‘Technology Empowerment’ initiatives will also be growth drivers.”  Access control in healthcare facilities As a maturing security market, the appetite for knowledge in India is growing" Among many benefits, the ability to make onsite comparisons, conduct meaningful business discussions and view product demonstrations are a few of the show elements that visitor’s to Secutech India value. According to Ms Tsai, business effectiveness is the top priority for the fair’s organisers: “Initiatives such as the ‘Secutech connect’ business matching service which links buyers with exhibitors based on industry background continue to be highly popular, helping us to generate genuine business outcomes for participants.” But beyond business, information exchange is also a priority says Ms Tsai: “As a maturing security market, the appetite for knowledge in India is growing. This is a need that the upcoming edition of Secutech India will cater for with a series of conferences dealing with topics relevant to the local market, including cyber security, smart city digital infrastructure; the convergence of 5G, artificial intelligence, data analytics and the IoT; access control in healthcare facilities, and fire safety in elderly care homes and restaurants.” Personal protection equipment In addition to its core focus on security, Secutech India 2020, in cooperation with the GPS Association of India, will feature a pavilion dedicated to fleet management, vehicle tracking as well as passenger and driver safety. The concurrent ‘Fire and Safety India’ event will also return as the destination for trade buyers to locate the latest firefighting gear, personal protection equipment and smoke detection systems.

A new record in visitor numbers has underlined what has been the most successful edition yet for one of the world’s leading trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection in Dubai. The 21st edition of Intersec, which concluded its three-day run on 22nd January 2019 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracted 35,889 visitors from 126 countries, a 23 per cent year-on-year increase over the previous year (29,000 in 2018). Six sections at the event Intersec 2019 took up a sprawling 60,000sqm at its Dubai venue, with Fire and Rescue forming the largest section, comprising 431 exhibitorsWith 1,212 exhibitors from 54 countries, six show sections, 15 country pavilions, live outdoor demonstrations, a drone zone, and the new Future Security Summit, Intersec was at its very best, where new business partnerships shared the stage with innovative product launches.  Organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Intersec 2019 took up a sprawling 60,000sqm at its Dubai venue, with Fire and Rescue forming the largest section, comprising 431 exhibitors. Commercial Security was the next largest with 375 exhibitors, followed by Safety & Health (142 exhibitors), Information Security (120 exhibitors), Homeland Security & Policing (90 exhibitors), and Physical & Perimeter Security (54 exhibitors). Partnerships announced and products launched Andreas Rex, Intersec’s show director, said: “We put in a lot of effort into making this edition of Intersec the most comprehensive yet in terms of increasing the diversity of our exhibitor range and offering a more engaging conference format, while at the same time returning with improved popular highlights such as the outdoor live demonstration area. A lot of exhibitors used Intersec 2019 to not only announce important strategic business partnerships, but to launch their latest products" “A lot of exhibitors used Intersec 2019 to not only announce important strategic business partnerships, but to launch their latest products for the global marketplace. The visitor response has certainly been the most pleasing aspect of the show this year and with the Dubai Expo 2020 coming up, we expect the 22nd edition of Intersec in 2020 to be even more successful,” Rex added. Hydrogen-powered drone Intersec is supported by the Dubai Police, Dubai Police Academy, Dubai Civil Defence, the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), and the Dubai Municipality. A further 35 international government partners, trade associations, and non-profit institutions also participated this year. Dubai Police was among the hundreds of exhibitors launching their latest solutions, and this year unveiled a hydrogen-powered drone which will be used to survey mountainous and marine areas. Nearly two-thirds of the world’s top 50 security manufacturers were also on-board, including 17 of the top 20 incumbents comprising Hikvision, Dahua, ASSA ABLOY, Bosch Security Systems, Axis Communications, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, Tiandy Technologies, Avigilon, Infinova, Optex, VIVOTEK, CP Plus, Nedap, Raysharp, Milestone Systems, and Kedacom. Dubai-based Bristol, a global leader in fire protection services and equipment, unveiled the latest innovative firefighting technologies, including a UAE-built fire truck, fire suppression systems and powerful water pump solutions. Implementing safe and efficient buildings Dubai-based Bristol unveiled the latest innovative firefighting technologies, including a UAE-built fire truck Meanwhile, smarter and safer cities were key themes that resonated throughout Intersec 2019. This was underlined by a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the show between Smartworld, a UAE systems integrator, and Honeywell Building Solutions – the global leader in connected buildings – to implement digitally transformed, sustainable, safe and efficient buildings across the UAE. The resounding visitor response to Intersec 2019 comes as demand for security, safety, and fire protection in the Middle East continues to climb. According to analysts 6Wresearch, the regional market for physical and perimeter security, commercial and information security, fire protection, and drones, is currently estimated to be worth US$14.5 billion, with this estimated to grow to be worth US$31 billion in 2024. AI-based security and surveillance systems Attracting the most attention on the show floor were AI-based security and surveillance systems with applications across safe city and smart home security systems. High-definition IP-Network cameras and analytics software used across various industries ranging from banking and retail to hospitality and oil & gas were also among those drawing greatest interest. Intersec is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The 22nd edition returns in 2020.

