Paxton Secures Highlands Cannabis Grow Facility
GREENVILLE, SC – Paxton’s Net2 access control has been installed at Highlands Grow, a fully licensed industrial-scale cultivator, producing cannabis for medicinal and recreational use.
Based in Lapeer, Michigan, Highlands Grow provides consumable cannabis products to U.S.-based retailers. The volume of produce they cultivate is of extremely high-market value and needs to be secured with a sophisticated and advanced security system as stated by Michigan state law.
Prior to the new Net2 security installation, the Highlands Grow facility was secured by traditional locks and keys. This meant that they were open to potential security risks, and their site would not meet the legal requirements to secure the higher volume of product they plan to produce as they increase the size of their ever-growing customer base.
Highlands Grow contacted Existo Solutions, a consulting company specializing in services designed specifically for the budding U.S. cannabis industry. They recommended Paxton’s Net2 access control due to its customizable high-security functionality and integration options.
Chris Hernandez, operations lead at Existo Solutions, said: “Achieving compliance while growing cannabis in most U.S. states is related to the security and access of the facility. Cultivators who don’t comply can receive up to a $90,000 fine from the U.S. government, so it’s vitally important to get access control right.”
For the new security system to meet legal surveillance requirements, cameras need to be integrated alongside a remote alert system. For Highlands Grow, that means monitoring 50 cameras, while securing 21 doors which lead to large-scale grow rooms and secure vaults, storing curing cannabis and finished products.
Having this functionality is crucial so the owners can receive real-time notifications and video clips of potential security risks on individual doors when the facility is at low capacity.
Hernandez continues: “What is very important for the customers in our industry, isn’t just knowing who goes in and out of a facility, it’s who goes up to a door when they are not supposed to. It’s about being aware of who tried to open a vault when no one is there.”
Existo Solutions installed Net2, Paxton’s flagship networked IP access control system, which originally launched into the US market in 2007. Since then, the system has received consistent updates and integrated with many leading cameras, as well as fire and intruder alarms.
The system was integrated seamlessly with VIVOTEK cameras, meaning that Highlands Grow can now remotely monitor every door on their facility 24/7, using Net2Online software and the Paxton Connect app.
“Paxton is our go-to when it comes to access control. We like the way Net2 integrates with VIVOTEK cameras, and the system just works every time.
“Net2 has enabled us to provide Highlands Grow with the highest security service package we offer, which is great for them,” says Hernandez.
Paxton’s vandal-resistant Entry range touch panel has been fitted on the main entrance to the facility, alongside an Entry Premium monitor in the site's security station. The Net2 software has been configured to provide notification alerts on the owner's smart devices if people are trying to enter the building outside of business hours.
Net2 readers were installed across all doors alongside the camera integration to monitor access from internal employees to grow rooms and vaults. These readers have been configured to allow different access levels depending on seniority in the company, and time restrictions added to lock down rooms with no need for frequent access.
Hernandez concludes: “I think access control is so important as one of the initial means to manage the workspace and how people move around. There are lots of locked doors in the cannabis industry and opening them using Net2 makes it easy to move around with large plants on carts.”
“Paxton makes our job straightforward. It’s beyond simple, it’s beyond easy, and the technology is so stable, that it's easy to support.”
The Net2 system has been installed with no problems and the owners are pleased with how easy Net2 access control is to use. They have been maximizing the use of its feature-rich software and have been impressed with the proximity cards, which they have doubled up as access tokens and ID cards.
Matt Saagman, Director of Cultivation at Highlands Grow, says, “Using Net2 is very smooth. Once I started using the Paxton Connect app, it has been a breeze. Almost too easy. As we expand our facility, we plan to keep building on the current system and we are interested in seeing what else it can do as we grow.”
You can find out more about Net2 on Paxton’s website.
Lockmasters Acquires Allied Locksmith Supply
In an effort to expand our automotive and locksmithing product offerings, Lockmasters announces that Allied Locksmith Supply has joined the Lockmasters Team, including long-time Allied Locksmith Supply employees, Jim and Anna. Since 1982, the family-owned Allied Locksmith Supply has taken pride in professionally servicing customers with technical and sales expertise.
