Arturo Martínez Olivero, Sales Manager of the Andean Region, Central America and the Caribbean, explains how the Israeli company joined the five leading companies of producers of combined security solutions in the world and tells us about its purpose of expanding the activity in Latin America
Among the technology providers of the World Cup held last June, there were several Israeli companies. One of them was Risco Group, manufacturer of integrated security solutions, which directs from Israel global operations in 4 continents and dozens of countries around the world.
"More than 20% of Risco's production is directed to Latin America, and although it is not large, it is very important to us," says Arturo Martínez Oliveros, Sales Manager of the Andean Region, Central America and the Caribbean. "We have been working for many years in the area of projects in front of organizations and integrators, but we will expand this activity significantly, based, in part, on the great knowledge accumulated in projects around the world. We will also expand our operations in Latin America in the domestic and small business sector."
What does Risco currently offer to the Latin American market?
"We invested a lot of resources in the development, which will allow us to considerably expand our range of products, including tailor-made solutions for the market, which in the past did not exist – starting from detectors, centralizers and user address applications to systems that include access control and remote control. The wide range of products allows the creation of a complete system integrated by the manufacturer and that guarantees reliability and ease of implementation.
An example of this type of product is the SynopSys Integrated Security & Building Management synoptic system, a tracking and control system that allows the security agent to control a number of sites from a single location. Synopsys is an integrated platform for building security and management, based on intuitive synoptic maps, and integrates all building management security systems and subsystems (including third-party systems), into a unified interface, ensuring the highest levels of security for all visitors to the building or designated area to a large audience.
In the case of large events, such as concerts of many participants, football matches, etc. the system offers a large number of control (security forces, police, firefighters, and officials) to respond accurately and in real time to any kind of security and control events.
In the field of utilities, for example, it is installed in water wells of a large number of projects.
Synopsys is one of the systems Risco installed at the Brazilian Arena Pantanal stadium containing 44,000 people, and has proven successful there. Due to the knowledge acquired in the World Cup, the Risco group also plans to implement it in facilities for major events in the world.
Another of our solutions that received momentum in the last two years is the axesplus control system, which is used to secure doors and windlasses in complexes and buildings, to protect against unwanted visitors. In the case of a mass event, the system is also used to validate the spectators' card.
As a manufacturer, is there a collaboration between you and other factors in the market?
Of course, despite our extensive volume of activity, we are careful to adapt the solutions made to any project, and thus synchronize with the products of other companies. For example, command and control systems, all our interconnection systems in a single system and synchronized with those of other companies. We continue to work with leading integrators. We also have years of cooperation with consultants in the field. Integrators and consultants know that one of our strengths as a company is the accompaniment of all projects from design to actual implementation.
With intense global operations in recent years, where is Risco now relative to its competitors in the world?
I think what most reflects the name that Risco has acquired in the world, is actually that it is currently qualified by analysts within the quintet of world leaders in anti-theft control and alarm systems. In fact, when you do the math - they install every 9 seconds some Risco article all over the world.
The reason for coming to this respectable place, among other things, is thanks to a coherent policy to always be pioneers in the introduction of new technologies in the security market. In the domestic market, for example, Risco is a global leader in cloud-based security. In the institutional market, we are leading the remote control trend, with the development of advanced applications on smartphones that allow customers remote access to their security systems.
The company currently has 12 branches including: Australia, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, Poland, Israel, United States, Brazil, China, Argentina and Colombia. Through these branches, we cover a large number of countries, and we are involved in interesting and large-scale projects. The World Cup was one of them.
For example: Last year in China, a series of Risco agreements were signed for the supply of advanced detectors from its production to large banks and ATM manufacturers in the Chinese market. In total, tens of thousands of detectors are installed to prevent theft at ATMs in the country. Another project is an integrated security system at the University of Cyprus. Our products have obtained a very good reputation all over the world and have won numerous awards. Only recently did we win the 2014 PSI Award.
About the Risco Group:
Behind the company's global operations are more than 700 employees who support the branch's professional activities, in development, production, marketing, technical support and so on. The company has three production plants in the world and advanced logistics training. The company was founded 35 years ago by entrepreneur and CEO Moshe Alkalay. The range of products is very wide, from volume detector, sophisticated industrial detectors, warning systems in homes and businesses, extensive platforms for access control and security management in buildings, commercial complexes and public buildings, places of critical infrastructure, and even international security projects. Risco is also the controlling shareholder of Electronics Line which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and offers security services for the professional and semi-professional market.
