The first day of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 in Barcelona was marked by strong momentum and high attendance, with several tens of thousands of professionals from around the world moving through exhibition halls filled with exhibitors and the latest AV, IT, and systems integration solutions. As noted by ISE Managing Director Mike Blackman, size alone is not a guarantee of long-term relevance; what truly matters is continuous adaptation to the real needs of the market and the industry. “We might be the biggest right now, but we have to work hard to stay there – we don’t decide what’s best, our customers do,” Blackman said ahead of the show’s opening.

This year’s edition of ISE is held under the Push Beyond theme, which, according to the organisers, symbolises breaking down boundaries between AV, IT, broadcast, and creative technologies, as well as moving beyond traditional industry silos. From day one, a strong emphasis has been placed on AV and broadcast convergence, particularly in Hall 4, where a significant portion of the space is dedicated to virtual production technologies and advanced LED applications.

Blackman also highlighted ISE’s deliberate evolution from a traditional systems integrator-focused trade show into a global platform for the exchange of ideas and innovation, warning that failure to adapt to change can seriously undermine the relevance of major technology events. This approach is reflected in new initiatives introduced at ISE 2026, including the Spark creative industries hub and the Cybersecurity Summit, both underscoring the growing importance of cyber security in increasingly connected AV and IT systems.

Once again, the show’s early position in the industry calendar allows manufacturers to present professional versions of technologies previously unveiled at CES, with a strong focus on live, immersive experiences. At the same time, the organisers continue to strengthen ties with the host city of Barcelona through public AV installations and events open to local citizens.

For first-time visitors facing the impressive scale of the show from day one, ISE has introduced AI-powered planning tools and guided “New to ISE” tours designed to improve navigation and help attendees use their time more efficiently. As Blackman emphasises, ISE today is no longer just a trade show, but a global meeting point where the future of technology is actively shaped – and the opening day of ISE 2026 clearly demonstrates why that enthusiasm continues to grow year after year.

Among the media present on site are the editorial teams of a&s Adria and a&s Middle East, reporting directly from Barcelona on the key trends, technologies, and messages emerging from the world’s leading pro AV event.

Euralarm has released a new guidance document on Precautionary measures for protecting vital installations and facilities, providing practical direction to strengthen the physical protection and resilience of critical infrastructures across Europe. The purpose of this document is to illustrate in practice the importance and the basic requirements for physical security and safety in the field of critical infrastructure

In view of the constantly growing threat situation and the interdependencies between the individual sectors, the security of critical infrastructures must not only be understood as a task for individual infrastructure operators. Rather, it is an all-society issue that requires the cooperation of all parties involved – from government agencies to security authorities to private companies and specialized security service providers. Only through this shared responsibility and the continuous adaptation to new threat scenarios can the security and stability of Europe be guaranteed in the long term.

In an increasingly complex and interconnected environment, European societies rely on highly interdependent systems such as energy and water supply, healthcare, transport, and communications. Recent incidents and evolving threat scenarios have underlined how vulnerable these vital installations can be to targeted attacks, natural disasters, and technical failures. Ensuring their continued functionality is therefore essential for social stability, public safety, and economic security.

The guidance builds on the objectives of the European Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities (CER/RCE), which establishes minimum standards for the protection of critical infrastructures. It emphasizes the importance of cross-sectoral physical security arrangements that complement existing cyber and IT security measures, creating a holistic and integrated security approach.

While national implementation timelines may vary, the document highlights that proactive protective measures are both necessary and prudent to mitigate all conceivable risks.

A central focus of the guidance is the role of regular risk analyses and resilience planning. These processes enable operators of critical infrastructures to identify vulnerabilities early, prevent potential threats, and sustainably enhance their ability to withstand and recover from disruptive events.

The document outlines the need for an integrative security strategy that combines structural, technical, and organizational measures. Effective protection can only be achieved through the coordinated application of physical security solutions – such as perimeter protection, access control, intrusion and fire detection, and video surveillance – together with robust cyber security measures. This layered approach creates a comprehensive protective shield tailored to the specific risk profile of critical infrastructures.

Finally, the guidance stresses that protecting vital installations is not solely the responsibility of individual operators. It is a shared, all-society task requiring close cooperation between public authorities, security agencies, private operators, and specialized security service providers. Continuous collaboration and adaptation to emerging threats are essential to safeguarding Europe’s critical infrastructures and ensuring long-term resilience.

