Security access systems

Unlimited Technology is proud to announce that John Palumbo has been appointed President, effective immediately. As President, John will have responsibility for all the company’s operating units. He will report directly to Chairman Richard Rockwell. John is the former Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Unlimited and has a track record of consistent success in many different roles with the company including Sales, Strategic Planning, Project Management, Cost Control, Project Executive and integration in North America. Convergence of cyber and physical security "John is a competitive and energetic leader who is known for inspiring teams, operationalizing plans and mobilizing organizations to deliver business results," said Richard Rockwell PSB.com Chairman of the Board. "He understands the challenges and opportunities that exist within the U.S. and global market and he has the right mix of strategic vision, people leadership and grit to ignite future growth for Unlimited Technology, Inc." As Sr. Vice President of Sales, John surpassed all targets on volume, revenue, profit and market share while accomplishing year-over-year improvements in employee engagement. John envisions an increased focus on the convergence of cyber and health awareness on physical security related devices in the immediate future while maintaining Unlimited’s long standing history of ensuring excellent service to our clients.

ASSA ABLOY Electronic Security Hardware announced the launch of the Securitron AQ Series Power Supplies, one of the most flexible, scalable solutions available, to protect and enhance the performance of any access control device or system. Available in one to 16 Amp variants to support the smallest single door systems to the largest enterprise access control systems, customers can use any combination of the seven power supplies and nine distribution boards in any UL listed enclosure and maintain UL certification. Improved Efficiency  “It’s vital to pair access control devices with the correct power supply to ensure optimal performance and power,” said David Corbin, Director of Access Control Accessories, ASSA ABLOY Electronic Security Hardware. “The new AQ Series was designed with improved efficiency to reduce operating costs and extend the lifespan of electronics. The ability to mix and match power supplies and distribution boards while maintaining UL certifications was also very important in offering customers the flexibility to scale solutions while maintaining code compliance.” The new Securitron AQ Series Power Supplies provide better-than-linear performance, with features that include: The Securitron AQ Series Power Supplies are the best choice for customers looking to improve the security of their access control systems Combining any of the seven power supplies and nine distribution boards in any UL listed enclosure and maintaining UL code compliance Dual and single voltage options ranging from one to 16 Amps with up to 16 outputs Up to 93% efficiency Thermal shutdown protection with auto restart Integrated or dedicated battery charging circuit to prevent overvoltage on locking devices Enhancing Access Control Systems’ Security With ASSA ABLOY support teams available, and the MagnaCare no-fault, no questions asked lifetime warranty, the Securitron AQ Series Power Supplies are now the best choice for customers looking to improve the performance, reliability and security of their access control systems. ASSA ABLOY offers a range of support and expertise including online resources and personnel, like David Corbin, who are available to further discuss the technologies and solutions offered.

Convergint Technologies has announced the acquisition of New Jersey-based Access Control Technologies (ACT), bringing further electronic security systems experience to Convergint's deep breadth of service capabilities. Convergint Controls ACT’s Security Solutions Headquartered in Clifton, NJ, ACT provides integrated security solutions involving access control, video surveillance, identity management and alarm monitoring to over 1,000 customers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania. All 38 ACT colleagues, including leaders Joe Liguori and Remo Cinquino, will be joining Convergint. ACT's leadership and service-oriented focus are exactly what we look for when evaluating whether an organization is a cultural fit for Convergint Nation" "ACT's leadership and service-oriented focus are exactly what we look for when evaluating whether an organization is a cultural fit for Convergint Nation," said Ken Lochiatto, CEO of Convergint Technologies. "We know our customers will benefit greatly from their professionalism and expertise, and we welcome them to Convergint." Strategic Growth Structure Convergint has strategically grown its service footprint across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific through strong organic growth and the completion of 18 acquisitions since early 2016. Convergint's growth strategy is driven by its company mission of being its customers' best service provider. It seeks out companies whose service-first culture mirror its own, as is the case with ACT. "Our two organizations possess a strong alignment of strategic philosophies with respect to customer satisfaction," said Joe Liguori, Senior Managing Partner of ACT. "Making the decision to join Convergint was an easy one. We look forward to the prospect of being a part of Convergint Technologies' growth and adding to their capabilities."

