The perimeter systems market is going for a very good time in Latin American territory, proof of this is the increase in projects that include among their security options the protection of perimeter areas.
by Santiago Jaramillo Hincapié
As Israel Sánchez, regional sales manager of the company Aliara, tells us, the market for systems for the protection of perimeters, today is favored due to the change of culture and the existence of effective systems, in addition to being characterized by a little investment, being friendly and, most importantly, obtaining tangible results, which support companies for the reduction of thefts and protection during the 24 hours of their perimeters.
In the same way, in their particular case the above has allowed them to expand their market and generate more offers and business opportunities through their representatives.
Basilio Ángel Holowczak, engineer of the Latin American & Caribbean Area of Takenaka Engineering Co. Ltd., highlights that for Takex Latin America the penetration of the perimeter systems market observes a persistence of constant growth especially since the beginning of this century and because of this the balance is more than positive and with expectations also very promising.
At this point Christian Kuhk, technical manager of the company DTS², agrees although he admits that it has not been entirely easy to reach this good moment that the industry is going through.
"Our company already has 20 years of experience exclusively in perimeter security and we can say that we were pioneers in this area in the region. This comes up as we had to pay the 'floor fee' to open the market to these new technologies. At that time to be able to install a perimeter security system it was a huge job to convince the client technically and commercially, who was unaware that these solutions existed. Now in the last decade by improving the technology of many of these solutions, as well as drastically lowering manufacturing and implementation costs, we can say: that perimeter security is only growing and will continue to grow both in this region and in the world."
Moving on to which is the strongest segment and what percentage of sales each one represents, the representative of the Latin American & Caribbean area of Takenaka Engineering Co. Ltd., warns that in the case of his company the strongest segment is the perimeter systems market and the percentage of sales observed in the region is currently 90% (85% to protect home exteriors and 5% industrial, closed neighborhoods, prisons, etc.).
"It results from a spectacular growth in home exterior protection estimating that this is mainly due to three aspects: first, because users want to detect the intruder outside their homes and not when they are inside. Second due to the current accessible costs of implementing foreign protection and third given the prevailing insecurity and with increasing levels that has been observed lately in all the countries of the Region, he highlights.
For his part, the representative of the company Aliara, highlights that his successful experience focuses more on the business and industrial segment, however it pays a good moment to other sectors where the integration of solutions in its various systems (PMS2, PMS3 and PM4) and microphone sensor cable, as well as electric fences have had very good acceptance and unbeatable results.
Technologies and innovations
The technical manager of the company DTS² warns about the advances that the industry has today and about what kind of technologies or innovations are being introduced in the Latin American market.
He points out that his company, for example, is developing specific systems for this region, which is very particular compared to others such as North America and / or Europe. Latin America focuses on having a perimeter security system but without affecting both the aesthetics and the distribution and / or profusion of vegetation.
On the other hand, a clear example of progress at the level of wireless early warning detection is its Roboguard system, which will have a new version with bidirectional communication and smaller sensor and reporting equipment. We are also presenting in the market systems suitable for connecting wireless transmitters of other brands and being powered by them or by only 4 common medium alkaline batteries type C.
In terms of high / maximum security these days they are presenting to the market a wire detection system (Pinpoint SIOUX) which works with MEMS technology and is native IP. As well as not the latest versions of the microwaves of digital analysis and logic Fuzzy monostatic (Centurion - up to 100 meters and 3 to 7 configurable subzones) and bistatic (ERMO482XPRO - up to 500 meters per zone), which can be connected by bus, calibrated remotely via the internet and have a probability of POD detection of 99.99% and a FAR (false alarm rate) of 1 per year per equipment according to signal / noise ratio.
Likewise, Israel Sánchez highlights that more than introducing new technologies, they are perfecting the existing ones to guarantee the integration into a single management platform of their brand, Aliara. However, they are constantly developing to meet the demands of their customers in specific solutions.
In the same way, Basilio Ángel Holowczak highlights that they hope to increase the conversion of the basic wired systems offered into wireless ones for the coverage of large lengths in relation to the following external sensors; external infrared active barriers of 4 beams, microwaves, passive, combined since in relation to wired outdoor passives of 1 and 2 heads with unlimited tolerance of pets for the exterior coverage of homes last year they launched the wireless versions of them, which have obtained very good returns.
