Conway Security Products have supplied their external camera housings to the Medway Tunnel which flows under the River Medway between Strood and Chatham in Kent, England.

The EH4/ss models being used form a critical part of the tunnel’s two surveillance operations, the VAID (Video Automatic Incident Detection) system and the overall CCTV system. Collectively they form part of a major overhaul of security cameras, SCADA and public address & voice alarm (PAVA) systems at the tunnel.

The EH4/ss housings are being used to protect IP cameras from Bosch’s Dinion range against the demands of a tunnel environment.

The VAID solution is from Belgium-based Traficon who are world-renown for their traffic management systems. (The company currently protects and manages over 750km of traffic tunnels worldwide.)

The Conway housing, which is manufactured to weatherproof level IP66, is usually produced in 304-grade stainless steel but for this project as for most tunnel applications, 316 grade has been used to give camera and lens assemblies maximum protection from fumes and other contaminants as well as reducing the risk of corrosion. The specification also meets the requirements of Department for Transport standard BD 78/99.

Chris Newman, Managing Director of Conway Security Products, said: “The goal of everybody involved with the CCTV project has been to optimise management views for the tunnel operators so they can keep traffic flowing, respond to incidents in a timely, informed manner and safeguard drivers.“

He continued: “All of Conway’s units are manufactured in their entirety at the company’s headquarters in Buckinghamshire, England. This made it possible to provide a tailor-made solution including dedicated bracketry within short lead times which was a major benefit for the integrator, Ematics. The design of our mounting bracket enabled Ematics to minimise camera vibration and also optimised cable management options for their operatives who are working in confined spaces with a graduated luminaire system.”

The combination of EH4/ss housing with special mounts designed by Conway has become a widely-used solution in VAID tunnel management systems. Other tunnel projects adopting this approach include the £260m New Tyne Crossing in the north-east of England, the Hatfield Tunnel in Hertfordshire, the £600m Dublin Port Tunnel and a mountain tunnel in east-central China.

The Medway Tunnel was the first immersed tube tunnel to be built in England. It is twin-bore and therefore avoids contra-flow which has been outlawed by the EC. Construction work was started in 1992 and the tunnel was opened by the Princess Royal in 1996. The systems overhaul described here has been performed by Vital Services Group reporting to Medway Council’s project manager, Serco.

Picture by permission of the Wardens and Assistants of Rochester Bridge

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Conway Security Products will be attending the latest Global MSC seminar to be held in Bristol on the 6^th of March 2012.

One of the topics of the Global MSC seminar at the Bristol Royal Marriott will be: “CCTV budget cuts and the riots – how did we adapt?” Over 1,500 people appeared in court as a result of the riots, and the UK’s prison facilities were severely stretched. Conway Security Products have always been a key player in protecting civic space, and the proven longevity of their products makes the Conway range attractive in times of budgetary austerity.

As one of the few manufacturers to produce CCTV equipment entirely from a UK base, Conway are able to adapt their offerings to make units suitable for integration with older installations, so keeping legacy equipment functioning so long as it remains fit for purpose. With spending from the public purse being examined closely, this kind of ‘backward compatibility’ is attractive to politicians not to mention the green lobby.

Speakers at the Global MSC seminar will include Dr Peter Fussey, an academic who has co-developed England’s first MSc course in terrorism studies at the University of East London. Dr Fussey has published many papers on protecting public space from terrorist attacks. He has advised the Metropolitan Police on radicalisation issues and is part of a research team that has recently been awarded £1.2m to investigate enhancements to counter terrorism strategies in the UK’s crowded public spaces.

Conway has a number of products that have proven track records in the public space CCTV market including pan and tilts, Heritage format domes and the range of cameras housings that made Conway so synonymous with the CCTV industry. A selection of these products will be on display from Conway as well as a number of other products including a new version of the CM230IR vandal-resistant corner mounted camera.

UK-based manufacturer Conway Security Products have supplied a large number of their custodial corner-mounted cameras as part of a refurbishment and updating project at a high-security correctional facility in New South Wales.

The project called for Conway’s CM230IR, the standard corner-mounted camera, plus the external CM230IR-EX which has been fitted in the individual exercise yards attached to each high-security cell.

Both the CM230IR and CM230IR-EX feature a day/night camera with a wide-angle lens which delivers exceptional room coverage, minimising any chance of blind spots.

Conway supplied the units through their Australian partner Techniche Security & Surveillance. Lee Evans, Techniche’s Managing Director, said: “The fact that Conway produce all their units entirely at their own manufacturing base means they can be extremely responsive to specific requirements on major applications such as this one. It was important that Conway were able to supply the second unit [the CM230IR-EX ] with a higher level of environmental protection so that the unit could be used externally. ”

Lee continued: “By having a common core in terms of the optical components for these two units, the stockholding of spares is simplified. The Conway cameras score highly in terms of ease and speed of installation which are crucial at a prison where disruption to regular activities and engineers’ time on site must be minimised.”