The Bird Home Automation Group, manufacturer of DoorBird IP video intercoms, and the PropTech company KIWI.KI GmbH announced their collaboration today. The DoorBird D301, the IP Upgrade for analog door intercoms, is now compatible with the KIWI locking system. Analogue To App-Based Door Intercoms The companies have partnered to create an integration solution ideal for businesses requiring the ability to access clients’ residences to perform contracted services. Businesses providing home and elder care as well as cleaning and grounds keeping services can now flexibly manage and open authorized doors using the KIWI keyless access control platform. The DoorBird D301 enables tenants in apartment buildings to convert their existing analog door intercoms into app-based, smart door intercoms. When a visitor rings at the entrance door, the user receives a push notification on their smart device. The user can then speak with the visitor and open the house or apartment door using the DoorBird App. This allows for secure keyless access to the entrance area of the apartment building and, optionally, to the apartment. The KIWI transponder, app, and portal allow users to open doors and manage access privileges digitally Digital Locking System With KIWI doors can also be opened keylessly. The PropTech (Property Technology) company offers a digital locking system for doors of apartment buildings. The KIWI transponder, app, and portal allow users to open doors and manage access privileges digitally. This way, KIWI digitises key management for the housing industry and, moreover, serves as a platform for services that require access to buildings and apartments, such as parcel services or garbage collection companies. IP Door Intercoms “The integration of DoorBird into the KIWI platform benefits businesses providing home and elder care in particular, as they can now manage and open house and apartment doors easily. This new branch of business strengthens our market position as the leading manufacturer of IP door intercoms and smart upgrades for analog doorbells with the widest variety of compatibility options,” says Sascha Keller, CEO of the Bird Home Automation Group. “With DoorBird we can expand our product portfolio, offering our customers even more flexible use of KIWI. We are especially pleased that DoorBird is a technology company based in Berlin, just like KIWI,” says KIWI co-founder and Executive Director Claudia Nagel explaining her reasons for the cooperation.

The cloud is an enabling technology that brings new opportunity to security dealers and integrators and a way to provide popular services to customers in every market vertical. A seamless integration between Bosch B and G Series Control Panels and Connect ONE by Connected Technologies LLC makes it simple for dealers to add intrusion detection and access control services from a single panel while using one interface to manage every customer. Bosch-Connected Tech Integration “We’re excited to be working with Connected Technologies to offer this service to our dealers, whose feedback has been extremely positive as they continue to add customers,” said Tom Mechler, Regional Marketing Manager for Bosch. “This integration provides a complete intrusion and access control service along with mobile credentialing.” Mike Simon, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Connected Technologies said Connect ONE enhances the Bosch panels, which are great platforms for dealers to offer value add services and increase their monthly recurring revenue streams. The integration between Bosch panels and Connect ONE allows dealers to customize services that meet their business goals and customer’s needs" Bosch Panels And Connect ONE “The integration between Bosch panels and Connect ONE allows dealers to customize services that meet their business goals and customer’s needs—from residential to both small and large commercial projects,” said Simon. “It’s a complete, robust platform for intrusion and access control, with no need for a separate access control panel or hardware. Given the industry’s ongoing challenge in finding skilled technicians, it also allows dealers to standardize with Bosch panels, which is extremely important for training and inventory control.” Remote Connect Cloud Service Connect ONE also works in conjunction with the Remote Connect Cloud Service from Bosch, offering cloud-based connectivity to its B and G Series intrusion panels for remote programming and end-user app connectivity. This capability makes it easier to connect and program control panels without extensive IT experience or dedicated IT personnel. Remote Connect Cloud Service eliminates the need to change customer router settings, incoming firewall rules or use Domain Name Service (DNS) to access the systems remotely. Connect One customers can easily add and delete codes and multiple locations can be seamlessly managed, viewed and controlled all simultaneously on one screen.

