Welcome to the exciting world of Access, Time and Security

prime News16

Contentsprime News 16

Security 4

Case Studies Museum Aan de Stroom, Antwerp 6Schwarzwald-Baar Hospital 9

International Upcoming Partner Events 2014 12New Group Functions 13primion AG Switzerland 14New Partner in Saudi Arabia 15pIPE 2013 16

Specialist Articles Making the Exception the Rule 20Video Technology and Access Control 24

primion prime MobileApp 17primion Release Information 18Exhibitions & Much More – Marketing 26

WillkommenHerr Müller

Publisher:

primion Technology AGSteinbeisstrasse 2-572510 Stetten am kalten MarktTel.: +49 (0)7573 9520Fax: +49 (0)7573 92034info@primion.euwww.primion.eu

Registered Office:Stetten am kalten Markt, Germany

Company registration at the County Court, UlmHRB 710911

Board: Horst Eckenberger, CEOJorge Pons Vorberg

Chairman of the Supervisory BoardJuan Miguel Sucunza

Edition no. 16 July 2014

Photos: Title: Filip Dujardin, P.4 blickfang P.6 ff Michel Wuyts, Filip Dujardin (6) P.9 ff Roland Sprich (4), primionPrivate, primion, Klahm

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Dear Readers,

primion is much more than just a company. It is a large community of customers, employees, partners, suppliers, banks, shareholders and neighbours. Each makes their own contribution. But each also has their own expectations of primion. The key to our success lies in always striving to achieve more than what is expected of us. This is the challenge that we seek to meet every day.

And since 1st April 2014, I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work as the new CFO in this globally active company. For almost twenty years now, primion Technology AG has been your guarantee for user-friendly and innovative solutions in the areas of Security technology, Time recording and Access control.

Day in and day out, we work not just to meet your expectations and demands, but to exceed them. Our greatest strength is our focus on providing customer benefits. There is scarcely another company in the market for Access, Time and Security that offers this all-encompassing spectrum of holistic solutions.

Our success has been built on the hard work of our committed staff who, irrespective of the area that they work in, face up to the challenges that their job brings and think and act in the best interests of the company. And for that, I give my sincere thanks.

We are optimistic about our future. In 2015, primion Technology AG will be celebrating its twentieth birthday. Over these twenty years, an operation that started out with less than ten employees has grown into a public limited company employing over 400 people with a customer list that includes such well known organisations as Deutsche Telekom, Frankfurt Airport or Heidelberg University Hospital. These are just three from our reference list that is made up of some 5,000 customers.

We shall be showcasing our new terminal range at Security in Essen. You can look forward to a new, attractive and contemporary design, even better functionalities and true to our company philosophy, user-friendly applications that are designed to meet the needs of our discerning customers.

Come with us on our journey into the exciting world of Access, Time and Security.

Your Jorge Pons VorbergCFO primion Technology AG

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Innovations at Security 2014 in Essenprimion showcases its new elegant family of terminals

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primion Technology AG is showcasing its new family of terminals with a completely new Look & Feel at Security in Essen, from 23rd to 26th September. Purist, elegant, user-friendly and powerful. In addition, primion, a premium supplier in the Access, Time and Security business, will be presenting a new Visitor Management module on

Booth 704 in Hall 3, which has been developed by GET, the company’s Belgian subsidiary.

primion’s team of Sales Consultants, both from Germany and from the international division will be there to highlight the new features in the tried-and-tested prime WebTime and prime WebAccess applications.

Innovations in the area of the pkt online/offline Access control solution will also be on show.

The focus of the striking exhibition booth however, will be the successful Security Command Centre application psm2200 that facilitates a comprehensive overview of all connected security- and building-related systems.

It’s sure to be worth a visit!

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The “Museum Aan de Stroom” (Museum on the River) in Antwerp is known as one of the most attractive museums in the world. Every day, some 3,500 visitors pass through the doors of the architecturally stunning building that was opened in 2011.

The six metre glass façade offers an impressive view across the whole of Antwerp and at 60 metres high, the viewing platform on the roof gives visitors a breath-taking 360° panorama over the city, the river and the harbour. Around 100 staff work at the MAS. And they all use the software and hardware from primion’s Belgian subsidiary GET. Time recording and Access control operate as an integrated solution. A modern application that also matches the spirit of the young, bustling museum, located in one of Antwerp’s most sought after quarters, the “Eilandje”.

The city of Antwerp and the Public Social Welfare Centre (OCMW) already implemented the Time recording and Access control solution from GET some years ago. GET has now supplied the museum with a tailored software and

hardware solution for Access control. The compatibility with the existing system at the city authorities and the OMCW was a significant factor in awarding the order.

The architecture of the MAS’s outstanding cubist-inspired building imposed strict aesthetic guidelines for the readers, which, according to the demands of the architect, were effectively to be “invisible”. primion GET supplied them in the desired RAL colour so that they were integrated discretely and unobtrusively.

