Nearly a year after completing the largest acquisition in its history, Bosch continues to strengthen its position in the smart buildings and building management market. The $8 billion acquisition of Johnson Controls’ Residential & Light Commercial HVAC business has significantly expanded the company’s capabilities and accelerated the development of new solutions for the digitalization of buildings. More information about the acquisition and Bosch’s strategy is available on the Bosch Media Service.
According to research firm Memoori, Bosch’s Home Comfort division has almost doubled in size, now employing more than 25,000 associates, generating approximately $8.6 billion in annual sales, and expanding its manufacturing footprint from 17 to 33 production facilities. The company has outlined the expanded business on the Bosch Home Comfort Group website.
Among the most significant developments is the launch of SkyQ, a building control system designed specifically for small and mid-sized commercial buildings—a market segment that has traditionally been underserved due to the high cost of automation. According to available data, these buildings account for approximately 95 percent of all commercial properties in the United States, while fewer than 20 percent currently use any form of building automation.
Bosch has also expanded its portfolio through a partnership with Hitachi, introducing an AI-powered suite of building management solutions. The platform integrates HVAC equipment with remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and energy management capabilities, helping building operators improve operational efficiency while reducing maintenance and energy costs. Additional details on the collaboration are available from Hitachi’s official announcement.
Memoori believes these developments are likely to have a significant impact on the future of the smart building market, particularly in the small and medium-sized commercial building segment, where the adoption of automation and AI-driven technologies is expected to accelerate in the coming years.
When discussing cybersecurity, most organizations focus on servers, network infrastructure, and firewall systems. However, one critical area often remains overlooked—printers and multifunction printers (MFPs).
In today’s business environment, printers are no longer just peripheral devices. They are fully integrated components of the IT ecosystem, equipped with their own operating systems, hard drives, and network connectivity. As a result, they can become potential entry points for cyberattacks.
Why print security matters more than ever
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting the least protected parts of an organization’s infrastructure. If not properly secured, MFP devices can provide unauthorized access to sensitive data, confidential documents, and network resources.
Recognizing this growing threat, the latest IDC MarketScape 2025–2026 report has identified Konica Minolta as a leader in print security solutions and services.
Three pillars of modern print security
Security by design – Security features are no longer optional add-ons but an integral part of the device. Built-in malware protection technologies enable proactive defense without requiring constant intervention from IT teams.
Tailored to business needs – There is no one-size-fits-all security solution. Organizations require an approach that takes into account the size of their infrastructure, the type of data they handle, and applicable regulatory requirements. Flexibility is therefore a key component of an effective security strategy.
A comprehensive IT security approach – Print security should not be treated in isolation. It must be integrated into a broader IT security strategy that includes managed services, cloud solutions, and continuous monitoring. A centralized approach provides greater control, improved visibility, and faster response to emerging threats.
What does this mean for organizations?
IDC MarketScape recommends selecting a partner that maintains full control over the development and security of its solutions. This is particularly important for organizations operating in regulated industries and handling sensitive information.
Print security is no longer optional—it has become an essential component of every comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.
Future Security Summit and Fire Protection & Technology Summit Advisory Committees bring together experts from ICAO, Saudi Aramco, Dubai Airports, Red Sea Global, King Fahd International Airport and other leading organisations. The committees to help shape conference agendas addressing AI, resilience, cyber-physical security convergence, predictive risk management and next-generation fire protection strategies
Intersec Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s leading platform for security, safety, and fire protection, has announced the formation of the Advisory Committees for its flagship Future Security Summit and Fire Protection & Technology Summit, bringing together some of the region’s most respected experts to help shape discussions around the rapidly evolving security and fire protection landscape. Taking place during Intersec Saudi Arabia 2026 from 16–18 November at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), the two CPD-certified conferences will bring together international experts, policymakers and industry leaders to examine the technologies, strategies and partnerships needed to safeguard Saudi Arabia’s next phase of growth under Vision 2030.
The Future Security Summit Advisory Committee includes representatives from the Royal Commission for AlUla, Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Dubai Airports, IFPO MENASA, King Salman International Airport and other leading organisations. Meanwhile, the Fire Protection & Technology Summit Advisory Committee brings together specialists from Saudi Aramco, Red Sea Global, Qiddiya City, King Fahd International Airport and AECOM.
Riham Sedik, Exhibition Director, Intersec Saudi Arabia, said: “The advisory committees bring together professionals with decades of operational, strategic and technical experience across security, emergency management, fire protection and resilience.
“Their in-depth knowledge will help ensure that the Future Security Summit and Fire Protection & Technology Summit address the real-world challenges facing organisations today, while providing practical insights into the technologies, frameworks and leadership strategies shaping these sectors in the Kingdom and beyond.”
