VORTEX, an AI-powered cloud surveillance platform by VIVOTEK, introduces its latest safety feature: PPE detection. PPE refers to Personal Protective Equipment, and the detection system is powered by Cloud AI and deep-learning algorithms running on VIVOTEK AI cameras. This feature automatically monitors whether workers are wearing the required safety gear in hazardous environments, helping organizations maintain real-time safety compliance.
How It Works
VORTEX uses cloud-based AI to accurately detect missing PPE, such as helmets and safety vests, and instantly triggers real-time alerts through the cloud. This enables quicker responses to prevent accidents before workers are exposed to danger. The AI model is trained to identify people and key PPE items, while the system checks whether the required equipment is worn in designated work zones. When a violation occurs – such as a worker entering a mandatory PPE zone without a helmet – the system immediately sends alerts via mobile push notifications, email, or integrated on-site speakers, allowing rapid intervention.
With the Case Vault in the VORTEX AI Hub, users can add selected clips and automatically generate a structured visual timeline with snapshots and video evidence. Reports can be exported as PDF files with a single click. All incidents are logged and stored with video evidence, creating audit-ready records for investigations and compliance reporting.
Key Benefits
Using the VORTEX cloud solution, safety managers can monitor multiple sites from a single platform and receive instant alerts whenever PPE violations occur, eliminating the need for manual supervision. The system provides continuous, automated oversight without labor-intensive spot checks, supports risk mitigation through immediate alerts, and improves operational efficiency by allowing safety personnel to focus on strategic tasks rather than constant monitoring. It also generates verified documentation needed for regulatory compliance, including OSHA requirements and insurance audits.
Where It’s Used
Typical deployment scenarios include construction sites, warehouses and logistics centers, mines and quarries, factories and manufacturing facilities, utilities and energy operations, as well as rail and transport projects. With VORTEX PPE Detection, safety enforcement becomes proactive, efficient, and verifiable – protecting workers while simplifying compliance in high-risk environments.
Salto announces the launch of XS4 Sense, a smart, wireless energy efficiency and control management system designed to optimize energy consumption, reduce CO₂ emissions, and support sustainability goals – that’s fully integrated with the Salto smart access ecosystem
Piše: Agnieszka Filipowicz, Business Development Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Salto; E-mail: a.filipowicz@saltosystems.com
Salto, announced the launch of XS4 Sense, an innovative Smart Energy Management System (SMES) designed to revolutionize energy efficiency in buildings. Combining cutting-edge wireless technology with real-time energy monitoring platform, XS4 Sense empowers building operators to reduce energy consumption, lower carbon footprints, and achieve sustainability goals – all without complex installations or invasive infrastructure upgrades.
Building on Salto’s reputation for secure smart access solutions, XS4 Sense expands the smart access ecosystem technology portfolio by integrating real-time energy monitoring, advanced presence detection, and HVAC control into a compact, retrofit-friendly device. The wireless solution integrates seamlessly with Salto’s existing smart access ecosystem, including Salto Space and BLUEnet infrastructure, enabling rapid installation in operational hotels, workspaces, student dorms, cruise ships, and other properties.
Simple Management
Built to work together, designed for retrofit, and certified for sustainability, the XS4 Sense enables building operators to reduce energy consumption, lower their CO₂ footprint, and meet sustainability goals – without the need for complex wiring or new infrastructure. The XS4 Sense offers significant energy savings by optimizing consumption at the individual room or space level, ensuring improved overall energy efficiency. Designed for seamless retrofit, its advanced wireless architecture eliminates the need for complicated setups or extra tools, making installation quick and disruption-free.
As an all-in-one smart controller, this compact wireless device integrates multiple functionalities, including motion detection, door and window sensors, and HVAC control, making it suitable for any room or space. Its flexible placement options allow installation on ceilings, under eaves, or on door and window frames, with a non-invasive design ideal for live environments such as hotels, student housing, workspaces, healthcare labs, cruise ship cabins, and more.
