The company is a major separation technology specialist that builds plant and machinery for solid-liquid separation on a site covering about 110,000 square metres. For the new building of about 18,000 square metres of production area and six hectares of property, the company searched for a security solution which met the latest technical standards, not least to enable it to satisfy the criteria for AEO certification. Robert Waxenberger, Deputy IT Director for Flottweg SE, describes the requirements for the new solution as “Innovative, sustainable, Made in Germany, GDPR compliant“.
His experience from working on Factory I, in which single-sensor cameras from Regensburg-based manufacturer Dallmeier have been working reliably for years, was decisive for this new selection. In close cooperation, Flottweg and the security installer Franz Sicherungstechnik developed a new security concept for Factory II with components from the Dallmeier portfolio, consisting of the Panomera multifocal sensor cameras, megapixel dome cameras, the IPS 10.000 recording system and the Semsy Compact video management software.
“Unmanned” test run
The centrifuges and decanters made by Flottweg, undergo a stringent test procedure prior to shipping, and the test runs are conducted under camera surveillance in nine test bunkers built specially for this purpose. “If anything untoward should happen during a test run, the parts would come at you with unimaginable force. For the safety of our employees, the test process must be carried out “in the absence of humans”. But since we also have to observe the proper conduct of the testing, this is where we use cameras”, explains Robert Waxenberger. The dome cameras help the operator to monitor the process.
Important AEO certification
With an export ratio of about 80 percent, certification as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) is immensely important to Flottweg, as this simplifies shipping arrangements enormously. One part of the requirements for obtaining the certification are a triad of physical security measures. These consist of securing the perimeter, ensuring surveillance of the dispatch hall, and visual supervision of the loading area.
More expensive hardware – but lower overall costs
Apart from the image quality, the low costs of infrastructure were a powerful argument in favour of installing the Panomera systems: “If you only consider the hardware components, comparison offers are cheaper. But if you look at the overall situation, we only need a fraction of the infrastructure in terms of cables, masts, network and cameras. So as regards overall costs, the Panomera is the least expensive variant. And it also makes the operator’s job much easier because he no longer has to keep track of the images from countless cameras on the monitor wall, there are only a few to watch”, explains Andreas Franz, Managing Director, Franz Sicherungstechnik.
For alarm activation and analysis, Flottweg uses the “Semsy Compact” Video Management Software (VMS). Semsy Compact is the optimum VMS solution for smaller and mid-level requirements, and as an innovative assistance system makes it easy for operators to find sequences of interest rapidly with the “Convenient search” function. In conjunction with a graphical user interface in the form of a linked site plan and a user-friendly dashboard, incidents can be categorised quickly and enable efficient investigation management.
Easy installation with Mountera
For Flottweg too, the prize-winning Mountera installation concept (IF Design Award & Red Dot Award Winner) proves its efficiency when installing the Panomera cameras. Andreas Franz is impressed: “Mountera has made our lives much easier. A Panomera system weighs 17 kilograms, and the quick-lock design makes installation much, much simpler.”
Time saving number plate recognition
Behind the automated access management system for employees is the new Dallmeier number plate recognition system. The ANPR cameras and associated software read the vehicle number plates and the barrier opens automatically for numbers that are registered. “For the employees, this makes convenient access by vehicle possible, and Flottweg has the certainty that no unauthorised vehicles are present on company premises” says Andreas Franz. But suppliers and shippers which were approved by Flottweg as part of the AEO certification and have been registered in advance also benefit from easier access to the loading bays.
“We were extremely satisfied with the customer-orientated solution and project handling by Franz Sicherungstechnik. They did excellent work”, concludes Waxenberger. “As global players with local roots, both Flottweg SE and Dallmeier combine tradition with leading edge methods. At the same time, we have the same requirements when it comes to quality for planning, implementation and products. We are very glad that once again we decided for a Dallmeier solution in cooperation with Franz Sicherungstechnik.”