The flush-mounted front fascia of the CM230IR described here minimises the risk of the unit being used as a ligature point, a crucial consideration in the custodial sector. In addition to this prison application, the cameras are also being used at juvenile detention centres, custody suites, police premises and immigration detention centres throughout the UK and in Europe.

The inclusion of energy-efficient 940nm IR LED illumination ensures that the camera can deliver high-quality pictures regardless of lighting conditions. 940nm IR is invisible to the naked eye, making it highly discreet. Observation of cell occupants who may be in a distressed state can continue for their own protection under dimmed lighting or even in complete darkness. An optional integrated microphone can provide audio monitoring.

Sydney-based Techniche provide integrated building management and security-related systems throughout Australia. The company has wide-ranging expertise and products to call on and is able to offer consultative advice, system design and implementation in all aspects of physical security.

Conway Security Products have supplied their external camera housings to the £260m New Tyne Crossing between Jarrow and North Shields in the north-east of England. 

The enclosures being used are a variant on Conway’s stainless steel EH4/ss housing. The unit, which is manufactured to weatherproof level IP66, is usually produced in 304-grade stainless steel but for this project, installers 2020 Vision Technology asked for 316 grade. The request was in order to meet rigorous Department for Transport requirements

All of Conway’s units are manufactured in their entirety at the company’s headquarters in Buckinghamshire, England, and this made it possible to provide a tailor-made solution within short lead times which was a major benefit for the integrator.

Steve Hall of 2020 Vision Technology described the benefits of using the Conway equipment. He said: “Most camera housings come off-the-shelf to a standard specification and the manufacturer is not in a position to make changes, and certainly not promptly. But Conway met our brief on the grade of stainless steel and also created bespoke bracketry which meant the housings could be mounted in a manner that allows them to withstand exceptional vibration levels caused by traffic volumes. The design also optimised cable access and containment issues for our engineers, another plus factor in an environment where space is at a premium.”

Chris Newman Managing Director of Conway, said: “The application had a number of challenges for the installer. By offering a solution that was a variant of the EH4/ss along with a mounting bracket that was based on design and manufacturing principals already been proven in similar applications throughout the UK we could quickly and confidently supply products that would meet and exceeded these challenges.”

The New Tunnel Crossing became fully operational on the 21^st of November 2011 after a construction period that commenced in October 2008.

Conway Security Products are supplying their vandal-resistant ceiling and wall-mounted camera housings to the Dutch railway network, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), for use at underground and overland stations across large areas of Holland. Stations already fitted with the equipment include hubs such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Breda.

Conway’s units were specified and installed by the company’s Dutch partner, Hacousto Videotechniek, who have also implemented Bosch IP cameras and a video management system from Canadian innovator Genetec.

The Conway housings and Bosch cameras are being used for monitoring of passenger flow and volume at station concourses, and use of smartcard electronic ticketing similar to the London ‘Oyster’ card and Hong Kong ‘Octopus’ card. Much of the video monitoring is retrospective event-driven analysis, and the end-user is benefiting from high-quality (up to 4CIF images at 25 frames per second) which can be used for evidential purposes if necessary.

Chris Newman, a director of Conway, said: “Anyone using the UK rail and underground network will be familiar with the EHC4 and EHW4 camera housings as they have been used extensively for many years and were recently installed on the Stockholm Metro. It is this kind of pedigree which attracted Hacousto and their client.”

The EHC4 and EHW4 combine simplicity with robust performance and flexibility in terms of usage. Installers working on railway applications both above and below ground are often limited in the scope for camera locations and must choose products that are adaptable. The EHC4 can be mounted both on the surface of a concrete wall or, just as easily, be part of a recess application if the station infrastructure has fascias.

Similarly, the standard EHC4 can be mounted on a wall to deliver a ‘portrait’ angle of view along a corridor, for example. On applications such as railways, minimising installation and ‘downtime’ is critical, and if a universal solution is available to the installer it will save engineering hours and money by reducing disruption to the site’s core activity.

The units being supplied to Hacousto are painted yellow to suit their customer’s strong corporate identity. The whole manufacturing process is conducted at Conway’s factory in the UK, and being able to finish products in colours to meet site applications or corporate identities is another reason why customers turn to Conway for this type of solution.