  Fibre optics enhances the operation and business bottom line of surveillance solutions Designers and end users of security systems, integrators and installers must consider and balance the functionality required of a video surveillance camera with its methods of transmission. This is the first of a 3-part examination by Mark Wilson, Marketing Vice President of Infinova, of how chief security officers (CSOs), directors and managers can understand the benefits of and how fibre optics enhances the operation and business bottom line of their surveillance solutions. With the continuing transition from analogue to digital video surveillance, reliable transmission remains a crucial requirement. However, the usual transmission material, i.e. coax cable, has only limited reliability. With many legacy surveillance system installations, coaxial cable handles images from a camera to monitoring or recording, or both. Yet coax can often restrict transmission distance and cause signal degradation over long cable runs, not to mention interference.Networking, digital and Internet Protocol (IP) have ushered in Cat 5/Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable and high-speed Ethernet, employing IP to carry the digitalised video images. In some installations, wireless transmission - radio frequency, microwave, WiFi and mesh nets - play a role. Most enterprise security video designs are not totally wireless. Instead, the technology is applied to meet certain geographic or operational challenges. With fibre optic cabling, its interference immunity means better inherent security, robust cabling distances and huge bandwidth capability.Getting back to video signal transmission, it is important to note the practical differences among transmission methods. Security end users, their designers, system integrators and installers must consider and balance methods of transmission with the needed functionality of security cameras in light of the following:   In cases of new security installations with scores of surveillance cameras, a minority have coaxial cable • Maximum cable run distances• Power requirements• Installation issues• Installation time• Quality of video• Integration with other systems• CostLimitations of coax cables in surveillance video transmissionCoaxial cabling has, for years, been the traditional transmission method of video surveillance traffic, with the presence of a coax BNC connector on almost every security camera . The most common coax cable is RG-59U. This cable provides a generally acceptable quality video path from a camera to the head end out to 230 m - the maximum recommended distance between an analogue security camera and a digital video recorder, head-end or monitor.In the case of power transmission to the camera, many installations employ so-called Siamese cable - a single RG-59U wedded to an attached 18/2 cable, for both power and video. Still, some distances will increase voltage drop and it is necessary to select a power supply and cabling which match necessary voltage to distances. Today, especially in cases of new and upgraded security installations containing scores of surveillance cameras, a minority have coaxial, while a majority boast Cat 5/UTP and fibre optics.To some degree, the security shift has been spurred by the popularity of local area networks in most enterprises. Information Technology's (IT) means of transmission is gravitated to Cat 5/UTP wiring as well as fibre optics, often as an overall communications backbone. Security cameras can be more easily installed, using existing UTP cabling or fibre previously laid for enterprise network use. Corporate and government IP-based platforms have thus accelerated the security shift to such designs, especially where video surveillance is concerned.Use of video baluns for effective transmission of surveillance video   Corporate and government IP-based platforms have accelerated the global shift towards fibre optics transmission When it comes to existing UTP, it is important to consider one warning- existing enterprise cables must first be verified in order to meet security industry standards for video performance.UTP cabling is lighter and easier to install (translate that to lower end user installation cost) than RG-59U. While the material itself is less expensive than comparable lengths of RG-59U, there still remain challenges and costs when pushing analogue video signals through UTP cable. The process requires conversion of the camera's unbalanced BNC output into a balanced signal that can be carried on one pair of the UTP. When reaching a head-end or video recorder, the signal must be reconverted to handle a standard BNC-type connector. This means use of a balun.A balun is a device that connects a balanced line to an unbalanced line. It allows a signal of one impedance (a measure of opposition to an alternating current) value to be transmitted over a cable that uses a different impedance value. A video balun lets a system send video signals over a cable not meant for video. A point to consider in the use of a video balun is its necessary correspondence with a Cat5 cable. Coax cable, which transmits video, has an impedance of 75 ohm, while Cat5 has a100 ohm impedance. Therefore, baluns convert the original impedance to the impedance of the cable, and then back. Baluns are used in pairs; one on each end of the cable. Most significantly, transmitting video over Cat 5, without the use of video baluns, produces ghosting images, due to delays in the signal. There are two types of baluns: passive and active. Passive baluns convert the signal while active baluns impart an amplification method to increase transmission distance. UTP/ balun uses a single pair of a typically four-pair cable to handle the video, so three pairs can potentially provide power and pan/tilt/zoom from a head end to a camera. Combinations of baluns are called hubs.Fibre optics provides benefits Above and Beyond Cat 5Fibre optic technology, a method of sending and receiving information over great distances using light as the carrier, boasts significant advantages. Whether used as a backbone or a total transmission solution, its practical significance will be reviewed in more depth in Part 2 of this series to come.  Mark S. WilsonVice PresidentInfinova