The MAS Antwerp fulfils a number of different functions. It is a museum, an event location, offices and a restaurant in one. A flexible software and a well thought-out approach to the access profiles and times were called for. The main task of the Access control system is to provide separation between the public and the non-public areas of the building. Staff doors were equipped with access readers. Visitors to the museum have no access rights at these doors. There are further access limitations within the non-public area, e.g. for the plant room.

One of the most attractive museums in the worldMAS Antwerp places its trust in solutions from the primion subsidiary GET

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There are strict guidelines in place for the protection of art and heritage in public buildings, which are fulfilled by the solutions provided by the primion subsidiary, GET.

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But even in the public area, not all rooms are accessible to the visitors. Access to the exhibition material storage areas is also secured with readers. Some of the exhibition rooms are open longer on certain days, for safety reasons, the roof area should be closed off in the event of bad weather and access to the event rooms is only permitted while events are actually going on. Here, the primion GET software also offers sufficient flexibility to be able to handle all these aspects.

If events are taking place, the Administrator can issue special cards for security and external staff, giving limited access to certain areas, both in terms of where and when access is possible. Use of the elevators is also controlled in line with the specifications of the MAS. The public elevator can be used by all. Using their access cards and the corresponding readers in the elevators, staff can control access to the different floors. Visitors only have access rights to defined areas and delivery companies have time-limited access to the floors that they need to get to.

Regulations in respect of fire protection are also adhered to through an interface to the Building Management System. Incoming fire notifications are transmitted to the door control module. Once security staff have confirmed the fire alarm, an acoustic alarm is activated throughout the building and all relevant doors are immediately unlocked. This guarantees a quick and safe evacuation of the building. Through the realtime checking of alarms, the Administrator can evaluate what the actual risk situation is. To support this, video cameras were installed that can zoom in on the location that the alarm has come from. The Administrator can react quickly and appropriately, even from home if necessary.

The reporting functions of the application also deliver an overview of the access authorisations that are in place for specific rooms, e.g. the exhibition material storage area. The importance of this feature should not be underestimated in a museum packed with as many valuable artefacts as the MAS. The daily report includes important information about where access was last granted to which badges or which issued badges have not yet been returned and should therefore be blocked. Systematic monitoring is very necessary with the large number of access cards in use here.

As with most of the city’s employees and those working at the Antwerp OCMW, staff at the MAS also have flexible working hours to a large extent. Their daily bookings at the time recording terminals, the administration of their vacation requests, overtime or illness days are all handled by the Web module in the primion GET Time recording software. The data is processed through SAP at the city’s central HR Department and at the OCMW. This provides a very comfortable, efficient and transparent solution for HR staff. Wim Audiens, a member of the Technical Service team: “I can work well with the application because the training we were given by the GET specialists was very in-formative and thorough. Access control from primion GET is one of the cornerstones of security at the MAS.”

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Comprehensive security systemfor new hospital in Villingen-Schwenningen

Schwarzwald-Baar Hospital puts its trust in primion’s Security Command Centre application psm2200.

primion Technology AG has installed a comprehensive security system with the latest application options in the newly built Schwarzwald-Baar Hospital in Villingen-Schwenningen in south west Germany. The various elements that make up the system, e.g. fire detection and voice alarm system provide optimum protection, 24/7. psm2200 provides the platform that gives the hospital a compete overview and visualisation of their system.

The doctors and nursing staff can concentrate on what they have to do. Technical and commercial staff can monitor the complete system at any time. And patients have the reassurance that they are well protected. The best conditions for a speedy recovery!

A total of 263 million Euros were invested in the const-ruction project. And a part of that went on the compre-hensive security system from primion Technology AG. In the period from September 2010 to July 2013, various hospital-specific systems were installed that are vital for the smooth running of the establishment. The different applications such as intrusion detection, intercom or the official indoor radio communications system for the fire service, all come together in primion’s Security Command Centre application psm2200. The system status is monitored on large video screens.

If the elevator gets stuck and the emergency button is pressed, this is shown in psm2200. A pop-up window

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263 million Euros have been invested in the architecturally attractive, newly built Schwarzwald Baar Hospital in Villingen-Schwenningen. It was opened in the summer of 2013. Photos: Roland Sprich

with detailed instructions appears so that a rapid response team can be deployed. If a fire breaks out, the fire detection system controls the appropriate steps through psm2200. The in-house first responders and technical staff are notified and a so-called “silent alarm” is sent to the affected wards. The reception desk at the hospital that is staffed around the clock receives all relevant and important information in the case of fire.

Additionally, third party applications such as the sprinkler system and building management technology from Siemens are all integrated into psm2200. Critical information such as messages from the fire detection system are additionally sent over redundant transmission routes to the alarm server by psm2200.

Also the everyday applications, which however are critical for the hospital, were also installed by primion. The nurse light call units for example, that show the nursing staff where help is needed. Or the babyguard system that establishes a unique assignment of newborns to their mothers through electronic armbands and is designed to protect them against possible kidnapping attempts.