The guidance document is intended as a practical reference for policymakers, infrastructure operators, and security professionals involved in the protection of vital facilities.

The guideline can be downloaded here

Wesco International has been highlighted as an example of long-term commitment to open standards in the security industry through its active membership in ONVIF. As a FORTUNE 500 company with approximately $22 billion in annual revenue, more than 700 locations across 50 countries, and a portfolio comprising millions of products, Wesco has been actively involved in ONVIF technical committees for over 15 years. Through this engagement, the company supports the development of common network architecture and interoperable solutions for modern security systems.

In the latest ONVIF member profile, David Needham, Senior Engineer for Connected Systems Technology and Support Services, emphasizes that Wesco brings a system integrator’s perspective to standards development. According to Needham, this approach helps shape solutions that have a direct impact on real-world security deployments worldwide. Wesco has been present in the physical security market since the 1980s, while a dedicated sales team for this segment was established in 2000.

The company notes that ONVIF membership delivers tangible value to customers, particularly through its advisory role and advocacy for open interfaces that enable deeper integration between different systems. This approach, Wesco adds, helps end users more easily achieve their operational and security objectives in increasingly complex environments.

The full interview and detailed ONVIF member profile of Wesco are available on the official ONVIF blog: https://www.onvif.org/blog/2026/01/26/member-profile-wesco/

There are just five days left until the start of Integrated Systems Europe 2026, with Barcelona ready to welcome tens of thousands of professionals from the AV, IT, and security industries. ISE 2026 will take place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, once again serving as the central hub for showcasing the latest technologies and integrated solutions. The event brings together leading global manufacturers and system integrators, with a strong focus on AI-ready systems, professional displays, AV-over-IP, smart buildings, and security technologies.

This year’s edition places particular emphasis on IT/AV convergence, sustainability, energy efficiency, and real-world technology deployments. Visitors can expect numerous product premieres, strategic announcements, and direct engagement with key industry players from Europe and beyond. Those who have not yet registered are encouraged to do so in time and secure their place at one of the most important technology events of the year.

Link for registration: https://www.iseurope.org/welcome/registration

TOA Electronics Europe has announced the launch of its new CX-1000 Series, an IP-based public address and intercom system designed to enhance security, connectivity, and operational efficiency. The new platform combines PA and intercom functionality within a single, user-friendly interface, enabling audio and video calls, message broadcasting, and CCTV monitoring from one system. Built with a strong focus on security, reliability, and flexibility, the CX-1000 Series is suitable for a wide range of professional applications.

Thanks to support for open IP interfaces such as SIP, ONVIF, and multicast audio, the system allows seamless integration of TOA solutions as well as third-party devices. This approach creates a unified communication environment that can easily adapt to complex and evolving infrastructure requirements. The CX-1000 Series also offers an extensive set of software features, including manual zone paging, background music, group calls, call forwarding, door control, and camera monitoring.

The system is scalable to support up to 3,000 connected devices, making it suitable for both mid-sized and large installations. Drawing on TOA’s decades of professional audio expertise, the CX-1000 Series delivers clear and reliable sound even in demanding environments such as schools, universities, hospitals, airports, transport hubs, and public or corporate buildings. TOA Electronics Europe notes that the new platform is designed to simplify daily operations while providing a future-ready foundation for integrated communication and security systems.

Uniview has announced the launch of its first mini dome camera model as part of the Tri-Guard 1.0 Series, further expanding its portfolio of active deterrence solutions. The new camera delivers 24/7 full-color imaging through a combination of Smart Dual Light technology and Wise-ISP image processing, ensuring clear visibility even in complete darkness. The model features active deterrence functions, including strobe white light and audio warnings, as well as two-way audio communication for real-time interaction.

More even scene illumination is achieved through a combination of two IR LEDs and one white light, supported by additional side lights for improved coverage. The camera will be available in 4MP and 8MP versions, with a 2MP model planned for release at a later stage. Thanks to its compact design and robust security features, the new mini dome camera is suitable for a wide range of modern security applications.

The countdown to ISE 2026 is underway, and VITEC is set to present a strong portfolio of video solutions designed to enhance performance, efficiency, and sustainability across ProAV environments. At the Barcelona exhibition, VITEC will showcase technologies developed for use in corporate, education, hospitality, and large public venues, with a focus on delivering reliable, scalable, and long-term sustainable video experiences.