Senstar announced that Senstar Symphony (formerly Aimetis Symphony) has received Lenel factory certification and joined the Lenel OpenAccess Alliance Program (OAAP). Senstar Symphony interfaces with the OnGuard access control system, providing customers with an enhanced platform for security monitoring. Access Control Verification “Senstar has completed required factory testing at Lenel to validate the functionality of its interface to the OnGuard system. Symphony allows users to verify access control events directly through the operator client,” said John Marchioli, OAAP product management, Lenel. “We look forward to their continued involvement in the Lenel OpenAccess Alliance Program.” “Users can easily video-verify their OnGuard access control events inside Symphony, allowing them to use one interface for all of their security monitoring,” said Justin Schorn, vice-president, product management at Senstar.  Senstar Symphony Symphony is a software platform that allows control of an entire video surveillance system from one central location. Users can connect and configure cameras, monitor open spaces, utilize video analytics and use centralized cloud management for multi-site deployments. Senstar acquired Aimetis, the creator of Symphony, in April 2016. Since that time, the two companies have worked in parallel to continue to provide advanced perimeter intrusion detection systems, video management systems and analytics solutions. Over the coming months, Senstar and Aimetis will become one company, resulting in reduced complexity, improved performance and unified support.

Traka has been specified at a main UK international Airport to deliver bespoke solutions for the safe management of replica improvised explosive devices (IEDs), alongside intelligent key management systems. The UK airport, which cannot be named for security reasons, uses replica IEDs for training purposes across its security network, to ensure correct procedures are being followed in the unfortunate event of a real threat. Security Management Using Replica IEDs The importance of secure management of replica IEDs is integral, with recent well-publicized events having shown the major disruption caused by any unaccounted items, including an abandonment of the last game of the season for Manchester United in 2016. Traka, which already provides the airport with essential intelligent key management units, created a bespoke management locker solution for the safe storage of replica IEDs on site, to ensure they could only be operated by authorized personnel. The units present audit control capability and reporting on an instant basis with any units that do not get returned being instantly accountable. To have any replica IED device unaccounted for would have serious security implications for the Airport as a whole" Intelligent Key Management Says a Security Manager at the Airport, “To have any replica IED device unaccounted for would have serious security implications for the Airport as a whole, with a real possibility of closure and consequential mass disruption.” “With increasing numbers of passengers and noted global security threats, we cannot afford to take the risk and knew Traka could be called upon as the experts to provide a solution. The lockers not only provide an extra security dimension, but also ensure the smooth running of the Airport security.  They enhance our training objectives as the audit control capability allows replica IEDs to be used across terminal staff, safe in the knowledge they will always be accounted for and returned.” The lockers support the Airport’s use of Traka solutions for intelligent key management Asset And Vehicle Tracking The lockers support the Airport’s use of Traka solutions for intelligent key management for security and engineering keys, alongside asset and vehicle control. Ben Farrar, Traka Market Development Manager added, “It is the focus of every Airport to deliver the best possible experience for passengers, while ensuring their absolute safety and security at all times. And in doing so, ensure staff can present all processes in a smooth and stress-free environment.” “Traka’s provision of bespoke locker solutions for the safekeeping of replica IEDs, alongside our intelligent key management systems as used by this Airport may only seem like smaller details in a complex security matrix. But they work together for the benefit of security teams to ensure effective management and automation, decreasing the likelihood of causing delays and disrupting the airport flow unnecessarily.”

One of Fortaleza's largest hotels, the Gran Marquise Hotel, which hosts thousands of people each year and holds hundreds of events, has reinvented itself and converted analog technology to IP surveillance. Upon project completion, it is expected that the Gran Marquise will have 250 VIVOTEK network cameras installed, integrated and linked with all other hotel devices under Genetec’s cloud-based video-surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS) solution, Stratocast. About Gran Marquise The Gran Marquise is a five-star hotel of 18 thousand square meters located on the seafront of Fortaleza (Ceará). With a 23 year history, the hotel has a large infrastructure of 230 apartments ranging in size from 29 to 131 square meters, two presidential suites and 21 floors in total, of which 14 are dedicated to guest rooms 7 are retained for events, recreation and administration. The Gran Marquise realised that its security system needed to be renewed It is one of the most in-demand destinations among national and international authorities, artists and athletes, such as Bill Clinton, former president of the United States, Vladimir Putin, current president of Russia, singer Paul McCartney, rapper Snoop Dogg, as well as the fighters of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In addition, the Gran Marquise was the first hotel in Brazil to achieve the ISO 22000, certificate that ensures adherence to extremely high standards of food quality and safety. Unified Security And Operations The Gran Marquise realised that its security system needed to be renewed. The hotel had 500 analog cameras and 22 digital video recorders installed – an extensive system, but one which only provided low-quality images and demanded heavy workload when it was necessary to locate and retrieve footage of a recorded event. "We looked at the hotel and realised that we had good internet, excellent rooms, perfect service, but if a customer asked for footage from security cameras, the only thing we could offer were noisy images," said Jussieudo Gomes, Security and Information Technology Division chief of the Hotel Grand Marquise