People and Places November 2011

Nov. 2, 2011

IDN-H. Hoffman Hosts Chicago Show

Distributor IDN-H. Hoffman hosted its fourth annual Chicago Trade Show on Sept.10 in Rolling Meadows, IL.

With an emphasis on education, IDN-H. Hoffman offered two full days of classes for locksmiths including automotive updates, access control solutions, facility code compliance, and more

The IDN-H. Hoffman Chicago Trade Show Exhibit Hall was filled with over 60 manufacturers displaying items as diverse as automotive products, locksmith tools, padlocks, access control, CCTV, safes, safe locks, key machines, doors & frames, electronic access control, and both residential and commercial locks. There was something for every locksmith to see and hundreds of Midwest locksmiths made the trip to Chicago for the show.

IDN-H. Hoffman has 13 wholesale distribution centers strategically located throughout the Midwest, enabling same day pick-up or next day delivery service to most customers. As part of a network of over 50 IDN branches throughout North America and Canada, the company offers customers the strength and buying power of a national organization, along with local product availability and personal, customized service. For more information, visit www.idnhhoffman.com.

Tri-Ed Opens Atlanta Branch

Tri-Ed / Northern Video Distribution has opened an Atlanta, GA, branch, staffed by industry veterans Derek Criswell and Billy Partin and located at 3621 Clearview Parkway, Doraville, GA 30340 (Tel: 888.874.3336). Robb Morrison is responsible for business development in the Atlanta market.

The branch is fully stocked and features a state-of-the-art showroom to display Tri-Ed / Northern Videos’ impressive inventory of security and sound & communications products. The branch offers same-day shipping to the entire Georgia market.

“Tri-Ed / Northern Video is committed to strengthening its presence in the Southeast,” notes Pat Comunale, President and COO. “We opened the doors to this brand new facility on Oct. 1, and are pleased to serve the security and low-voltage needs of dealers and integrators in the Atlanta area.”

In other Tri-Ed news, Brian Kainu has joined the staff of its Seattle, WA, branch as sales associate. Brian brings over six years of sales experience to his new position with expertise in CCTV, IP and fiber.

For more information, visit www.tri-ed.com.

Changes in ASSA ABLOY's Group Management

Tomas Eliasson, CFO and executive vice president of ASSA ABLOY since September 2006, has decided to leave the company to take up a position outside the Group, effective at the end of March 2012. The process to find his successor has been initiated.

During his time with ASSA ABLOY, Eliasson has played a key role in initiating and implementing new systems and procedures that have contributed to reducing costs and improving quality in the administrative and finance areas. He has also built the finance function to becoming an efficient organization. ASSA ABLOY thanks Eliasson for his time as CFO of ASSA ABLOY and wishes him success in his new position. 

Tyco International Acquires Visonic Ltd. 

Tyco International Ltd. has reached an agreement to acquire Visonic Ltd., a global developer and manufacturer of electronic security systems and components, for approximately $100 million in cash. The acquisition will strengthen the wireless product and technology portfolio and market presence of the Tyco Security Products business in the intrusion security market.

Visonic recently introduced PowerG wireless communications technology offers increased communications range and superior 128-bit encryption to secure communication between wireless sensors/detectors and panels. The PowerG technology builds on Visonic's PowerCode technology which is in use in more than 1 million wireless installations around the world. The business has annualized revenues of more than $75 million.

"The acquisition of Visonic strengthens the technology capabilities in our intrusion security portfolio and will enable us to enhance the solutions we can offer to our residential and commercial customers," said Mark VanDover, president of Tyco Security Products. "Visonic is an established leader in wireless security technology and its strong presence in the European security market complements Tyco's strength in the North American market."

Visonic operates a state-of-the-art design center at its headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel, as well as a manufacturing center in Kiryat Gat, Israel. The company is active in more than 100 countries, with a strong presence in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The transaction is expected to close later this year and is subject to customary closing conditions. For more information, visit http://www.tyco.com/.

New York Roadshow A Crowd Pleaser

Tri-Ed / Northern Video Distribution’s 2011 Technology Roadshows have been attracting hundreds of security professions. These one-day events educate attendees on the constantly changing technology impacting the video security market. The Sept. 7th NY Roadshow at The LaGuardia Plaza Hotel drew a crowd of over 100 and featured live demos, product seminars, networking opportunities with representatives from key manufacturers, and a vendor expo.

The day kicked off with a CEU Networking training session led by Jeff Stout, director of network solutions for Tri-Ed / Northern Video. “Our Technology Roadshows are a fabulous resource for customers,” notes Jeff. “The training seminars and product demos keep them abreast of the changing technologies impacting our industry, particularly within the video security market.”

Additional trainings throughout the day included presentations from ACTi, Bosch, Interlogix, Mobotix, Nuvico, Panasonic, Pelco, Samsung, SONY, GeoVision, and Vivotek. Other sponsoring manufacturers that took part in the Vendor Expo were Coleman Cable and Comnet. Some lucky prize winners during the Expo took home SONY cameras, a flat screen TV and a BBQ grill.

For more information please visit www.tri-ed.com.

Secura Key Celebrates 40th Year

Secura Key, Chatsworth, CA, is celebrating the company’s 40th year in business. Secura Key began manufacturing mechanical/magnetic Barium Ferrite insert readers for parking applications in 1971 in California’s San Fernando Valley. Secura Key invented Touch Card™ technology, which transformed the Barium Ferrite card into a digital technology. Wiegand-output Touch Card™ OEM readers kept large Cardkey and CASI-Rusco systems running for many years at major corporations like FedEx and Ford Motor Company. Secura Key used the Touch Card™ technology to build the simple, reliable 26SA and 28SA Plus Standalone readers, which were widely used by major Telephone Entry System OEMs for many years for gate and parking applications.

Secura Key later developed proximity and contactless smart card readers, keypads, control panels, and Access Control Software. Secura Key was one of the first companies to make contactless smart card readers for access control applications. They also sell RFID products (readers and transponders) for large non-access control applications, including loyalty, membership, asset tracking and process control applications.

Secura Key has a complete in-house card manufacturing and 4-color digital printing facility, and is capable of producing most major card technologies, including Wiegand, BaFe, Proximity, Mag Stripe, Contactless Smart Cards (including TI, Mifare, and DESfire technologies) UHF, and multi-technology cards. Secura Key has designed and built most of its production equipment and manufacturing automation with internal resources.

For more information, visit http://www.securakey.com.