Following the successful EMEA rollout of its FlipX Standard indoor sensors in September, OPTEX, the leading global sensor manufacturer, has announced the launch of its new Grade 3 FlipX Advanced series.

OPTEX FlipX sensors feature a bespoke pyroelectric sensor for increased performance that adapts to the human shape, and a unique lens that can be ‘flipped’ to provide both wide and narrow detection in a single sensor.  By rotating the lens through 180°, the sensor can protect narrow or long areas such as a corridor or warehouse aisles up to 24m, or a wide, open area like a lobby or high-value retail store to 15m at 85°.

In addition, to provide a higher level of security, the Advanced models feature intelligent IR-Antimasking, which protects both the PIR and microwave sensors, generating an alert if they are covered. It’s also equipped with additional algorithms to ensure stable detection and reduce false alarms. Double conductive shielding means nuisance alarms caused by changes in light, temperature, or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) can be avoided. FlipX Advanced sensors also feature a ‘super high PIR sensitivity’ mode, which when set, enables the sensors to maintain stable and highly reliable detection even when the temperature difference between the human and the environment is very small, this ensures greater catch performance for high-security, high-risk sites where missed alarms are unacceptable.

Masaya Kida, Managing Director for OPTEX EMEA, says the cutting-edge technology behind FlipX Advanced makes it ideal for high-security indoor environments: “The ‘flipped’ lens is a time-saving and cost-effective solution that provides installers with two sensors in one to provide both wide and narrow detection within any high-security environments, including banks, high-value retail, logistics, and high-end residential applications.

“As Grade 3 sensors, FlipX Advanced can be seamlessly integrated with intruder alarm and control systems. Our advanced pyro sensor, designed following significant research and investment into our customer needs, ensures highly accurate and reliable indoor detection performance, to ensure any attempt of intrusion, unauthorized access or theft can be identified quickly and accurately to protect people, property, and valuable assets.”

The sensors feature a sleek and compact design, with flexible mounting height options (between 2-3m) meaning they seamlessly blend into building aesthetics and buildings with higher ceilings.

For quick and simple installation, FlipX Advanced has an easily viewable LED, a terminal block for easy wiring, and an EOL plug-in resistor socket.

FlipX Advanced is available as a PIR model – FLX-A-AM – and for more challenging indoor environments as a dual-technology (PIR and microwave) model – FLX-A-DAM. The latter is equipped with OPTEX’s robust Tough MOD 2 microwave module, ensuring the durability of the sensor in challenging environments, particularly humid climates, and higher levels of capture performance by tailoring the microwave to the PIR detection area.

Following the launch, OPTEX plans to release further models in the FlipX series in early 2023.

For further OPTEX information, contact: optex@optex.com.pl, www.optex-europe.com.

VIVOTEK, the global leading IP surveillance solution provider, once again won the prestigious Taiwan Excellence Award for two intelligent IP surveillance products: IE9111-O AI-BOX and IP9165-LPR-v2 Kit Smart City License Plate Recognition Camera. To date, over 30 VIVOTEK products have won the Taiwan Excellence Award.

“We continue to focus on expanding smart IP surveillance through the development of AI, deep learning, big data, and IoT technologies and satisfying the growing demands of our customers through the situational application of smart products. We are committed to meeting international standards, securing patent protection for outstanding technologies, growing the intelligent IP surveillance industry, and providing comprehensive intelligent IP surveillance solutions for the future,” proclaimed VIVOTEK Spokesperson and Director of Global Marketing Division, Allen Hsieh.

IE9111-O AI-BOX provides the computing power necessary to seamlessly upgrade clients’ existing surveillance devices into an AIoT intelligent system. Equipped with an octa-core SoC, the IE9111-O effectively supports hardware acceleration for deep learning, powerful visual computing, and edge computing performance that can optimize AI image processing capabilities. Since the AI-BOX is a Driven by OSSA device, users can download and install dedicated APPs from an APP store to add an array of functionalities to their systems, including facial recognition, occupational safety detection, and behavior monitoring.

IP9165-LPR-v2 Kit Smart City License Plate Recognition Camera supports license plates from 102 countries. The system can simultaneously read vehicle type and color and compile blacklists and whitelists for law enforcement. Therefore, it is an ideal system for city governance, law enforcement, and toll management. Infrared LEDs and headlight filters are built into the cameras allowing them to handle a variety of lighting environments, ensuring the best possible resolution in any situation. The high-resolution, wide-angle cameras can detect and capture moving license plates across multiple lanes in real time, effectively doing more with less. The cameras are encased in vandal-proof IK10-rated and weatherproof IP68-rated housing, allowing them to withstand the harshest environments.

The 31st Taiwan Excellence Awards was hosted by the Bureau of Foreign Trade, MOEA, in collaboration with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). Over a period of three months, submissions are vigorously scrutinized by over one hundred experts across several categories, including R&D, design, quality, marketing, features, and local manufacturing. A total of 348 products stood out from a pool of thousands. VIVOTEK is honored to have received recognition in the AIoT IP surveillance space.

Uruguay has been home to quality football since time immemorial.  While a football court is an age-old source of dreams and ambitions, it draws the young en masse which is exactly the demographics that Uniview wants to protect with its tried-and-tested products.

