Co. builds engineered systems div.

EXTON, Pa.--Looking to build its business by offering a full line of services, The Protection Bureau began expanding its engineered systems division in mid-May. The drive to build the company's life safety offerings centered on its wish to offer a one-stop shopping approach to clients and entertaining relationships with potential ones. "Our fire and life safety sales momentum is building," said Jim Arizini, sales and marketing manager at The Protection Bureau. "There is untapped potential in trade areas and a synergy between our intelligent fire and life safety line, and our security offerings. This allows us to deliver to the client complete end-to-end solutions." Arizini also said enhancing the fire and life safety segment of the business is a natural fit with its other focus, systems integration. "It is a code driven source of recurring revenue," Arizini said, "that will balance out the peaks and valleys of the integration business." Although the fire division currently accounts for $1.5 million of the company's $12 million in yearly revenue, the company is looking for it to eventually climb to 30 percent of total revenues. Arizini said the company will be able to grow the division to three times its current revenue because "we will be building on a solid platform of being a UL-listed fire alarm service installation company." The company has already moved forward with hiring staff for the division. Tom Scheufele was brought on board as a fire and security systems sales consultant in May and there are plans to add additional employees in sales, engineering, drafting, project management and installation. As part of the division's expansion, the firm has increased its partnership with GE and is now carrying the company's complete product line. The company began its relationship with GE in 1983 when it started offering Rusco card access systems and video cameras. "Now, more than 20 years later as a full GE partner offering the complete product line we find end-user customers recognize the brand," Arizini said, "and are willing to put their trust into the products and The Protection Bureau as a branded distributor."