ABLOY Access Control Accessories

The physical security market continues to experience growth as users look to capitalize on the promises of emerging technologies and because of this, 2017 proved to be a great year for Oncam. In fact, this year was the best year in Oncam's history in terms of sales, as 360-degree fisheye cameras have gone from being a “specialty” camera used only in certain applications to a primary device for enabling total situational awareness. Today, many of our customers leverage 360-degree cameras exclusively to provide extensive coverage inside a facility or in a large outdoor area, with traditional narrow field-of-view cameras used only at “choke” points. Increase In Cybersecurity Threats And Breaches At the end of 2016, we predicted a major trend this year would be an increase in cybersecurity concerns for users of physical security systems, and we were right. An increase in cybersecurity threats and breaches have put organizations on watch. Based on this and the adoption of more IT-centric infrastructure and protocols, there is significant collaboration between IT and physical security, and true “convergence” is finally starting to happen. The adoption of video analytics also continued to increase this year, as most video surveillance projects involved the use of some form of analytics and data analysis. Demand For Safeguards As we move into 2018, the trends of 2017 will roll over, and cybersecurity will continue to be a major issue. Suppliers of hardware and software will put an even greater emphasis being cyber secure and end users will increasingly demand safeguards. Additionally, the deployment and use of advanced analytics based on newer artificial intelligence-based technologies will continue to increase. It will be the technology providers that find ways to allow users to capture additional value from the information collected by security systems that will accelerate growth. Oncam made significant investments in new products that leverage analytics and cloud technologies. In 2018, we will continue to invest in the development of new products, with a focus on solutions for particular applications across industry segments. Beyond our technology advancements, we've invested significantly in boosting our sales force in the Americas and adding industry experts to ensure sustained customer and partner success with our solutions. From our vantage point, Oncam is well positioned to capitalize on opportunities for growth in the coming year.

2017 was quite an interesting and eventful year for the physical security industry. The economy has been robust and technology has become progressively sophisticated—with interactive services, cloud computing and network-based solutions taking charge to provide new insights to installers and their end-user customers. The Internet of Things is creating increasingly integrated solutions, with a heightened emphasis on total connectivity. Changing Security Expectations World events have also put the spotlight on the need for comprehensive security at public events, tourist attractions and schools and campuses. Security is an expectation and systems integrators are becoming trusted advisors to their customers, who are looking to them to solve problems or issues. Residential systems are more robust and now, are migrating to the commercial side of the business. There’s a blurring of the lines of technology—many of the products that come to the security industry originate from the consumer side. This proposition is also changing expectations by both residential and commercial customers, who want common, easy operation from their smartphone or user interface. Unexpected was some of the biggest deals in the industry, including acquisitions by dominant companies who grew even larger and continued ongoing consolidation on the manufacturing side. Those who remain will need to be progressive and step up their game with the latest proven technologies. Selling hardware isn’t the end game any longer. It’s providing solutions that generate revenue for security dealers and offer a solid return on investment for the end-user. In addition, solutions need to be easier for the user, and integrate many different systems and components across the enterprise. Cybersecurity Safeguards End users want to get the most out of their solutions—and they want to be able to have more than safety and security. They are looking for the types of products that yield insights into system performance and give them the data the need for greater control and to proactively address any challenges or problems before they occur. Downtime is not an option and therefore, there’s an increased emphasis on consistent power so solutions are always on and running reliably. For security dealers and integrators, physical security and cybersecurity services will be part of their offerings and no longer separate disciplines Cybersecurity is a dominant conversation in the security industry these days and that buzz will continue into 2018. Because solutions are increasingly network connected, they have vulnerabilities that will have to be addressed by service providers and manufacturers. Manufacturers will need to take the upper hand in providing hardened products—testing and certifying for cybersecurity safeguards. That is not an easy task and can be expensive, but it needs to be done. Because cybersecurity is in constant evolution, many will go the route of outsourcing this component of their manufacturing to third parties well-versed in threat detection and hardening. Hardened products will also need to evolve with new emerging attacks. For security dealers and integrators, physical security and cybersecurity services will be part of their offerings and no longer separate disciplines. Intelligent Access Control Solutions Manufacturers no longer operate in silos. They are working with systems integrators to more fully understand their needs and those of the end-user. Manufacturers are also partnering with technology providers—bringing in the expertise of others so their solutions are comprehensive and holistic. We will continue to see integration of formerly disparate components, open systems and open APIs. There will also be strong migration to access control systems with edge intelligence and power over Ethernet, leveraging existing cabling for network connectivity. The winners will be those who take the lead in providing cyber secured and hardened products, as well as companies who partner with others to bring best of breed solutions to market. The losers will be those who continue to develop proprietary, closed systems and fail to recognize the importance of network connectivity for real-time, proactive reporting. Without networked power, the facility cannot yield the proper insights it needs to stay reliably connected 24/7 Ongoing Partner Success LifeSafety Power® has been working consistently and diligently on elevating the status of power from unintelligent hardware device to network-connected component that yields rich data for the user and allows the installer to provide remote monitoring and managed power services. We have changed the paradigm of power but there’s additional work to do to get people to understand the new, critical role power plays in comprehensive enterprise and campus security. Now, security installers can help the end user know what’s happening with locks, access control, gates or other connected solutions and fix problems before they happen. Without networked power, the facility cannot yield the proper insights it needs to stay reliably connected 24/7. We have also had continued, ongoing successes with our many partners in the access control community and that’s where we will further focus our efforts in 2018—working with leading security solution providers to present the best technologies and solutions that are reliable, certified and present the types of insights security dealers need to offer customers to provide the highest levels of service. This will also help security dealers and integrators differentiate themselves and compete more effectively in the crowded marketplace.

