Weston in Space

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Altus Fire and Life Safety, a full-service fire and life safety services platform, announces it has acquired Croker, a provider of fire, life safety, emergency preparedness and business resilience programs in the Northeastern United States. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Altus, owned by private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, now consists of five businesses: Cross-Fire & Security , Alarm & Suppression , NISCO , Adcock and Croker. Croker President Brian L. Weinstein will remain with the company and maintain a minority stake. Founded in 1911, Croker operates through three subsidiaries: Croker Fire Drill Corp., Croker Fire Safety Corporation and Croker Fire & Life Safety Institute. The company provides a wide range of fire and life safety services for the workplace, including drills, planning, educating, training, exercising and consulting services as well as crisis management and business continuity services. Croker primarily serves com

March is a very busy time for the security industry in general. Much of that busyness centers around the ISC West trade show. Also taking place during the show is SSI ‘s SAMMY and MVP Awards and the SSI Industry Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Web readers were excited for all of the above as they make up a majority of this month’s most read stories. Pretty impressive considering they’ve only been published for a week or less. After having its in-person show canceled in 2020 and moving its 2021 edition to July, ISC West made its return to Las Vegas during its traditional Spring timeframe. Judging by the enthusiasm of both attendees and exhibitors, the show was a success and marked a return to some semblance of normalcy. SSI ‘s SAMMY Awards and HoF induction, which is traditionally held in a ballroom on the eve of the show’s exhibition opening, took place on the Bridge Stage, a new area in the center of the show floor. The combination of full capacity seating and the open design

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Paxton Access has updated its free installer training offering for 2022, with a focus on in-person, hands-on sessions.   Delivering free installer training has always been at the heart of Paxton ’s business strategy, according to an announcement. More than 1,400 installers participated in Paxton training sessions in 2021; an additional 120 installers registered for training during ISC West 2022. The hands-on sessions are said to offer guidance on the installation of the company’s networked access control system Net2, as well as Paxton10, which combines access control with video management on a single platform. For 2022 Paxton is offering new, comprehensive in-person training sessions for both Net2 and Paxton10. The individual eight-hour training sessions are said to provide attendees with the basics of the system right through to advanced functionality. Related: New NFPA Certification Helps Qualify Water-Based Suppression System Techs In-person sessions com

SAN FRANCISCO — Sciens Building Solutions announces it has acquired Longwood, Fla.-based fire and security firm LV Solutions. This is the latest acquisition since Sciens was established in 2016 to pursue a buy-and-build investment strategy in the fire detection and integrated solutions sector. Sciens acquired Rochester, N.Y.-based fire and security firm West Fire Systems on March 16 . The addition of LVS helps expand the company’s presence in Central Florida and provides LVS, its employees, and its customers with even deeper resources and expertise, according to the company. “Sciens’ and its affiliated companies’ solid technical expertise and comprehensive building solutions, combined with LVS’s capabilities, will allow us to develop broader and even better offerings for the important Orlando and greater Central Florida market,” says Trevor Blanc, president of LV Solutions, who will remain in his current role with the company. “We are excited to expand together under the Sciens plat

LAS VEGAS — Resideo Technologies (NYSE: REZI ) announced new capabilities for its security and home automation solutions last week during ISC West, in addition to highlighting its latest technologies and offerings. “Resideo is a pioneer in the home security and life-safety industry, and we continue to develop our next wave of connected home technology to help homeowners feel safe and secure,” said Matthew Robbins, vice president global product management, integrated home & building solutions. “Resideo is focused on expanding our award-winning, end-to-end platform and ecosystem to deliver a differentiated smart home for our security dealers and to help them protect what matters most.” New Resideo ProSeries Smart Home Platform Enhancements Named and designed for the professionals it serves, the ProSeries Platform  offers Resideo’s largest range of supported home solutions in one modular, scalable system. The latest firmware update includes the following features: Dealer branding

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — Milestone Systems announces new enhancements to its Partner Program that are said to be designed to maximize partner success, help partners compete in a constantly changing market, and provide more enhanced profitability. Aimed at deepening the company’s relationships with its partners, the program’s enhancements include a transparent three-tier program design, partner status by country level, expanded program benefits and partner rewards, introduction of growth rebates for top tier partners, and realigned participation requirements. The new program will launch and go into effect on July 1. Related: Deciphering Today’s Security Dealer Program Landscape “Milestone is and will remain a partner-centric company. We are fully channel driven, and we’re committed to deepening our relationships with our partners. Through this new program, we will help our partners thrive and grow as they take advantage of this tremendous and differentiated market opportunity,” says