The master clock system was also installed by primion. It ensures that the 90 or so clocks around the hospital are always controlled through receivers, ensuring atomic clock accuracy whether in the delivery rooms, trauma room or in the intensive care unit. primion also installed the intercom system outside the hospital, with integrated cameras. That the patients could receive radio and television channels through Astra and Eutelsat or from Austria and Switzerland in the comfort of their hospital beds was also taken care of by primion. The television reception system was designed for a later upgrade to HD.

The Schwarzwald-Baar Hospital is the most modern in the region and is a teaching hospital from the University of

Freiburg. It is numbered amongst the ten largest non-university hospitals in Baden-Württemberg and the eighty largest hospitals in Germany. With twenty-five specialist departments and two in-patient departments, many of them at university medical level, the hospital offers a range of services to cover most medical eventualities. It also has its own child daycare centre, a midwifery school, a special school for paediatric care and a nursing school. The hospital is recognised by the state as a training centre and offers a range of qualification courses.

The opening of the architecturally attractive new-build in the summer of 2013 was the final and most important milestone in a comprehensive reform of hospital care services in the Schwarzwald-Baar region. The working area of the new hospital covers some 46,000 m2. It has over 750 beds and a wealth of specialist equipment, for example a ground-breaking x-ray diagnostics system or the world’s most up-to-date cardiac catheter laboratory. Alone the surgical centre on the ground floor has 15 operating theatres. Annually, up to 40,000 emergency patients can receive medical care in the ED, one of the largest and most modern in Baden-Württemberg.

The contract to supply and install the highly complex Hazard Management System in the Schwarzwald-Baar Hospital was won following a public tender. This was a true challenge for the primion team but one that they were well able to master thanks to their years of experience, a highly integrable product portfolio, not to mention their flexible and customer-centric approach to time management and the above-average commitment given to the completion of the project.

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primion Service Engineers Eiman Schaker and Marco Raisch installing primion security technology at the Schwarzwald Baar Hospital in Villingen-Schwenningen.Photos: primion

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primion International BusinessUpcoming Partner Events in 2014

When it comes to its international business activities, primion Technology AG works around the world with System Partners, providing them both with sales and marketing support.

Upcoming events include:

❱ Singapore: IPS Securex Safety & Security Asia (27th - 29th August 2014) Global Security Asia 2015 (3rd - 5th March 2015)

❱ Poland: Sevitel Ltd. Customer Day in Katowice (October)

❱ Saudi Arabia: GESCORP SAOGE 2014, Dammam (24th - 26th November 2014)

In addition, primion Technology AG and its subsidiaries will also be present at the following exhibitions:

❱ Security Essen, Hall 3 – Booth 704 (23rd - 26th September 2014)

❱ Expo Protection Paris (4th - 6th November 2014)

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Uniform group strategiesNew functions in Business Development, Marketing and International Business

Jochen Becker has been appointed as Head of Business Development and Product Management for the Access control, Time recording and Security technology divisions across the whole Group. He will report directly to the Board. His focus will be on the evaluation of innovative business fields and potential new market segments. He will advise the Board on decisions in respect of future trends and develop-ments. Based on his market analyses, he will develop strategic proposals on the future possible direction of the company. A further aspect of Jochen’s work will be the analysis of trends in the Security technology area. He is a member of various working groups involved with the definition of inter-national standards.

Susanne Christmann is the new Head of Group Marketing for the primion Group. Her focus will be on the development of a uniform Group strategy in respect of marketing measures and brand appearance. Here she will work closely with Product Management and Sales. Together with the International Business team, she will develop and coordinate measures for the support of the Group’s global System Partner business and will also be responsible for exhibition appearances. She is responsible for Public Relations and is the contact person for Investor Relations, She reports directly to the Board and the Supervisory Board.

As Head of International Business, Manuel Witzke takes on the coordination of Global Key Account Customers for the primion Group. In this function, he reports directly to the Board. His focus is on the further development of the global System Partner business and process opti-misation in the international markets. He also has responsibility for the commercial support of the primion subsidiary companies and the further development of existing markets. His remit also includes the creation of vertical market segment solutions for the national and international markets.

primion Technology AG has created some new functions within the Group with the aim of ensuring the implementation of a common strategy for primion Germany and the foreign subsidiaries primion S.A.S. in France, GET in Belgium and The Netherlands and DIGITEK in Spain.

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Valuable information Valuable information about Access control, Biometrics and Time recordingprimion AG, Switzerland stages workshop in Zurich

Managing Director Walter Eberle and his colleagues Theo Roggli, Marco Ficola and Christoph Nick presented the topics in a lively and entertaining way. Participants from authorities and institutions and also from industry took the opportunity offered by the event to gather information for existing installations or planned projects within their own organisations.

The location selected for the workshop was also an interesting one: the premises of Kybernetika AG in Zurich, Switzerland’s largest Enterprise Data Centre Laboratory. Urs Stephan Alder, founder of the Datacenter On Demand (d-on-d) explained the philosophy of his company that is commissioned to carry out initial testing and investigations into technologies before large investments are made. His offer to give the participants a guided tour through the impressive server room was eagerly taken up.

