Applications

Oct 1, 1997 12:00 PM, Staff

Cash Handler 5 model safes, manufactured by Chicago-based McGunn Safe Company, have reduced armed robberies by more than 30 percent at RiteAid Corp. stores where they have been installed, says RiteAid's vice president of corporate security Mike Knievel.

"We were having robbery problems in certain areas," says Knievel. "We were looking for a way to keep people from coming into stores and pointing guns at our managers."

During a test period begun in 1994, McGunn installed safes in high-risk RiteAid stores where armed robberies had been a significant problem, including stores in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Detroit. Since then the safes have been installed in more than 2,500 RiteAid locations, and today, every new RiteAid store is equipped with a safe, according to McGunn. RiteAid recently purchased Harco Drug Inc., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and retrofitted 146 Harco stores with the CH-5 as well.

In working with RiteAid, McGunn stressed the importance of corporate uniformity in security procedures. The company recommended having a time-delay safe in every store as well as signs in English and Spanish alerting the public that safes are installed.

Vicon Industries, Hauppauge, N.Y., has been selected as a supplier of video surveillance systems for various facilities of the United States Postal Service. The company was awarded a one-year national supply contract, which requires that Vicon approve the installing contractor for any project falling within the provision of the contract. The contract could be extended for another two years, says Vicon.

The Philadelphia Zoo has hired SpectaGuard, Wynnewood, Pa., to provide 24-hour security services, marking the first time in the zoo's 138-year history that the security function has been outsourced, according to SpectaGuard. The company has staffed the zoo with security officers in military-type uniforms and installed the SPAN*FM TourWatch system, which documents guard tours and unusual activities and conditions. Innovative Tech Systems of Warminster, developer of the SPAN*FM facilities automation software and remote data collection systems, donated a complete system in partnership with SpectaGuard.

Sleiman Enterprises, a shopping center developer based in Jacksonville, Fla., is using the Profile 2001 system from Profile Systems, Merrillville, Ind., for remote control of parking lot lighting and on-premise signage. Sleiman Enterprises estimates the system has saved about 25 percent annually in utility and personnel costs. The system combines wireless paging technology, a host computer and a programmable control unit protected by a tamper- and weather-resistant housing. Changes to lighting schedules can be made by calling a toll-free number or using PC-based software.

Intelligent Electronic Solutions, Sandy, Utah, has collaborated with the School of Architecture at Tulane University on a residential remodeling project used as a case study for the school's architecture students. IES products were used to provide a renovated New Orleans home with an intelligent distribution network for voice, data, video and audio systems and equipment.

Pittsburgh Communications Corp., Pittsburgh, will design and install an integrated access control/video badging security system for five PPG Industries Research and Development Centers in the Pittsburgh area. The installations, using hardware and software manufactured by Checkpoint Systems, Thorofare, N.J., will serve as a pilot program for PPG.

ActionTracker, an intelligent video motion detector from Primary Image, Surrey, England, is being used to capture images of speeding motorists by the Warwickshire Police, reportedly one of the largest law enforcement units in the U.K. ActionTracker has been incorporated into a new system along with Lastech, a speed measuring device that uses a laser beam to capture speed information about offending motorists. Digitally recorded video images are stored on disk to be used as evidence. The use of the video motion detector as a "trigger" eliminates the need for manual system operation, so police resources can be deployed elsewhere, says Primary Image.

Identix, Sunnyvale, Calif., has announced that Identix/FingerScan, its Sydney-based operation, has concluded a six-month trial of its technology with Conavi Bank of Medellin, Columbia. Identix/FingerScan has received an order for 100 TouchLock units (marketed overseas as FingerScan) to equip 50 of Conavi's 300-plus branches.

The Infinity security management system from Andover Controls, Andover, Mass., has been selected for installation at the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport, in Malaysia. The 180-acre complex is scheduled to open by the beginning of 1998. Along with access control, the Infinity system will include interfaces to a 1,400-camera Panasonic CCTV system, fire alarm, intercom, and an Episuite video badging system from G&A Imaging, which will produce custom access/ID badges for the airport's anticipated 50,000-plus personnel.

The U.S. Postal Service has chosen NewMarket Solutions, Cleveland, to provide radio frequency identification access control for the main post office in Cleveland. The company will supply HID Corp.'s digital ID cards embedded with RFID chips and proximity readers. The system will be controlled by The Integrator, a Windows-based access control module from Galaxy Control Systems, Walkersville, Md., that controls and assigns access privileges.

Cybermotion, Roanoke, Va., has sold two SR3 mobile robotic security systems to Lucent Technologies, Holmdel, N.J. Cybermotion's new location is: 719 Gainsboro Road, NW, Roanoke, VA 24016.

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