The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of the ten Greater Manchester councils and the Mayor’s office, all of which work with other local services, businesses, communities and partners to improve the city-region. The authority focuses on issues that affect everyone in the region, including transport, regeneration, investment, and public services.

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), part of the GMCA, is one of the largest fire and rescue services outside of London with more than 1,637 members of staff and 41 fire stations covering an area of around 500 square miles.

Mark Scoales, Digital Services Manager at GMCA, and his team of 35 staff are responsible for ensuring frontline firefighters and their support staff have all the tools they need to carry out their roles, responding to incidents and keeping citizens safe. This involves being able to communicate with colleagues clearly, accurately and quickly across the city-region.

When the pandemic hit in Spring 2020, this need became even more acute and Scoales and his team undertook a project to upgrade audio-visual equipment across the region’s fire stations. The desire was to increase digital functionality and improve remote communications between colleagues across all sites.

With communications rooms used daily by almost 3,000 staff members, usability was essential when it came to looking for a solution. In addition to facilitating easy access to their video conferencing tools, Scoales wanted to make it easy for staff to access the apps and tools that are regularly used by firefighters and their support teams.

After going out to tender, GMCA began a project to install 65-inch interactive touch display screens in the community rooms in each fire station throughout the GMCA region. The decision was then made to install DisplayNote Launcher on each screen across GMCA’s 47 sites.

Launcher is a simple interface for meeting room displays that gives users easy access to calls, content and apps while maintaining the highest levels of security. All settings are PIN protected, and with Automatic Cleanup, one tap clears the user’s footprint, closing apps, removing sign-in information, and clearing any browsing history.

This simplicity, security and consistency were crucial factors in the decision to standardise on Launcher. Firefighters rely on repetitiveness and uniformity. The layout of fire stations is uniform to ensure firefighters can walk into any station and know where to find what they need. Scoales and his team were keen to replicate this across the digital offering.

Before using Launcher, Scoales describes the communication and collaboration experience as being “clunky”. Laptops were connected to projectors, making it difficult to create a smooth user experience across the rooms.

He adds: “It was hard to manage the devices and technology in the rooms and difficult to control what users were downloading. We knew that if we were going to find a new way of doing things, it had to be a simple, easy-to-use solution as this was the only way it would be adopted across the 47 sites.”

Launcher’s Kiosk Mode provides an entirely uniform experience to all users. They also now have full control over what apps and tools can be accessed, keeping the screens secure.

Scoales adds: “When we discovered Launcher, there was nothing else out there that came close. With Launcher installed, we are reassured that every screen is exactly the same no matter which station you go to; the same apps and icons are always there.

“Having a screen that looks exactly the same in every station has made a massive improvement. We don’t have any issues with users not knowing how to use it.”

The teams at GMCA now have one-touch access to their most frequently used video conferencing platforms and tools across the 47 sites. And, because Launcher makes the screens so easy to use, it has improved adoption, usability, and engagement with all the tools accessed via the screens.

Another area that has seen huge improvements thanks to Launcher is training. Previously, delivering training to each watch in every station would have taken around 2-3 months. With the upgraded AV set up, however, training has been provided remotely using MS Teams to 4-5 fire stations at a time, reducing the overall delivery time.

The fire service’s learning portal has also been set up as a shortcut on the screens. This means firefighters can now access the regular mandatory training that they must complete via this shortcut. Training can also be conducted in small groups rather than individually, which they have found to be more effective.

Scoales notes the positive impact this has had on the overall organisation: “Launcher has made a significant difference to how we deliver training. Because it makes the interactive displays so simple to use, our staff use it a lot. We’re getting the full return on the investment of our equipment.”

He concludes: “Onboarding new partners can be difficult for us. We always push the boundaries of what technology can do and what we expect as an organisation. The initial conversations we had were enlightening. Any suggestions we had, DisplayNote was happy to assist, happy to develop. This was a big positive for us.

“This is probably the best software I’ve seen for functionality. I would recommend Launcher to anyone.”

SALTO Systems has achieved carbon neutrality thanks to its participation in two innovative projects with a triple-transformative effect on the economy, society and nature to achieve SALTO’s goal: for its operations to have zero impact on the climate.

In order to accelerate decarbonisation and contribute to achieving the emission-reduction goals set by the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, SALTO maintains it is committed to promoting environmental recovery projects through revegetation, in order to offset CO2 emissions by sequestering them in tree species.

In total, the 1,721 tons of CO2 generated in 2020 (359 at its headquarters in Oiartzun, Gipuzkoa in Spain and 1,362 across its worldwide network of offices and group companies) were offset in 2021 through two ground-breaking projects: River Chinchiná Forestry Project, Colombia (Fundación Ecodes and CeroCO2): Reforestation and protection of hydrographic basins in the Andes, and Apadrina un Olivo (Sponsor an Olive Tree) in Teruel, Spain, which fights to recover olive groves, as well as against depopulation and the abandonment of olive groves in Spain.