Addressing the next generation of security challenges
According to Yusuf Hasan, Senior Aviation Security Advisor at the International Civil Aviation Organization and member of the Future Security Summit Advisory Committee, the convergence of rapid development and evolving risks is creating a new security paradigm across the region. “The key challenge today is managing rapid growth while maintaining secure, resilient and trusted environments,” said Hasan. “As Saudi Arabia’s tourism, aviation, logistics and digital sectors expand, so too does the complexity of the threat landscape.”
He added that artificial intelligence is accelerating the shift from reactive security to predictive, intelligence-led models through enhanced threat detection, analytics and automation. The Future Security Summit will explore many of these themes through discussions focused on cyber-physical security convergence, AI-enabled security operations, crisis and emergency management, critical infrastructure protection, workforce development and resilience planning.
Advancing fire protection for a new generation of infrastructure
Dr Reginald D. Freeman, Member of the Board of Directors, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and member of the Fire Protection & Technology Summit Advisory Committee, said the fire protection sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation.
“One of the most significant trends is the shift from traditional code compliance toward risk-informed, performance-based fire engineering. The complexity of today’s mega-projects requires more sophisticated approaches to fire and life safety.
“The future of fire protection in Saudi Arabia will not simply be about responding to emergencies; it will be about anticipating risk, strengthening resilience, and enabling sustainable growth,” said Freeman.
Together, the advisory committees will play a key role in ensuring that both conference programmes remain closely aligned with the priorities of Saudi Arabia’s security, safety and fire protection sectors, while supporting knowledge exchange among government authorities, developers, infrastructure operators and technology providers. Intersec Saudi Arabia 2026 is expected to welcome more than 25,000 visitors and over 500 exhibitors from around the world, reinforcing its position as the Kingdom’s premier platform for innovation in security, safety, and fire protection.
The full list of Advisory Committee members can be found here for Future Security Summit Advisory Committee and here for Fire Protection & Technology Summit Advisory Committee.
Ajax Systems has received the prestigious EACD Communications Excellence Award, presented by the European Association of Communication Directors to recognize companies demonstrating outstanding standards in corporate communications and making a significant contribution to organizational and societal development. The award honors Ajax Systems for its professional communication strategy and innovative approach to presenting security technologies.
The company noted that, in a traditionally conservative security industry, it has shifted the focus of its communications from technical specifications to user experience, visual identity, and creative marketing campaigns. One of the most notable examples of this approach is the annual Ajax Special Event, which has evolved into a global benchmark for new product launches. The latest edition, held under the theme “Dare to be First,” featured nearly 100 local premieres across 36 countries and reached an audience of more than 2.7 million people.
In addition to its business achievements, Ajax Systems continues to invest in socially responsible initiatives, including the Ajax Next engineering education program and the Air Alert application, developed at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. To date, the app has been downloaded more than 46 million times and received the European Excellence Award 2024.
Hanwha Vision Europe has appointed Matthias Stiftinger as Pre-Sales Manager for the DACH region, covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He assumed the new role at the beginning of June after spending nearly 12 years with Bosch Security Systems, Keenfinity, and IQsight.
In his new position, Stiftinger will be responsible for providing pre-sales support to partners and customers while contributing to the further expansion of Hanwha Vision’s business across the DACH market. His extensive experience in the security technology sector is expected to strengthen collaboration with partners and support the delivery of innovative security solutions.
Hanwha Vision expects the appointment to further reinforce the company’s growth strategy and strengthen its presence in one of Europe’s most important security markets.
According to an analysis by research firm Memoori, Honeywell is expected to complete the spin-off of its Aerospace business by the end of June and continue operations as a company fully focused on automation. Its Building Automation division will become the company’s largest business unit, accounting for 42% of total revenue and generating an estimated $7.4 billion in revenue in 2025. Memoori says Honeywell’s future strategy will focus on smaller acquisitions valued between $2 billion and $4 billion, a move that could mark the beginning of a new wave of consolidation in the smart building technology market.
The company expects to achieve annual organic revenue growth of 4% to 6%, continuous margin expansion, and more than 10% annual earnings growth over the next three years. More than 75% of Honeywell’s portfolio already consists of sustainability-oriented solutions, while the company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Memoori concludes that the new strategy could increase interest in acquiring companies developing building automation technologies, energy management solutions, security systems, and AI-powered technologies.
In many manufacturing facilities, the rule still applies: if an experienced quality inspector says the color is acceptable, the batch moves forward. However, manufacturing should be driven by data rather than subjective judgment.
The issue is not experience—it is the method
The human eye is not designed for consistent color measurement. It is influenced by lighting conditions, the surrounding environment, fatigue, and even the context in which a color is observed. In other words, it responds to almost everything except objective reality. This is why a familiar scenario occurs: a production batch passes internal quality control without issue, only to be rejected later by the customer. The reason is simple—the product is evaluated under different lighting conditions.
Why Do We Still Rely on Visual Inspection?
Every time you rely on visual assessment, you increase the risk of customer complaints, lose control over consistency, and leave room for subjective decision-making. Subjective decisions simply cannot be standardized or scaled.