Fortaleza. To solve this dilemma and improve the management and security of the hotel, a plan was formulated to develop a pilot project with VIVOTEK – a global provider of network cameras, PoE switches, and network video recorders, and Genetec, a global provider of IP surveillance software, access control and license plate recognition solutions. Installing VIVOTEK Network Cameras Divided into four stages, the goal of the project was to enable the total unification of management, security, marketing and commercial operations Divided into four stages, the goal of the project was to enable the total unification of management, security, marketing and commercial operations. In the first phase, 250 analogue cameras were replaced by a mere 48 VIVOTEK network cameras. Also installed was the Genetec Stratocast software, a cloud-based video recorder tool that eliminates the need for any local server, making it possible to monitor and share images with fully encrypted data. Two models of network cameras were installed throughout the hotel: one is the IB8369A, a 2-megapixel camera capable of capturing high quality video, with IR illuminators effective up to 30 meters for superior image quality throughout the day and night. The camera also features Smart Stream II technology, which optimises image quality for the most important regions in any scene; in doing so it can reduce network bandwidth consumption and storage requirements by up to 50%. The other camera installed was the small-scale, but big-featured FD8166, an ultra-mini fixed dome network camera with a tiny diameter of only 90mm. Genetec Security Center Solution "Because of the ‘L’ shaped layout of the hotel, we previously had five analog cameras installed on each floor: two in the corridor, because the distance from one side to the other was too long to be monitored by a single analog camera; one in front of the elevator; another covering the 'L' and one more covering the maid’s service area. "Now, each floor has only three cameras: one camera that serves the 'L' and the elevator; another that serves the corridor and one more observing the service area. At the reception area, the same thing happens, we put a different camera on the ceiling, and with just that solution we managed to cover the lobby, the bar, a part of the reception and the stairs of the restaurant, "explained Gomes. The Genetec Security Center solution was implemented for the internal parts of the hotel In the second phase, the Genetec Security Center solution was implemented for the internal parts of the hotel. With this platform, Gran Marquise can unify operations by combining all IP surveillance systems into one interface. Now all access control and video surveillance are connected to, and accessible through, the cloud. Unified Access Control And Fire Security The third and fourth stages are still in progress. The goal is to install 250 network cameras in total and unify the security system with access controls and the fire alarm system. In addition, the KiwiVision analytical software was also installed, a system which counts people automatically through cameras and 3D sensors and detects objects added or removed from a scene. This way it is possible to automatically detect if a dangerous object has left behind or if something has been stolen from a particular area. "The new security system has come to improve the image quality of surveillance, the layout of the hotel and the promptness of response to the customer. In the past, if we needed an image we had to expend great effort in searching whole files and spend hours watching videos to be able to select and retrieve the relevant event - not to mention the impact power failures, and malfunctions issues in power supplies, recorders and hard disk drives. ", said Gomes.            Video Security Integration The new IP surveillance infrastructure has already proven effective during a wedding held at the hotel The new IP surveillance infrastructure has already proven effective during a wedding held at the hotel. The bride had been in the spa area enjoying the luxurious Day of the Bride service. However, when she went to dress up for the ceremony, she did not find the jewelry she had prepared for the wedding. Security staffs were triggered to investigate the occurrence. “Through descriptions of the bag that carried the jewelry and the time when the bride last saw it, we were able to locate the footage though the synergy of VIVOTEK’s camera and the Genetec system, and then proceed to point of precise relevance in the video. We noticed that the bride carried the purse into the car, but on exiting the car she was no longer carrying it. When we showed her the pictures, she went to the car and the purse was there. If it wasn’t for the new IP surveillance solution, we would not have been able to ascertain what had happened, the bride would remember and find the jewelry only after the ceremony, and her day would have been ruined. This entire investigation process, finding the images and resolve the case, took only 15 minutes, but saved a very important day" said the security chief. Genetec Public-Private Partnership The Hotel Gran Marquise’s new security system is part of Genetec's private-public sharing initiative The Hotel Gran Marquise’s new security system is part of Genetec's private-public sharing initiative, which enables the sharing of certain cloud-recorded images with police forces. The Military Police, the Ceará State Government and the ABIH (Brazilian Hotels Industry Association in Ceará) are partners in this project along with the hotel. The purpose of this private-public partnership is that, with the monitoring carried out by private companies, the public sector can achieve a more effective action, speedily curbing the action of criminals in monitored places. The private-public partnership is founded on the belief that such sharing of private company surveillance with the public sector will enable a more expedient and effective curbing of criminal activity in such monitored areas. In this way, it is possible to expand monitored areas and reduce crime without direct public sector investment. Recorded images are transmitted in real time to the police, and a two-way relationship benefits both sectors. "The goal of projects with public-private partnerships is prevention. It is possible to increase public safety with little investment from the private sector," explained Country Manager of Genetec Brazil, Denis André Côté. With such initiatives, we are beginning to see the benefits of advances in total surveillance systems expand beyond those companies who take the initiative to invest in them and begin to serve the broader public.