NEW YORK — Shipments of smart credentials will return to a pre-pandemic level of 596 million units in 2022, followed by significant growth year-on-year to a forecasted 766 million-unit shipments in 2026, according to ABI Research. While the government ID market is, to a large extent, protected from the on-going chip shortage, the coming years will prove critical as demand picks back up and further supply tensions are placed on vendors for meticulous planning, collaboration and strategy to ensure timely delivery of sufficient chip supply, according to ABI. The research firm forecasts ePassport shipments will rebound to 176 million in 2024, driven by the restored appetite for passport renewal as travel restrictions ease. “Whereas greater impact from the chip shortage have been felt in certain end markets such the automotive industry for example, the government identity market has been shielded from the chip shortage,” explains Lucas Stewart, Citizen Digital Identity Research Analyst

ISC West 2022 brought some normalcy back to the security industry as hundreds of exhibitors and thousand of attendees descended to the Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas for the country’s largest electronic trade show. The past two years has been void of personal interaction and socialization. It was clear that everyone at the show was excited to chat with industry peers face-to-face. Another benefit of physically being at a trade show is the ability to get an up-close look at the latest solutions. ISC West is known for being a launchpad for new products and this year was no different. SSI has rounded up a selection of new products that were shown off this year, so whether you missed a booth while traversing the show, or just couldn’t make it out to Vegas, you’ll still be in the know. The products range from surveillance cameras, to communicators, to home automation and more. Check them out in the slideshow. View 16 New Products Shown at ISC West 2022 Also make sure to check out

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Interface Security Systems, a managed service provider, announces an expanded suite of Personal Protection Monitoring services that use active RFID tags to protect infants from abduction, prevent mother/infant mismatches and monitor memory care patients. Personal Protection Monitoring was first launched in 2020 with a focus on protecting at-risk lone and mobile workers in retail, restaurant and hospitality brands. With this latest launch, Interface adds healthcare solutions to its Personal Protection Monitoring portfolio. This will include the following new service offerings: Infant security system for newborn infants in birthing centers and hospitals to prevent abductions and accidental pairing of the infant with the wrong parent. Wander management system for patients in hospitals, behavioral health facilities and memory care centers. Related: How RTLS Mobile Duress Tech Protects Healthcare Workers Interface has partnered with GuardRFID, a provider of r

McLEAN, Va. — The Monitoring Association ( TMA ) announces the finalists for its 2022 Excellence Awards. This year, the awards competition received a total 23 entries across five categories. Listed in alphabetical order by company within each category, the finalists are: Monitoring Center of the Year – Enterprise 1. ADT 2. AvantGuard Monitoring Centers 3. COPS Monitoring Monitoring Center of the Year – SMB 1. EPS Security 2. Kimberlite-Sonitrol Corp. 3. Wayne Alarm Systems Monitoring Center Manager of the Year 1. Larry Esposito, Affiliated Monitoring 2. Julie Aliferis, American Alarm and Communications 3. Marcos Reyes, Kimberlite-Sonitrol Corp. Monitoring Center Operator of the Year 1. Emily Bishop, COPS Monitoring 2. Sydney Johnson, EPS Security 3. Timothy Tinajero, Kimberlite-Sonitrol Corp. Monitoring Center Support Person of the Year 1. Aaron Salma, Affiliated Monitoring 2. LaMar A. Shroyer, Dynamark Monitoring, Inc. 3. Corey Gose, Kimberlite-Sonitrol Corp.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Vistacom, a provider of audiovisual, communications and control room solutions, announces it has added its first two independent rep firms to support Vistacom SecureView product sales within the security market. Coaxial Systems Associates (CSA) will represent Vistacom SecureView in Florida and the Caribbean, while AMS Rep Associates will represent Vistacom SecureView in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The new Vistacom SecureView, which launched last week during ISC West, is an all-in-one, pre-engineered, affordable command center kit. Vistacom SecureView makes easy self-assembly a reality for small and medium operations centers with best-in-class products, expert remote support and a number of factory-tested configurations from which to choose, the company says. Related: Vistacom Releases Updated All-in-One Command Center Kit “Vistacom is thrilled to partner with CSA and AMS and to name them as our first two rep fi

