The first in a series of Most Influential features, this month Hi-Tech Security Solutions publishes its list of 10 of the Most Influential players in the security industry, from an access control point of view. The following list of 10 vendors (and the best of the rest) is not chosen according to revenue, market share, market capitalisation or any other financial metric, nor on specific market focus (ie pure play access control (such as Impro), or a more broad-based focus (such as ASSA ABLOY).
The following are subjective choices, and the list is an alphabetical one devoid of ranking. It includes companies local and international. Large and small. Niche (focused) and broad-based (end-to-end solutions). If you do not agree with our choices, or think we have missed some-one important and influential, do let us know. We would value your feedback.
Gallagher Security Management Systems, Cardax
Gallagher Security Management Systems, a division of the Gallagher Group, is a privately-owned New Zealand-based company which manufactures and markets Cardax access control systems, PowerFence perimeter security systems, and ReaDX proximity readers. Established in 1938, the Group is the operating company for an integrated international organisation, which encompasses the development, manufacturing, and marketing of its solutions. Gallagher Group is a well-established global business group with distributors located in over 100 countries across Europe, North and South America, Asia, the Pacific, and of course Africa, including South Africa.
Its premier access control solution, Cardax FT, meets the needs of small single sites, through to large multinational enterprise-wide installations, residing on an organisation's IT network and storing (realtime) information about cardholders, the site, and system activity. Cardax FT can be integrated with other systems, for both security aspects (ie, DVR systems) or management (ie, facilities management, HR systems or SAP). PowerFence systems are advanced perimeter security solutions that provide an active deterrent to any would-be intruder, and detect attempts to breach the security PowerFence. Systems range from simple solutions for domestic applications to high-end systems designed to meet the rigorous requirements of high-risk security installations, for example, power and fuel utility sites, military installations, and prisons.
It is this tried and trusted combination of solutions that provides Gallagher Security Management Systems with its competitive edge.
GSC Systems
Located in Cape Town, GSC Systems is a private company specialising in access control, time recording and RFID identification systems. Founded in 1989, through acquisition of a well established card access and information company, GSC Systems has steadily expanded its access control product range over the years. Products include simple standalone programmable readers, medium sized systems for up to 20 readers and large systems supporting up to 1000 card readers. MS-DOS and Windows-based software provides user-friendly implementation of access control, time recording and time analysis and management for both on-line and off-line applications. GSC boasts a range of card readers (incl OEM readers) covering magnetic, bar code, and proximity card readers. All card technologies use GSC proprietary methods of data encoding that ensure a high degree of system security. The company also offers a cost-effective range of programmable standalone readers for proximity, magnetic and bar code cards as well as for standard credit cards.
GSC's range includes other products to supplement its card systems, such as its 128 channel alarm monitor, booth magnetic lock controllers, 24 channel loop monitor and mimic panel interface, weatherproof housings and various specialised power supplies. GSC also claims to offer customisation of its software products to customers' requirements, as well as undertaking special software development projects.
Honeywell
Since its introduction into the South African industry in the early '60s via the R.H. Harris franchise, Honeywell has played a major role in the development of the resources of South Africa. Honeywell was established in South Africa in 1969, initially dealing with automation and control components, but subsequently becoming a major supplier to the process control industry especially in the unique oil-from-coal industry. In 1986 the business interests of Honeywell were sold to a South African company, Murray and Roberts, and Martech Controls was formed, until, in 1993 the Martech Control Business was re-acquired by Honeywell. A wholly owned subsidiary, Honeywell Southern Africa was established with responsibility for the marketing and support of all Honeywell process control systems and products in sub-Saharan Africa.
Honeywell Security, a division of the larger conglomerate that is its parent, is an international supplier and distributor of electronic security systems and solutions. The Access Systems component of the business offers end-to-end access control solutions - from simple two door systems to mid-size applications. These solutions include control panels/hardware, visitor management systems, (to register, badge, track and manage a facility's visitor traffic), single door controllers (proximity reader and control system integrated into one small unit), professional ID card printers and a range of access control readers ranging from proximity, Wiegand, keypad, magnetic stripe, bar code and biometric readers.
