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Reditron releases Smoke Cannon

Reditron has launched the Danish-built Protect Smoke Cannon - an intrusion product that releases smoke to foil would be thieves - to the local market.

According to Reditron managing director, John Loftus, the technology stops an intruder in less than 20 seconds and, if utilised extensively by South African companies and families, should go a long way to minimise property loss and possibly reduce insurance premiums.

"Driving off burglars in the first few seconds has to be an office's, business's or home's best protection. But conventional burglar alarms do not stop the thief - they may activate a siren and send a signal to security staff, which will then arrive at the scene after a while," Loftus says.

"Similarly with CCTV cameras; the security personnel monitoring the images will spot the intruder and send a team to apprehend him or her. Chances are - in both instances - the thief and booty will be gone before the team arrives on the scene.

"The Smoke Cannon is built to integrate with existing electronic protection systems and deal with the shortcomings of conventional systems.

"Within seconds of activation, it goes to work, filling the location with dense clouds of startling but harmless smoke. Denied visibility, would-be thieves become instantly disoriented and flee the way they got in. And, as they cannot steal what they cannot see, they leave empty-handed."

The Protect system releases what is known as 'dry' smoke. It is produced by mixing water and glycol, which is then forced through a heating element that transforms it into 'dry' and harmless smoke. The principle has been used for the past 30 years in theatre smoke machines around the world and is also a familiar feature in discos. Smoke can remain suspended in the air for more than an hour, but 20 minutes' airing is sufficient to clear the room.

The system has low running costs and can be activated several times before its glycol store needs to be replenished, it uses less electricity than a conventional light bulb, features a built-in battery back-up system to protect against short circuits and vandalism, and can be connected to all existing alarm systems.

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