“What actually is offline access control?” was then one of the workshop topics. The pros and cons of combined and integrated solutions were presented clearly,

Right: During the breaks, the primion specialists (here Marco Ficola) were available to answer individual questions.

Inset Prominent guest and host Urs Stephan Alder

Left: Walter Eberle (left) and Theo Roggli (right) from primion AG Switzerland presenting the new functions of prime WebSystems at the premises of Kybernetika AG in Zurich.

Participants at a workshop run by primion AG, our exclusive partner in Switzer land, received first-hand information at the event that was staged at the premises of Kybernetika AG in Zurich. New software functions, biometric solutions, current read technologies and modular expansions for the Access control and Time recording solutions offered by the prime WebAccess and prime WebTime solutions were on the agenda.

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Dr. Khalil Hourani, Hourani Consulting, Ahmed Ali Al-Shamrani, Managing Director GESCORP and Horst Eckenberger, CEO primion

Protecting one of nature’s valuable resources, waterprimion to work in Saudi Arabia with one of the largest security suppliers

By putting their signature to a further System Partner Contract, primion Technology AG has taken a step towards securing business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Gulf Energy Solutions Corporation (Gescorp) is headquartered in one of the world’s largest industrial complexes, Al Jubail Industrial City, the home of many large, globally-operating oil, gas, chemical and steel construction companies. Gescorp offers security solutions and monitoring systems for these and other companies in the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. One of the most important areas is the protection of vital water resources and the safe-guarding of water supplies. Gescorp has very good contacts with one of the largest Arabian organisa-tions operating in this critical infrastructure sector.

Together with primion, they are currently working on projects in the area of security technology, access control and time recording from various industries, including a huge hospital complex. Gescorp’s Managing Director Ahmed Al Shamrani and Horst Eckenberger, CEO of primion Technology AG put the seal on the future collaboration by signing the new contract.

badge technologies and different components such as Comfort and Security escutcheon readers were explained and various system solutions that took individual security requirements into account were shown.

There was a lively discussion about the subject of biometrics. With the hand vein scanner, primion is deploying one of the latest and most secure biometric readers. Different read processes and integration options using the prime WebSystems software for example, were also discussed, along with the economics of using the different processes.

The specialists from primion AG Switzerland also went into depth on the topic of Time recording. “Mobile or terminal?” was the question. Either one of the solutions can be deployed effectively, depending on the application area and the requirements. There are always user-friendly and transparent possibilities for the further processing of Time recording data in different formats through many interfaces to wages & salary software programmes, whether a barcode scanner is being deployed for recording time data at a temporary workplace or whether it is the new DT 900 terminal from primion.

During breaks in the workshop and accompanied by aperitifs at the end of the event, the specialists from primion AG Switzerland were happy to address the participants’ individual questions.

“Targeted workshops are very effective.”

Walter Eberle, Managing Director, primion AG Switzerland

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primion International Partner Event 2013Meeting in Barcelona was a resounding success

Barcelona was the venue for 28 representatives from 15 of primion’s system Partners from 12 countries to meet to exchange experiences and information with each other. CEO Horst Eckenberger presented awards to the three top performing partners.

primion AG from Tuggen, Switzerland, Paul Wagner et Fils S.A. from Luxembourg and EAM Systems GmbH from Graz, Austria were the first recipients of the new awards. All three winners made presentations during the course of the event about their companies’ projects and strategies.

The focus of the presentations made by primion, the global supplier of solutions for Access, Time and Security was both on existing and new products as well as future international strategies. News about the “FIT20132” project attracted a great deal of interest. This covers wide-reaching innovations in the fields of software UIs, Mobile Apps and the standardi-sation and modularisation of the company’s hardware offering. All the details were the subject of intensive discussions during the daily meeting sessions.

Another topic was the enhancement of the primion service concept, particularly in respect of the support for System Partners. These enhancements will control the processes that coordinate the work between various support functions within primion. This covers such topics as remote support for installation procedures, order processing and pro-duct training courses and certification.

This will give the Partners important and reliable tools to assist them in their daily work with primion solutions.

On the final day of the event, primion CEO Horst Eckenber-ger was pleased to welcome a new member of the primion Partner Family, the Codeco Company, Communicacion y desarrollo comercial S.A. de C.V.from Mexico. Together with Dr Klaus Hoffmann, he signed the contract that marks the start of the cooperation between primion and Codeco in the Central America market.

One of the interesting highlights of the “extra-event” activities that were organised for the Partners was a visit to the Gran Teatre des Liceu in Barcelona, one of Europe’s oldest and most important opera houses. Here, delegates were able to find out about an innovative Access Control system, made by primion. primion Digitek, the Spanish subsidiary of primion Technology AG, has installed an elegant, ultra-modern Access and Ticketing system. Theatre-goers can order their tickets online, download them onto their cell phones and by presenting the barcode to the readers on arrival, they are granted access.

As the event drew to a close on the final day, the overall feedback from the delegates about pIPE 2013 was very

positive. Many of them have already ex-pressed their intention to attend pIPE2014, which will be held in September, in conjunction with the Security Exhibition in Essen, Germany.