Ideal for Retrofitting Projects
XS4 Sense works harmoniously with Salto’s smart access platform and is fully integrated with Salto Space, combining security, comfort, and energy efficiency into a single smart access solution. The XS4 Sense offers a unique opportunity to complement existing access control solutions and deliver a measurable sustainability impact. The system is ideal for retrofitting projects in operational environments such as hotels, student dormitories, offices, cruise ship cabins, and vacation rental properties.
A powerful addition to Salto’s smart access ecosystem, the XS4 Sense delivers value for both existing customers and new developments seeking to align with sustainable building standards, ESG targets, and energy regulations. The system supports real-time monitoring and actionable insights, enabling operators to demonstrate measurable environmental impact and reduce long-term operational costs.
Honeywell has expanded its Smart Energy portfolio through the acquisition of three utility platforms from SparkMeter Inc., a leading provider of grid management solutions. The acquisition includes SparkMeter’s intellectual property and certain related assets.
The acquired platforms—Praxis, GridScan, and GridFin—will be integrated into Honeywell Forge Performance+ for Utilities, significantly enhancing its capabilities. Praxis provides data insights and analytics to help utilities modernize and monetize assets, GridScan delivers real-time visibility into the performance and health of distribution grids, while GridFin focuses on financial management and cost optimization.
According to Amol Motivala, president of Honeywell Smart Energy, the acquisition addresses the growing challenges utilities face as energy demand rises. “By combining these SparkMeter technologies with Honeywell Forge Performance+ for Utilities, we will provide advanced tools that automate, simplify, and optimize daily planning, operations, and existing grid assets,” he said.
Honeywell emphasizes that the expansion of its smart energy portfolio will enable utilities to better manage evolving energy demands with more comprehensive data management, business intelligence, and analytics functionality.
The move is part of Honeywell’s broader strategic transformation, which includes the planned spin-offs of its Aerospace Technologies and Solstice Advanced Materials businesses. The company has also pursued an active acquisition strategy since June 2023, completing deals worth $14 billion.
Recent acquisitions include Compressor Controls Corporation, SCADAfence, Civitanavi Systems, CAES Systems, Sundyne, Li-ion Tamer, as well as business units from Carrier Global, Air Products, and Johnson Matthey. In parallel, Honeywell divested its Personal Protective Equipment business to Protective Industrial Products in May 2025.
By combining divestments with targeted acquisitions, Honeywell is reshaping its portfolio to focus on high-growth, technology-driven sectors.
Motorola Solutions has announced a contract to deploy a new TETRA land mobile radio communications network for Enea Operator, one of Poland’s leading energy suppliers. The solution will provide reliable and secure voice and data communications between personnel, optimize power grid management, and enhance service reliability for 2.5 million residents across northwestern Poland.
“The continuity of energy supply and services during a crisis depends on failsafe communication between field teams, dispatchers and management staff,” said Magdalena Kordys, Vice President of Finance, Enea Operator. “A communications network independent of commercial operators strengthens our operational resilience and streamlines collaboration with emergency services.”
The new TETRA network integrates a SCADA system to remotely monitor and control grid infrastructure. A network of sensors across the grid will be able to relay critical data to the central monitoring system, using the TETRA network as the secure data pipeline. If an issue or maintenance need is detected, personnel can be immediately notified via radio.
Motorola Solutions will deploy 130 TETRA base stations, modems and digital radios, along with terminals for more than 1,000 technical vehicles, to support the operation of the integrated solution.
Designed for resilience, the TETRA network can operate on an emergency power supply for up to 36 hours in the event of a mass failure or loss of electrical network voltage. “Enea Operator’s investment in modernizing its operations will help safeguard the delivery of electricity to millions of Polish residents,” said Axel Kukuk, Vice President, Sales Europe, Motorola Solutions. “With this contract, three of Poland’s four national energy Distribution System Operators now rely on Motorola Solutions’ mission-critical communications solutions. We are proud to support the delivery of this essential service to homes, businesses, schools and hospitals across the country.”
