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MST to set the standard

Mustek, a traditional IT distributor has been selling security equipment for some time through its MST division. The company’s GM of special projects Peter Bouwer recently invited Hi-Tech Security Solutions to see the latest technologies the company has on offer, as well as what it is doing to differentiate itself from other security distributors in the South African market.

Far from setting itself up as a box dropper, Bouwer says the goal of MST is to offer end users, through its channel partners, a full solution. It has therefore built up a range of high-level products, from access control to surveillance and storage solutions, and retained the services of a range of highly skilled personnel. Doing this enables MST to offer services ranging from the design and architecting of security solutions of any size, project management, implementation assistance as well as the skills to support and maintain installations for the long term – including warranty support and repairs.

Bouwer notes that security installations are not only about security today. Mustek will also be able to advise customers on matters of health and safety, and will be able to ensure its partners meet the legal requirements and to assist in ensuring all installations are of the required standards.

Bouwer takes pains to note that the company will not bypass its channel. The skills and products it has will be used in support of its channel partners. And with a large warehouse and repair centre, as well as the largest production line in the southern hemisphere, Mustek is set to be a force to be reckoned with in the security distribution and services market.

Products available

The products MST has on board include a range of brands designed for quality as well as the ability to integrate with other products in high-end installations. These include:

* Mobotix, JVC, Grundig, Toshiba and Dedicated Micros in the surveillance sector,

* Access control products include CEM, from Tyco, as well as Virdi,

* Storage and servers on offer are Mecer, Mustek’s own brand, as well as Pivot3, NEC and Huawei,

* Networking solutions can be fulfilled by products from Huawei and D-Link, and

* A range of display solutions are also on offer from individual screens through to video walls.

MST has also signed an exclusive agreement with a company focused on facial biometrics. While technologies in this space have a somewhat jaded reputation, MST has found a product that delivers a recognition accuracy of over 99%.

The solution is currently being tested and is on display at Mustek’s Midrand office. It quickly recognises still images when compared to a database and has the ability to accurately recognise pictures, even if the individual has grown or removed facial hair, or has aged. In one example, an individual’s image was matched to a picture in the database taken some 20 years ago.

Of course, facial recognition is severely limited if the solution cannot handle recognition tasks from streaming video, either live or recorded. Mustek has set up a 2-megapixel camera at its entrance and the system recognises people as they walk through the reception area – as long as they are on the database. The recognition is done quickly and accurately, and raises an alarm when someone is recognised. The same can be done on recorded video using the software system.

The product will be launched at IFSEC SA.

Giving analogue a new life

Another interesting product is from Grundig. While Grundig is not well known in South Africa for its CCTV systems, this is likely to change when the market hears of its new HD-SDI CCTV solution.

MST’s Sergio Pedregal demonstrated the Grundig cameras that enhance analogue installations with HD-SDI technology. This provides high-definition video images over coaxial cable. The benefit to installers with years of analogue skills is that this high quality video solution uses the same simple installation method as traditional analogue systems and therefore does not require expert IT support.

Grundig’s CEO, Ludwig Bergschneider, explains, “Grundig’s HD-SDI products operate at 1080p progressive scan, 1980 x 1080 pixel resolution and 50/60 fps. This compares to D1 resolution at 720 x 576 pixels and IP megapixel cameras at 1280 x 1024 pixels. The recorders support 120 fps and offer up to 64 TB of storage.”

Unlike IP CCTV, HD-SDI uses no compression, so image quality is optimised. It even enables installers to offer a digital upgrade to analogue systems, re-using the existing coaxial cable infrastructure to save money.”

For hybrid installations, the HD-SDI CCTV system from Grundig can be connected to an IP network for remote access, DVR software updates, remote maintenance or multi-site control and management, but the link between the DVR and camera is coaxial cable.

Visitors to IFSEC SA in June will be able to see Mustek on show at the NEC display in Hall 2, Stand HL15.

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