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prime MobileAppTime recording and Access control to go

Login screen, Transaction journal, Accounts overview, Access control and Booking types

The prime MobileApp for mobile devices with Windows Phone, Android or Apple iOS operating systems allows user to make time recording and access control bookings while on the go. The prime MobileApp is an extension of the prime WebSystems software. An Internet connection is necessary for bookings to be made. No download or installation is required. The prime MobileApp is called up by the device’s browser application.

An icon can be placed on a start page to facilitate fast access to the App. The user rights are stored in prime WebSystems and a licence check is made during login. Usage of the time recording and/or access control areas can be configured individually and rights can be limited as required. The number of devices that can use the prime MobileApp is controlled by the prime WebSystems software licence.

Properties❱ Available with prime WebSystems ≥ Version 7.20❱ One Web App for time recording and access control❱ Fully functional on all mobile devices with a browser❱ Available booking types:

Arrive – Depart – Business Arrive – Business Depart❱ Display of vacation balance, period balance and

period total time accounts❱ Booking journal display❱ Opening of doors that are managed through prime WebSystems❱ Same login as for prime WebSystems❱ Multiple-language support❱ SSL-encrypted communication with the back-end system❱ The number and type of user licences are configurable

through the licence file

Required rightsThe prime MobileApp doesn’t require any special rights Only the rights of the corresponding browser that calls the application are used.

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Workflow scenarios now made even clearerprimion Release info / Version 7.20 B152.

primion Technology AG regularly publishes Customer Release Information that describes the new features that have been added in the new release. This includes just those points that are of general interest.

ApplicationsKey management from the deister electronic GmbH Company was added. Access rights to individual keys can be given to selected persons through pWA zones. Reports on the resulting events can be created on a person and/or on a group basis, as usual. Reports that are output in Excel can now contain more than one million lines. If they are being sent as an e-mail attachment however, there is a file size limit of 20 MB. The application has been given a new menu bar. If required, instead of being shown to the left of the working window, the navigation menu can now be positioned at the top of the window. The modules are revealed by mouseover.

Mobile time recordingThe prime MobileApp for mobile time recording and access control is now available from this version. The prime MobileApp for mobile devices with Windows Phone, Android or Apple iOS operating systems allows user to make time recording and access control bookings while on the go. An Internet connection is necessary for bookings to be made. No download or installation is required. The prime Mobile-App is called up by the device’s browser application.

prime WebAccessThe different alarm resources (relays, buzzers, LEDs) are available for the door alarm. Several alarm resources can now be used or activated in parallel.

prime WebTimeIt is now possible to create reports on persons whose record is not active at the time of generating the report. This is useful if the person’s record was active for at least one day during the period that the report covers.

Time recording workflowIt is now possible to create a report from the Manager Workflow menu that gives a listing of workflow requests that have been placed, approved or refused by or for persons who the manager is responsible for. This function gives a useful overview and makes it easier to track back over the progress of requests.Workflow requests can now be processed automatically. Once requests have been resident at a particular approval level within the workflow structure, they can now be approved or refused automatically. The number of days and the automated action can be defined individually for each approval level within each workflow structure.

If a manager places a workflow request for an employee, the employee can also get an e-mail as information.

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The primion New Build Release Information describes the new functionalities that have been added in Version 7.20 of prime WebSystems

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WillkommenHerr Müller

Mr Dawson smilesWe are welcomed with coffee and refreshing cold drinks. Mr Dawson from the Procurement Department smiles pleasantly and presents himself and his company. Ope-rating practically 365 days a year, the company works in the automotive industry. This includes making weekend deliveries with just-in-time restocking of the production lines. They are using the latest logistics systems. There’s a Commercial department, Sales, Finance, a small Export team, Mechanical production, Injection moulding, Electronic production with more or less clean room quality, Assembly of the electronic and plastic components, Ware housing, Despatch and a Development and Design department. There is a small building with small windows in an inner yard. This is the data centre. Actually it is one of two. The other is located in a different town. “Everything is pretty standard,” concludes Mr Dawson, with a smile.

Protecting the company’s assets – including the boss!Making the exception the rule Complex access control made easy

“Completely standard,” I repeat and smile back. “We’re looking for an electronic access control system,” says Mr Dawson. “One that can handle all our standard requirements. Shouldn’t be a problem for you should it?” “No problem at all” I say, in a heartbeat. I am a salesman after all. “Excellent,” says Mr Dawson. “Most everything is standard as you will see. There’s just a few small things that we should maybe discuss.”

All kinds of everything“So what are you looking to achieve with your access control system,” I ask the assembled group. Around the table there is Head of Technical Support, the Commercial Manager and the Facilities Manager. One after the other, they list what they are looking for. And they don’t hold back.

We’ve all been there. Everything seems normal and quite harmless to start with. A potential customer gets in touch. He is looking for an electronic access control system for about 250 people with a couple of doors. A classic SMB application. This’ll be easy, we think. We make an appointment, put a few brochures and data sheets together and head off for the meeting.

