Archive: December 2016
Stanley Black & Decker agrees to sell mechanical security businesses for $725m
December 22, 2016Spencer Ives
NEW BRITAIN, Conn.—Stanley Black & Decker yesterday announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the majority of its mechanical security businesses, including commercial hardware brands BEST Access, phi Precision and GMT to access and security solution provider dormakaba for $725 million in cash. The deal is subject to customary regulatory approvals.dormakaba also recently acquired Mesker Openings Group, a U.S.-based commercial door and hardware company, for $142.5 million....
CSAA awards State Farm's Joe Miskulin
December 22, 2016SSN Staff
VIENNA, Va.�CSAA awarded Joe Miskulin, manager at State Farm Central Monitoring Services, the CSAA President's Award for his service to the monitoring industry.
“This is completely unexpected and humbling for someone like me, who came into this profession with a ton of questions and no experience to speak of,” Miskulin said in CSAA's announcement. “I don't have the words to thank all of the mentors that have helped me along the way.”
Miskulin has been with...
MONI Smart Security partners with August
December 22, 2016SSN Staff
SAN FRANCISCO—August announced a partnership with MONI Smart Security in November. MONI Smart Security selected August as its partner and will now make the August Smart Lock and August Connect available to its residential and commercial customer base.
“With our smart solutions for total control over the front door, we're helping MONI's trusted dealer network deliver best-in-class products to their customers as they embrace this new era of security for the connected home,” Mike Buckingham,...
Axis Communications recognized for sustainability
December 22, 2016SSN Staff
CHELMSFORD, Mass.—The Business Intelligence Group awarded Axis Communications the Sustainability Leadership Award in the 2016 Sustainability Awards program.
“Our sustainability practices are important to us and I am honored that Axis Communications received this prestigious award,” Fredrik Nilsson, VP, Americas, Axis Communications, said in a prepared statement. “The BIG Sustainability Awards recognize innovative and outstanding companies, initiatives and products that are...
Guest Commentary: Video surveillance innovation driving security industry growth, investor interest
December 21, 2016John Robuck
Over the past year, the security industry has continued to grow and draw significant interest from investors, due in part to the noteworthy gains of one technology in particular: video surveillance.A Capital One survey conducted in November found that more than half (52 percent) of security professionals see video surveillance as the technology trend that will have the biggest impact on their businesses in the coming year—a significant increase from 2015, when only 23 percent of respondents...
Poll: Monitoring and the switch to wholesale
December 21, 2016Spencer Ives
YARMOUTH, Maine—Several security companies with monitoring centers switched to using third party monitoring in 2016; RFI Communications switched to Rapid Response in March, Red Hawk Fire & Security partnered with Affiliated Monitoring in October and Comtronics switched its monitored accounts to NMC. Respondents to Security Systems News' latest poll see this trend continuing in the future.“It's a double edged sword,” according to Rob Driscoll, general manager, monitoring services...
How I Use My System: Jack DeMao
December 21, 2016Spencer Ives
Jack DeMao, CEO of Electric Guard Dog, joined the company about nine years ago. “I am attracted to opportunities that require big change,” DeMao said. “With Electric Guard Dog, there was such a growth opportunity it required a lot of investment in order to be able to grow … the way it should grow. That kind of thing excites me.” In late October, Security Systems News talked with DeMao about how he protects his home.What kind of system do you have?[The] panel is made by 2GIG....
Vortex secures $3m in funding
December 21, 2016Paul Ragusa
JUPITER, Fla.—Vortex Security, a home and business security and automation company based here, recently secured $3 million in credit from Cassell Global Investments, funding that will help the company sustain its strong growth organically as well as possibly expand through acquisition.Vortex president Kevin Johnson launched the company in January of 2014 with Chris Tango, an industry veteran who has worked at Brinks, Devcon Security and ADT, before joining Vortex as executive VP. Johnson noted...
TechSec Solutions takes on the future
December 21, 2016Paul Ragusa
Security Systems News is excited to announce this year's TechSec Solutions educational program and keynote speaker—Jack Wu, co-founder and CEO of Nightingale Security, an innovator in the area of robotic aerial security.
In his keynote, Wu will look at the current and future role robotics has in security and potential applications across many different verticals. Wu co-founded the company with John Hsu, whose vast experience in aeronautics and astronautics, Ph.D. from Stanford University...
Sentry Security Solutions secures funding
December 21, 2016Paul Ragusa
BURLESON, Texas—Sentry Security Solutions, a business and residential security provider based here, recently secured a multi-million dollar loan commitment with RMR Capital Group.Sentry Security Solutions' president Nick McAmis said that although the company has had success self-funding for its first three years in business, the financing from RMR Capital will help to accelerate organic growth, explore the possibility of acquisitions, and attract new talent. The financial terms of the deal...