Meeting the challenges of tomorrow EVVA

MEETING THE SECURITY CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW

EVVA is a European market leader in locking and security technologies. Philip Yorke talked to Rainer Kindelmann, sales director for EVVA in Austria and managing director of EVVA Sicherheitssysteme GmbH about the company’s latest products and how it is meeting the security challenges of tomorrow.

EVVA was founded in Austria in 1919 and remains a privately owned family company. Today it is a European brand leader in the design and manufacture of both mechanical and electronic security systems.

The company has its headquarters in Vienna and employs more than 800 people, 500 of which are located in Austria. In addition, the company has subsidiaries in twelve countries and is represented further through a network of dedicated distributors located in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.

In 2010, EVVA acquired Sibersa AG of Switzerland, a leading Swiss safety and security company, which is now known as EVVA Switzerland AG. The company is also active in Asia but remains focussed on its core markets in Europe, where it anticipates further organic growth. Last year it recorded sales of approximately €100 million.

Increasing demand for system integration

System integration offers the greatest scope for future growth and is the largest market sector out of EVVA’s three strategic business areas of operation. Private security for the protection of private houses and apartments is another key area, followed closely by commercial property and security. This is where the company provides tailor-made solutions to achieve the most effective and cost-effective outcomes for industry. In addition, EVVA offer a range of consultancy services based upon its well known trinity principle; comfort, organisation and security. Each EVVA security solution takes these three principles into account, which can be

translated as system integration, security technology, security surveillance technology and security locking technology.

Kindelmann said, “Integrated mechanical and electrical access systems offer us real opportunities for growth, especially in areas such as civil construction, hotels and education and healthcare, where our integrated technology can be used to best advantage.

“For example in private parking bays we can introduce a system where our predetermined number plate recognition system will allow staff to park without the risk of losing the space to unauthorised personnel. In schools and colleges we can organise electronic systems that enhance the multifunctional use of the buildings, so that different user groups can enjoy specific facilities after school hours for such activities as use of the gymnasium, chemistry labs or music rooms etc. All other areas can be locked and secured at the touch of a screen.

“The consumer market is also growing with an increasing demand for integrated systems. Private households are demanding more sophisticated solutions such as integrated surveillance systems that can be connected to their PC and put on the same software platform as that used for opening garage doors for example.”

Kindelmann went on to say “Furthermore, we differentiate ourselves by being the ultimate quality brand at the top end of the market that guarantees the highest quality products with the lowest returns. This is backed up by short reaction times to

demands from all our core business markets. We have also been meticulous about keeping records of all our products from the very beginning, which means that if a customer requires a part or a replacement to a lock produced 75 years ago, then we can provide a perfect replacement, as we still maintain the old manufacturing processes and machinery. However,

I believe that the biggest difference between us and our competitors is our ability to provide a complete and comprehensive range of services, including evaluation, maintenance and calculations services.”

ICS technology driving sales

EVVA’s latest ICS technology is setting new standards in comfort, security and safety wherever it is employed. The ICS (Inner Code System) reversible key system provides the ultimate protection against unauthorised entry thanks to a unique combination of three different ‘blocking’ technologies. These are the specially shaped, hardwearing length profile, the time-tested curve system, which scans locking authorisation and the advanced pin-system. This greatly improved system consists of concealed inner recesses on the ICS key body, which is a unique feature not found anywhere else in the world. As a result, it is almost impossible to manufacture unauthorised duplicate sets of keys. In addition, local authorisation is determined by a total of 13 spring loaded blocking pins set in three rows, as well as by the specially shaped length profile.

The benefits of EVVA’s three-way blocking technology is foolproof copying protection, due to the concealed scanning features on the key, its modular design and optimum wear resistance thanks to the use of hardened and resistant components. Furthermore, each ICS locking system is unique.

Kindelmann added, “We manufacture and quality control everything in-house and can send electronic parts to our assembly plants throughout our geographic operational regions, which will arrive within 48 hours of ordering. Our advanced security locks are complex pieces of technology and can have more than 160 working parts, even more than a Swiss watch.”

Advancing door security

The need for improved security has never been greater than it is today. EVVA has developed a unique security system for doors which offers the freedom to change authorisations instantly and react quickly when a key is lost or stolen. This ground-breaking new device is called the ‘e-primo’ configurator. The EVVA ‘e-primo’ will fit exactly into the cylinder where the current lock is located if it needs to be replaced. With its intelligent interaction of technology and an advanced memory function embedded into its cylinder, the ‘e-primo’ now offers all the latest benefits of electronic access to a house, apartment or business building. n