When we get there, we find there is a sliding gate for trucks, a barrier for the car park, a wicket gate for pedestrian access, a ramp down to the underground car park, the main entrance with its automatic doors, a small staff restaurant and heavy-duty fire doors to the individual wings of the building. We travel up to the sixth floor in the elevator and come out into the glass-walled meeting room located next to the open plan offices with movable space dividers.

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WillkommenHerr Müller

❱ More security and the possibility of creating a detailed structure of access rights

❱ Control as required and in the case of a real and present risk

❱ Cost certainty, even if a master authorised credential is lost

❱ A solution that guarantees operations and provides investment security going forward

❱ The possibility of controlling the flow of people in the premises

❱ To be able to meet the requirements of the emergency services in terms of evacuations

❱ The ability to be able to do things on the system themselves without needing a programmer each time

❱ A reasonable price framework without heavy extra costs for small system expansions

❱ Service and support, 24/7 if required, at an extra cost❱ Integration into the existing IT landscape

In short, everything standard, not a customised solution.

I have made notes as they have been speaking and I take a look through the individual points. The classical idea of “everything being standard” now looks a bit different. To be honest, as far as I see it, the project is going to call for a special application. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s take a closer look at the requirements. There are some documents on a side table that Mr Dawson now unfolds. A site plan giving the complete overview of the premises in all its glory. “We have prepared some information in advance,” says Mr Dawson, visibly proud of his efforts. He shows me the door list. It’s good when somebody thinks about things ahead of time and prepares information. We start with door numbers and use a highlighter pen to identify the individual locations and then describe the functions of the doors

WillkommenHerr Müller

Grafik: primion

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Site entrance with special cycle access gatesThere is already an intercom built into a column at the entrance to the site with two units at different heights, so that truck drivers don’t have to get out of their cabs when they want to drive on site. There is even space for one or two reader modules in the existing intercom design. During the week,

vehicle access points to the site should be open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm to allow the free flow of normal plant traffic. No problem for our automatic zone function. Week-ends and public holidays on the other hand, everything should be closed and access should only be granted as required. Agreed. Standard. The wicket gate is available for pedestrians and by entering a special code on the additional keypad, cyclists can bring their bikes onto the site through the special cycle access gates. OK. Another box ticked! With a special authorisation it should be possible for someone to use the sliding gate at the site entrance. But in this case, it only opens a metre or so, rather than the whole width.

The barrier to the car park should be operated through readers on two columns, one for entry and one for exit. It should also be prevented that when the car park is full, someone can drive in and has to do a circuit of the car park before exiting again as there are no spaces available. So, a display also has to be controlled through the access panel and it has to be possible to interrogate the occupan-cy level of the car park quickly and accurately through the Intranet, from the switchboard. Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together!

Meanwhile back at the discussion about the ID credentialsThe boss must be able to access the building easily through the underground garage and even when the heavens open, he should still be dry when he gets to his office. So a long-

“It’s great when even special solutions remain affordable,”Marcus LanzAfter Sales / Fast Lane ManagerSupport / Training

range reader has to be installed at the entrance to the garage with active transponders on the vehicles. Or better still, they should be fitted with boosters so that the reading distance is increased.

And this brings us back to the discussion about the ID credential technology that should be used. The technology has got to be secure. Very secure. But still open. Open for many different applications. Without any follow-on costs like with active transponders. And without the need for any maintenance of the recording devices, the readers. So we start to discuss the different brands when it comes to transponder technologies. I try to lay out the technical pros and cons of the different technologies in an attempt to find the one that best matches the customer’s requirements.

Taking elements like the staff restaurant and the drinks vending machines into account, you can very quickly identify the advantages inherent in the different transponder technologies and the data integration of the Access control system. There won’t be any need in the future for transporting cash and emptying the individual tills to bring their contents to the bank. Risk reduction and also less work involved in looking after the vending machines. Way to go!

Less work for the staffTo get to our meeting room on the sixth floor, you have to go through the main entrance, the staff entrance and then up the stairs or in one of the elevators. Here also the Access control system can control the flow of people on the premises and also limit it as required. Not everyone should be able to make it to the boss’s office door. Additionally, visitors, contractors, tradesmen or service engineers, everyone who is given a visitor pass, should be able to get to the staff restaurant or to use the car park

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freely, without needing to be accompanied at all times. This reduces the workload on staff and the reception desk team.

No-one should be able to access the data centre on their own. There should always be someone

with special authorisation there and two access bookings must be made before access is granted. If the system identifies that there is only one person in the data centre, there should be a local alarm within a predefined time and the Security chief should also be made aware of the situation. In this case, an emergency access process should

be activated that allows him to access the data centre on his own. Depending on predefined danger levels, the access control system must be suspended, either in part or fully and the flow of people through the building must be controlled, in order to ensure that evacuation can happen as

quickly as possible, if required. There should be a registration reader at each muster point. At the press of a button, it should be possible to produce a list of all the people who may still be in the building in the case of an evacuation. It’s great that even this special application will work.

