MD Amanda Howell praises the quality of the cameras which are now widely used by the armed forces, police services, local councils and also in industrial security. But there is no doubt that the company’s applications knowledge acquired over 20 years trading and its quality customer support strategy have been highly instrumental in this commercial success.

Another significant contributor to this growth has been the development of the Sure24 secure and dedicated website for the police and Government agencies.

Amanda Howell explained: “In our industry there is not much transparency when it comes to product cost. The price is often only quoted on demand. And we wanted to change that. Our password-protected lock down site shows all our prices and it allows purchasers to use their procurement cards, a move encouraged by central Government.”

With regard to the FLIR BHS cameras, it was the quality look and feel of the products as well as their rugged construction and ergonomics that initially commanded the attention of Sure24.

“We had been looking at thermal imaging for a while and for us FLIR stood head-and-shoulders over its competitors,” Amanda Howell continued. “And from an operational point of view they allow the user to remain covert as there is no monitor light to reveal their presence.”

The FLIR BHS Series of shock resistant thermal imaging cameras give their users a sixth sense during the day and at night. They provide a crisp image in the dark without the need for additional lighting and can ‘see’ through smoke, fog and light foliage. Their binocular design allows them to be held steady so that small targets can be seen over distance.

Two models are available, respectively with 320 x 240 pixels or 640 x 480 pixels. For evidential purposes, both store images in JPEG format and thermal video on a removable SD card. A ‘hot shoe’ is easily attached for charging or connection to an external video monitor while the camera is mounted on a tripod.

FLIR BHS sales are increasing year on year. Whilst the military and law enforcement account for a large proportion of this trade, the company is also selling these cameras to assist in the manned guarding of large and commercially critical sites such as substations and wind farms.

A further growth area for SURE24 is the use of FLIR imaging for seeking out a thermal profile of a residential property that
may betray a cannabis crop. Amanda Howell concludes: “Good roof insulation is preventing efficient aerial surveillance in this regard so the police are using FLIR technology to detect abnormally hot exterior walls that may indicate the use of hydroponics systems and illegal activity.”