 Part 1 in our Intercoms in Security Series Lambert-St. Louis International Airport uses Code Blue intercoms Organizations are demanding a new level of interoperability among mission-critical security systems. Intelligible audio, the ability to hear, be heard and be understood, is critical to communication, which is essential to the core security processes within an organization, as well as to emergency situations. Intelligible audio provides a platform to optimize various processes, including the use of security officers. “Our main thrust is to ensure our clients see intelligible and interoperable audio, not as an option, but as instrumental to their budget optimization, stakeholder communication and risk mitigation efforts,” says Jim Hoffpauir, President of Zenitel North America, a manufacturer of intercoms and other communications solutions. Iintercoms In Building Safety And Security  The role of intercoms in building safety and security is a given across many markets, and that use is growing. Intercoms are used in campus call boxes, elevators, muster locations, and for emergency notification. The trend is toward video, audio and access control, all tied together. There is also an emphasis on providing intelligible audio in any environment, even demanding ones. The education market has historically been a large sector for intercoms. Emergency phones and intercoms traditionally have been found throughout education settings, including colleges and universities, where they remain quite popular. Expanding Markets For Two-way Communication In recent years, however, their popularity has also grown within the healthcare and mass transit sectors, where their versatility allows authorities to react to emergency situations while also providing a wide range of applications for non-emergency situations, such as car trouble or requests for directions. Intercoms can fulfill a variety of emergency and non-emergency needs in places like downtown Santa Ana, California (Photo courtesy Code Blue) “Markets of all sizes and shapes can benefit from a two-way communication solution that can help individuals place calls for assistance with first responders, police departments or customer service representatives,” says David Fleming, Chief Design Officer for Code Blue Corp. Intercoms For Public And Private Sectors Aiphone is another intercom manufacturer for which education is a big market. Bruce Czerwinski, U.S. General Sales Manager, Aiphone Corp., says about 80 percent of both public and private K-12 and higher education campuses are using at least one intercom in some form. That percentage grows to nearly 100 percent for hospitals, which are using intercoms as nurse-call stations and at parking facilities, exterior door entries, nurseries and pharmacies, he says. "About 40 percent of commercial units – from strip malls to large, multi-tenant campus settings – are using intercoms" Up to 70 percent of larger multi-family facilities are also using intercoms. And that percentage is even higher in older, heavily populated Eastern cities. Many locales have laws mandating the use of audio and video intercoms on buildings beyond a threshold number of units. About 40 percent of commercial units – from strip malls to large, multi-tenant campus settings – are using intercoms, says Czerwinski. In the past year, Aiphone’s emergency stations have become very popular, particularly in campus settings; both commercial and higher education. Also, a growing number of unmanned parking garages are using the stations to allow patrons to immediately reach first responders or security personnel. Each of these markets still has growth potential, but by its sheer size, the commercial market offers the greatest opportunities, according to Aiphone. Video-Enabled IP Intercoms Intercom usage differs widely in various global markets, according to Craig Szmania, CEO of 2N USA, a manufacturer of IP intercoms. In the North American market, intercom usage is relatively low compared to the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, where intercoms are a more mature market. Security, convenience, systems integration and IP-versus-analog adoption are driving usage and growth to more than 20 percent year-over-year. More and more video-enabled IP