Alarm automatika officially celebrated the successful completion of its Energy Monitoring System (EMS) project in Montenegro with a formal handover ceremony held at the Ministry of Energy and Mining in Podgorica.
The EMS project is part of Montenegro’s long-term energy efficiency improvement program, which has been ongoing for several years in multiple phases. In addition to facility renovations, the project involved the development and implementation of a Central Information System for monitoring energy consumption in public buildings — a solution successfully delivered by Alarm automatika.
The system now covers 193 public facilities throughout Montenegro, providing centralized monitoring of electricity and water usage, as well as real-time tracking of carbon emissions (CO₂ footprint).
The official handover on behalf of the Ministry was signed by Božidar Pavlović, Director General of the Directorate for Energy Efficiency, alongside colleagues Đorđina Lovrić and Merisa Zoronjić. Representing Alarm automatika, Project Director Senad Džabija signed the handover, joined by Finance Director Milica Blečić and team members from the company’s Montenegrin office, Mladen Savović and Maida Kurtagić. The event was also attended by Project Manager Milan Đukanović.
Alarm automatika confirmed its continued commitment to the project, announcing it will provide system maintenance and support services over the next five years.
Apricum, a prominent Croatian company specializing in digital and green technology solutions, is delighted to announce its successful selection for an EU-funded project aimed at enhancing competitiveness through investments in the digital and green transition. The project, aptly named “Strengthening Competitiveness through Investments in Digital and Green Transition,” will empower Apricum to strengthen its production capabilities, stimulate market growth, and adapt to evolving industry trends while building on its know-how, certification, and international presence.
Apricum has been allocated a generous budget of HRK 11,274,403.38 (EUR 1,496,462.83503078) to implement cutting-edge digital and green technologies that are supposed to revolutionize its business model and foster sustainable growth. The primary objectives of this initiative include optimizing production processes, ensuring resource efficiency, minimizing waste generation, and establishing long-term market resilience.
KNX Systems at the Helm of Smart Homes
By embracing innovation and digitalization, Apricum intends to streamline its manufacturing processes while promoting a greener and more efficient approach to the production of KNX devices. Today, many smart homes are managed through the worldwide standardized system for building automation, KNX. In short, this means intelligently networking all devices in a building and controlling them from one or various locations, whether by mobile phone, tablet, or computer via the internet (Wi-Fi). This has been part of Apricum’s story from its earliest days as the company has been at the forefront of manufacturing components, modules, and complete KNX devices in Southeast Europe for many years.
Their share in the KNX bus system is a key building block in addressing tomorrow’s climate challenges. By spreading the KNX system, Apricum helps to achieve energy savings of up to 60%.
Apricum has successfully met the high-quality requirements of leading manufacturers, as proven through various audits. Furthermore, they are repeatedly certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015. The European Union had already recognized their achievements and innovation in high-tech solutions by co-funding the APRICUM-SECURE project – a module for secure encrypted management and electronic monitoring of infrastructure.
Apricum takes pride in its role as the lead applicant for this project. Its company members have more than 30 years of experience in developing KNX devices and maintaining the system.
Leveraging its expertise in developing KNX devices and supplying electronic components for smart home and infrastructure management, Apricum has consistently invested in advanced technology and human resources to enhance its product offerings.
Recognizing the importance of aligning production processes, business functions, and workforce with optimized technology and process management, this project aims to improve just that.
Part of the project is ensuring Apricum’s ongoing success and adaptability in the face of technological disruptions caused by the ongoing armed and trade conflicts, shortages, and inflation.
Digital Transition Will Minimize Human Errors and Waste Production Simultaneously
The project will contribute to the digital transition through various activities.
These include innovating component preparation processes, and implementing software solutions for optimizing and automating processes in a dedicated shop floor. Additionally, software-managed digital pick-and-place machines will enhance process tracking and optimization. The company will also innovate automatic and manual component assembly processes, integrating software solutions to reduce human error and minimize production waste.