Honeywell's global clout and brand stands it in good stead in the South African security market. A caveat is the recent introduction of ADI International South Africa which, while it has the potential to transform the security technology distribution channel in South Africa, may also serve to level the playing fields, allowing global and local brands to compete for the buyer's attention in new and intriguing ways.
Impro Technologies
Impro Technologies designs and manufactures a complete range of proximity access control systems from single door standalone to multisite enterprise solutions, incorporating RFID, integrated CCTV, time and attendance applications, digital video recording and biometrics. Founded and incorporated in 1987 to serve the South African market, Impro has since transformed itself from a small manufacturing operation into an international innovator in the design and manufacture of proximity access control systems. Today, Impro Technologies exports to over 50 countries worldwide. The company's focus on technical quality has seen its products being awarded the EIF and TOMA awards, and its products meet SABS and European CE standards as well as recognised British, European, American and German manufacturing marks.
In-house research and development focused on its core competence in proximity reader technology has led to Impro customising its security systems for use in domestic, commercial, mining, institutional and agricultural applications. Products range from single door access units using passive transponders to active, long range scanners and asset management and identification systems.
The company's success is perhaps best illustrated by its numerous export and innovation awards (including the Sunday Tribune/Coopers Lybrand Small to Medium Business Exporter of the Year, the President's Award for Export Achievement, a number of Technology Top 100 accolades and a TOMA Award for Outstanding Manufacturing, amongst others).
With more than 10 000 sites worldwide, clearly Impro is a major South African success story.
Johnson Controls, Cardkey
Johnson Controls, founded in 1885 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (US), is a truly global company focused on facility management and building control systems. For nonresidential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Its sales for 2004 totalled $25,4 billion, and financial fiscal 2004 was the 58th consecutive year of sales increases, the 14th consecutive year of earnings increases and the 29th successive year of dividend increases (dividends having been paid consecutively since 1887). The company employs approximately 118 000 people worldwide.
In the context of access control, with Johnson Controls' recent hardware and software enhancements to its Metasys building management system, it is now able to offer a broader family of network automation engines aimed at reducing the cost of integration to BACnet, LonWorks, current and legacy Johnson Controls systems. In addition, the integration of Metasys with Cardkey's PEGASYS 2000 represents the synthesis of two industry leading products. Operating together, the two systems can justifiably claim to be the forerunners of a smart building infrastructure that provides a maximum of flexibility while reducing long-term cost of ownership. Johnson Controls in South Africa is perhaps best known for its top-notch project management skills, encompassing the many and varied elements involved in facilities management.
Lenel Systems
Lenel Systems International, headquartered in Rochester, New York (US), is a leading provider of software and integrated systems for the corporate and government security markets. Founded in 1991, Lenel launched its OnGuard security product line in 1995. Building upon the company's previous experience in multimedia software development, Lenel swiftly moved to a leadership position in utilising technology to most effectively protect an organisation's people, property and assets.
Information technology and networking are critically important to today's corporate infrastructure. Lenel's products are grounded in IT standards, and Lenel's orientation as a software developer has enabled it to be embraced by the IT community. By utilising the latest software industry practices and standards in the development of its applications, Lenel's pioneering efforts have brought the power of leading-edge technology and the flexibility of open systems architecture to an historically proprietary security market. This is surely its major competitive advantage, and it is likely that we will see more such solutions based on this open systems, open standards philosophy.
The company's vision is to build Total Security Knowledge Management Solutions by seamlessly integrating synergistic technologies in an open architecture environment. The Lenel OnGuard integrated solution offers an all-encompassing security environment for multiserver enterprise system topology, central server systems, and mobile enterprise systems; supporting applications for access control, alarm monitoring, ID management, physical asset management, digital video surveillance, recording/archive management, smartcard, biometrics and visitor management functions. Lenel has a well-established partnership with the world's leading system integrators, who install and maintain Lenel products for more than 10 000 customers in over 50 countries on six continents throughout the world.