LAS VEGAS — DMP kicked off ISC West week by hosting its annual Owners Forum at the Four Seasons Hotel for its top dealers. “We’re excited to welcome the finest professionals in our industry to the 2022 Owners Forum. We expect another year of great insight and education,” said DMP Vice President of Marketing Mark Hillenburg. This invitation-only event creates an opportunity for like-minded executives and owners to network and listen to acclaimed speakers share ideas on how to grow their businesses. The forum also spotlights this year’s DMP Award recipients. This year’s Owners Forum featured two panel discussions with over 20 of the security industry’s biggest names discussing “five things alarm company owners should do to increase the value of their company.” Panelists followed up with real-life tactical ways to put these items into practice. Keynote speaker Scott McKain gave an insightful presentation on the “Ultimate Customer Experience.” The annual DMP Awards was initiated to re

LAS VEGAS — After a low-key July edition last year and a cancelled in-person show in 2020 , ISC West returned in full-force to its traditional Spring timeframe. The show floor, which was double in size compared to last year, according to show organizers, was packed throughout the week. It wasn’t just attendees that clogged the aisles — more than 500 exhibitors were on display, many of them in physically impressive booths. Exhibitors crossed a wide range of technologies and services: access control, alarms, biometrics, detection controls/devices, IT & IoT security, public safety, robotics, smart home, video surveillance and more. Event producer Reed Exhibitions has yet to release the official turnout for 2022. However, a source estimated there were roughly 22,000 attendees. That would more than double 2021’s attendance, while soaring closer to past ISC West heydays of around 30,000 show goers. With few masks observed, industry professionals were indeed ready to conduct business

LAS VEGAS — Qualcomm Technologies unveiled its latest smart camera IoT solution last week during ISC West 2022. The Qualcomm QCS7230 solution is said to expand the Qualcomm Vision Intelligence Platform portfolio, driving the digital transformation of enterprise security and public safety segments, designed to help safeguard environments with smart devices at the connected intelligent edge. The new solution delivers AI inferencing at the edge, improving security and operation-effectiveness with real-time edge compute, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and analytics, to enable safer and more protected spaces, cities and enterprises, according to the company. Qualcomm says during the pandemic, organizations and communities have embraced smart cameras to reimagine the new normal, while digital transformation has aided in supporting social distancing, monitoring masks, tracking indoor and outdoor occupancy levels, and enhancing operational processes. Related: How Smar

LAS VEGAS — Nice/Nortek Control showcased its new smart and AI-powered intelligent Linear Surveillance Cameras and Network Video Recorders (NVR) at ISC West 2022. These multifamily cameras and NVRs are designed to seamlessly integrate with Linear Access Control and Telephone Entry systems, according to the company. Surveillance camera lines are powered by IntelliVision video analytics to provide actionable insights using AI and deep learning-based video analytics on the edge. The NVRs communicate with Linear Access Control and Telephone Entry systems to automatically see video events tied to the corresponding access events helping property or facility managers with proactive notifications. Related: Nortek Security & Control Acquires AI, Video Analytics Provider IntelliVision Together, the whole surveillance system integrates with Linear Access Control and Telephone Entry systems for ease of install and all-in-one support. “The Linear Surveillance line is the first step i

LONDON — In 2021 there were an estimated 1.6 million smart apartment units in the United States, representing about 6.6% of the multifamily apartment building stock, according to the latest smart apartment report from Omdia. In 2026, the number of smart apartment units is expected to reach nearly 10 million, equating to 34% of the apartment building stock. In terms of in-unit IoT devices in the U.S., there were about 4 million new devices installed (shipped) in smart apartments in 2021, increasing to about 18 million devices in 2026. Historically, property managers focused on operational efficiencies, which typically included door locks and thermostats, while adding a few IoT devices to each unit to warrant a bump up in rent, writes Omdia’s Blake Kozak , senior principal analyst, smart home. Kozak’s market overview continues: The smart apartment market is booming. More property managers than ever before are realizing the benefits that IoT can bring to a community. With vacancy rate