Apricum will focus on integrating all manufacturing steps and thereby enhancing final product quality. By using state-of-the-art solder print systems, the need for cleaning and misprints is reduced, reducing waste and facilitating recycling. Reliable and precise pick and place machines avoid waste of components, saving resources. Modern automated optical inspection systems and intelligent reflow soldering ovens ensure minimum energy consumption combined with maximum production quality with high first yield rates.
The project includes the procurement of advanced equipment and software for digitizing the whole manufacturing process, enabling full traceability, and ensuring controlled quality.
Apricum will innovate the product end-assembly processes by implementing software solutions for machine management and process optimization. The project will also involve the integration of new digital technologies for product labeling and packaging, including efficient laser management software and engraving equipment.
The comprehensive digital transformation of Apricum will encompass production and related business functions. This includes integrating software solutions for document and project management, file management, and operational process optimization. Software for accounting process innovation and synchronization with the production process, machine management, and optimization, tracking the pick and place machine workflow, and optimizing business processes will be implemented.
From Germany to China: Strengthening Apricum’s International Presence
In addition to its remarkable achievements in the field of digital and green technology solutions, Apricum has also made significant strides in expanding its workforce and establishing an international presence. With its headquarters in Split, Croatia, Apricum has been successful in creating employment opportunities and fostering a diverse team of professionals dedicated to driving the company’s growth.
Currently, Apricum employs 40 individuals in its Split location, comprising the production department. Meanwhile, the company’s development segment is based in Germany, where it has witnessed substantial growth and assembled an international team. Alongside Germans and Croatians, Apricum now proudly boasts employees from Iran, Spain, and China, among other nationalities.
China stands as the largest buyer of Apricum’s products, accounting for an impressive 70% of the company’s output. The construction boom in China has created an extraordinary demand for Apricum’s offerings.
Finally, Apricum is thrilled to embark on this transformative project, which will not only enhance its competitive position but also contribute to the broader digital and green transition objectives set by the European Union. By embracing digital technologies and sustainable practices, Apricum is committed to creating a greener and more efficient future for the benefit of its customers.
About Apricum
Apricum is a leading Croatian company specializing in digital and green technology solutions. With a focus on developing KNX technology and electronic components for smart home and infrastructure management, Apricum strives to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Apricum is committed to driving the digital and green transition in its industry through cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking approaches.
Helping retailers to improve store planning and the flow of footfall, Checkpoint Systems – a global leader in source-to-shopper solutions – has launched an innovative solution: the One Way Surveillance Sensor.
Store layouts are critical, designed to influence customer behaviour and improve store flow while highlighting key promotions and merchandise. Developed to monitor directional changes of customer movements in-store, Checkpoint’s One Way Surveillance Sensor enables retailers to monitor the effectiveness of their store planning and ensure that shoppers are navigating the shop floor as intended.
Often the measures put in place by retailers, such as gates or one-way doors, can be circumvented by shoppers or shoplifters. And, with shrinkage in Europe costing €49 billion every single year, retailers are increasingly investing in measures to help manage and improve loss prevention.
Mounted at store entrances, the One Way Surveillance radar sensor can be used not only to track customer flow, but to detect suspicious behaviour. For example, when a customer moves through the entrance in the wrong direction, it identifies the direction of traffic, signaling an alarm that alerts store personnel to investigate. This can be a standalone alarm or integrated within a wider EAS system.
Xxxx at Checkpoint Systems, commented: “Maintaining the flow of traffic should enhance the experience and not negatively impact the retail environment – its an essential part of store planning. By monitoring the flow of traffic, our new One Way Surveillance Sensor can also identify conspicuous changes that may indicate a possible theft.”
One Way Surveillance Sensor is available immediately. It is available as wired as standard, while wireless installation is also available on request.