intercoms are seen as an integral part of a system wide security and video solution, according to Szmania. “Our intercom portfolio targets all the major verticals, but we have had particular success in the education sector – K-12 and universities,” says Szmania. “These end users are looking for specific features in securing their campuses, providing convenience to their administrators, employing programmability for differing use scenarios throughout the campus, and integration to their telephony or other systems.” More and more video-enabled IP intercoms are seen as an integral part of a system wide security and video solution Szmania says the latter point is becoming a particular need in light of a requirement for campus-wide communication and coordination in emergency situations. “Our intercoms integrate seamlessly with third party solutions such as Cisco’s telephone systems that are the communication backbones of many schools and campuses,” he adds. IP-based Solutions In Residential Verticals Considering near-term growth potential, single family and multi-tenant residential verticals have fantastic opportunities for increased usage of door stations/intercoms in the United States, according to Szmania. The company has entered this space over the last several years and has grown to be a market leader in IP-based integrated solutions, especially in the home automation space. The adoption of IP networked solutions for condominiums and apartments is just taking off, driven in part by consumer demand for mobile-anywhere video, audio and door control. The service is also a driver for integrator/dealer adoption of the technology to provide recurring monthly revenue (RMR). 2N has also achieved triple-digit growth in commercial building installations over the past two years. Building owners, IT departments and security managers want and need a networked solution for control and security. 2N’s open platforms are a good fit, says Szmania. Read part 2 of our Security Intercoms series here

RemoteLock, the provider of universal access control, announces that it has expanded the number of August and Yale locks that are supported on its platform to include Wi-Fi-enabled August smart locks and the line of Yale Assure Locks with Wi-Fi. RemoteLock customers can now leverage RemoteLock to manage these locks in large scale installations, gaining greater efficiencies by administering access to every lock from a single dashboard. The expanded partnership is expected to provide new access control technology avenues across many commercial applications, particularly in the multi-family market. Wireless smart locks RemoteLock’s universal access control platform allows multi-family property managers to remotely control access for renters, guests, employees and contractors—saving time and money. RemoteLock provides property managers and owners ultimate flexibility—the ability to control any door, using various credential types, with locks from many manufacturers—all from one dashboard. RemoteLock already supports many Yale and August Z-Wave wireless smart locks RemoteLock already supports many Yale and August Z-Wave wireless smart locks that are part of the ASSA ABLOY family of smart lock solutions. “The multi-family market faces unique challenges—from managing access to any space on a single property or entire portfolio, to the growing need for contactless access control solutions. Broadening the partnership between RemoteLock and August and Yale allows us to elevate the features of their locks into large scale applications, such as multi-family, to help solve even more of those challenges for property managers,” said Nolan Mondrow, CEO of RemoteLock. Larger scale applications “With 180 years of experience in home security, we’re glad to bring our trusted smart locks not only to individual homes, but also multi-family housing and commercial properties,” said Jason Williams, President of Smart Residential U.S., ASSA ABLOY, parent company of August and Yale. “By expanding our integrations with multi-family housing platforms like RemoteLock, we’re committed to increasing our presence in the market and bringing trusted security and access convenience to property managers of multi-family homes and larger scale applications everywhere.”

