Archive: March 2012

ISC West 2012 is now a wrap, the show having ended a few hours ago. Day 3 proved as thought provoking as the first two. I started out today talking to Rick Robinson, president of Qualified Commercial Electronics Co. (QCECO), a fire and security company in Phoenix, Ariz. in business for 25 years. Among the things that Robinson, who said his company is a Silent Knight dealer, talked about with me was trends. One trend he said he sees in the industry is that “the technology is consistently getting...

So much to write about Day 2 at ISC West 2012, but here are some notes from the day: Stanley held a luncheon reception to introduce the new combined leadership of Stanley CSS and Niscayah. The combined company serves 460,000 customers from 80 North American locations. The team includes: Marty Guay, VP-national accounts and market solutions; Mike Bishop VP-field operations; Pete Straka, VP-human resources; Steve Walker, VP ProtectionNet customer service centers; Damon Kanzler, VP-opeartions support;...

Day 2 of ISC West started off with a bang � as in the bang from the starter's pistol as I ran in the annual Mission 500 Security 5K, the running race that Security Systems News helps sponsor. Not only does the race do good—this year the more than 500 participants helped raise about $80,000 for needy children in Mexico, India and Tanzania—but it's a legitimate excuse to take some time to exercise at this busy show. And this year it featured new event, a 2K walk. I heard from several people...

ISC West kept up a strong head of steam on Day Two. It started at 7:30 a.m. with the Security 5K to benefit Mission 500, a nonprofit group that aids impoverished children. An impressive turnout of runners raised an equally impressive funding total, according to race organizers, and the group later said it had topped its goal of 500 children sponsored. Then it was on to the show floor for another day of networking and discussion among the thousands, with no letup from Day One's brisk pace. Here are...

Big news from yesterday was the acquisition of Westec by Interface Security Systems. The story is on our front page or click here . You can also see my video interview with Jeff Frye of Interface Security Systems about the Westec deal on our front page or by clicking here. Winning the procrastination award for latest to announce a press conference at ISCWest� 2012 is BRS Labs. I got the announcement a little after midnight--8 hours notice! It's not a strategy I'd recommend, but there was a good crowd...

Today was the first day of ISC West 2012 and I started my day off at a Honeywell breakfast where Scott Harkins, the new president of Honeywell Security Products, talked about a series of “firsts” the company was announcing at the show. “We're very excited that this show, the ISC show, is where we're launching the great technology revolution in the intrusion space,” Harkins said. He cited a series of products and technologies that he said are “firsts for us and first...

LAS VEGAS—Interface Security Systems a St. Louis-based integrator, acquired Westec Intelligent Surveillance, Jeffrey Frye, Interface VP sales and marketing told Security Systems News on March 28.Frye said the bundling of services will mean more capabilities for customers of both companies at a better price. Westec and Interface customers include Fortune 500 names in the retail, QSR and hospitality industries.“We each have a sweet spot in multi-site customers and in retail and commercial,”...

Quite the first day for a first-timer at ISC West, and for a first-timer to Vegas to boot. Now I can understand what all the fuss was about leading up to the show. Day One started with a “Meet the Editors” session at the SSN booth—No. 27065, stop by if you get a chance—which was followed by a full slate of media gatherings and meet-and-greets. Here were a few: — I got the lowdown from ASSA ABLOY on what it's doing to fill the “medium security” gap for access...

BOCA RATON, Fla.—Tyco is making progress in its planned split into three independent publicly traded companies. Tomorrow, March 28, the first day of ISC West, the company will announce that it is rebranding ADT's North American commercial security business as “Tyco Integrated Security.”After the split, the three independent companies will be: Flow Control; ADT Residential; and the commercial fire and security business, which will be known as Tyco International, said Jay Hauhn, ADT...

ITASCA, Ill.—Joining a growing number of lenders and investors with a specific interest in the security industry, First Midwest, which has $7.8 billion in assets, announced March 23 that its security alarm lending group is up and running and ready for business.Jessica Richardson, VP commercial banking, developed the alarm lending group for First Midwest. “We'll be competing with [industry lenders such as] Bank of America, CapitalSource and PrivateBank,” she said. “We're interested...