About Checkpoint Systems
A division of CCL Industries, Checkpoint Systems is the only vertically integrated RF/RFID solution provider for retail. With consumer demands accelerating at an extraordinary rate driven by technology, Checkpoint delivers intelligent solutions – bringing clarity and efficiency into the retail environment anytime, anywhere. Through a unique offering of software, hardware, labels, tags, and connected cloud-based solutions, Checkpoint optimizes retail operations and efficiencies with real-time intuitive data delivered throughout the supply chain and in-store resulting in improved profitability and an enriched consumer experience. Checkpoint’s intelligent retail solutions are built upon 50 years of radio frequency technology expertise, innovative high-theft and loss prevention solutions, market-leading software, RFID hardware, and comprehensive labeling capabilities to brand, secure and track merchandise from source to shelf.
www.checkpointsystems.com
About CCL Industries
CCL Industries, a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses, and consumers, employs approximately 19,000 people and operates 150 facilities in 25 countries on six continents with corporate offices in Toronto, Canada, and Framingham, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.cclind.com.
Perimeter protection is essential in critical infrastructures such as airports or utilities. Video analytics can greatly improve security in such environments while at the same time lowering costs and network strain.
286 perimeter breaches in ten years – this was the result of an Associated Press investigation on the busiest 31 airports in the United States. These incidents happened despite the fact that after the September 11 attacks, US airports had invested hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade their perimeter fencing. They basically prove two things: First, it is anything but easy to protect large areas, and second, it is not enough to build seven-foot high fences with barbed wire on top to keep intruders out. What is true for airports also applies to any other critical infrastructure, be it a utility, a power plant, a refinery or a pipeline. And although public safety may not at risk here, the manufacturing industry has a strong interest to protect physical assets and intellectual property.
While a fence and security guards may be an appropriate solution for lower risk environments, critical infrastructures need more than that. Network video surveillance has the highest potential to drastically increase perimeter security. The most obvious advantage being image quality. In today’s video surveillance applications there is an ever increasing demand for more detail. However, the industry does rely too heavily on higher resolution and consequently more detail. More details and thus pixels means more data, which in turn means more storage capacity and a higher network load. Although highly detailed images make it easy to distinguish individuals or minor details, we need to find ways to reduce storage requirements and network strain. But that is not all. The number of cameras being deployed in the market place is also rapidly increasing. Even if storage requirements and network strain are reduced significantly we still face an enormous amount of data. This leaves us with the manageability and accessibility of video data.
Manageability and accessibility of video data
At the end of the day, security personnel or operators want to be alerted instantly when suspicious events are detected. Built-in video analytics from Bosch analyze real-time images continuously to instantly detect suspicious events and alert when needed once predefined alarms are triggered. This helps operators and security personnel to spend more time on other tasks, and respond only to important events. In case an event did occur operators or security personnel want to browse stored video data to find irrefutable forensic evidence. If time and place are exactly known, this is quite easily done as the videos carry timestamps. But if you want to figure out and understand the escape route of a perpetrator on the basis of multiple cameras’ recordings, your ability to do so quickly will be limited by the sheer amount of data.
Considering this, it would be helpful if network video cameras understand what they see. In other words when they add “sense and structure” to video data in order to keep video data manageable and easy accessible. Built-in video analytics from Bosch does all this for you and much more. For mission critical applications like the perimeter protection of airports, critical infrastructures and government buildings as well as border patrol and traffic monitoring, we offer built-in Intelligent Video Analytics. Small and medium businesses, large retail stores, commercial buildings and warehouses can for example make use of our built-in Essential Video Analytics for advanced intrusion detection, enforcing health & safety regulations, and business analytics like crowd density information and people counting.
Intelligence at the edge
Bosch ensures the highest quality and reliability of video analytics by putting it at the edge. That’s why every single network camera with either Intelligent Video Analytics or Essential Video Analytics can operate independently without the need for a central analytics server – so no single point of failure. This is called distributed or decentralized intelligence. If one camera or encoder fails, the rest of the system remains at full performance. Expanding the system is therefore also easy. Network strain and storage requirements can be reduced by only streaming what is needed, since the analysis is done in the camera. With intelligence at the edge, our focus is to significantly enhance system robustness and flexibility while reducing costs.
