Conway Security Products was established in 1986 following a management buy-out of part of the security manufacturing division of Henderson Security (a division of Group 4).

The heritage of Conway goes back 10 years beyond its inception to Visual Contact Limited (VC), one of the founders of the fledging CCTV industry in mid 1970s. Originally a manufacturer of television monitors, VC developed a range that grew into cameras, video switchers and telemetry systems as well as a range of CCTV accessories. All of these products were manufactured from VC’s base in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on the site where Conway is currently located.

VC’s business grew organically into installation of CCTV systems, and by the early 1980s the company was one of Europe’s most respected CCTV installers and manufacturers. Clients included the British intelligence community, royal palaces and HM Prison Service.

VC’s prominent market position ultimately brought them to the attention of larger organisations within the wider security market and the company was sold to Henderson Security in 1984 with the owners and founders joining the main board.

VC was merged with several group companies to offer larger solution offerings such as access control, and a new headquarters was opened at a new site within the town.

By 1986 manufacturing operations were becoming less crucial to the operations and success of the company, and one of the founders of VC, John Newman, decided to head a management buy-out of these operations to form Conway Security Products (initially known as Conway Manufacturing Limited).

As a result, Conway became established at its current headquarters and has been operating there for almost 25 years.

During the early years of Conway’s existence, the company diversified into general engineering and used its manufacturing capabilities in a variety of markets and for diverse projects. Conway was involved in the fledgling satellite TV industry and manufactured large chassis enclosures for satellite receivers that are now commonplace in homes around the UK. Conway also produced components for the gaming, retail, banking, domestic and defence industries for companies nationwide.

After a period of two years Conway became free to produce and market CCTV under its own brand. It was a logical step to use the experience of the directors and owners of the company in a move back into the rapidly-growing UK CCTV industry as a supplier of complementary products. The first of these was a range of camera housings which are still very much part of Conway’s product offering today.

The Conway range of products sold currently is barely recognisable in comparison to the original offering launched a quarter of a century ago. However, the two ranges have one thing in common – they are all conceived, designed, developed and produced at the High Wycombe factory.

There are many advantages to controlling the product range as closely as Conway does. Quality is always managed tightly, customer demands can be responded to more promptly, new products can be introduced quicker, new technologies can be adopted within new or existing solutions and, most importantly, products can be adapted to meet the exact requirements of customers and their applications.

As the surveillance market has moved from analogue through to the digital stage and is now looking forward to the IP and mega-pixel era, Conway has always been and will continue to be a perfectly-placed technology partner for forward- thinking systems integrators.