Several years ago while traveling through an airport, I was questioned by security about the unusual item I was carrying. When they opened up my bag they were set back for a moment due to what appeared to be a gun. The security officer asked, “Sir, what is that?” I calmly replied, “A termination gun.” As you might have guessed, I had to explain further. At the time I was running the tech training program at Sonitrol and they used a special cable termination tool that looked like a handgun. Ergo, it was called a termination gun. Not funny to the security officer. Now, let’s get to the matter at hand, and that is cable termination practices. Did you know that the biggest cause of problems in system installations is proper electrical termination, or the connecting of cables to equipment or other cables? That is why this month I am addressing cable termination skills and practices as an important basic technician’s skill. Related: Problematic System? How to Use Your ‘Thinking Hat’ t

MILWAUKEE — Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI ) announces the new IQ Pro, a hybrid panel utilizing the IQ Platform and key features from IQ Panel 4, PowerSeries Neo and customer feedback. IQ Pro is said to address the needs of commercial , small- and medium-sized business (SMB), large residential, campus and K-12 markets. “We are reinventing the commercial security market,” says Mike Hackett, Johnson Controls , vice president, global sales & marketing. “We already have a reputation of disruption in the residential security space and we are bringing that same experience to commercial installations. The IQ Pro is a true hybrid panel leveraging key features of IQ Panel 4 and the DSC Neo, the most popular products in their respective spaces.” Building on the IQ Platform, the IQ Pro will support PowerG’s advanced sensor technology with industry-leading wireless range and extensive portfolio of life safety and security devices, according to the announcement. Additional features include:

CHICAGO — Motorola Solutions (NYSE:  MSI ) announces the new Openpath Pro Series Video Intercom Reader (Video Intercom Pro), an access control reader that combines video, audio and enterprise call routing into an all-in-one device with a mobile-friendly user experience. The Video Intercom Pro provides organizations with advanced security to help protect both tenants and visitors and offers security operators real-time visibility via video which enables a faster response to incidents, according to the company. “Today, many organizations rely on disparate systems for security from video cameras to intercoms and badge readers to connected doorbells, creating clutter for operators and confusion for visitors,” says James Segil, vice president, access control at Motorola Solutions. “The Openpath Video Intercom Pro combines all of these capabilities into one device, reducing the cost and complexity of access control while elevating the user experience for both visitors and operators.”

ATLANTA — Pye-Barker Fire & Safety announces the acquisition of Lancaster, Pa.-based Choice Security Services for undisclosed terms. With the transaction, Pye-Barker strengthens its presence in Pennsylvania and bolsters its service offerings in the Northern Maryland market. Choice Security Services offers security alarm, fire alarm, fire inspections, video surveillance and various environmental alarms. The locally operated company serves Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. Choice was founded by the late James J. Durkin and current CEO Ray Bear in 2001 after decades of security and fire alarm experience at other area companies. Choice Security is known for a sincere commitment to delivering personalized, responsive service, according to the announcement. “My business partner James and I started Choice Security over 20 years ago to provide a better customer and employee experience,” says Bear. “It’s rare to find a partner as aligned with your core values as we have with P

There’s a lot that’s new with power, and the product category’s ongoing improvement offers updates that benefit both installer and end user. From managed power services to time and labor savings to the largest enclosures to date, integrators can now leverage these upgrades and others in their access control, fire, video surveillance, security and life-safety installations.    So much of what we do every day at home and the office is dependent on reliable power and guaranteed uptime to connected systems. For systems integrators providing physical security and integrated solutions, the state of power is even more critical — safeguarding lives, people, property and the infrastructure.  Related: Why Power Protection Is Important for Security Systems Not long ago, the engineered enclosure that houses power and access control components was simply a static piece of hardware, and often, three separate enclosures were required for system power, lock power and the access control module

LAS VEGAS — Teledyne FLIR is debuting its flagship security lineup for perimeter protection during ISC West 2022. Attendees who visit Teledyne FLIR in booth #26061 will also have an opportunity to see firsthand a robust counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) and a variety of industrial condition monitoring solutions. This will be FLIR’s first ISC West as a Teledyne company. Security personnel can rely on Teledyne FLIR ’s field-proven technologies for powerful performance in all weather conditions, with products that offer fast threat recognition and multi-layered security capabilities. At ISC West, attendees will see the new FLIR FH-Series cameras: two models of ruggedized, multispectral fixed cameras that pair 4K visible imaging with a thermal sensor offering industry-leading sensitivity. The FH-Series ID features on-board FLIR Virtual Barrier convolutional neural network (CNN) analytics for intrusion detection and resilience against false alarms, while the FH-Series R is purpose-