A more than doubling of export sales over the last three years underpins the award-winning performance of IDL, manufacturer of the Fastlane range of entrance control products. The company undertook a highly targeted approach to its export drive, focusing on large cities with a high GDP and design-influenced construction market in north America, South East Asia and the Middle East. The company researched each region to find out the most suitable route to market. To support the export initiative, new product development for local markets was fast-tracked while existing products were reviewed to simplify installation and maintenance for business partners. Export sales have grown from GB pound 1.2 million in 2003-2004 to a projected GB pound 3 million-plus in 2006-2007.
Runners-Up
Arup Security Consulting
Arup provides a risk-led service using a combination of threat and risk assessment techniques, resilience reviews (including blast engineering and chemical/biological attack mitigation) and security planning. The company believes this approach provides a broader approach to security, encompassing building design and planning and the operational traits of clients’ businesses.
D-Tec
At its inception in 1997, D-Tec’s main market was in the UK, but by the end of this financial year it expects export sales to account for more than 83% of total sales ( GB pound 1.1 million compared to GB pound 220,000 in the UK). Its video smoke detection technology applies computer analysis of video images from standard CCTV cameras. Using image processing and algorithms, VSD can automatically identify the particular motion patterns of smoke. Contracts include installations at the Royal Airwing Hangar complex at Dubai International Airport and the Sydney Harbour Tunnel in Australia. The company has resident engineers in Sydney, Dubai and Johannesburg.
IndigoVision
In the last two years, IndigoVision has established a sales presence in 16 new territories and now exports to over 40 countries, accounting for 80% of its total sales. The company’s biggest US installation to date has been for the new casino complex at the Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming Centre in Hollywood, Florida. The solution had to be deployed in full compliance with Florida Gaming Board regulations, with a performance guarantee of DVD-quality footage at 4CIF and 30 ips. The system consists of 550 cameras, IndigoVision’s Control Center management software and eight server-based Network Video Recorders that, together, offer over 70 TB of storage for the end user.
VIDEF Security Consulting
VIDEF believes there is more to security than just electronic systems, and that designing-in security from the initial building stage is the most effective approach. This small, independent consultancy only does security consulting and offers a full range of services, including threat assessment, system planning and design engineering, tender documentation and specifications, bid evaluation and installation project management. In the past 12 months, VIDEF has been planning and designing the entire physical and electronic security systems for the 700,000m2 Central Redevelopment project in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which includes an 88-storey residential tower, a 58-storey office tower and various hotels.
WebWayOne
Last November, ISS Finland awarded WebWayOne a contract to supply it with 8,000 IP/GPRS signalling devices, a complete alarm transmission and management platform and technical service for intruder and fire alarm transmission. ISS is a major European security provider and is instigating a programme of switching its system from analogue to digital (IP and GPRS), a trend that WebWayOne has been driving in the UK. The contract demonstrates the UK remains at the centre of innovative communications solutions: all the technology is designed and made in the UK.