At stand 5C300, visitors will be able to explore the new X View range of integrated displays, purpose-built PoE screens featuring embedded Avedia technology. These solutions enable clean and reliable content delivery in meeting rooms and workplace environments, without the need for external players or additional cabling, while offering simple, centralised management. The displays are available in 11.6-inch and 21.5-inch formats and integrate seamlessly with Office 365 and ArtioCreate for fast and flexible content updates.

In Barcelona, VITEC will also introduce its next generation of encoding, contribution, and gateway solutions, including the modular Diamond C1 Chassis, the MGW Diamond H encoder with 4K HDMI recording support and power consumption monitoring, as well as the ChannelLink IP Gateway featuring automatic failover mechanisms and RIST support. Special attention will be given to the high-density Diamond C10 Chassis, which supports the full range of VITEC OG cards.

Also in focus will be VITEC’s enhanced IPTV, streaming, and digital signage ecosystem, combining live TV distribution, ultra-low-latency streaming, centralised screen management, and digital signage within a single unified platform.

These solutions deliver high-quality 4K streaming, real-time content updates, and dependable operation across both single-site and multi-site deployments. In addition, VITEC will present flexible video wall processing solutions designed to deliver high-quality 4K content across control rooms, dynamic signage, and immersive visual environments.

The solutions are scalable—from simple single-wall installations to complex multi-screen systems—and are managed through intuitive tools that ensure stable operation, easy integration, and impactful visual experiences.

PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, has officially unveiled the new Philips Signage 5000 Series (D-Line), its most powerful and intelligent line of professional digital displays to date. The new series delivers processing power of six trillion operations per second, making it the most advanced digital signage display in the PPDS portfolio, with full readiness for AI applications.

The Philips Signage 5000 Series represents an evolution of the highly successful Philips Signage 4650 line, which has gained global popularity across retail, transportation, education, corporate, and public environments. Redesigned using the latest UHD visual technologies, improved energy efficiency, and significantly enhanced processing capabilities, the new series is engineered to deliver outstanding image quality and reliable 24/7 operation.

The displays are available in both portrait and landscape orientations, with screen sizes ranging from 32 to 98 inches, enabling deployment across a wide variety of professional use cases. The series will make its first public appearance at ISE 2026 in Barcelona, where it will be showcased at the Philips booth 3N500.

A key technological advancement is the integration of an octa-core processor and a 6 TOPS neural processing unit, making the Philips Signage 5000 Series the first Android SoC display in the PPDS lineup to offer this level of AI performance. This architecture enables faster and smoother execution of AI tasks without placing additional load on CPU and GPU resources, ensuring stable and seamless system operation.

As Andrea Barbuti, Global Product Management Lead for the EMEA region at PPDS, points out, “As artificial intelligence continues to advance rapidly, so do the opportunities it brings to business users, regardless of industry or market.” He adds that the Philips Signage 5000 Series has been designed to meet both current and future partner requirements, while ensuring that AI applications operate seamlessly and transparently for end users.

The displays offer a high level of reliability thanks to FailOver technology, which automatically ensures continuous content playback even in the event of an external source failure. Behind the screen, the system runs on a professional Android 14 platform, with native support for direct app installation, eliminating the need for external media players.

Integration with the Philips Wave cloud ecosystem enables remote management, monitoring, updates, and optimisation of entire display networks worldwide. A strong focus has also been placed on sustainability, with reduced power consumption and a modular design that extends product lifespan and helps minimise electronic waste.

IQSIGHT, a technology company operating within the Bosch Group and focused on advanced AI solutions for security and identification, has appointed Sam Ward to the position of Global Sales Director. Ward joins IQSIGHT with extensive international experience in leading multi-channel sales strategies, working with distributors and system integrators, and delivering numerous product and brand launches. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the company, which is experiencing strong growth and further positioning itself in the global security technology market.

According to the company, Ward brings a strong customer-centric focus, a market-driven approach to business development, and an engineer’s perspective to shaping commercial strategies. In his statement, he emphasized that he sees this role as an opportunity to build a new way of operating, based on close collaboration with customers and teams, with a clear focus on real market needs.

IQSIGHT states that this appointment will further strengthen its global sales and partner ecosystem, while maintaining a focus on security, identification, and long-term sustainable growth, in line with the technological and strategic vision of the Bosch Group.