As an innovator in airport security, Oakland International Airport (OAK) announced that it has installed the Evolv Edge, a physical threat detection and prevention system powered by artificial intelligence, to streamline its employee screening program. This installation enhances OAK’s security posture by protecting against metallic and non-metallic threats while simultaneously improving operational efficiency. Physical Threat Detection System OAK is committed to applying advanced, innovative solutions to complex security operations OAK is committed to applying advanced, innovative solutions to complex security operations. The TSA acknowledged this commitment by selecting OAK as a TSA Innovation Site, a prestigious distinction that promotes improved efficiency and allows the airport to try technologies to benefit its growing passenger and employee base. As the second busiest airport in northern California, passenger travel at OAK is on pace to surpass the 13.2 million travelers that passed through the airport last year. To accommodate this growth, more and more employees are being hired to work at OAK. Therefore, OAK began researching innovative solutions related to employee inspection methods and equipment. Evolv Edge provides OAK with the ability to screen employees for metallic and non-metallic threats with a fast, non-invasive process. Designed with built-in wheels for portability, OAK can easily move the system throughout the airport allowing maximum efficiency for its employee inspection program. Non-Invasive Employee Screening With Edge, organizations, such as OAK, can adapt a risk-based security approach while balancing security with positive experience With this installation, OAK continues to be at the forefront of security through its use of modern technologies to combat today’s evolving threat landscape. By replacing traditional physical screenings with Evolv Edge’s precision, mobility and multi-threat detection capabilities, OAK can control access and respond to different threat scenarios quickly and efficiently. With Edge, organizations, such as OAK, can adapt a risk-based security approach while balancing security with positive experience. “With today’s threat landscape, the security perimeter has expanded beyond traditional checkpoints,” said Mike Ellenbogen, CEO of Evolv Technology and a 20-year veteran in aviation security. “Evolv Edge’s flexibility and portability provides Oakland International Airport with an added layer of security when it comes to employee screening. Oakland International Airport is always at the forefront of innovation, and we will continue working closely with their team to ensure success and safety.”

