Observint gets into access control with infinias buy

AUSTIN, Texas—Three months after helping LG Electronics relaunch its security products in the United States, Observint Technologies on Nov. 7 announced that it has acquired access control provider infinias.

Owned by The Carlyle Group, Observint was formed in 2006 with the goal of acquiring security-focused companies. Observint acquired Supercircuits in 2006. It subsequently bought Security Cameras Direct, DIGIOP and SC Technologies.

In September, it also “formalized its relationship with 3S Vision,” a Taiwan-based manufacturer of megapixel cameras, Observint's chief marketing officer George Farley told Security Systems News.

Farley declined to discuss terms of the latest deal but said the benefit to infinias is that “Observint brings to the table all the capabilities for broad distribution of that product, from the sales force to marketing, engineering, operations, [and] forward and reverse logistical support,” Farley said.

“Observint provides that level of support for the entire network [of companies],” he said, adding that “all technologies within the portfolio are deeply integrated.”

Infinias manufactures IP-based access control systems for the commercial security market. Its Intelli-M product line includes an Ethernet-enabled integrated door controller, one of the first PoE door controllers introduced to the security market, and the Intelli-M Access browser-based management application.

Infinias will continue to do product development, sales and support from its Indianapolis headquarters, while Observint will take over marketing and finance duties at its headquarters here.

Since announcing the LG deal in July, Observint has added “several people to our sales team, outside, inside and sales engineers. We've also transitioned and added manufacturers' rep firms to support the entire portfolio,” Farley said.

By Q1 2013, Observint will have “a broad range of distribution partners set up,” he said. Many integrators have preferences about distributors they like to do business with, he said, “and we want to make sure we support that."