Archive: 2002
Diversified adds Lifrieri to board
December 1, 2002Mike Higgins
SADDLE BROOK, N.J. - Diversified Security Solutions Inc., a systems integrator based here, has a new face on the company's board of directors.
On Oct. 28, Executive Vice President Sal Lifrieri, who joined the company in August, was elected to the board during the annual shareholders meeting.
"Sal's management skills and knowledge of the security systems business will be a valuable asset to our board of directors," said James Henry, Diversified Security Solutions chairman and chief executive...
Security firm a 'no call' offender
December 1, 2002Andrea Gura
CHESHIRE, Conn. - A two-location home security firm based here paid the state $25,000 to settle charges that the security firm violated Connecticut's new No Call list.
Home & Life Security was cited by state officials for making unsolicited calls to Connecticut residents whose names appeared on the list. The company was also charged with making repeated calls to consumers who had directed the company not to call them again and for not clearly identifying itself to the consumer. The calls were made...
Elan expands into U.K. market
December 1, 2002SSN Staff
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Poised to capture a market in which custom audio-visual and automation systems for the home have only recently become popular, Elan Home Systems has introduced its full line to the United Kingdom.
Expansion to the U.K. comes as Elan has realized a 500 percent growth over four years. The Lexington, Ky.-based company has released more than 250 products in the past six years.
Jonathan Smith, director of distribution for Elan Systems (U.K.), said the success of Elan in the U.S. is...
FEMA, NFPA strike equipment interoperability discussion
December 1, 2002Andrea Gura
WASHINGTON - A group of federal officials, security and fire trade associations and other organizations with interests in the fire equipment realm will meet sometime this month to continue an industry dialogue on how different types of fire equipment work together in emergency situations.
The meeting, which will be hosted by the National Fire Protection Association, is a follow-up to a meeting held in early October, said Julie Reynolds, an NFPA spokesperson.
Officials from the Federal Emergency...
Video transmission moves to next level
December 1, 2002Joanne Friedrick
As network and digital camera use grows, so grows the need for transmitting these cameras' images in the fastest, clearest formats possible.
"What has always been an issue," explained Ben Donahue, director of product development for Axcess Inc., "is whether the bandwidth is large enough to allow most compression schemes to transmit reasonable frame rates at a reasonable resolution."
With image quality a key in security-related situations, slow-moving, blurry images aren't a viable option, industry...
Texas fabricator expands with second site
December 1, 2002Andrea Gura
WHITESBORO, Texas - A family-run sprinkler fabricator here has bought the equipment assets of another Texas company and is using that location to broaden its geographic reach and physical space.
Texas Manufacturing Co., which has been fabricating sprinkler pipe for local sprinkler contractors since 1985, bought the equipment of Hitech Fabrication in Houston. Now, Hitech's approximately 18 employees work in the same fabrication shop under the Texas Manufacturing name. The company also manufactures...
Axcess furloughs employees, seeks funds
December 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
CARROLLTON, Texas - A month after putting employees on furlough, asset tracking and digital video product manufacturer Axcess Inc. in early November was still searching for an investor to keep the company afloat.
"We have not closed on the funding yet," said Allan Griebenow, president and chief executive officer of Axcess, in early November, shortly before press time. "But we remain optimistic."
Griebenow said the company was pursuing several options to provide the company with financing, including...
Silent Witness eyes land, new building for growing company
December 1, 2002Chelsie Woods
SURREY, B.C. - Camera manufacturer Silent Witness is looking to build a new facility here that would provide more room for the company's growing business.
In early October, Silent Witness entered into an agreement to buy 11.9 acres of land for $3 million Canadian. Over the next month, company officials plan to look at options, such as whether Silent Witness would own the building or lease it from a developer.
"Because there's no existing inventory here, we took the step of securing land and examining...
Briefs
December 1, 2002SSN Staff
PSA hosts shareholder's meeting
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico - PSA conducted its annual meeting here in early October and for the first time involved vendors at the event.
As part of the meeting, the organization hosted interactive business sessions that featured PSA members and others speaking about their success, ideas and providing other information, said Bill Bozeman, president of PSA.
At the meeting, Darryl Keeler, president of Tech Systems, was elected to the PSA board and Bob Bundy, a PSA founder,...
Wireless touted as next wave
December 1, 2002Joanne Friedrick
Despite the fairly rapid changes taking place in the video transmission market, spurred by the acceptance of digital technology and improved bandwidth and compression scenarios, industry players are already looking ahead to the next wave of technology.
Craig Scott, director of marketing and product management for Silent Witness, said "the next move is to wireless. We see a whole pile of technology coming out in the next 18 months."
Despite what he called "the old school in security that says there's...