Conway’s EHC4 and EHW4 camera housings (the codes indicate ceiling and wall-mounted variants) are manufactured from 1.4003 grade stainless steel and are securely closed in two positions. They feature a cast acrylic screen. Ingress rating is IP65 which means the housings give cameras comprehensive protection against dust and fumes as well as a familiar contaminant at all rail applications, brake pad particles which can be particularly intrusive. The housings have been designed to deter vandals and can be used with most major camera brands. A screen demister option (12-36v or 110-240v) is available.

With headquarters at Berkel en Rodenrijs in western Holland, Hacousto is an international contractor and consultant who develop and implement high-end solutions in video, public address and voice alarm (PA/VA), biometrics and fire alarms. Video surveillance, audio communication and broadcast automation are core activities, with delivery usually being on a turnkey basis across several disciplines.

The Dutch railway network has a history that goes back as far as 1839 when a 16km journey was made between Amsterdam and Haarlem. Today the network has 392 stations served by 2,600km of track with 2,000km being electrified. As with other European countries, EC directives have led to a separation of infrastructure and operating companies. The system has been divided into franchises with Nederlandse Spoorwegen operating the stations and dominating the passenger market with 4,800 scheduled trains daily serving 1.1 million passengers.

Conway Security Products will once again be exhibiting at the Safe Newcastle and Global MSC Security Seminar. The event takes place on the 8^th of November 2011 and is held at the Gosforth Park Marriot in Newcastle.

The event is now in its fifth year and has a reputation for being highly informative while at the same time retaining a highly relaxed atmosphere.

Conway will be exhibiting a wide range of its products, mainly aimed at customers working in public space or critical infrastructure applications.

Visitors to the seminar can attend short presentations held throughout the day with a  selection of topics from technology innovation through to legislative changes and their impact on our industry.

For more information click here to visit MSC Global website

Conway Security Products has recently completed the final phase of a major manufacturing investment programme at the company’s High Wycombe factory.

In August Conway received delivery of two state-of-the-art Doosan lathes complete with automatic material loading and integrated milling systems. The new lathes are the perfect partner for the two new Hurco milling centres purchased in the first quarter of 2011.

The biggest investment and the largest piece of equipment ever purchased by Conway is the Amada F1 laser which was the first part of this recent phase of the company’s capital investment programme. Whilst the lathes and mills will impress the purist engineers, the laser has a ‘wow!’ factor all of its own; with speed, efficiency and a pretty impressive light show it’s difficult not to be drawn to the display when the machine is going through its motions.

“Being a modern manufacturer we have to have modern machines, it’s as simple as that.” said Conway’s co-managing director Ricky Oliver. “The planned investment programme took into account our need to increase capacity, optimise efficiency and adopt new manufacturing techniques that will allow us to bring to market the products that  our customers are seeking. The modern CCTV sector is getting more and more fluid and it is critical that companies such as Conway can respond to these changes right down to the needs of an individual site application. It is this level of manufacturing ability that sets UK producers apart from mass-produced imported units.”

The introduction of the new machines has been made simultaneously with the upgrading and enhancing of Conway’s design systems. The design and development teams are now able not only to see what products will look like before a piece of material has been cut but are able to run them through a number of simulation scenarios to evaluate enhancements without having to go through lengthy prototyping.

Conway has always welcomed customers to their site in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Visitors to the factory can see for themselves the journey products make from virtual 3D design all the way through to assembly.

Conway Security Products is attending the CCTV User Group’s summer 2011 conference from 13-15 June at the Belfry Hotel near Birmingham. A focus of the event will be how the efficiency of public space CCTV monitoring can be improved through judicious use of the latest camera and transmission technology.

The likely impact on the surveillance community of the much-anticipated Freedom Bill, which is currently before the House of Commons, is also on the agenda for the conference. The bill has made many CCTV companies evaluate how their equipment can improve the reach and effectiveness of video surveillance but at the same time contribute to public acceptance of cameras.

Innovative manufacturers are ensuring that their units can blend in seamlessly with a variety of architectural styles. At the Birmingham event, Conway Security Products will be demonstrating the Heritage II dome camera whose design allows it to co-exist with many types of street furniture and listed buildings.

Installations of this kind are immediately perceived by the public to be less intrusive than forbidding box cameras on stalks, and a new generation of domes is doing much to allow planners to preserve the aesthetics of town centres. Improved design may contribute to increased public acceptance of CCTV and produce a consensus across the political spectrum as the Freedom Bill passes through Parliament.

The Heritage II has been designed to blend in with one of the most popular streetlights currently used in the UK. The camera has found increasing acceptance from city and town council officials responsible for maintaining the visual integrity of the built environment. It is being specified widely in preference to regular dome and PTZ assemblies.

