At an exclusive celebratory gala dinner event last night during the Sectech show in Stockholm, industry professionals gathered together with the finalists in each category to hear the results of the most prestigious awards in the security industry. The award winners, once announced, were to join an elite list of companies that have won the Detektor International Award since its original inception in the year 2000.

The Detektor International Awards were introduced  to highlight and reward the innovators that display the most genuine 21st century technology in terms of product specification, user versatility and economics. Many hundreds of products are launched into the security industry each year, but only a small minority are truly inspirational.

As an independent award, an intentionally specific and unique criteria means that companies are not able to apply or enter their products for consideration as an award winner. Instead, over the 18 months prior to the awards ceremony, the panel of Detektor International judges scrutinise the industry to identify potential candidates for each of the three categories – Access Control, Alarm & Detection and CCTV. A ballot finally determines the overall winner of the Best Product Award in each category. The second place winner receives the Highly Commended Product award in the form of a diploma and the runners up each receive a certificate for Innovative Achievement.

Access Control winners 
The winner of the Best Access Control Product 2015 is HID Global from the USA for the mobile access control solution, HID Mobile Access. The motivation for this choice, expressed by the panel of judges, “HID Mobile access seamlessly merges security and convenience for a dynamic access solution with the innovative “Twist and Go” technology. A truly winning formula!”

The Highly Commended Access Control Product Award was presented to Axis Communications from Sweden – for the A8004-VE Network Video Door Station. The judges commented. ” The first open network IP-based video entry solution boasts two-way communication, HD video and remote control. Axis is certainly determined to make a difference in the access control market.”

Finally, the Innovative Achievement Award for the access control category is shared by Salto Systems from Spain – for the smartphone access control app enabling JustIn Technology, and Assa Abloy from Sweden - for the Aperio KS100 Server Cabinet Lock.

Alarm & Detection winners
The overall winner in the Alarm & Detection category and the receiver of the Best Alarm Product 2015 is Dualtech IT from Sweden – for the software platform and cloud service solution – EWM 2.0 with Eagle Eye Cloud Service. The justification for the prize was affirmed once again by the panel of judges. ”This alarm communication solution offers an outstanding cloud based risk management service AND new revenue opportunities for security providers. An undisputed winner for 2015!”

The Highly Commended Alarm & Detection Product Award was awarded to GJD Manufacturing from the UK – for the IP PoE detection device – the D-Tect 2 IP. "GJD accelerates into a new era with this user friendly yet highly innovative, versatile and remotely programmable PoE IP intrusion sensor for use with VMS systems.”

The runners up in this category, and so awarded with the Innovative Achievement Award were Protect from Denmark – for the PoE IP fog generating solution – the IP Fog Cannon with Intellibox and Sensative from Sweden – for the ultra-thin radio, magnetic and heat sensor – Strip.

CCTV Winners
The ultimate winner in the CCTV Category and the receiver of the Best CCTV Product 2015 is Axis Communications from Sweden – for the camera solution that reduces bandwidth and storage requirements – Axis P32 Network Camera Series with Zipstream Technology. The judges were impressed by the potential of this new technology and commented. ” Truly leading from the front with this radical Zipstream technology these cameras offer drastic reductions in both bandwidth and storage for surveillance applications.”

In this category the Highly Commended CCTV Product Award was presented to Avigilon from Canada – for the single sensor 7K HD surveillance camera – the 7K HD Pro (30M). The panel concluded. “Avigilon drives the security industry forward with the first single sensor 7K camera with more than 30 million pixels in total to produce super smooth images.”

The Innovative Achievement Award, in the CCTV category, was shared equally by Merit Lilin from Taiwan – for the 120 frames per second 1080P Ultra series camera - the UFG1122, and Hikvision from China – for the All in One NVR – the DS 7600NI-E1/A.

Tough decisions
Lennart Alexandrie, publisher of Detektor International and CEO at AR Media International said, "We really had a tough decision when narrowing down the shortlist to just four finalists in each of the three categories. The security market and technology in general is moving at such a fast pace, and differing sectors of the industry are moving in different directions. So on the one hand we have complete new technology to consider within a sector and on another hand we have companies that are embracing change and really entering into a new era for their sector. In addition, there is a great deal of niche market specialisation and customisation emerging that aims to cater for particular vertical markets, which is also very interesting.”

“In spite of all of this really complex mix of ideas and technologies, when the results of our ballot were counted it was fairly obvious that HID, Dualtech IT and Axis were the resounding first prize winners this year.”

“Whatever happens in the security industry, it is absolutely certain that next year’s 17th Detektor International Awards 2016 will bring a whole new set of parameters for us to consider – and we are pretty sure that everyone else looks forward to it with as much anticipation and interest as we do!” concluded Lennart Alexandrie.