Allied is a distributor of approximately 9,000 automotive and commercial locksmith products consisting of automotive remote and transponder keys, locks, and related products as well as residential key blanks and accessories. The company has been in operation for over 40 years and is based out of Youngstown, OH. As of closing, Allied's operations have been successfully integrated into Lockmasters' headquarters in Nicholasville, Ky.
Your current shopping experience will expand as you will now have:
- Access to new manufacturers including: ASP, BlueDog, Howard Keys and Pro-Lok
- Over 5,000 new parts, including full lines from ILCO, STRATTEC and Lucky Line
- Vast assortment of stocked keys, remotes and automotive parts
- Specialized automotive and locksmith customer service representatives
"We are looking forward to carrying the torch on Allied's core automotive remote and transponder keys distribution business as the 40-year family owners transition into retirement. Now that all operations are integrated into Lockmasters and the product offerings have been made available on our e-commerce platform, we will be able to focus on delivering the best possible technical sales and rapid order fulfilment that customers have come to expect at both Lockmasters and Allied." said Joe McCormack, Lockmasters' CEO.
ASSA ABLOY To Buy Evolis
Through subsidiary HID Global, ASSA ABLOY has announced plans to purchase Evolis, a leading French manufacturer of ID card printers and consumables, at a price of approximately $255 million.
Evolis develops, manufactures, and sells printers and software for personalization of physical credentials. Through a well-established channel network, Evolis has built a well-established global market position in the instant issuance of physical credentials including ID cards, access control badges, payment cards and other personalized credentials.
Evolis was established in 1999 and has 380 employees. The company is headquartered in Angers, France. The Company is listed on Euronext Growth in Paris.
“I am looking forward to welcoming Evolis into the ASSA ABLOY Group. Evolis would be a good technological addition to the ASSA ABLOY Group and would reinforce our current offering within the secure issuance business” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.
“It would be a pleasure to welcome Evolis to the HID family,” says Björn Lidefelt, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Technologies business unit HID Global. “Joining forces with a strong industry player like Evolis would enable us to better meet our customers’ needs and provides complementary growth opportunities across product, geographical and vertical market presence”.
The acquisition is conditional upon customary closing conditions and regulatory approval and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2023.
ASSA ABLOY has a;sp acquired Sunray Engineering Group Ltd, a UK designer and manufacturer of high specification steel and timber security doors, fire doors and louvre systems.
"With Sunray Engineering and its great team we want to develop our presence within the high specification door and louvre systems markets. Sunray Engineering has a long and successful history in the UK, making it a fantastic opportunity to help us realize our growth ambitions and expand our full door specification offering,” says Neil Vann, executive vice president of ASSA ABLOY and Head of EMEIA Division.
Sunray Engineering was established in 1980 and has 70 employees. The main office is located in Kent, South East England.
Napco Access Pro™ Debuts
Amityville, NY – NAPCO Security Technologies announces the launch of an all-new Napco Access Pro Dealer Program, brand, and website, introduced by its Continental Access Division.
"The change came about to better represent the full, evolving access technologies, and single-source offerings NAPCO now has for integrators, including solutions from cellular/cloud-based hosted AirAccess, to embedded self-contained controllers of E-Access, to the Continental enterprise platform and controllers, for which it’s best known, and which will continue to be branded with the Continental name. And, the new Napco Access Pro Dealer Program is designed to expand both the solutions and the value we provide our current dealers and new integrators joining it," said Stephen Spinelli, senior vice president, sales, for NAPCO Security Technologies.
Program highlights will include exclusive products with pro feature sets and new value-adds; preferred pricing tiers and growth incentives; protected/semi-protected territories; leads, dedicated account management, continuing pro-education options and opportunities; marketing tools and annual awards event. It is spotlighted on the division's new website, www.napcoaccesspro.com, as well as on the Continental website, www.cicaccess.com.
The Napco Access Pro Dealer Program is being developed and managed under the direction of Napco Access Pro’s new Vice President of Sales Aaron Black, who has a long history of creating and administrating dealer programs for well-known video and security companies. While existing Continental Dealers will be contacted in advance by their regional sales manager, for more information on the program, or the full range of access control solutions available, contact Aaron at NAPCO, [email protected], 1.800.645.9445 or his cell 817.888.4872, or reach out to your local representative.