Conway’s Heritage dome is also contributing to system convergence through compatibility with major third-party protocols. According to the configuration chosen, the optical performance from an 18, 26 or 36x zoom lens combined with options for tours and ‘walks’ means that civic spaces can be covered with fewer cameras than would be the case with competitive offerings. IP66 environmental protection safeguards the domes against fumes and contaminants associated with inner-city use.

Other solutions which are proving valuable in minimising the perceived invasiveness of video surveillance are being discussed at this CCTV User Group event. Notably, Raytec will be giving a presentation in which the company will explain new opportunities with ‘white light.’ Raytec’s presentation is part of an extensive education programme at the Belfry.

http://events.linkedin.com/CCTV-Users-Group-Conference/pub/676269

An annual golf day held at the Weston Turville Course near Aylesbury and supported by the CCTV community raised £2,000 for the Parasol Project and Mencap.

The Parasol Project is an Oxford-based charity committed to redressing the balance for disabled and disadvantaged young people experiencing or at risk of social exclusion. Mencap National College, Lufton, is a residential further education college in Somerset which offers courses for students aged 16-25.

The golf day is in its eleventh year and has raised over £25,000 in total.  The event was organised by a group of parents and volunteers from sponsoring companies. Sponsors included Conway Security Products, NatWest Bank , Aylesbury Honda, and Weston Turville Golf Club itself which has been most generous over the years by making the course available and waiving green fees.

The event was won by a team captained by Dominic Hare who returned an impressive gross under-par total in the ‘Texas Scramble’ format. As usual, Jeremy Rowe of NatWest not only drummed up competitors but played in the competition and acted as emcee. Conway Security Products was a principal sponsor and security community was well represented by executives, engineers and media.

Angela Taylor of the Parasol Project said: “We’re extremely grateful for the funds raised by the golfers, and the money has been earmarked for supporting youth initiatives for 13-year-olds and upwards with inclusive activities during term time and school holidays.”

The PARASOL project was established in 1991 in response to a lack of play and recreation provision for disabled children and young people. Mencap National College, Lufton, provides education and care to young people aged 16 to 25 with a range of learning disabilities. Vocational options at the college include animal care and management, agriculture and horticulture.

Conway Security Products have reached a technical agreement with fellow UK-based CCTV manufacturer Building Block Video (BBV). Under the agreement the BBV protocol is being integrated into the entire range of Conway’s fully-functional dome cameras.

BBV are a manufacturer of telemetry, matrices and bespoke GUI-based control systems. Their protocol is immediately available in Conway’s Titan, Heritage and CD-601 dome ranges, a development that demonstrates Conway’s commitment to delivering products that are capable of performing to the highest standards across various platforms.

The relationship with BBV has been a natural development since both organisations have similar values in terms of long-term commitment to quality and innovation within the UK’s CCTV manufacturing base. Between them the companies have over 40 years’ experience in delivering products to the global security market.

The Conway domes use a system of protocol and baud-rate auto-detect which allows the cameras to be connected to a control system from a manufacturer such as BBV and function immediately with little or no further configuration.

BBV’s TX series of telemetry transmitters, matrices and controllers can be single, eight or 96-way in standard configurations, with expansion up to 1,024 cameras if required. The FBM video matrix will take 16 - 4,096 camera inputs and provide up to 64 monitor outputs.

David Lewis of BBV said: “If a camera company and a VMS provider such as ourselves try to communicate using a third-party protocol without prior discussion you’re always hoping the joint interpretation of the protocol will be correct. However, our BBV422 protocol is open-source and avilable to reputable partners. Co-operation such as the current work with Conway means that two refined knowledge bases are interacting directly. This has to be a more efficient way of controlling cameras and a step forward for our sector.”

Conway has released a new version of its C2090 variable speed pan and tilt which brings a number of functional and physical changes to the company’s best-selling model.

Originally launched three years ago, the C2090 was part of a long legacy of pan and tilts from Conway going back almost two decades. The new model, the C2090-r2, is the most advanced member of this product family manufactured by Conway and its design was only made possible thanks to high levels of capital investment made by the company.

The C2090-r2 has a unique cylindrical design which allows it to be sealed using high-quality standard O rings to seal it to an IP66 standard. This simple design has immense structural stability which is critical to any pan and tilt where the camera assembly is going to incorporate lighting.

The new version is the first pan and tilt to incorporate electronic braking. This feature greatly increases long-term pre-set accuracy. The C2090r2 will work with a wide-range of third party telemetry receivers and the addition of the braking circuit ensures optimum performance regardless of control system.

