Archive: June 2002

CLEVELAND-International Total Services sold its guard business to Houston company Willard M LLC, following an order from bankruptcy court. The deal was for $4.8 million in cash for all the assets of the commercial security business, including accounts receivable and the assumption of certain accrued payroll-related liabilities. That business unit employed 3,000 people and had more than $40 million in annual revenue, said Mark Thompson, chief executive officer of the company. According to Willard...

DALLAS-Axcess Inc., a provider of video and asset tracking management solutions, has partnered with Sonitrol Corp. to integrate its streaming video into Sonitrol's central station monitoring system. The integration will allow Sonitrol franchisees to view live, remote video using standard telecommunication facilities and is designed to work with Sonitrol's proprietary audio verification platform. The system can be integrated with existing surveillance cameras already installed at a customer's...

TILLSONBURG, Ontario-A couple who lost $92,500 (Canadian) in ginseng due to a 1999 break-in cannot collect the money they lost from the alarm company that installed their system. A Superior Court judge issued the decision in late April following a lawsuit filed against Hooten Security Systems, a division of Hooten Sales and Services Ltd., according to a report in the London Free Press. Ginseng farmers William and Jean Broda said 37 barrels of dried ginseng root was stolen from a barn on their farm...

These days, it seems that remote video technology is the talk of the town. Though we all know it's been out on the market for a number of years, it's beginning to gain wider acceptance in the industry for its recurring revenue value the dealers hold so dear and, of course, the opportunity to provide customers with products they demand. But the acceptance isn't just limited to the cash it puts in the dealer's pocket or that techno-geek customers want this service. Now, more than ever, such systems...

CRANSTON, R.I.-Sprinkler installers, authorities having jurisdiction, insurance adjusters and others in the fire protection market have for months been attending free fire protection seminars at Tyco Fire Products research and development facility here, but the training is about to go global. The training sessions, which have operated from the R&D and training facility here, have been conducted monthly since last September, featuring seminars such as water supply requirements, correct building occupancies...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-Security Networks, a security company that began operations here in April, acquired Lantana, Fla.-based Proton Security in June. The purchase marks the first of several acquisition Security Networks intends to make as part of a strategic plan to expand throughout the Southeast. "We intend to become a significant player in the region," says Richard Perry, Security Networks' president and founder. "We're looking at a number of opportunities to acquire quality (security) companies." Proton...

BURLINGTON, Ontario-Wescam, a manufacturer of high-end surveillance equipment, is considering selling. It's a move that company officials expect will help the company expand. The company recently hired Quarterdeck Investment Partners to explore its options, a reversal of when Wescam hired Quarterdeck four months ago to look for companies for it to buy. "We need to grow in the U.S.," said Mark Chamberlain, president and chief executive officer of Wescam. "Our first choice, from a strategic option,...

ATLANTA-Argenbright Security left most U.S. airports in late April. The company now intends to concentrate on providing guard services to corporate headquarters, hospitals and universities. Argenbright will also continue to provide passenger services, such as skycaps and wheelchair services, at some airports. The company's departure from 29 airports comes from the fallout of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It has led to more than 10,000 Argenbright employees losing their jobs and the company's...

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-Up until now, there's been little data on the impact Sept. 11 has had on the security industry and corporate America. That's expected to soon change - a report is due out this fall that will show how corporations are making security decisions and the financial impacts of new security demands. "There is no one, good place that's a repository of information on security," said Jack Lichtenstein, director of government affairs and public policy for the American Society of...

CHANTILLY, Va.-Engineered systems distributor Gage-Babcock & Associates moved into larger headquarters here, a facility that enabled the company to hire more employees and expand its modeling capabilities. The new headquarters increased space by more than 50 percent for the 50-year-old company, one of the oldest fire firms in the industry. "It was the strong growth in both our security and fire protection services and the addition of new staff," that prompted the need for a bigger facility, said...