Archive: April 2002
CSAA aligns with Argentinean, Israeli groups
April 1, 2002SSN Staff
VIENNA, Va.-The trade group for dealers with central stations has formed a reciprocal membership deal with the Camara De Empresas De Monitorei De Alarmas De La Republica Argentina (CEMARA), a trade organization of monitoring companies in Argentina.
The reciprocal Honorary Affiliate membership arrangement will include the Argentinean group's 80 member companies.
CSAA leadership said Argentinean officials told them in discussions that companies in that country were facing many of the same issues...
Barton Protective named one of the best companies
April 1, 2002SSN Staff
ATLANTA-For the third year in a row Barton Protective Services has been named to Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work for in America."
This year the guard company ranked 69, up 17 places from number 86 in 2001 and 97 in 2000.
To earn the distinction, Barton went through a comprehensive, 31-page survey that gathered information about the company's philosophies, policies and programs. Fortune magazine also conducted a random survey of employees, covering benefits, credibility, wages, fairness...
Digital poised to take over the CCTV market
April 1, 2002SSN Staff
Lower cost, a greater selection and a series of transitional products have spurred the interest, say some.
Whether the transition comes as quickly as a couple of years, or is stretched out over a longer period, manufacturers concur the move to digital systems for recording and storing CCTV data is under way.
Several factors, including lower cost, increased capability, greater selection and a series of transitional products that bridge the gap between analog VCRs and digital recorders, have spurred...
The new future of monitoring
April 1, 2002Cliff Dice
As technology continues to develop, and as communication and security needs continue to merge, the role of the central station will become ever more important to today's society.
People live their lives at a fast pace, and they require technologies that allow them to do so with convenience and security. In this era of cell phones, pagers and long-distance commutes, the security industry must continue to develop solutions for today's public.
In trying to achieve these solutions, the alarm industry...
iMPath restructures after financial woes
April 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
OTTOWA, Ontario-Managed video networking system manufacturer iMPath Networks Inc. is in the middle of restructuring after filing for the Canadian equivalent of bankruptcy protection to reorganize.
Reorganization comes after the company hit financial troubles due to the slowing economy, a downturn in sales and its tying up of cash to buy other businesses. According to a report from Ernst & Young compiled for the company's list of creditors, iMPath reported $22 million in net losses during 2001.
"We...
In change, timing is everything
April 1, 2002SSN Staff
It was approximately a year and a half ago that Security Systems News was covering the effort to combine three of the industry's associations into one. As many of you know, after months of talks about this idea, one that some said would help strengthen the industry, the proposal was turned down by two associations who did not favor the move at that time -- the Central Station Alarm Association and Security Industry Association.
Now, it appears that change is in store for the one association that...
Financing activity predicted to rise as year progresses
April 1, 2002Joanne Friedrick
Financing activity predicted to rise as year progresses
How do capital providers view 2002?
With optimism and an eye toward new business and increased acquisitions activity, according to interviews with Security Systems News.
While the pendulum has swung in a conservative direction over the past year, Henry Edmonds, chief executive officer of SLP Capital in St. Louis, said it's heading back to where it had been.
"We're coming to the end of the cycle," he said, noting markets and values are stabilizing....
King-Monital-IDC emerges as Criticom
April 1, 2002Andrea Gura
HACKENSACK, N.J.-Nearly nine months after monitoring giant King-Monital announced its acquisition of International Dispatch Center, the combined organization has emerged with a new identity, one company officials said represents its focus both on the traditional alarm business and the threshold of a new era in security monitoring.
King-Monital-IDC began phasing in its new name, Criticom, short for Critical Communications, in marketing materials and in its presence at the ISC West show in March....
Trotter: GE to network systems, synergies
April 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
PLAINVILLE, Conn.- General Electric's entrance into the security market went off without a hitch, with its purchase of holding company Interlogix and its suite of security manufacturing companies closing in late February.
The deal successfully propels GE into the security arena where it is expected to leverage Interlogix's security products and tie them into GE's existing sales channels and other services.
Lloyd Trotter, president and chief executive officer of GE Industrial Systems, the $6 billion...
First Alarm expands in San Jose, Calif.
April 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
APTOS, Calif.-After serving the San Jose market for three years from a small 975 square foot office, First Alarm recently moved into a larger office that will be staffed by 15 technicians.
The need for a new, 6,000 square-foot location follows a recent push by First Alarm to increase its presence in the commercial market through partnering with building and electrical contractors.
"Our commercial fire alarm and access control business in San Jose has grown dramatically to where we have to have...