Conway’s Technical Director, Martin McCarthy, said: “The pan and tilt has a long tradition in CCTV and despite new formats and technologies coming into the market it remains a critical component in any high-specification surveillance system. While it’s safe to say that the growth of the dome camera reduced the market for pan and tilts, developments in LED lighting (both IR and white formats) has led to resurgence in this market sector. Our job as a manufacturer is to develop products that complement other brands and help deliver an all-round surveillance package for the client. What was exciting about this redevelopment was being able to use all of Conway’s new manufacturing facilities to create a product without compromise and entirely under one roof”.

The C2090r2 is manufactured in Conway’s Buckinghamshire factory from a combination of aluminium alloys and stainless steel. The family of pan and tilts includes standard (24° per second) or high speed (55° per second) pan speed as well as continuous rotation models.

Like all Conway products, the C2090r2 is available in a variety of colours to suit the requirements of the client or the site application.

Conway Security Products concluded has concluded what has been a very busy 12 months of product development with the launch of the new and updated CD-601 speed dome.

The CD-601 dome camera has been designed as a versatile solution that completes a range which includes the vandal-resistant Titan domes and the Heritage II architectural dome.

Development of the CD-601 has followed the same principles as all of Conway’s recent product launches. The unit is simple to install, easy to set up, has a low cost of ownership and delivers optimum images across various conditions.

A three-part design allows easy fitting on ceilings, swan-neck, wall or pendant brackets. The enclosure has ample cable entry positions ensuring that there are plenty of options for cable entry regardless of any restrictions the nature of the application may impose.

Set-up has been streamlined for the installer; the CD-601 has auto-baud rate detect and auto-protocol detect. Once the unit is wired and addressed it is ready to use.

Conway is aware that creating products with low energy consumption makes both economic and environmental sense. The CD-601 uses modern stepper motors that are far more efficient than traditional DC motors and offer superior speed combined with more accurate performance.

Completing the package is the principal element, the camera. A choice of 18x, 23x or 36x zoom modules is available, so ensuring that a huge spectrum of applications can be covered by one dome design. This is important from a service and maintenance perspective as well as giving a site consistent visual aesthetics.

Conway is part of a small, diminishing band of CCTV manufacturers who design, develop and fabricate their products completely in-house. Having all these facilities at Conway’s factory in High Wycombe allows the company to adopt emerging technologies far quicker than if different disciplines are outsourced to other organisations. Conway prides itself on its ability to adapt products to a client’s exact needs and in this ever-competitive era it is this kind of flexibility that sets Conway and its development partners apart.

UK-based CCTV manufacturer Conway Security Products has released an all-new version of its Titan dome. The Titan V10 is a major advance for a range that  has been praised for high quality images and ease of use since 2003., and the new model continues this legacy.

A factor that has been a constant is Conway’s commitment to manufacturing and supporting the Titan range from their UK headquarters in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The company knows how important reliability is to its clients when choosing products, and controlling quality by keeping the entire design and manufacturing process under one roof is the best way of achieving this.

Conway’s new flagship dome is manufactured from solid Acetal copolymer. The choice of materials compared with more traditional aluminium or stainless steel is one of the features that make the dome unique. Acetal is characterised by   exceptionally low moisture absorption, meaning that it is highly-resistant to corrosion. Using aluminium in a corrosive atmosphere relies on the surface finish remaining intact; once the coating is compromised it is open to the elements. Stainless steel by contrast is both expensive and heavy. Acetal is also an exceptionally strong material so making the V10 resistant to physical attack.

The Titan V10 benefits from the latest version of Conway’s telemetry control system. This has a number of features to simplify the installation process and help with service and maintenance.  Functionality such as auto-protocol, auto-baud rate and dynamically stored pre-sets and tours save time during installation and streamline installation procedure. The Titan V10 integrates equally well with third-party control systems as well as Conway's recording and management solutions. Making it ideal for existing sites or new installations.

The Titan V10 unit is configurable to allow column or inverted mounting. This can be done in a matter of minutes and makes ordering simpler. Creating products that have a lower lifetime cost of ownership and are kinder to the planet is part of any modern design cycle and these challenges were addressed during the development of the Titan V10. Power consumption is less than one quarter of a traditional pan and tilt assembly which is kinder  to the environment and lighter on the pocket.

With a choice of 18x, 23x or 36x zoom lens, the Titan V10 is available directly from Conway Security Products.

UK CCTV manufacturer Conway Security Products has released an addition to its range of fixed domes, the CD-VR165. The a high-resolution Sony HQ1 camera delivering crisp colour images with resolution of up to 540TVL.

The camera has a vari-focal lens with a focal length of 2.8~10mm; this offers the installer a comprehensive range of views from 94° through to 29°.

