Integral builds name, products

INDIANAPOLIS- With the backing of a new parent company, Integral Technologies is expected to be at the forefront of the digital video recording and access control market. The company is slated to receive additional attention, both in terms of financial backing and cross marketing opportunities, from its new owner Schneider Electric, which bought Integral Technologies, Security International and Andover Controls from building management firm Balfour Beatty in mid-July. Schneider Electric bought the three companies for $403 million. Within a few short months, the company has undergone several transformations that include adopting the Integral Technologies name for security-related products and dropping the Security International name, a brand introduced two years ago to identify the company’s access control products. Matt Kushner has also been appointed president and chief executive officer of Integral Technologies, replacing Joel Konicek who served as president of Security International. “We were a non-core subsidiary under the Balfour Beatty umbrella,” said Mark Lampe, director of product management for Integral Technologies. “Schneider Electric, on the other hand, is very focused on the integration of access control, building management and security.” The reorganization is not synonymous with Integral Technologies, but is happening across several levels of security or building automation related companies owned by Schneider Electric. The company is also streamlining operations for TAC and Andover Controls, one-time competitors in the building automation market who are now owned by the same parent company. (See related story) According to Kushner, Integral Technologies plans to take “a much more assertive and aggressive leading role in the security industry.” That enhanced position is expected to come from strengthening the company’s product portfolio. The company is already well known for its digital video recorders, and is considered the first company to release such a product. But its access control line comprised of products from Security International and now Andover Controls, is lesser known to the industry. “We want our access control business to be equal in strength to our digital video business,” said Amy Driver, director of marketing communications at Integral Technologies. To do that, Integral Technologies will not only look at developing product internally, but also acquisitions to increase its product depth, said Driver. Another key development is Integral Technologies’ plans to offer an integrated solution. The company has recently launched video analysis as part of its DVR line up, and plans to offer complementary solutions in the future. “One of the interesting things about this company is we continue to be very succesful, but we’re probably the best success story you’ve never heard of,” said Lampe. “We now have all the tools to grow this product line and company substantially.”