Lenel's extraordinary financial metrics provide it with a singularly stable and viable growth model. This is illustrated by the company's inclusion for each of the past three years on both the Inc. 500 and the Deloitte & Touche/Forbes Technology Fast 500 lists, which rank the fastest growing corporations in the US. In addition, Lenel has ranked among the top 10 Rochester-based fast track companies for the past three years, and has received industry awards for technological innovation.
SACO Systems
SACO Systems is a large and stable supplier of asset tracking (SACO-Track), time and attendance (SACO-Time) and access control (SACO-Access) system solutions with optional CCTV and alarm monitoring functionality (SACO-Monitor). A member of the Reunert Group, the largest electrical and electronics holding company in South Africa, SACO was established in 1976 to address the problem of finding a solution to access control and time and attendance in the huge South African mining industry. Initially providing the mines with access control, time and attendance records, SACO has continued to develop and upgrade its systems as computer hardware, software and other technologies matured. Today, the SACO System is used by more than 300 companies worldwide.
SACO Systems with its unique blend of South African engineering innovation in hardware and software intends to remain at the forefront of resource management systems in which virtually the complete solution has been designed and developed in-house.
Siemens
Siemens Building Technologies provides a complete offering of technical infrastructure for security, comfort and efficiency in buildings. Market security requirements have been recently developing from the traditional protection of human life and property toward securing entire business processes. In this context, electronic systems, total solutions and services are gaining in importance and need to be integrated in overriding business processes such as IT or building management. Siemens, as a global multinational company is well positioned to provide sophisticated integrated solutions to specific market segments extending from risk consulting through the design and assembly of systems and the related maintenance service to the operation of alarm control centres and the outsourcing of customer-related control/time security processes. Siemens security systems cover the entire spectrum of security from access recording, biometric systems, scanning and detection (person scanning and scanning of goods, luggage and containers), ID cards, intrusion detection and alarm management, video surveillance, danger management system, notification/communications systems, IT security, communications security, and more.
Softcon
Software Control Services, trading as Softcon, with offices in Pretoria and Cape Town, is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of electronic and software products, mainly for access and asset control, vending, point of sale (POS) and building management markets. Softcon products are installed in more than 29 countries, in over 2500 sites (more than 1700 being PC-based on-line systems), with more than 22 000 controllers in the field. Distributors of Softcon products are in Australia, France, Namibia, South Africa, UK, Netherlands and Zimbabwe. Hardware products are all primarily microprocessor-based, ranging from small standalone readers, to single and multidoor access controllers, input/output (I/O) controllers of various sizes, mimic and terminal drivers, vending machine controllers and cash loading units. A variety of communication drivers/converters are produced to fulfil installation requirements. These include fibre-optic converters (for both multi- or single-mode fibre), RS232/RS422, Wiegand/RS422 and serial/Wiegand/data clock/touch. Softcon products are CE and UL compliant.
The company also develops PC-based software products for access control, asset management, building management systems, vending control, POS and identity (ID) card design/manufacture, primarily for Windows environments.
Stanley Security, Blick SA
Blick SA has been active in the South African time management, access control and communication for 55 markets years, primarily based on products developed and manufactured locally, acquired through its parent company, Stanley Security Solutions, or obtained through strategic partnerships with key suppliers internationally. This unique spread of solutions enables Blick to offer a complete, integrated product range, backed up by comprehensive installation, service and support packages. And with an installed base of more than 16 000 sites throughout South Africa, Blick SA can lay claim to being perhaps the largest access control and time management specialist in the region. Its client base ranges from the top 100 corporations (including global multinationals and blue-chip companies) to micro industries.
Recently incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Stanley Security Solutions, a global security company with an annual turnover of US$3,1 billion, Blick SA, now has access to more than 50 000 products from Stanley Security Solutions owned businesses and strategic partners, as diverse as custom architectural entrance systems, integrated security solutions, digital video recording and monitoring technologies, panic and fire exit hardware, physical security products and services, medium and high security locks and locking systems, automated doors and more. Whether these become increasingly available to South African markets will of course depend on market and customer requirements. But what will not change is Blick's focus on the fundamentals of its success, namely software development, time and attendance, security and access control, onsite communications and integrated solutions.
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