What happens when someone leaves the company or a new member of staff joins? Can new persons automatically be issued with a badge with “visitor rights” by the company’s ERP system? Sure. No problem. It will just be necessary to adjust any special features such as additional access rights or special access functions retrospectively. But you won’t need a programmer to do this. That pleases the Facility manager. You can even place a request over the Web for additional temporary rights for the Development and Design department for example, which are then with-drawn again once the required period is over. Automatically, not to mention as standard.

And of course that is also possible ...And the activation of remote control for specific doors, key switches and intercoms or telephone system contacts, with the option for individual identification, is also not a problem. And of course,thanks to modular hardware and software in the background, that is also possible. Built on standard components that have been developed and installed to be maintenance-free and operationally safe, in order to safeguard this investment now and in the future.

“What if the company decides to change from open-plan to individual offices where it will be difficult to lay cables?” is the next question. Here, a “network-on-card” technology would be welcome. It integrates offline escutcheon readers and locking cy-linders seamlessly into the online access control system. This makes mechatronic escutcheon readers into an integral part of an online access control solution, if required with connection to SAP. And what’s the situation with offline components like digital locking cylinders or mechatronic escutcheon readers with emergency opening option through a mechanical cylinder, validation readers for loading access rights onto cards with automatic expiry if the rights are not renewed in time? Sure. That’s no problem either.

Mr Dawson smiles. So do I.It really is great when, not only as far as the customer is concerned but also for me as a sales person, special requirements are not so “special” but can be handled with standard solutions that are easy to operate and to maintain. And last but not least, That are affordable!

Marcus LanzOriginal article was published in SicherheitsPraxis

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Video technology and Access controlSeamless security network through the integration of all systems

While the video system plays a largely verificational role by monitoring for example the outer skin of a site such as the fence area, Access control has preventative functions. It controls the passage through access points using readers or mechatronic cylinders, for example. As well as providing the security aspect, it frequently has a convenience aspect whereby access is allowed without the need for the time-consuming deployment of keys. IDs such as cards or chips that are lost, can be blocked at short notice meaning that any unauthorised access is no longer possible. The combination with video surveillance however guarantees that the causes for alarm messages can be identified quickly. Is it an unauthorised access attempt or a break-in? Or is it just a box that has fallen off a shelf in the stores and activated the motion detector installed there?

Today, the interplay between video technology and access control in security management is “state-of-the-art”. Important events can selectively be forwarded to mobile devices. This means that security personnel have access at all times to current or archived information and can react efficiently.

No more information lossA modern Security Command Centre like psm2200 from primion Technology AG guarantees a complete overview of all connected systems and in particular, of remote sites. It links events that occur in the Access control and Video surveillance and can initiate automated follow-on actions through the video verification. A good security management should be capable of reacting differently to incidents de-pending on when they occur. During the day, on-site guards are notified. At night-time, the alarm is sent directly

to a police station. On-site staff are given direct instructions how to react to an alarm and what steps have to be taken, e.g. a site evacuation. These instructions are also sent to mobile devices so that all necessary staff are informed at the same time. Video technology delivers the corres-ponding verification about the danger situation through pictures.

The integration of Video technology and Access control in an overall system also makes it possible to operate the system through a single GUI. This effectively avoids information loss. Data traffic is reduced by the deployment of one central database, which limits the opportunities for data tampering and cuts down the maintenance effort required. Using Workflow scenarios and scripts, notifi-cations are forwarded via SMS, e-mail or fax, significantly reducing staff interventions.

In order to build an all-encompassing overall security concept, it makes sense to create logical links to other applications such as Intrusion detection (IDS), Fire detection (FDS) and Emergency call systems. This creates an optimal and efficient level of security.

Almost unlimited application areasPractical applications of the linking of Access control and Video technology include:❱ Verification of persons: Verification of credential to

person and the manual release of the door.❱ Verification of alarm handling: Event-related visuali-

sation through correlating cameras and subsequent interaction, e.g. through an intercom.

Modern security solutions guarantee the protection of companies’ assets and people. The optimum combi-nation of access management and video surveillance plays a significant role here. It is only by establishing an intelligent interaction between all existing components and necessary systems that a seamless security network can be guaranteed.

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Online access control

Offline access control

BMS Fire detection systems

Fault reporting

Alarm generation

Video systems

Escape route systems

❱ Verification of forced entry: Invalid credential, Door ajar or Overrun on access authorisation time trigger the auto-matic initiation of specific measure, e.g. an acoustic alarm.

❱ Prevention by triggering measures: Alarm notification via Workflow to security staff if a door is blocked open with a wedge or e-mail alarm notification to external guards with a screenshot of the floor plan highlighting the location of the alarm situation and/or a snapshot or video sequence from the corresponding camera.

❱ Archive investigation: Comparison of the access booking with an image from the video archive and the actual alarm image.

Classical application areas for the integration of Access control and Video surveillance are all environments where a high security level is called for, e.g. airports, railway stations, power plants and data centres.