The camera is housed in a robust machined copolymer enclosure with a clear- cast polycarbonate sphere. The material proves stable in challenging environmental conditions where aluminium would not be suitable, and is also highly robust making it resilient to physical attack.

What makes the CD-VR165 stand out from other models available on the market is the way that Conway designers have mounted the camera within the dome housing. The camera is enclosed in its own solid ball of machined plastic, a unique design that produces many benefits for both installer and end-user.

When developing the CD-165, Conway researched existing solutions on the market as well as seeking detailed feedback from their customer base as to what they liked and disliked about domes they had already used.

One of the biggest complaints from installers was that cameras were invariably held in cradles that necessitated loosening different screws while setting camera views. This is awkward at the best of times but if you are working at height and dropping screws the job becomes time-consuming and ultimately expensive. The camera in the CD-VR165 is held in place using precision friction springs which allow adjustment by hand without any tools to loosen and tighten screws.

The other key complaint from installers concerned the angle of view that domes could achieve when mounted on average height ceilings. The CD-VR165 mounts the camera lower down in the clear polycarbonate sphere, allowing it to see further along corridors without the camera seeing the inside of the housing. This is a surprisingly obvious feature but one that will be welcomed by the installer community.

The CD-VR165 comes in two formats, surface and recess mounting, and has options including audio and a low power heater for more demanding environments.

UK-based CCTV manufacturer Conway Security Products is supplying camera housings and tailor-made bracketry to a Highways Agency project in Hertfordshire that is seeing the Hatfield Tunnel on the A1(M) motorway refurbished to meet new European Union standards. 

The two 1.1km tunnels are cut-and-cover structures whose legacy traffic control systems needed replacing. The upgrade is being overseen by a Skanska Balfour Beatty joint venture. The Hatfield Tunnel is part of the Trans-European Road Network and is being refurbished in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Conway are providing the units for use within a MATRICS tunnel control solution from P. Ducker Systems Ltd (PDS). MATRICS is a semi-configured package with dual redundancy that allows infrastructure clients to retrieve and manage data for display and control purposes.

As the only camera housing manufacturer creating units from raw materials at a UK base, Conway were able to provide stainless steel products to exact specifications which met unusual site needs. Exceptional resistance to corrosion from traffic fumes and an ability to withstand unusual levels of vibration were prerequisites, demands that Conway satisfied as a result of working closely with some of PDS’s design team.

The enclosure used here is a variant on Conway’s stainless steel EH4 housing which, in addition to traffic infrastructure locations, is used in coastal and marine environments where ingress of water and salt are a threat. The unit is manufactured to weatherproof level IP66 and is available in either 304 or 316 grade stainless steel. 

The camera assemblies are mounted on bespoke stainless steel brackets that were designed and manufactured by Conway in co-operation with the project team at PDS. The unique bracketry had to be both adaptable to ensure the camera had an optimised angle of view while at the same time providing a solid platform to minimise movement caused by traffic. The housings are protecting Bosch Dinion IP cameras which allow MPEG-4 and JPEG compression modes simultaneously, making them ideal for such applications.

Conway also designed and manufactured a washer unit completely from stainless steel with co-polymer fixtures and fittings to address the needs of the Hatfield tunnel whose harsh conditions demanded a custom solution.

Ricky Oliver of Conway said: “The Hatfield Tunnel project threw up interesting issues for PDS who shared these challenges with us. We worked with their design and management teams at all stages and delivered solutions to problems that were identified at the outset or in some cases emerged during installation. Having complete control of our design and manufacturing operations allowed us to support PDS thoroughly.”

Conway Security Products are particularly strong in the transport sector and their housings have been used on the £600m Dublin Port Tunnel, the £1.5bn Øresund bridge link between Sweden and Denmark, and a highway in China which will stretch as far as Inner Mongolia.

Conway Security Products has supplied a wide range of products that has been installed on behalf of port authorities at Antwerp, one of the largest commercial harbours in Europe. The solution forms a key part of the harbour’s liability dispute management operations and has already proved successful in settling claims for damage to port structures.

Belgian-based VizioCam, who distribute Samsung Techwin products in Belgium, were asked to provide a CCTV installation that could operate in tandem with the harbour’s radar under low light conditions. Working with Dutch integrator XVR, VizioCam created a solution involving the Samsung Techwin SHC-750 ultra low light camera which can provide usable images even in overcast starlight.

Low light cameras require precise back focusing and judicious choice of lens, in this case a Pentax 8~144mm motorised zoom. The whole solution, including the telemetry receiver, has been assembled into an IP66-rated Conway camera housing compete with wiper. In extreme environmental conditions, it is not just important to place the equipment in a suitable enclosure but the client needs an assembly that is pre-built in a dedicated workshop rather than on site. The Conway EH1/w housing was supplied with an internal frame that allowed the receiver, lens and camera to be held securely in a configuration that did not compromise the accessibility of any of the components.