A series of cameras have been installed at the Futbol Playa Honda in Montevideo whose football court is now under the watchful eye of Univew’s products. The club asked for surveillance systems that will not only ensure fair play but also serve to protect the dreams of young aspiring football players.  When going for this installation, the old adage that misses is as important a lesson for veteran players as the scores does not apply – Uniview’s cameras are not allowed to miss when it comes to the security of the Futbol Playa Honda’s breeding grounds of new talents.

Dahua Technology has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary Lorex, a video security company headquartered in Canada with operations in North America and the U.K. to Skywatch a privately held cloud services company headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.  Dahua states that the transaction is valued at around $72 million US dollars.

Commenting on the transaction, Fu Liquan, President and Chairman of Dahua Technology said, “Lorex has been a crown-jewel in Dahua’s global enterprise since we acquired it. However, it is in the best interest of our shareholders, customers, employees and other stakeholders to execute this transaction, which will create value in both the immediate-term for our company, and over the long-term for Lorex’s stakeholders. We wish the Lorex team every success in this next chapter of their journey.”

The transaction will enable Skywatch to accelerate its entrance into the North American market and other international markets for its growing cloud services business, while enabling Lorex to further grow its already robust video security business in its existing markets. The company does not expect to change its footprint in the markets in which it operates and aims to drive growth across those markets and potential new markets in the coming years.

“Over the course of more than 30 years, Lorex has established itself as one of the most trusted brands in video security in North America. We look forward to working with Lorex’s world-class team to build on its trusted brand, distributor relationships, and industry-leading products to fuel future company growth and to meet growing customer demand for smart video security and IoT solutions. This transaction not only adds a valuable and growing asset but also paves the way for our cutting-edge cloud services business to establish itself in the North American market. Together, we see an enormous opportunity to create exceptional value”, said Skywatch founder Chairman Dr. Wei-Chao Chen.

Let’s be honest: thieves of all categories simply adore trading establishments. Someone pulls a wallet out of a woman’s purse while in line, someone opens the cash register at night, or someone shovels things from the counter under their jacket. The video surveillance system will help to punish miscreants. How to make it as effective as possible?

Among the most important criteria are correctly chosen places for installing CCTV cameras. It’s one thing if you have a small shop. In this case, literally, several CCTV cameras will be enough: in the entrance-exit area and the main hall, so that the cash register and counters are visible. But if the store is a little bigger, it is worth considering all the “hot” points.

Let’s start with the most obvious:

• Trading hall. If its area is large, then several CCTV cameras should be placed around the perimeter.
• Cash desks, as well as checkout areas
• Entrances/exits, including rear and emergency exits
• Warehouses with goods
• luggage storage
• The area close to the store

Installation of CCTV cameras in these places is a “must-have”, and it is probably not necessary to explain why exactly. However, there are several places that are often forgotten, but which are no less important.

• Ramps and loading platforms: more for personal safety, but thefts happen there too.
• Entrances to service premises: the personal things of employees and store property are often the target of offenders. For example, someone can quickly grab a laptop from the office if the workplace is left unattended.
• The area with ATMs, top-up terminals, coffee machines, etc.: it is always crowdy here, people stand in lines, get money, wallets… A fishy place for a thief. And a larger predatory “fish” can target an entire ATM, pretending to be a technical specialist!
• Area with garbage cans: unfortunately, employees of large stores are also not very honest. Taking something expensive to the trash and then picking it up is also a working scheme.

A little general advice. In trade establishments, CCTV cameras should be installed in the most visible places. This will become a factor of passive protection. Having felt the watchful “look” of the video surveillance system, the thief will most likely change his mind about committing a crime.

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Security cameras made by Chinese company Hikvision can no longer be installed in or on government buildings after cabinet minister Oliver Dowden declared them “current and future possible security risks”. This came after calls for a nationwide ban by a group of MPs and peers, but doesn’t go far enough, according to the UK’s outgoing biometrics and surveillance cameras commissioner.

Hikvision is partly owned by the Chinese government and is the largest CCTV provider in the world, serving schools, public institutions and secret laboratories in the UK. It supplies up to 60% of UK public bodies with CCTV cameras according to a report by Big Brother Watch, which found that the cameras from Hikvision and Dahua, another partly Chinese government-owned manufacturer, were used by 73% of local authorities, 35% of police forces and 63% of schools in the UK.

The new decision by the UK government includes a ban on the future installation of any security cameras made by companies subject to Chinese security laws and came after a review of the security risks linked to surveillance systems on the government estate.

“The review has concluded that, in light of the threat to the UK and the increasing capability and connectivity of these systems, additional controls are required,” Dowden wrote in a statement to parliament.

Over a million of these cameras are thought to be on buildings across the UK, including on government and publicly owned property.

In a statement to the media, Hikvision said it was “categorically false to represent Hikvision as a threat to national security.”

“Hikvision is an equipment manufacturer that has no visibility into end users’ video data,” the Hangzhou-based company said. “Hikvision cannot access end users’ video data and cannot transmit data from end-users to third parties. We do not manage end-user databases, nor do we sell cloud storage in the UK. Our cameras are compliant with the applicable UK rules and regulations and are subject to strict security requirements.”