Thanks to these two projects and other strategies devised to decarbonise SALTO’s activities, together with a commitment to the environment and looking after the natural world, SALTO claims it has been able to achieve carbon neutrality across all its factories and offices, in more than 40 countries.

The achievement can be demonstrated in the figures provided by the company, for example, 100% of the electricity used in SALTO’s factory is sustainable and comes from renewable sources, and 25% of the electrical energy comes from the sun. SALTO has installed 640 solar panels in its factory, the first large-scale solar power installation in its global network. In addition, numerous energy-efficiency initiatives have been adopted that have reduced carbon emissions through energy saving, avoiding 198 tons of CO₂ per year.

In addition, SALTO has minimised single-use plastics in its packaging, offices, work café and marketing materials and replaced them with more sustainable alternatives, such as biodegradable products made from FSC-certified paper, cellulose and wood.

The environmental policies implemented by SALTO reduce the environmental impact of its operations. By adopting practices that reduce its carbon footprint, helps the company to consume energy responsibly, whilst minimising waste as much as possible and maximising resource use. SALTO also sets mandatory environmental standards to embed sustainability across SALTO’s worldwide network of offices and headquarters.

Since February 2022, Partizan mobile app also for iOS can control SATEL security devices. Previously, just owners of smartphones on Android could appreciate this functionality.

The developers of both companies have done a lot of work. The result was a multifunctional security system that works on the principle of “all in one smartphone”.

SATEL is a well-known Polish manufacturer of smart devices for security systems, smart homes, access control systems and fire alarms. During its more than thirty years of history, SATEL has repeatedly received the highest international awards. The company supplies its innovative products to the markets of 70 countries of the world.

Partizan is a European brand founded in 2008. Today it is one of the leading manufacturers of video surveillance solutions on the continent. Partizan mobile app is well known in the security industry. In 2019, this program received the Grand Prix at the prestigious European exhibition Adria Security Summit. This development has one of the highest user ratings on Google Play and App Store among similar software.

Controlling smart home devices, SATEL fire and burglar alarms with Partizan app opens up great opportunities for both installers and end-users.

“Our partnership with Partizan Security will undoubtedly benefit all those who seek to make their home or business more secure”, — notes Grzegorz Rutkowski, SATEL board member.

“Such integrations bring professional security systems closer to ordinary consumers. This expands the opportunities for both business and end-users”, — commented Dmitry Danilchenko, CEO of Partizan Security.

HID Global has been awarded Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs contract for the passport issuance and processing system. The contract will see HID Global provide a new operating system for the Department’s passport service.

HID Global’s HID Integrale software system makes the management of applications easier and more efficient by providing a citizen-centric case management solution connected to all services for the issuing of passports and related documents.

Craig Sandness, Senior Vice President and Head of Secure Issuance and Citizen Identity at HID Global said, “We are very excited about this award, which extends our relationship with Ireland. The new service will be designed to meet all the requirements set out by the Department of Foreign Affairs in terms of security and data privacy, using technologies which already protect the personal information security of citizens in other countries.”

Simon Coveney T.D., Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs said, “My Department is partnering with HID Global to deliver a more modern and efficient Passport Service for Irish citizens. Over the last number of years, the passport service has delivered significant change through the Passport Reform Programme. In order to continue to provide a world-class service, we are partnering with HID to upgrade and replace the current passport service operating system. Completion of this project will result in a standard, scalable and resilient technical platform that will be capable of handling increased application volumes while maintaining the high standards of security that are a hallmark of the Irish Passport.”

The new solution will be designed by HID Global in partnership with Irish companies AG2 and Inpute Technologies, and alongside the Canadian organisation Worldreach Software. It will provide a complete, tailored and configurable solution that integrates all specialist software, hardware and equipment to meet the DFA’s goal of running an efficient, digital system for awarding and renewing passports. HID Global is already a subcontractor of software and components for the existing electronic passport programme in Ireland.

In 2021, HID Global announced plans to create a new Centre of Excellence in Galway, Ireland, that will consolidate many of HID Global’s European operations into a new facility and increase headcount from 180 to 300 over the next three years.

Bosch Building Technologies plans to acquire Hoerburger AG, headquartered in Waltenhofen, Bavaria, Germany. Bosch and the owners of Hoerburger AG have already signed corresponding agreements at the end of 2021

Hoerburger offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions focusing on building automation and energy management. The company has 45 years of experience in planning and implementing projects and providing services in this area. A major focus of its activities is the efficient and sustainable operation of buildings. The solutions are used in numerous sectors, for example in large industrial companies, healthcare facilities, and retail chains. Hoerburger has more than 200 employees at six locations in Germany and one location in Romania and generated sales of 33 million euros in 2020.