Conway’s Managing Director, Chris Newman, said: “This is an example of CCTV being used for revenue protection in a non-criminal environment. If a picture is worth a thousand words in this case it is already been worth a good few thousand Euros and given the end-user rapid Return on Investment (ROI)”.

There are plans to increase the number of cameras and the installation has already brought operational benefits in that three instances of damage to the harbour structure by sea-going vessels have been recorded. Liability has been established without reliance on eye-witnesses.

The Samsung Techwin SHC-750 camera used here is a half-inch ultra low light unit that will deliver 450TV lines resolution with an exceptional sensitivity of 0.008 lux at F1.2 in normal colour mode.
The Antwerp Port Authority handles approximately 190,000,000 tonnes of freight annually and over 700,000 cars are loaded or unloaded at the harbour’s roll on-roll off facilities each year. Interest in the CCTV system is being shown by ports at Ghent, Zeebrugge, Ostend and Rotterdam.

Conway Security Products will be attending the Global MSC Security seminar in Bristol on the 9th of March. This event is the first of its kind to be held in the area and is being hosted in conjunction with Safer Gloucestershire and Safer Bristol.

If you would like further information on the event please visit the Global MSC website by clicking Global MSC website .

Conway will be showing a selection of our product range including the new Titan v10 dome. The Global MSC events are extremely well organised and are a friendly place to meet with clients and suppliers. We hope to see you there.

Conway Security Products has launched a versatile vandal-resistant camera aimed at a broad range of applications in the private and public sectors.
Featuring a unique three-part design, the CM180 is simple to install, a vital consideration in the key markets Conway has identified for the camera.
At the heart of the CM180 is a high-resolution day/night camera designed to cope with varying light conditions. A choice of either 2.3mm or 3.5mm lens ensures the camera delivers an optimised view regardless of the application.
One of the core applications that Conways customers have already identified is elevators, a niche market which has never had a definitive product addressing all the challenges of this difficult environment. The product can be fitted quickly, ensuring lifts are out of action for a minimal period. Set-up can be performed in situ and the camera-lens combination ensures 100% coverage of the elevator. Simple features like an aperture to allow use of a local monitor during configuration make installation easier for the engineer. Streamlined installation and less downtime mean reduced cost of ownership for the end- user, an attraction in budget-conscious markets.
The CM180 is manufactured from a combination of steel and Acetal, giving it both strength and longevity in demanding environments. Features such as an easily replaced Lexan screen and security screws protect the camera from attack.
Available in standard white or a brushed stainless steel finish, the CM180 is available now from Conway Security Products.

The Minister of State for the Home Department (David Hanson) has announced the establishment of an Oversight Body which enable the current National CCTV Strategy Board to become more delivery focused.
This body will:

• Develop national standards for the installation and use of CCTV in public space
  Determine training requirements for users and practitioners
• Engage with the public and private sector in determining the need and potential content of any regulatory framework
• Raise public awareness and understanding of how CCTV operates and the benefits to tackling crime and public protection
• Review the existing recommendations of the National CCTV Strategy and advising the Strategy Board on implementation, timelines and cost and development of an effective evidence base  
• Promote public awareness of the complaints process and criteria for complaints to the relevant agencies (e.g. Information Commissioner, local authority, private organisation etc) and dealing with complaints relating to technical standards.

Full details are available from The Home Office Crime Reduction website

Conway Security Products has updated its flagship pan and tilt to include features that facilitate the unit being supplied for installation directly onto legacy systems.
Pan and tilts have a heritage going back to the 1970s and remain a cornerstone of applications where limited lens options mean domes cannot always provide suitable images. Locations such as prison perimeters, motorways, infrastructure sites and civic centres still demand the highest quality picture, often specified by government departments or consultants using Rotakin.
But image quality will be wasted if a pan and tilt cannot effectively track the target, whether this be a person or a vehicle. The C2090CR has a standard pan speed of 24°/second and an optional pan speed of 55°/second combined with an ability to rotate in excess of 360° without fouling cabling. The operator can thus manually track a target, concentrating only on the subject on screen and without having to consider whether the camera is going to reach an end-stop.
When the Conway pan and tilt is responding to an alarm action, it can reach the required position by travelling the shortest distance between two points. With standard pan and tilts, a small movement in the pan axis may mean the camera has to travel nearly full circle due to physical stops but continuous rotation models have no such restrictions.
Pan and tilts have been installed throughout the UK for three decades and the reliable design together with robust engineering associated with this product type mean there are currently many units approaching the end of their lifespan, a situation that presents a challenge for any on-site maintenance contractor. Engineering hours spent rewiring conduit and connectors to suit the legacy model of pan and tilt can prove expensive since there has never been an industry standard and permutations are legion. But clients who advise Conway of configuration and number of ways can benefit from a pre-wired, pre-configured solution that allows direct application in many environments and locations.
Conway has been producing pan and tilts longer than any other current UK provider and the experience and knowledge accrued is demonstrated in functionality and engineering quality. Manufactured from a combination of machined aluminium and stainless steel at Conway's headquarters in Buckinghamshire, the C2090CR is built to prove a workhorse in the most demanding applications.
Customers are welcome to visit Conway’s factory to see first-hand the processes that go into delivering the broad range of products available from one of the UK’s most enduring manufacturers of CCTV equipment.