Security is important for any construction project, but the stakes are higher when the tenants are a team of professional athletes, the parking lot is filled with sports cars and luxury vehicles, the property includes a multi-million-dollar turf field, and a professional training facility where exercises held there must be guarded as corporate secrets. To meet these challenges, Vicon recently completed work with a professional national sports team to install an end-to-end, tightly integrated video management and access control solution that relies exclusively on Vicon software, hardware and cameras. Due to sensitive security demands the team remains anonymous in this piece. The professional team’s Security Director says that he needed a system that would capture footage of everything going on, inside and around the perimeter of the facility, and make sure that access was limited to only authorized personnel. At the same time, the technology needed to make it easy for players and employees to get through security. “It doesn’t do anyone any good if a system is so difficult to use that people just prop the doors open. We had to blend those two things together,” he says. VAX Access Controllers Twenty-six doors, including both exterior exits and interior doors throughout the building, have been secured with VAX access control door controllers. Employee’s permissions are based on their jobs. Administrators can’t enter the locker rooms or training areas and players can’t enter the marketing offices. Many of the players come to the facility wearing athletic apparel and prefer not to carry around a wallet and key card, so Vicon created customized proximity tags embossed with the team’s logo, designed for players and employees to stick on the back of their cell phone cases. This turned out to be a popular solution, as the players always carry their cell phones with them and the tags are attractive and support the team’s branding. VAX Door Panels The panic buttons are wired to open inputs on the nearest VAX door panels In the world of professional sports, athletes must sometimes be protected from overly aggressive fans. This particular training facility is equipped with panic buttons at several spots within the building that allow anyone who notices a problem to immediately instigate a lock down. The panic buttons are wired to open inputs on the nearest VAX door panels, eliminating the need for long electrical runs back to the server room. The player’s practice field is accessible through an external gate that’s used by the media, and VAX provides the ability to control visitors who enter there. As needed, members of the press are given temporary credentials that can unlock the gate only for a designated time period before expiring. Parking Lot Video Surveillance The players’ parking lot also leverages the VAX system The players’ parking lot also leverages the VAX system. The transmitters that players use to open the parking lot gate from their cars are integrated with VAX, providing a record of each time the gate is activated, and by whom. In addition, a 12MP camera captures very high-resolution video of the vehicle entering and exiting, along with the person driving it, and that video is linked to the respective access control event. “Very expensive cars are left in the lot for extended periods, when the team is traveling, and this makes sure that absolutely nobody gets into that parking lot who shouldn’t be there – not even the office staff,” says the Security Director. The facility’s surveillance system includes close to 50 cameras, inside and outside the building, connected to Vicon’s Video Management System, Valerus. They range from 2MP to 12MP, depending on their use, and all are from Vicon. Any doorway equipped with a VAX controller has a dedicated camera mapped to it, so that video verification can be made of anyone entering a restricted area. Valerus VMS and 360-degree Network Cameras Special 360° cameras are mounted high on each of the exterior corners of the building Special 360° cameras are mounted high on each of the exterior corners of the building. Valerus VMS software dewarps their fisheye image and breaks it into four separate views from each camera. Those four cameras provide the security team with 16 different camera views from around the building’s perimeter, providing a very cost-effective way to cover such an expansive area. The same type of cameras is used within the team’s equipment room, where warehouse style racking is filled with valuable inventory. The system is managed by the team’s head of security and head of IT. Valerus’ thin-client web-browser interface provides monitoring access to support staff, including the team’s receptionist. The system’s video search capabilities have made it easy for them to conduct investigations. Video has helped to identify vehicles that were improperly driving on the turf field, document a theft on the property, and trouble-shoot when the parking lot gate had mechanical problems. Motion Activated Cameras Special motion-activated 2MP cameras are positioned at every door that provides access between the players’ area and the field One of the more unusual uses for the system is not related to security at all. The team’s professional athletic league requires team management to retain a full year’s documentation of the time each player spends on the practice field. To do this, special motion-activated 2MP cameras are positioned at every door that provides access between the players’ area and the field. Anyone walking from the field to the building triggers the motion sensor and is recorded in high-definition video. That way, if a player initiates a legal battle saying he practiced too long, there is clear documentation of exactly when he was on and off the field. Vicon’s Valerus delivers powerful, end-to-end security solutions that are easy to manage. Its work with this professional sports team also highlights its ability to deliver convenience to employees and operational efficiencies to management.