But also medical and social facilities such as dementia wards in hospitals or residential care homes require efficient Escape route technology, in order to be able to react quickly in risk situations. Thanks to Video surveil-lance, the subsequent manual control of access and emergency routes can be better evaluated in the light of the actual risk. Alternatively, the danger level can be diffused through the automatic control of these systems.

Remote surveillance of decentralised sitesThe remote surveillance of decentralised sites is becoming ever more important, e.g. with school premises, mobile provider switching stations or solar parks. This is a possible scenario: Maintenance contractors have access cards for the electronic or mechatronic access components at one or more remote sites. Engineers have their deployment plans sent to their Smartphones with details about where and when they have to go. Centrally, the Administrator assigns temporary access rights for a particular area. The engineer drives to the location and books at the access reader, which activates the on-site video camera. Staff at the Security Command Centre can verify the person’s authorised access to a specific area at the same time. If the engineer stays too long on site or attempts to access areas that he doesn’t have authorisation for, this automatically triggers the alarm generation scenario. Permanent video surveillance in combination with motion detectors or radar guarantees the highest level of control and security.

Also everyday processes can be controlled and monitored comfortably through the BMS. For example, the switching on and off of heating and lighting in a decentralised school building at particular timepoints.

There is a clear trend towards holistic video solutions. The linking and integrated operation of previously separate systems such as Video surveillance, Access control or Intrusion detection systems facilitates the creation of efficient and cost-optimised security. For the protection of assets and people.

“Today, the interplay between video technology and access control in security management is state-of-the-art”.Hans-Ulrich HessMBA, Graduate Engineer (FH) Communication engineering

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Exhibitions & much moreThe Marketing Department on parade!

(l - r) Jittamas Sauer, Dirk Ihle, Silke Kraus, Karin Strobel and Susanne Christmann

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“Exhibitions and much more” goes some way towards describing what the Marketing Department at primion Technology AG does. But this doesn’t do justice to the range of activities carried out by the members of the team, as organising exhibitions only accounts for part of their daily workload. The spectrum in Marketing co-vers everything from A for Advertising, through P for Press relations and up to W for Website design.

The Team leader is Susanne Christmann. She has been working at primion Technology AG for 14 years. As Head of Group Marketing, Susanne, who learnt her trade as a journalist, is responsible for the development of a uniform group strategy in respect of marketing measures

and brand appearance throughout the primion group. Here she works closely with Product Management and Sales. Together with the International Business team, she develops and coordinates measures for the support of the Group’s global System Partner business and is also responsible for exhibition appearances. She is respon-sible for Public Relations and is the contact person for Investor Relations, She reports directly to the Board and the Supervisory Board. When she is not at work, Susanne is an active member of a local Gospel choir, is a regular visitor to the sauna and makes frequent trips to the cinema and theatre.

Dirk Ihle is a qualified designer. Dirk joined the primion Marketing team eighteen months ago. He drafts and implements all the layouts and graphics for advertisements, brochures, leaflets, flyers, prime News, mailings and further internal documents. As graphic designer, he is also re-

sponsible for the photo-processing of image and product pictures as well as for the design of advertising material. He is also actively involved in the design of the new GUI for terminals and applications. His remit also includes the graphic design of exhibition booths. Dirk is a keen sports-man. He is an active mountain biker and regularly takes part in large race events where he has already achieved some high rankings.

Karin Strobel has been working for primion for four years. She trained as a foreign language correspondent and speaks fluent English, French and Spanish. She receives part-time support in her wide range of activities from Silke Kraus,

who trained as a legal assistant. Her day-to-day work includes the extensive coordination of mailing actions and the resulting

data administration in our ERP system, in collaboration with Sales. She also takes care of ordering working clothes for the company and looks after the ordering of advertising material. Both ladies are actively involved in the organisation of exhibitions. In addition, Karin manages and coordinates the communication of product de-listings and is the go-to person for pre-qualifications and customer satisfaction analyses. She also provides support when it comes to the organisation of the annual primion International Partner Events. In her leisure time she does a lot of sport and likes to travel.

Jittamas Sauer trained as a Medical Technical Assistant, specialising in laboratory work. She started working part-time for primion seven years ago and is responsible for the despatch of brochures and other product documents to Sales and Engineering staff. She prints and manages our documentation, e.g. Operation manuals, Installation manuals, Data sheets, CDs, DVDs and much more besides. Jittamas has also recently taken on responsibility for the Press clippings and updating the online Press release database. Together with her husband Reinhard who works as a Developer at primion, she enjoys walking and travels back to Thailand, the country of her birth, as often as possible.

Student Benedikt Buhl supports the Marketing Department with the optimisation of the home-page through SEO. He analyses trends and calculates the traffic on the group sites using keyword analyses. He then implements the results of his analysis work directly into the primion homepage. Benedikt is studying Ethnology, Sociology and International Literary Studies at Tübingen University and works for primion from his home office there. During his vacations from uni, he has a workplace at Stetten am kalten Markt. Benedikt is a passionate rock musician with his own band, he is a member of a student fraternity and an active rugby player.

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prime News

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