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Smart, reliable detection in any conditions

In discussions with companies operating in South and southern Africa’s detection and alerting technologies market, SMART Security Solutions spoke to OPTEX for more information on its solutions and technologies.

OPTEX, which celebrated its 45th anniversary this year, was founded in 1979 with a vision to build a sensing technology business with precision and intelligence at its heart. The company developed its first far-infrared sensor for automatic doors in 1980 and by 1983 had developed one of the first, wireless outdoor security sensors. It has operated in South Africa and Africa for almost 17 years.

OPTEX itself is not an alarm company, but Scott Wilson, OPTEX’s Divisional Manager for Africa, describes it as a manufacturer of various sensor technologies that fit onto and support well-known alarm products to provide triggers when specific conditions are met (intrusion events, etc.). He says OPTEX leads the regional market in terms of the number of detectors sold.

The company’s R&D; team also invests in designing products for the South African market due to the extremes common in the country, which are then sold to other regions as well. One example is the QX Infinity series of outdoor intrusion detection sensors.

While this article focuses on OPTEX’s security solutions, the global company has other divisions, such as automation products and more. Wilson says OPTEX’s focus in the region is mainly on outdoor and indoor detectors, solutions that protect the interior and perimeter of the property at both short and long ranges.

Overall, the company manufactures a range of products, from curtain beams (or detectors) to short-range and wide-angle detectors (90° to 180°) and longer-range beams, which can cover up to 24 metres. “We typically like to provide protection throughout premises, and even up to 12 metres beyond the perimeter,” says Wilson.

All the property layers

The OPTEX product range covers a property from beyond the perimeter to the interior, covering all the layers of security for the house, factory, or whatever location the customer wants to protect. Depending on the chosen product, the first detection layer is within 12 metres of the perimeter, raising the alarm before people enter the premises. The next line of defence would be on the building itself, protecting windows and doors around the premises.

The premier product for external or perimeter security is OPTEX’s REDSCAN series of LiDAR sensors, which can detect intruders and moving objects within a range of 50 m x 100 m (depending on the product chosen) without any ‘gaps’ or the detection reliability fading with range. REDSCAN products are versatile for high-security sites as they are not impacted by variable lighting, temperature, or environmental changes. Wilson adds that a range of detectors are available, with different specifications and price points to cater to each customer’s specific needs.

If the intruders still manage to get inside, OPTEX offers indoor detectors to detect them and raise the alarm, including its FlipX series of indoor detection sensors. FlipX sensors are equipped with OPTEX’s advanced detection logic and a bespoke pyroelectric element for increased accuracy and performance that adapts to the human shape. Also unique to the FlipX is a rotatable lens. By removing the case and flipping the lens 180°, one can change the detection area from 85° for covering large open spaces, to just 5° for narrow passages or windows, both in residential and commercial settings.

As can be expected, the company’s products include a range of variations, from battery-operated to wireless options, and anti-masking technology for those who require it.

Focus on customer support

OPTEX’s team in South Africa provides support in country, across the continent and internationally if required, included with assisting in the design and specification for all sites to ensure the correct application and solutions are recommended and installed.

Part of its ongoing commitment is to work with the best partners and installers to ensure we are supporting customers and end users with the highest level of service and support possible. Across Africa, OPTEX works in close partnership with its key distributors, including Elvey Security Technologies, IDS and Regal Security for its domestic and commercial sensors, as well as its complete portfolio of beams and curtain sensors, which are stocked and supported by them.

As part of this partnership, OPTEX provides training and certification to support its distributors with best practice set up, install and application of all its sensing solutions. This ensures all system integrators and installers are trained and certified before purchasing to ensure speedy and correct installation, to ensure the system works as effectively and efficiently as possible for the customer.

The primary aim of OPTEX is to provide the South African market with reliable products that reflect the quality associated with devices made in Japan. In addition, quality is also part of the performance requirements of its products, meaning that the internal capability exists to enable products to differentiate between real and false alarms – nobody wants to wake up because the trees are blowing in the wind. The same applies to lenses, where changing light conditions or reflections from pools or vehicle headlights can cause an alarm. OPTEX uses double-conductive shielding to ensure the quality of its lenses and cater to light reflections and changes, to avoid user inconvenience.

These false alarm prevention capabilities benefit not only the product’s user but also companies providing alarm monitoring and armed response services. The cost of dealing with and/or dispatching a security officer because of a false alarm can be tremendous when relying on older or cheaper technologies, making more accurate alarms critical for these providers. Moreover, these claims are backed up by a five-year warranty on the company’s latest products.

Making it easier and more secure

Wilson says the company’s goal is to create reliable products that are easy to use and reduce nuisance alarms. He also says it’s essential to make it easier for installers. The company is also working on improving the aesthetics so that products complement the location where they are installed and do not stand out.

In addition, it is more important than ever to be able to integrate with the vast number of security (and, increasingly, home automation) products on the market. While many people believe cameras with smart AI analytics will take over from detectors, he says there are still problems in many cases with light fluctuations and bugs on the screen, etc. Cameras are a critical component of a layered security approach, but they are not yet able to ‘do it all’. Moreover, there are privacy issues with putting cameras inside a home.

For more information, contact OPTEX [email protected], www.optex-europe.com

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