Designing intelligent building solutions as a team

“We are very much looking forward to working with Hoerburger’s highly experienced employees to jointly shape and expand the fast-growing market for smart building solutions in the future,” said Thomas Quante, president of Bosch Building Technologies. “Digitalisation, connectivity, and artificial intelligence are opening up ever more opportunities for us to transform commercial buildings into smart living and working environments that provide people with increased security, safety, and comfort, and ensure greater sustainability. Hoerburger’s many years of experience will further strengthen our current portfolio in the areas of building security, safety, energy services, and building automation,” Quante continues.

“We are very excited to become part of the Bosch family. We will leverage our know-how to further expand Bosch’s already strong position as an integrated partner for connected building solutions with future-oriented solutions and services,” said Christian Hoerburger, CEO of Hoerburger AG.

The acquisition is subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities. It has been agreed that the purchase price will not be disclosed.

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) has delivered a high-capacity system to help cyber defenders track what occurs on NATO’s networks.

The system, which reached full operational capability in November 2021, will strengthen NATO’s cyber security posture and ensure critical data and communications are protected. This project was executed under the Capability Package (CP) 120 Programme, which aims to refresh and enhance cyber security capabilities used by the NATO Cyber Security Center in support of its services.

NATO strengthens cyber security posture with cutting-edge capability
Croatian company KING ICT d.o.o. worked with the NCI Agency to deliver a more robust enterprise Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system to replace NATO’s existing capability. In September 2020, the Agency awarded the 7.8 million EUR contract to deliver the solution.

The new system helps the NATO Cyber Security Centre, run by the NCI Agency, to better detect and respond to security events, strengthening NATO’s security incident detection and response posture. The capability now has a more robust and powerful high-capacity infrastructure, enabling experts to analyse and correlate vast amounts of data, which is critical in a more connected world. Delivery of the new enterprise logging solution also contributes to long-term cost-reduction and consolidation by making use of state-of-the-art hyper-converged infrastructures.

“Final acceptance of this project’s deliverables marks the conclusion of a successful collaboration between NATO and industry,” said Jeroen Pinas, Senior Project Manager in the NATO Cyber Security Centre. “This project was completed within scope, cost and ahead of schedule and demonstrates that NATO and industry can be extremely effective when they join forces to successfully deliver NATO contracts.”

“The project teams on both sides have demonstrated exemplary flexibility given pandemic-related constraints, and set a very high bar for our future projects. There will be more industry opportunities in other tranches of the CP120 Programme in 2022,” said Frederic Jordan, the Head of the Cyber Security Programme Delivery Branch at the NATO Cyber Security Centre.

La Pinada Lab, located in Valencia, Spain, is an open innovation center that paves the way for future living. It is the first eco-district that is co-created by its residents. The center focuses on the sustainability of the urban environment by facilitating processes that tackle key contemporary challenges such as renewable energy, waste management, sustainable drinking water, smart mobility, accessibility, alternative construction methods, involvement of diverse populations, and more.

The Lab works alongside corporations, startups, administrations, and other stakeholders with the ambition of not only designing an inclusive, sustainable, and meaningful environment but to develop solutions that can be applied and scaled up in different contexts.

La Pinada Lab facilitates processes to test, deliver, and implement solutions to support a more inclusive, cohesive, and conscious way of living in the community. This results in shared living experiences in urban density and efficiency for all involved audiences like customers, operators, and third-party service providers.

The lab is a 900 sqm. venue that is currently under construction and is scheduled for opening in mid-June. This space will support events and networking activities, workshops, operate as a testbed for pilot projects and other experiments, and serve as a showroom for advanced solutions and technologies.

This cooperation of Eagle Eye Networks and SALTO Systems is designed to expand the ways video surveillance is used in co-working and co-living spaces. In addition to security, video surveillance can foster collaboration and deliver insights into building usage and how visitors interact with the property. Eagle Eye Networks installed a cloud video surveillance system and its integration with SALTO cloud access control is a powerful example of the role that integrated security will play in providing holistic security and insights into buildings.

Reduced manpower

“We are excited to contribute to the La Pinada Lab initiative in Spain to foster innovation and collaboration,” said Rishi Lodhia, Managing Director, Eagle Eye Networks EMEA. “Our ecosystem of technology partners help expand the possibilities of our own products and services, making them even more useful for our customers. After moving to Eagle Eye Networks, the City of Elche, Spain has reduced the number of employees needed for camera monitoring and maintenance, while city officials are gaining more insights from the cameras. In La Pinada Lab we go one step further to not only show the advantages of cloud video surveillance but how cloud video surveillance and cloud access control create an integrated security solution.”