Already established as a renowned provider of high-quality door closers, UNION has further strengthened its range with the launch of three dynamic new solutions. Innovative and properly certified, the three new door closers all bring incredible value to the market, by solving a number of critical challenges faced by installers to meet the needs of their customers. With the launch of the CE26V, SC-CE3F and CE4F-E, UNION now meets almost every door closer requirement - whether for light or heavy closing, concealed closing, or the ability to choose between hold-open and free-swing settings. With the new SC-CE3F door closer, style comes to the fore. A concealed solution, it helps maintain the aesthetics of an environment by being hidden from view. Residential and commercial applications This allows buildings to benefit from the advantages of a fixed power size 3 door closer without compromising on aesthetics, making the SC-CE3F the perfect choice for high-end residential and commercial applications. Its concealed nature also protects it from vandalism, particularly in spaces such as university halls of residence, where this can be a problem. The new CE26V rack and pinion door closer is an easy-to-fit solution that can be set to any power size between 2 and 6 Compliant with the demands of BS 8300 for creating an inclusive environment, the SC-CE3F is also more compact than comparable products, reducing the amount of material needed to be removed from the door leaf. The new CE26V rack and pinion door closer is an easy-to-fit solution that can be set to any power size between 2 and 6, in line with the EN 1154 standard governing the requirements of controlled door closing devices. Providing assured protection As a result, the CE26V offers outstanding flexibility, making it suitable for anything from lighter doors of 20kg to heavier doors up to 120kg. The CE26V ensures it is possible to meet almost any EN power size demands from a single product. Due to this flexibility, it’s ideally suited for new projects or retrofit applications. The CE26V is also CE and Certifire tested for 120 minutes on timber doors in all three fixing positions, providing assured protection in the event of a fire. The new CE4F-E electromagnetic door closer is a dual-function solution that can be set to one of two modes: hold-open or free swing. When in hold-open mode, the CE4F-E allows people to walk through the doorway without opening the door, offering the ultimate barrier-free solution. This makes it ideal for hospitals, hotels, theatres and other high-traffic public areas. Smoke alarm system The CE4F-E complies with the demands of BS EN 1155 by connecting to a building’s fire or smoke alarm system By removing the need for physical contact, it also reduces the spread of germs - a consideration that is increasingly in demand following the outbreak of COVID-19. Alternatively, in free-swing mode, the door operates as though no closer is fitted. This allows the door to swing freely with little force required to open it; suitable for the needs of residential bedroom doors in care homes, for example. Both modes provide assured fire safety, should an incident arise. The CE4F-E complies with the demands of BS EN 1155 by connecting to a building’s fire or smoke alarm system. In the event of a fire, power is cut to the unit, allowing it to automatically close and stop the spread of fire and smoke. Fire alarm sounds “We’re extremely excited to have launched the CE26V, SC-CE3F and CE4F-E door closers, which strengthen our range and allow us to offer a comprehensive offering that meets all door closer needs,” comments Richard Wilson, Product Category Manager at UNION. “Whether you’re after versatility in terms of door weight, concealment for aesthetic reasons, or the choice between hold-open and free-swing, UNION has got you covered." "The new solutions join other tried and trusted UNION products, to ensure you can turn to us whatever your door closer needs might be. This includes Door Sense, a safe, simple and legal retrofit device that holds fire doors open but automatically closes if a fire alarm sounds, and Retro V, an easy way of replacing old door closers without risking a fire door’s certification.”

With the ever-changing post coronavirus (COVID-19) world, the ability to communicate virtually has never been more important. This is why ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland is improving its customer experience with the launch of the ASSA ABLOY Customer Support app. ASSA ABLOY Customer Support app Free to download on Apple and Android mobile devices, the app enables customers to quickly and conveniently contact the right customer service team within ASSA ABLOY in the UK. The app provides customers with remote technical product support via live streaming, alongside instant access to useful product resources. Its Door Hardware Group division will be the first to go live on the new app, enabling customers to contact all its renowned brands from one place. This includes UNION, ASSA, Dale Hardware, Excel Architectural Hardware, Exidor, Trimec, Adams Rite, and Securitron. Remote diagnosis and issue resolution Once downloaded, customers can use the app to directly contact the right department via phone, email or the new live chat and video call features. Additionally, they can find a direct link to the technical support team, who can offer remote diagnosis and issue resolution using the new live stream contact option. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, getting out to site and supporting has been a challenge. However, the app helps overcome this with its live video stream option, which allows issues to be resolved fast and effectively. Navigating ASSA ABLOY products To help customers navigate ASSA ABLOY’s broad range of products, the company has created a resource center that provides customers with direct access to technical product information and certifications, all in one place, at the touch of button. Support hours are shown within the app, depending on device location, and email options are offered if out-of-hours support is required. Customers can also take a photo using their phone and attach it to emails for easier troubleshooting. Remote contact and support Enabling remote contact is vital in providing our customers with quick and effective information" Jesse James, Financial and Commercial Director of the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group, said “Improving our customers’ experience is paramount to our business, especially in these challenging times. Enabling remote contact is vital in providing our customers with quick and effective information, and has improved our customer experience through the launch of our app.” Jesse adds, “We continue to be committed to providing easier and more flexible ways to contact our business, receive technical product support, and for our customers to locate resources.” Easy-to-use and intuitive app Jesse further stated, "The new app is easy-to-use and intuitive, ensuring our customers have access to fast responses in real-time. Having the flexibility to choose how to contact our customer service teams, and for us to be able to quickly support customers on site with technical support is vitally important. The ASSA ABLOY Customer Support app allows customers to have everything they need in one place, and wherever they go.”