A UK police force is using corner-mounted camera units from Conway Security Products as part of rolling refurbishments to create dedicated custody suites at police stations.

Conway’s CM230IR unit was chosen as the best solution for an environment with unusual and challenging customer needs. The police force concerned insists on high levels of resilience, response and maintenance, its principal aims being to safeguard the wellbeing of detainees and staff in a busy, sensitive environment.

Delivering optimum picture quality is obviously a pre-requisite for any camera and in this evidential application it is vital that there is an accurate visual and audio record of all events, notably interaction between police and detainees.

A custodial environment brings other basic demands. The camera has to be safe from attack yet at the same time the assembly cannot create a risk to the room occupant. Primarily, the installation has been designed to minimise the risk of creating any ligature point and this is an issue that Conway’s corner-mounted assembly was designed to address. The unit’s two-piece design flexes into a room’s corners so minimising the risk of gaps being created.

The design has a further advantage for both integrator and end-user. Once the frame is in place, often as part of a first fit process, the camera is installed in minutes. Should it need to be removed in the future, an operative has only to remove six screws and take it away. The frame can even be re-sealed using a blanking panel, ensuring the room remains safe. This design reduces on-site time engineer time, keeps cells open for longer and so minimises total cost of ownership (TCO) over the life of the product.

Chris Newman, Managing Director of Conway, said: “Phrases such as ‘total cost of ownership’, ‘energy efficiency’ and ‘carbon footprint’ were not in the vocabulary of a CCTV manufacturer until recently. Now they are at the core of good business practice and are a critical part of the design process.”

Newman continued: “The CM230IR was designed with energy efficiency in mind using innovative infrared LEDs and photocell operation that ensures lighting is only used if required.
Throughout the design and prototyping process our engineers considered how we could eclipse anything else on the market. This could only happen with feedback from end-users and integrators.”

As engineers with wide-ranging experience, Conway’s R & D team realised that a police force cannot have a cell, charge desk or holding unit out of action for half a day while an operative fits and makes good a camera. Technical staff need to be in and out as soon as possible.

The CM230IR, the first in a new range from Conway, has a unique design that addresses the traditional problem of corners not being square. This is often one of the first challenges met by an installer when fitting a corner-mounted camera and one of the hardest to get around. If the corner is less than 90 degrees then the camera won't fit; if it is greater than 90 degrees then there will be gaps that could be used for leverage. The CM230IR can cope with either scenario admirably.

The innovative design consists of a fixing frame and the camera unit itself. Once the frame is fitted, the camera is easily adjusted to optimise the angle of view for the specific application. A recessed machined-steel plate with a Lexan® screen protects the camera from attack or interference. This is a key design feature as the risk of creating a ligature point on any camera used in custodial applications has to designed out to zero.

Conway is renowned for designing and manufacturing products for applications where vandal resistance is a consideration. The existing range of ceiling and wall-mounted housings is now complemented by this new range of integrated cameras.

The CM230IR features a day/night camera with IR cut filter, fixed 2.5mm lens, 940nm IR LEDs and the option of audio. An energy-saving feature of the range is the optical sensor that ensures the IR LEDs are only turned on when necessary.
Conway Managing Director Chris Newman said: "Although the CM230IR will be widely considered for custodial applications, we are looking at a broader market. Elevators, interview rooms, medical centres and stairwells are all areas for which the CM230IR is perfectly suited. What all of these applications have in common is the need for a CCTV solution that is integrated into the environment. There is a balance between overt and covert CCTV, and the subtlety of the CM230IR's design strikes this balance. The option of 940nM IR which is invisible to the human eye is another feature that follows this subtle design thinking."

The range will shortly be expanded to offer a unit without IR. This second model, the CM230, will still feature the highest standards of physical attributes but at a lower cost. All models come with a two-year manufacturer warranty.