Interview: Nils Schapmann, Director Portfolio, primion Technology
a&s Adria: Tell us a couple of words about yourself and your previous professional experience?
Schapmann: Thank you for this opportunity to address to your readers. I am Nils Schapmann, Portfolio Director at primion Technology GmbH. Before that, I have performed the role of Director of Business Development since January 16, 2023, when I joined the company. During this past year, my responsibilities included defining, planning, implementing and managing medium- and long-term strategies and concepts in the areas of product management, marketing and communications, as well as documentation and knowledge management for access control, time and attendance, and physical security information management (PSIM). Previously, I have worked for Rohde & Schwarz for the past twelve years in various positions, including Business Development APAC, Project Management as well as Product Management Cybersecurity.
a&s Adria: Where do you see your responsibilities in your role as Director Portfolio?
Schapmann: The primion Group is in a solid position and we are currently experiencing a very high order intake with a good margin, which guarantees continued development. As Portfolio Director, I support this and see it as my responsibility to lead the company into the future. This includes synchronizing and realigning our product and solution portfolio to remain flexible and responsive to market needs. Our new software platform offers significantly more configuration options than the market standard, while at the same time maximizing standardization. Primion will continue to develop its portfolio and expand its core business of Access Control to open up new market segments. We will know how to exploit the resulting synergies.
a&s Adria: Could you briefly introduce primion Technology?
Schapmann: Primion is an international company group which has been developing and installing innovative solutions for Integrated Security Systems, Access Control systems and modern scenarios for Time & Attendance and Workforce Planning since 1995. In providing software and hardware, we make a significant contribution to the protection and security of our customers, while re-optimizing and effectively structuring their internal processes.
Our extensive reference list includes internationally active and well-known companies as well as specialized SMEs. These include for example Telenor, Croatian Telecom, public authorities, DB Schenker, ITENOS, Bombardier, The British School of Brussels, Hamburg-Eppendorf University Hospital, NORMA Sarrebourg, some ministries, the German Armed Forces and different airports like Frankfurt.
a&s Adria: Please tell us more about the main benefits when working with Primion?
Schapmann: Our strategy, which has been successful for decades, is based on a one-stop-shop policy. As we invest significantly in our own software and hardware development, we are able to react flexibly to market requirements and comprehensively realize customer wishes. We also produce our own hardware and employ a proven team of experts for on-site consulting, installation and support and maintenance after successful commissioning of the solutions integrated into the existing systems.
Our customers and partners can rely on the entire value chain and have a single point of contact for their complex systems. Because we provide intensive monitoring throughout the entire process, we are always informed about the current status of the project and our customers save time, money and nerves, which they need for their own business.
We are very proud of the fact that we have been working with very loyal and successful partners internationally for decades. In this way, we guarantee maximum support in all countries while at the same time taking account of special needs.
a&s Adria: How do you evaluate the ongoing efforts to standardize access control, and what impact do you foresee these efforts having on the industry?
Schapmann: I am a big fan of standardization where it makes sense. Good examples are the communication protocols OSDP and OSS (MA) which will make the use of 3rd party hardware a lot easier. As in every other industry the added value moves more and more from hardware to software. Even in our industry the number of hardware manufacturer will decrease the next years.
a&s Adria: What are the key features of the mentioned core business of Access Control? How does it assist businesses in managing and regulating access for employees, suppliers, and business partners?
Schapmann: The clear and user-friendly management of all access rights in a single system ensures that people and assets are protected at all times. The customer can flexibly customize the rights themselves and thus react quickly, e.g. if a badge is lost and needs to be blocked, e.g. in case of loss or manipulation. “prime WebAccess” from Primion is based on the latest technology and has proven itself worldwide.
a&s Adria: That sounds interesting. Could you give us some more information about flexibility and scalability?
Schapmann: The first thing you need to know is that every company and every customer has completely different requirements for an Access Control system. While it is sufficient for one company, for example, to secure only the laboratory and the executive office against unauthorized access, a group with several properties and a high-security wing requires completely different solutions. All our solutions are based on a modern license management. The customer only pays for the applications he is interested in and based on the size of the company: “prime WebAccess” is capable of growing with our customers.
Individual doors are secured by online/offline scenarios with locking cylinders in pKT (prime KeyTechnology), the access rights for which are updated on the master reader directly in the access medium. At the same time, the access authorizations for the main entrance doors are similarly managed in the same software; the readers for these are also developed and produced in-house.
In parallel, personnel locks, turnstiles or the entrance to the underground car park can also be integrated into the system. And for all of this, the user only needs a single ID card for which various access authorizations are stored: The cleaning staff can enter anywhere, but only for a limited time, the accountant has no access to the research laboratory, the trainee is not allowed in the manager’s office, etc.
a&s Adria: Can you elaborate on how Primion’s security management system combines security-relevant systems such as fire alarm technology, intrusion alarm technology, and access control into a cohesive solution?
Schapmann: If companies have high security requirements, or when properties are spread over a large area or even several locations, it is more effective and safer to control all security-relevant applications centrally in order to maintain a complete overview at all times. This can save lives in an emergency and protect valuable stock from being destroyed, for example in the event of a fire.
We can guarantee this with our prime SecurityManagement (pSM), a software developed in-house for the centralized control and integration of all systems such as burglar alarms, flood detection, perimeter protection, video surveillance, fire alarms and so on.