Segment barriers
Speaking of barriers or difficulties that arise in the perimeter systems market, Christian Kuhk comments that at the beginning for the average customer the price (and rightly so) was a determinant, given that the only customers who could acquire their perimeter systems were almost exclusively, governments, multinationals or VIP residents.
Now, although price is still a more than important variable, the biggest problem for those who want to offer a perimeter security solution to their customers is the choice for quality and real performance.
"It is very common to find ourselves in the market with products or suppliers that claim to be and do the same as top-level products and innovation, but this is not the case. Unfortunately if the client does not inquire or investigate as appropriate previously, he will only realize when everything is installed and nothing works as it should, "says Kuhk, who also adds that "it is also fair to say that more and more customers are acquiring are sapience and looking for quality and performance, instead of just asking for the price only".
In the same way, Basilio Ángel Holowczak, highlights that "due to the manufacture and offer of very particular perimeter sensors, good performance, excellent tolerance to adverse external weather factors, wide versatility, long service life and located in the range of professional and reliable premium quality sensors do not find significant barriers against them within the perimeter systems market. The good thing in the long run ends up imposing itself because of the reliability that this offers both for its sale and for its use".
Meanwhile, Israel Sánchez warns among the most common barriers, the lack of culture in implementing solutions to protect its first security ring, accompanied by correct advice and promotion and information from security professionals to the end user.
Failures and difficulties
In every segment there are some failures due to incorrect use or underuse of the benefits of the equipment, so we asked our guests to give us their opinions in order to obtain the best result when using their products.
First of all, knowing how to differentiate between perimeter and /or outdoor systems or detectors for early warning that can be used in security applications, from those that are exclusively for security.
According to the technical manager of the dts² company, a very common mistake is to infer the level of security that the client needs, instead of analyzing or asking directly. For example: "They ask him to protect a helmet in the middle of the field. Most of the time they install infrared barriers of 2 or up to 4 beams but with the first beam no less than one (1) meter from the ground so that the dogs and animals of the place do not activate the system. The client pays with pleasure and goes to sleep peacefully, at the same time crouching / crouching intruders enter the premises without activating the sensors and surprise the client in his bed, beat him hard and steal millions of dollars that he had hidden. "
The right thing, according to Christian Kuhk, would have been to ask the client what level or type of intrusion he wants to protect himself from or if he does not know it, offer maximum options (microwave barriers, buried MAD cables, RF, pressure, seismic and / or surface radars, thermal cameras with VMD, etc., combined with rural electrifiers and / or fences to prevent entry to the sensed area); medium (sensor cables in wireframes, combination of IR barriers with a second line of volumetric sensors closer to the property to be protected) and minimum security (see example above or simple early warning sensors around the property such as double PIRS at one (1) meter in height). and let him choose.
"Something we see very often is also medium, high or maximum security facilities where anti-sabotage or masking systems and/or measures are not implemented," adds our guest.
At the same time, the representative of Takex Latin America adds that an important recommendation is that they test the system at least once a month, that they clean them according to the instructions provided by the installer, that they make sure to hire suitable companies or installers that follow the extra instructions regarding the achievement of optimal outdoor installations provided by the factory to them through the authorized distributors of the products.
For his part, the representative of the company Aliara ensures that in every segment there are some failures due to incorrect use or underuse of the benefits of the equipment, so he lists the following points.
1. In principle the review of the current status where our system will be installed, which must be in optimal conditions for its installation.
2. Installation and configuration of each sector according to the needs and conditions of the area to be protected and requirements of the Operator.
3. Certification of the personnel by the manufacturing company for the user area and its correct operation, as well as the assignment of the person in charge for maintenance.
4. Have defined the scope of the system for each of the areas to be protected for a correct configuration.
5. Preventive maintenance and constant training of personnel.
The future
In any industry it is always a priority to know where you are, in order to identify the perspectives and route yourself on the most appropriate path. In this sense, our guests told us where the main investments in this industry were inclined this year and in which the hopes for the future are encrypted.
Holowczak indicates that "the main investments this year will be based on perfecting and expanding wireless versions of the basic technology sensors that have been offered to cover especially the types of external security, with good future hopes."
Meanwhile, the representative of DTS² commented that in recent years due to the global crisis that affects us many innovations are made to wait either by investment or by lack of inputs. This also allowed several manufacturers to focus on their existing products/solutions to improve and/or refine them.
"I believe that in the near future systems will tend to be more integrable with each other and will support IP platforms (fixed, remote and / or mobile) natively both for event communication as well as for configuration / auditing," he concludes.
