Editors get Stateside close-up

The company is the largest CCTV manufacturer in the world and is one of the largest employers in Southern California.

Alan Hyder, editor of Security Installer and Brian Sims, editor of SMT, toured the vast campus facility in Clovis from where the company supplies CCTV products to more than 130 countries.

Although 4,500 finished products are supplied by Pelco the editors of the UK magazines were especially interested in a close inspection of the production lines for the Endura network based video system and the Spectra III dome, a product especially well known to UK CCTV installers and Bench Tested in Security Installer way back in 2002.

They also got to see production in the Esprit family of cameras. (One of this family of cameras was also put to its mettle when Security Installer carried out a Bench Test on the Esprit EC31C in 2001.)

Security conscious site

Not surprisingly, the huge site itself has a CCTV control room that would not look out of place in a UK city centre and operates its own uniformed security team.

The editors toured all the production facilities - from the incoming materials to the finished product store in a huge warehouse complex that would dwarf most others.

The company has a 24 hour supply promise and it is from here that the Director of Worldwide Logistics Tony Stallins anticipates product demand - although the UK supplies are served from Eindhoven, Germany. Pelco also has its own UK headquarters in Wokingham, Berkshire.

As well as the production tour, the editors had a chance to meet Pelco executives to gain background information on the state of the industry and comparisons between the USA and the UK. These included Rob Morello, the senior product sales manager for digital systems and Dave Dalleske, product manager for digital systems - both of whom have special responsibility for Endura - and Gerrit Hurenkamp, director of regional support for international sales.

Security

Said editor of Security installer, Alan Hyder: "Its seems that US installers are maybe 18 months ahead of installers in the UK as far as take-up of IP is concerned. US customers have been asking for these systems for some time and US installers have had to respond. Installation companies benefited from the glut of well qualified IT people in the jobs market following the dotcom boom and bust of a few years back. They employed IT people and this has given US installers a spearhead into IP technology.

"The feeling there is that installers can no longer get away with being 'conversational' about IP. The future depends on trained engineers with certification."

Hyder added: "Visiting the largest CCTV facility on earth, it was flattering to see framed reviews of Security Installer's Bench Tests adorning the walls of one of the office corridors. It brought it home to me that our Bench Tests have influence in a very much wider sphere than just the UK."

The tour also took in a visit to the onsite California Memorial for the fallen heroes of 9/11 and - also on the campus - the California Memorial Museum. Every year a memorial service is held at the memorial attended by representatives from all parts of the country.