With our prime “pSM”, video surveillance, access control as well as intrusion and fire alarm systems are centrally bundled, monitored, controlled, and evaluated on one single user interface. Potentially dangerous situations can be identified at a glance and, thanks to automated processes, critical events in and around the building can be responded to immediately and optimally. Combining different applications into one system allows to gain an immediate overview of the entire situation rather than being informed about separate alarms which might seem unrelated.
a&s Adria: To gain a better understanding, could you provide an example? How did for example Primion’s security management contribute to increasing operational security at Frankfurt Airport?
Schapmann: A smooth-running hazard management and access control system must prevent manipulations that could be dangerous to airport security, passengers, or aviation safety. Smooth operations must be guaranteed at all times – even with high passenger volumes.
Fraport, the company that operates the Frankfurt airport, is one of our biggest customers. Our system supports in handling 70 million passengers per year in 160,000 flights at 170 gates managing 81,000 user rights for 70 nations in 450 departments. “pSM” is controlling authorizations with 4,000 access control readers.
But to keep it simple for all industries: Imagine the security officer in a company having to check in different systems at the same time whether the fire alarm in Hall 115, which is around 15 kilometers away from his own location, is a false alarm or if there really is a fire. To do this, he has to switch to another system that manages the video camera and display the images on the screen. This shows that there really is a fire. He quickly picks up the phone to alert the emergency services. In the meantime, however, valuable minutes have passed and most of the valuable raw materials stored there have already been burnt because the sprinkler has not started due to an unrecognized technical fault. And he has no idea how many people are in the burning warehouse. At the same time, the fire threatens to spread to neighboring buildings.
This horror scenario is not made up out of thin air, but is unfortunately a frightening reality. With Primion’s “pSM”, however, all safety-relevant processes are automated: the sprinkler malfunction was recognized and rectified in advance, the smoke detector reports the fire, video surveillance confirms the alarm, escape routes are opened at the same time and the fire brigade and emergency services are automatically alerted in parallel. At the same time, the security officer, the head of logistics and the CEO receive a message on their mobile phones so that they can react.
For a possible evacuation, a list is printed out with the names of the people who are in the building and who have been requested by the voice alarm to go to the assembly point. This ensures that no one will be forgotten.
However, the scenario described here is just one example of what our prime SecurityManagement do, as every company has different requirements that need to be covered. In addition, ”pSM” can also easily and securely integrate existing systems into the overall system at any time using special interfaces.
a&s Adria: What about Primion’s Time and Attendance solutions? How do they address the different needs of organizations with different employee sizes, several working environments and mobile solutions?
Schapmann: Our customers rely on our proven and user-friendly software “prime WebTime” and our hardware, such as the modern and innovative Advanced Data Terminal (ADT), using ID cards or the biometric application fingerprint for identification purposes. Software and hardware are state-of-the-art and can be configured to meet the needs of small, medium and large companies as well as specific regional rules and regulations. All time stamps are recorded digitally and managed centrally.
The software expertly manages various time models such as late shift, public holiday allowance, or part-time work. It seamlessly interfaces with all common wage and salary programs to ensure precise accounting of recorded times. The process remains the same, whether working hours are booked on a stationary terminal in the company, on a laptop, PC, or a smartphone.
Intuitive scenarios guarantee that users have a comprehensive overview of their recorded working hours, absences, and remaining leave days. Additionally, they can apply for leave directly within the application, and the line manager can either approve or reject it immediately. Alternatively, a multi-stage workflow can be established if multiple individuals need to decide on requests. The recorded data is furthermore the basis for statistics and analysis, and the operating data recording module can be used for project post-calculation.
The Primion time recording system seamlessly integrates with the access control system if needed. When an employee enters the company premises, their ID card is presented to the Access Control reader, which grants access based on the stored authorization and simultaneously records the access booking in the system as the start of the working time. The same process applies when leaving the premises or building.
The Primion solution also offers employers and employees flexible and transparent processes for various work scenarios, such as home office, shared desks, co-working, time and location-independent working, and situations where physical distancing from the employer is necessary.
a&s Adria: Primion’s SaaS approach aims to provide high secure and scalable solutions. How do you guarantee this?
Schapmann: Perhaps the first thing we need to explain is what SaaS means. Software as a Service (SaaS) is a model where the software is licensed on a subscription basis and hosted centrally. This forward-thinking model offers many benefits by saving customers time and money. SaaS is also known as ‘on-demand software’ and web-based/hosted software. The software provider is responsible for maintaining the operation and maintenance of the software.
Primion provides high-level hosting services while minimizing the risk of data loss or unauthorized disclosure. Our experts can greatly reduce the occurrence of cyber-attacks through the network and errors in the ‘human interface’, by effectively managing the complex security requirements of existing systems. This system offers customers a secure and convenient way to access the latest updates for their application around the clock, with minimal administrative effort. It also helps to reduce energy costs and free up space for other purposes by eliminating the need for servers or storage space. Furthermore, it simplifies database and license administration, enabling the IT department to concentrate on other important tasks.
At Primion, we are proud to guarantee exceptional availability for our customers. Our cutting-edge technologies and optimal hosting conditions ensure that our availability is often higher than that of our customers’ own sites.
a&s Adria: What is the current status of Primion, and what are your plans for the company’s future development?
Schapmann: We are thrilled to introduce our new software platform “MyPrimion”, which offers an unparalleled range of configuration options that surpasses the market standard. At the same time, we have ensured maximum standardization to provide a seamless user experience. Our ultimate objective is to expand our core Access Control business to address new market segments and leverage the resulting synergies. We believe that this approach will enable us to even better serve our customers and achieve our long-term goals. By doing so, we aim to broaden our position and become independent of individual suppliers and components. This will enable Primion to more effectively meet the specific needs of each project and satisfy our valued customers, who are leaders in their respective industries.