Modern spectrophotometers are remarkably easy to use. Simply switch on the device, measure the sample, and compare the result with the reference value. If you know how to use a smartphone, you already have the skills to operate this tool.
Conclusion
If your decisions are based on visual impressions, you are not managing quality—you are managing risk. It is time to replace “it looks good” with “it has been verified to be within tolerance.” After all, you are not losing money because of color itself; you are losing it because of the way you control color.
Loughborough Students’ Union (LSU), the students’ union of one of the UK’s leading universities, has modernized its security infrastructure by implementing the connected ecosystem of Motorola Solutions. The outdated VHF radio system has been replaced with a MOTOTRBO network comprising repeaters, 57 digital two-way radios, advanced communications management software, and eight VB400 body cameras integrated with the existing Avigilon Unity video security system.
The new solution enables reliable communication between security, medical, facilities, hospitality, and event management teams across the university campus. The system leverages AI-powered video analytics to automatically send alerts directly to radio devices, while fire alarm notifications are delivered in real time to designated teams, complete with location details and the cause of the alarm. The body cameras provide live streaming, evidence-grade video recordings, and are automatically activated during emergency situations or when a nearby camera is triggered.
The integration of all system components has enabled more efficient data sharing, faster incident response, and simplified security operations management.
According to the Students’ Union’s management, the greatest strength of the system lies in its flexibility and seamless integration. “Having multiple solutions on a single platform allows us to streamline operations, share data more efficiently and collaborate effectively, while also offering opportunities for future functionality development in response to our evolving needs,” said Nathaniel Olson, Venue Operations Manager at Loughborough Students’ Union. Thanks to the new connected ecosystem, LSU has further enhanced the safety of its students and staff while improving the reliability of communications and the efficiency of day-to-day and emergency operations.
ALSO Group has broadened its partnership with Sophos to deliver an extended range of cybersecurity solutions across the CEE region. Building on its established Sophos distribution network in Croatia, the company is now expanding into North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Kosovo, and Albania.
By extending its collaboration with Sophos, ALSO is providing its partners with access to next-generation security products and managed detection and response (MDR) servicesall seamlessly integrated through the ALSO Cloud Marketplace.This development underscores ALSO’s commitment to providing advanced security technologies to the ICT channel and supports resellers in meeting the growing demand for managed and adaptive protection services.
Cybersecurity has become a critical investment area for organizations of all sizes due to the increasing prevalence of ransomware and advanced threats. The enhanced offering includes Sophos’ complete portfolio of network, endpoint and cloud security solutions, as well as subscriptions for MDR services. This will enable resellers to scale their cybersecurity practices and deliver 24/7 monitoring and threat remediation for their customers. Flexible licensing and integration with existing tools ensure that partners can adopt these services without significant operational changes.
“The expansion of our collaboration with Sophos reflects our strategic focus on strengthening the cybersecurity capabilities of our ecosystem.” said Hanna Osetek-Pasquet, Regional Manager Director East, ALSO. “By combining Sophos’ advanced security technologies with ALSO’s platform approach, we empower resellers to respond effectively to today’s threat landscape and to build profitable, recurring-service models.”
As Europe’s largest technology provider, ALSO supports over 135,000 resellers across 31 countries. Customers in the CEE region will now benefit from increased access to subscription-based cybersecurity services delivered through a single, unified platform. This integration simplifies procurement and ongoing management while creating new opportunities for SMB-focused partners to diversify their offerings.
PPDS has unveiled the new Philips Signage 7000 UltraSlim series at InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas, introducing its thinnest and lightest 4K UHD digital signage displays to date. Available in 43″, 50″, 55″, and 65″ sizes, the new models are up to 60% slimmer than comparable displays in the Philips Signage portfolio, with a depth of just 28.5 to 30 mm.
Designed for retail, corporate environments, hospitality, and public venues, the new series combines 4K UHD image quality with Android 16, an AI-ready processor, and compatibility with the Philips Wave remote display management platform.
“The Philips Signage 7000 Series delivers exceptional visual quality and elegant design for virtually any environment. It brings together all the features customers expect from our premium Philips Professional Displays with an entirely new ultra-slim design,” said Bart Wouters, International Product Manager at PPDS.
In addition to its reduced thickness and weight, the displays offer 500 nits of brightness, PPDS’ FailOver technology for automatic backup content playback in the event of a media player failure, and a comprehensive range of connectivity options, including HDMI, USB-C, LAN, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
Andrea Barbuti, Global Product Management Lead EMEA at PPDS, said the new series creates entirely new installation opportunities. “We didn’t aim to be the first to introduce an ultra-slim digital signage display—we wanted to deliver a better solution. The combination of a slimmer profile, reduced weight, and professional-grade performance offers virtually limitless installation possibilities,” Barbuti said.
The Philips Signage 7000 Series will be available from the fourth quarter of 2026 and represents a new generation of digital signage displays developed based on extensive feedback from partners and customers across multiple industries.