Alerting only when needed
Network cameras with built-in video analytics can be configured to automatically identify alert conditions such as persons approaching or attempting to climb over fences, reliably differentiating between humans and the proverbial cat that flits through the image. Alert conditions can also include objects crossing one or more predefined lines, following a defined line of movement or changing their speed (running), shape (crouching) or aspect ratio (falling). Camera-based, real-time processing can also be used to issue loitering alarms and perform left object detection, giving the security team the information it needs to react and take action quickly. Automatically tracking moving objects of interest can help to verify or disprove alarms, alerting the security operator as appropriate. Such tracking can be initiated by a simple click or automatically when predefined alarm rules are met. Once integrated with intrusion detection systems or access control at the gates, intelligent video can also be used to automatically verify alarms from these systems or to double-check the identity of an individual presenting her or his credentials at the gate.
London, November 2017 – Dala Vatten och Avfall distributes clean water to four municipalities in the central Swedish region of Dalarna. An inventory of the company’s 20-year-old mechanical locking system revealed it was no longer possible to guarantee the safety of all the keys they had issued. Yet, a single sensitive key in the wrong hands could have serious consequences for a community’s water supply.
Dala Vatten och Avfall decided to invest in a new locking system. They needed to upgrade perimeter security at multiple, dispersed sites against the potential threats of sabotage or terrorism; to keep Dala Vatten och Avfall in full central control of all keys at all times, ensuring no unauthorized valid keys are floating around; and to enable facility managers to manage access authorizations right down to the level of the individual employee or key-holder.
Dala Vatten och Avfall chose CLIQ® Remote, key-based access control based on encrypted electronics incorporated into programmable high-security mechanical cylinders and keys— a technology already trusted at many critical infrastructure sites across Europe.
CLIQ® Remote functionality is designed for companies with dispersed sites and/or key-holders. It allows central admin staff to update access rights centrally, using the CLIQ® Web Manager software, without requiring the workforce to return to base. Keys can also be time-limited for extra protection against loss or theft. Now, key-holders must revalidate each one after a fixed period, and can update their access rights, using portable or wall-mounted Programming Devices placed strategically at Dala Vatten och Avfall’s sites.
“The reason we recommended CLIQ® Remote was precisely the need for controlled authorization at the individual level,” says Lars Thorwalls at Göthes, Dala Vatten och Avfall’s security contractor.
“We no longer have to worry about keys that were never returned by employees or contractors,” adds Roger Lundkvist, production manager at Dala Vatten och Avfall.
It’s easy to manage or cancel key permissions using the CLIQ® Web Manager. The same web-based software makes a comprehensive audit trail for every lock available on demand, so monitoring the frequency of contractor and other key-holder visits is easy. It is straightforward to tailor a contractor’s access rights by restricting key validity to specific places, times or dates.
“The management chore takes just a few hours each month,” says Anna Nordahl, who handles key management for Dala Vatten och Avfall.
With CLIQ®, power to each locking cylinder is supplied by a standard battery inside every CLIQ® key. There’s no wiring, making CLIQ® a fast retrofit solution for doors and padlocks at remote sites where mains electricity is difficult or impossible to connect.
In addition, CLIQ® padlocks can secure almost any opening, making the CLIQ® solution much more adaptable than standard electronic access control systems. And with CLIQ® Remote, Dala Vatten och Avfall can combine mechanical and electromechanical locking in the same installation, tailoring door security to precisely what they need at every specific opening.
Critically for a company operating in Scandinavia, CLIQ® locking hardware also works reliably in the harshest weather conditions. “Our locks are often located in exposed environments,” adds Roger Lundkvist.
“If it works for us in winter, there would be no obstacles to prevent expanding the system to other municipal services.”
About CLIQ®: CLIQ® is a security locking system with high-end microelectronics, programmable keys and cylinders. The system offers a variety of combinations of mechanical and electronic systems to match different security and flexible access needs. Available on the global market place, it provides flexible access and key management solutions for all kinds of locking applications.
About Dala Vatten och Avfall: Based in the Swedish region of Dalarna, Dala Vatten och Avfall distributes water to the municipalities of Gagnef, Leksand, Rättvik and Vansbro. For more information, see www.dalavattenavfall.se.
