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IPSS hits the market running

The recent launch of IP Security Solutions by Regal Distribution was specifically to serve the rapidly growing IP based security market. More recently, Johan Crause was appointed as the national GM of IPSS, tasked with growing the company into a national distribution resource for resellers and system integrators.

Johan Crause

While still a division of Regal, IPSS is run as an autonomous company with its own product base and staff. Currently, IPSS has three branches in the country, in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Crause is looking at establishing further branches in Bloemfontein and Pretoria. Each branch will be fully stocked to ensure the region it serves is properly supplied.

“Our goal is to ensure we have substantial stock holding at all times, equal to two months worth of stock for all items on the price list, to ensure we are able to deliver on orders immediately,” notes Crause. “We understand that system integrators need their stock immediately, not in three to four weeks (or longer) as is often the case with many brands today.”

The company will bridge the gap between traditional security operators and the increasing need for IT and networking skills in demand in the security industry today.

To make this a reality, IPSS has already appointed two electronic engineers to look after all the company’s support needs, as well as a permanent specifier. This individual is a permanent staff member who will work with integrators to inspect project sites to ensure the chosen equipment will do the job required as well as produce CAD drawings to aid the installers.

The specifier will walk sites and draw plans for integrators as a free service, helping to commission the site at a fee, if required. An additional two people with IT experience will also be added to the company in the near future.

IP focus

As noted, Crause says IPSS will focus on IP projects, providing the optimal products and skills to support installers and integrators. “With our connection to Regal we can also support those parts of installations that require analogue products; however our focus will primarily be on the IP market.”

To this end, IPSS has retained a limited number of products to distribute, focusing on suppliers that offer high quality products and service that has been proven over time in the market.

Starting with the basic infrastructure all companies require to install IP systems, IPSS offers EtherWAN equipment. EtherWAN is a Taiwanese company founded in 1996. It offers customers a range of switches and products that enable effective IP communications, including the increasingly popular Power-over-Ethernet products.

IPSS also distributes the NUUO range of NVRs (network video recorders) and hybrid products, as well as its Central Management System that is used to manage a broad range of IP and analogue cameras. It also supports various I/O as well as access control devices.

Vicon, a niche American CCTV manufacturer has also appointed IPSS as an exclusive partner in the region. This company has a long history of developing and manufacturing surveillance products, including IP and analogue cameras of all shapes and capabilities. These cameras are managed by the VicoNet Video Management System, which includes the Vicon Virtual matrix Display Controller that focuses network video streams to multiple monitor displays.

Combined with these products IPSS also has a range of IP cameras.

Crause says the reception to IPSS from the market has been positive and the company is experiencing good growth. As the company employs more skilled personnel, he expects even better growth as the IP security market continues to grow exponentially.

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