Trigion - Experts & Thought Leaders

Trigion Security, the specialist security solution arm of Facilicom UK, is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Grist as its new Security Director. He assumes responsibilities on 16th July 2018 and will succeed Neil Ricketts. Grist brings many years’ experience and knowledge to his new role and will be responsible for sales, marketing and strategy. He will be supported on Electronic Security by Dave Bonci; and on Manned Security by Sean Titheridge, who also joined Trigion earlier this month. Contributing to the growth of security division Grist comments, “I am very much looking forward to building upon Trigion’s good name to further strengthen and develop the company’s presence throughout the UK.”  Jan-Hein Hemke, Managing Director of Facilicom UK, comments, “We look forward to welcoming Paul Grist to the team. I am confident that his experience and skills will contribute to the continued growth of our security division over the months and years to come.” Grist joins Trigion from Insafe International where he was Head of Electronic Systems. Prior to this, he was Managing Director of Swift Alarms Group.

Facilicom UK’s latest annual report reveals the company – which comprises Facilicom Cleaning Services and Trigion Security – achieved a record year for new contracts in 2017. Thanks to an excellent sales performance, the number of contracts held by the company increased considerably, particularly at year-end. As a result, turnover amounted to £45.5 million. Among other measures, the company has introduced a new recruitment strategy for the sales department; split responsibilities in the cleaning services division between client managers and service delivery managers; introduced an Employee Assistance Programme; and collaborated more closely with other Facilicom Group businesses in Europe, meaning the positive turnover trend is expected to continue into 2018. Improved processes Jan-Hein Hemke, Facilicom UK’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to have achieved such a positive result in terms of contract wins in 2017. After a year of substantial change, and due to the measures we’ve introduced, Facilicom UK expects to grow turnover to £57 million next year.” “The forecast profit is £1.8 million which represents more than double the net margin in comparison to 2017. We have carried out extensive work to improve our processes and service delivery, and feel very well placed to have a very successful 2018.”

With the value of scrap metal only heading in one direction recently, dealers are having to turn to ever more advanced security solutions to combat theft and break ins. Security specialist Trigion is now providing high-tech solutions at a major Kent scrap yard in the UK, including the use of thermal cameras and a ‘virtual perimeter’ system. On a site such as a scrap metal yard, there can be a lot of material on view, and it is not always easy to determine exactly what is happening on a standard CCTV camera. Simplifying intrusion detection Thermal cameras make it clear where a heat source is and when it moves. They can also display an electronic trail showing where motion has taken place; making detection much easier. In addition, by setting a virtual perimeter on screen, specific areas can be monitored more closely, and an alarm triggered if someone enters it. This perimeter can be altered remotely to meet changing situations, such as the arrival of a greater quantity of metal.With scrap metal prices consistently rising over the past year or two, dealers are increasingly being targeted by unscrupulous elements" Neil Ricketts, Security & Technical Services Director at Trigion, said: “With scrap metal prices consistently rising over the past year or two, dealers are increasingly being targeted by unscrupulous elements intending to cash in. We work with our customers to design the best solution for their individual needs. We’re not tied to any supplier or manufacturer, so can ensure the customer gets what they really need." "In the case of the scrapyard, the thermal imaging gives a much clearer picture of the situation, and staff at our remote monitoring station can ensure the site is secure at all times.”

Among its many uses and benefits, technology is a handy tool in the fantasy world of movie and television thrillers. We all know the scene: a vital plot point depends on having just the right super-duper gadget to locate a suspect or to get past a locked door. In movies and TV, face recognition is more a super power than a technical function. Video footage can be magically enhanced to provide a perfect image of a license plate number. We have all shaken our heads in disbelief, and yet, our industry’s technical capabilities are improving every day. Are we approaching a day when the “enhanced” view of technology in movies and TV is closer to the truth? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How much has the gap closed between the reality of security system capabilities and what you see on TV (or at the movies)?