Nearly 1000 teams of architects from around the world competed to design an important new building – a “Tall Emblem Structure” that would promote “the new face of Dubai”. The selected winner was the iconic Dubai Frame, and when its doors opened to the public in January 2018, those doors were automatic revolving doors from Boon Edam. Boon Edam Automatic Revolving Doors Situated in Zabeel Park in Dubai, The Dubai Frame is expected to be a major tourist destination attracting two million people a year. It is an impressive structure, with two 150-meter vertical towers connected by a 105-meter horizontal structure at the top to form an enormous frame. It is positioned in such a way that representative landmarks of modern Dubai can be seen on one side, while from the other side, visitors see older parts of the city. The design of The Dubai Frame was selected as the winner of the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award in 2009. The architects were clear in their vision to use the negative space of the frame to celebrate and highlight the development of the past, current, and future Dubai – a metropolis that has evolved from its origins as a fishing village to a modern city full of emblematic structures. Selecting the public entrances for the ground floor was an extremely important part of the project The Dubai Frame According to the website for DONIS, the architectural team who designed The Dubai Frame had this to say, “Opposed to the complexity in architecture, The Dubai Frame is a simple structure, yet with an incomparable presence in the city; it achieves the most with the least and will become the new landmark of Dubai. DONIS has designed other iconic structures including the Dubai Porsche Design Towers and the Dubai Renaissance Tower.” Selecting the public entrances for the ground floor was an extremely important part of the project. The entrances must visually support the impressive nature of the structure; they must be durable enough for the high volume of visitor traffic expected, and they must provide sufficient security, safety, accessibility, and other factors that are vital to the project.  TQA Revolving Doors When the building opened, the selected entrances were automatic, three-wing TQA revolving doors from Boon Edam. Revolving doors have been a specialty of the company since the earliest years of operation and have continually evolved through many years of experience and product development. The Dubai Frame entrances were an ideal application for our TQ automatic revolving doors" “The Dubai Frame entrances were an ideal application for our TQ automatic revolving doors,” explains Mike Commarmond, Managing Director of Boon Edam Middle East. “Their finish was customized to match the architect’s design and aesthetic requirements; it was a perfect fit for the need, and we were able to provide overwhelming evidence of their long-term durability and service based on our long experience with these products.” Security Night Locking Capability The TQ series of revolving doors is available in both manual and automatic operation and is versatile enough to cover a wide range of application needs. The doors can be provided in a variety of colors and finishes, from powder coated or anodized metals all the way to stainless steel and even polished to a mirror finish to match or complement the installation. In addition to a collapsible door set for emergency exit, the TQ series offers a variety of night locking options, including a new security night locking capability that works in conjunction with an access control system to allow authorized users to enter during evening or weekend hours. Revolving doors allow for simultaneous two-way traffic, and even support the efficiency of building environmental control systems, making them a great choice for many building entrance types.

A landmark mixed-use development in Nigeria has been secured by the latest British perimeter technology. Crash-tested bi-folding speed gates with inlaid SR security-rated mesh panels have been installed at Nestoil Towers on Victoria island, Lagos, along with crash-tested bollards and blockers. Cova Security Gates from Crawley – creators of the crash-tested speed gate – won the contract to supply and install from Nigerian construction company Julius Berger. Nestoil Towers is a 15-storey mixed-use development consisting of 7,500 sq m of office space, 3,500 sq m of residential space High Performance Glass The prestigious Nestoil Towers is a 15-storey mixed-use development consisting of 7,500 sq m of office space, 3,500 sq m of residential space, a multi-storey parking facility as well as a recreational facility – and houses Julius Berger’s new corporate head office. The building form was created using gentle curved surfaces of high performance glass with horizontal tubular details which accentuate the sweeping effect of the curved façade. The arced curtain walls are further defined by a surround of solid white metal panels to complete the contemporary composition of this building. Cova were tasked to provide secure vehicle and pedestrian access and to protect access from the gatehouse for staff entrances and exits at different areas and around the main building. Security Of The Gates Cova supplied five crash-tested trackless bi-folding speed gates, one standard bi-folding gate, five rising arm barriers, four crash-rated bollards, a crash-tested shallow depth road blocker, a full-height double turnstile and a push button access control system that controlled the entire turnkey project. The gates were clad with steel fencing manufacturer Zaun’s SR2-rated Super10 steel mesh to add to the security of the gates. Cova’s design team manufactured each product bespoke to the client’s specific requirements for the project Cova’s design team manufactured each product bespoke to the client’s specific requirements for the project, because of the weight and material of the mesh, to ensure PAS68 test standards were fully met and foundation requirements, speed of opening and closing and power control were all as specified. Implement Protection All gates and turnstiles were finished in ‘Signal White’ to blend in with the design of the tower and the fence line. Cova filled three 40ft containers for shipping to Nigeria with all products tested prior to leaving the factory as part of its ISO9001 process and by Julius Berger-appointed auditors. Installation was arduous and fraught with difficulties, but once completed, a Cova engineer provided full training to Nestoil Towers security team on how to operate the gates, blockers, barriers and turnstile on a daily basis so that they could correctly implement protection in the event of a terrorist vehicle attack.