Identifying opportunities

Christian Schmitz, Vertical Lead for Shared Living and Work Spaces at SALTO Systems, said the solution gives La Pinada Lab the ability “to connect the dots between lifestyle and technology, allowing them to build the right tech infrastructure.” SALTO and Eagle Eye Networks are joining La Pinada Lab’s partnership programme as Project Partners. The first step is to incorporate both Salto smart access products and technology and Eagle Eye Networks cloud video surveillance into the infrastructure of the La Pinada space, Schmitz said. “And being installed in a lab, it is only natural to observe and experiment with the use of Eagle Eye technology and SALTO’s keyless experience, identifying opportunities for new solutions and the impact of digitisation and automation on daily life.”

Fernando Fernandez of TGT Consulting is the Eagle Eye Networks certified reseller who did the installation at La Pinada Lab. He said this “was one of my first installations of the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS (video management system) product and I am truly impressed with its capabilities and flexibility. Now I am able to offer my clients a broader range of services, from telecommunications to physical security as a service.”

Mobotix is continuing its strategic expansion and strengthening its operational business by reaching an official agreement to acquire Vaxtor Group (Vaxtor), Tres Cantos, Spain, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) based video analytics provider, specialising in optical character recognition (OCR) and deep learning technologies.

Vaxtor’s OCR analytics technology, and in particular their automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) products, provide a wide range of solutions for numerous vertical market segments. With 100% in-house development, their technical vision, expertise, continuous R&D investment and product quality have secured year-on-year growth and healthy operating profits. Vaxtor has a broad global customer base, in 50 Countries, and partners with most of the relevant players in the industry, delivering both camera agnostic and at the edge video analytics in various sectors.

Their analytics technology, used in combination with cameras, allows the automated capture of e.g., letters, numbers or other machine and human readable data and enables such information to be recorded and processed cost-effectively at high speed and trigger any related processes.

This is both a facilitator and accelerator for Mobitix’s vertical market strategy as the use of these technologies can be applied in e.g., government, retail and transportation sectors but also, for example, in the tracking of containers, vehicles and aircraft the logistics and manufacturing areas.  Market intelligence estimates that the global market for ALPR solutions alone will increase from $2.3 billion to $3.8 billion by 2025, a CAGR of 10%.

In addition, Vaxtor’s products are tailor made for the Mobotix 7 high performance camera platform and have the competitive advantage that their analytics apps can be run decentralised on board the camera, removing the need for expensive peripheral hardware. They are also integrated into the Mobotix Hub video management software.

With all these factors taken in to consideration, the acquisition offers extensive commercial and development possibilities and synergy effects, in particular the opportunity for close development collaboration between Vaxtor and the recently formed Mobotix Development Office in Madrid, all of which will allow both companies to address emerging growth markets or future requirements more effectively.

Mobotix CEO Thomas Lausten commented: “This acquisition is a significant step in our strategy of strengthening our artificial intelligence and deep learning capabilities and, whilst Vaxtor will continue to operate as a stand-alone company, is based on compelling commercial and development synergies and clear strategic benefits for both parties.”

Novo Memoorijevo istraživanje otkriva da je više od godinu i po nakon početka pandemije globalno tržište sigurnosti pokazalo izuzetan stepen otpornosti, nadmašujući neka druga globalna tehnološka tržišta, ali i projekciju najboljeg scenarija koju je ta istraživačka kompanija donijela prošle godine.

Prema analitičarima, pandemija pomaže da se preoblikuje industrija sigurnosti, podstičući pojavu i brz razvoj novih poslovnih modela, a istovremeno nastavlja naša društva činiti sigurnijim ne samo od pandemije već i od kriminala i terorizma.

Memoorijeva najnovija analiza prodaje sigurnosnih proizvoda po fabričkim cijenama pokazuje da se globalna prodaja u 2021. snažno vratila u odnosu na 2020. godinu te narasla na preko 33,8 milijardi dolara vrijednosti, a procjene su da će se rast nastaviti u narednih pet godina složenom stopom od čak 7,2 posto.

Glavni tehnološki pokretači su rast interneta stvari i integracije sistema u objektima, rastuća potražnja za daljinskim upravljanjem i kontrolom, posebno ACaaS i VSaaS uslugama zasnovanim na oblaku, te AI videoanalitika. Uz to, analitičari sugerišu da će kriminal, stalne terorističke prijetnje, granični sporovi i izbjegličke krize i dalje pokretati usvajanje sigurnosnih tehnologija.

Brojke pokazuju da videonadzor i dalje drži najveći udio u prodaji sa 57%. Taj se segment sigurnosti brzo oporavio te porastao za 14,5% na godišnjem nivou nadmašujući prodaju iz 2019. i dostigavši vrijednost od 21,65 milijardi dolara u 2021.