Constellation Brands Inc is the largest wine company in the world and both a major producer and independent drinks wholesaler in the United Kingdom, operating as Constellation Europe Ltd. The company is responsible for the sales, marketing and supply of Constellation wines, cider and drinks brands.
With operations expanding across Europe, Constellation needed to establish a distribution base for movement across the region. The result is the largest warehouse in Europe, measuring 80,000 square metres – the equivalent of 13 football pitches.
Representing an investment of around 50 million euros, effective security formed an essential component of the build. “It’s imperative that we monitor what comes onto site and what leaves it,” says Les Williams, group security manager. “The security team is accountable for this, so the quality of the security system was a key consideration.”
Constellation’s first course of action was to bring on a consultant to act as an adviser and to work alongside the installer to ensure the smooth running of the project. After a series of discussions, they agreed on a proposal and went out to tender.
“Security Solutions Direct were the clear winners of this tender thanks to their competitive offering and because they best understood, and catered to, our requirements,” said Williams.
With the security requirements growing alongside the expansion of the business, he has the job of keeping losses to an absolute minimum. “We’ve always been very successful at this,” he said. “CCTV has undoubtedly played and continues to play an important role in this and one of our main strengths is closely analysing the possible security strengths and weaknesses. Alcohol is a high-value target to thieves so we need to constantly be upgrading to more sophisticated systems with better controls.”
Covering all areas
In all, 25 cameras have been installed across the site, allowing for both internal and external monitoring.
Eight Pelco IS111-DNV9X vandal resistant domes have been placed throughout the building, monitoring the corridors, stock cages and vending machines, as well as providing an overview of pallet movement on and off goods trailers in the warehouse.
A further two have been installed externally to watch who is entering/exiting from the car park and from the general staff gate.
In reception, a Pelco IS90 internal dome watches the entrance to the building. The wide dynamic range is ideal for this application as it compensates for the different light levels present as people walk through the doors.
Another of these cameras monitors the time and attendance equipment in the clock room; a third has been positioned in the Telecoms room to check who is entering the area.
Nine Pelco Spectra IV SD4CBW hi-res colour/monochrome cameras have been installed around the site. These cover the road adjacent to the site, along with the lorry park, security lodge, main yard, car park, staff turnstiles, visitors’ gate and all other key entry/exit points around the site.
Where large distances demand it, fibre optic cabling has been used to ensure picture quality and future-proof the site for further expansion of the system. The Spectra IV domes have a 35x optical zoom, 12x digital zoom and sunshield, fan and heater.
“One of the major benefits of this dome is that all tour, patterns, presets, labels, zones and site specific dome settings are all stored within the dome back box and not within the actual dome drive itself,” said Arnie Palmer of Security Solutions Direct.
“Looking forward to ongoing maintenance, this will speed up the servicing times and keep costs down for Constellation.
“Because Constellation is growing at such a rapid rate, it was essential that the entire system was future-proofed,” he said. “Thanks to this forward planning, we can expand the system with a minimum of fuss when the time comes.”
All the domes have been interfaced with the perimeter detection devices to allow them to automatically zoom to pre-set on alarm with slow tours along fence lines.
Two Vista VNPRC-dual number plate recognition cameras have been positioned on the security lodge; one to log all vehicles entering the site and the other to log those leaving over the weighbridge. Accompanying each ANPR camera is a colour camera and IR lamp which provides an overview of the vehicle. An ImagePac hi-res day/night camera with IP rated housing and heater has been fitted on the lodge, providing an overview of activity to the entrance of it.
Two Vigilant DVRs are also housed here, offering simultaneous live view, playback, remote view, record and back up. The cameras can all be operated via Pelco KBD300A PTZ joystick controllers.
Protecting the perimeter
Optex Rednet active Infra-Red photobeams are located around the perimeter of the site, positioned consistently at a distance of no more than 100 metres apart. The beams consist of either four transmitter or four receiver heads and have heating elements integrated to prevent the build-up of frost.
A broken beam triggers the intruder panel, which in turn triggers the Pelco 2084 alarm module. This activates the camera nearest to the beam to immediately sweep the area, allowing the operator to determine what has caused the alarm.
To ensure only authorised personnel gain access to the site, Securenet PAC500 controllers and readers have been used to control access to 37 doors in all, using IP over the network. Mifare readers are issued to all staff and visitors and programmed to allow them access to specific areas of the site. The system also allows for cashless vending and use of the photocopiers.
“We used Norbain to supply all of this kit,” said Arnie Palmer. “We know we can rely on them to provide the equipment we need, when we need it. The whole operation is very professional and their high levels of customer service ensure we get great support throughout a project.”
Set for business
The site itself is due to be operational early in 2009 and Les Williams believes they have the system in place to ensure the security of stock and employees alike.
“Security Solutions Direct has installed a top-class system that provides us with the protection a site such as this requires. The quality of the pictures is excellent, and we’re confident that, as each area of the business becomes operational, the security requirements will more than match our needs.”
