Archive: February 2002

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....

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-A regional player in the central Arizona market has expanded both its account base and geographic reach with the acquisition of two security firms in the Southwest. With the acquisition of Santa Fe, N.M.-based Tech 2 and Phoenix-based Regal Electronics, Safeguard Security gained about 3,600 accounts. The company now monitors about 11,000 of its own accounts in a central station in Scottsdale. The bulk of accounts came from low-voltage security and communication company Royal, about...

CARLISLE, Pa..-Eight years after first going into business, Triangle Fire Protection Inc. has made a niche in designing and building sprinkler systems in government facilities and schools. The benefit, according to Mark Potteiger, president of Triangle, is that these larger contracts enable the company to pay its 20 workers well. "We are a union contractor, so we go after jobs that are the prevailing rate because it works in with our pay schedule," said Potteiger, who owns the company with business...

PEMBROKE, Bermuda-Tyco International recently denied rumors it was interested in buying Honeywell International, which owns several security product manufacturers. "It is absolutely untrue. There are no talks and there is no interest," Tyco spokesperson Maryanne Kane said in published reports. After GE's failed attempt at buying Honeywell in 2001, Honeywell Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Bossidy has repeatedly said he intends to keep the company independent. Tyco owns more than 200 businesses...

VERNON HILLS, Ill.-Telular Corp. and Sonitrol Corp. have agreed to distribute Telular's Classic series of UL-listed back-up products through Sonitrol's franchise network of more than 150 dealer locations. The celluar back-up products, called Telguard Classic, are expected to increase sales for Sonitrol due to affordable pricing and ease of installation, according to a recent press release. The products communicate wire-lessly over existing cellular networks. The Telular products connect to Sonitrol's...

WESTMINSTER, Mass.-Global fire detection and security systems provider Simplex Time Recorder Co. opened a new headquarters and operation center this spring, a move company officials say reflects double-digit growth. In April, Simplex moved from its century-old Gardner, Mass. site to consolidate its business in a 176,000-square-foot facility on 300 acres which will house all research and development, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and administrative operations. Employees at the former...

LOS ANGELES-Optex Europe has bought outdoor detection sensor company Security Enclosures Ltd., a deal that further propels Optex's plans to integrate its sensors in the CCTV market. Security Enclosures, based in Surrey, England, is known for its CCTV housings, its Redwall range of medium and long-range PIR detectors and the Redwatch detector camera combination. Optex, on the other hand, specializes in indoor sensors and short-range outdoor sensors. "It broadens our applications and increases our...

CHICAGO-Kastle Systems' office here has increased its sales force to further develop relationships with tenants, builders and architects, according to the company's Chicago branch general manager, Marilyn Brooks. The additions take the office's employee roster to 22, nearly tripling its staff in the last four years. "Our growth is predicated on the health of the commercial real estate industry, and in Chicago, it's phenomenal," Brooks says. Carolyn Chambless has been hired as a systems sales consultant...

CARROLLTON, Texas-Samsung CCTV has launched a leasing program that enables dealers to secure financing for installation jobs that use products from a variety of manufacturers. "Anything in the security realm we can finance. We're not strictly limited to Samsung," said Kami Schiller, vice president of marketing for Samsung CCTV. Since its launch this fall, more than 30 dealers have signed up for the Samsung CCTV Prestige Leasing program. That number is expected to continue to grow, said Schiller,...

Fire protection products generated half of profits LONDON-Kidde PLC, a worldwide fire products supplier, said in January that falling sales in its aerospace sector would not be offset by cost-cutting measures the company put in place in 2001. Although sales in that division, stemming from the slowing U.S. economy, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a drop in air travel, fell 25 percent, the company did see some recovery in October and November. Sales of fire protection products to that industry...