The Customer
With over 550 retail outlets worldwide, OBI is a leading brand in the
building and DIY sector across Europe. Founded in Germany 40 years ago, the
company now employs around 38,000 staff. OBI began its international expansion
in Italy in 1991 and now employs over 1,700 staff across 47 stores with floor
spaces ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 square metres, and a total floor space of
135,000 square metres. In 2009, OBI welcomed over 11 million customers through
its doors.
Thanks to a positive response from Italian consumers, the
OBI Group is successful in achieving its objective to cater for every aspect of
home improvement at affordable prices for customers who enjoy putting their
skills and creativity to work completing DIY projects in their spare time.
The Requirement
Over the years, OBI has always invested effectively in physical security
with intruder alarm and video surveillance systems. With the experience OBI has
gained in security and its own technical expertise, Inres, the division of the
group which manages OBI’s security requirements, recognised the opportunity to
improve and optimise OBI’s security procedures using the latest technologies on
the market. Inres’ vision was to integrate intrusion detection and video
surveillance in the OBI stores and to simplify operation and management with one
user interface.
The new solution needed to
take into account OBI's existing security systems to minimise new investment and
provide a solution suitable for its current and future requirements. It would be
implemented in all stores throughout Italy, both in new buildings and during the
renovation of existing buildings.
To achieve this, OBI decided
that it required a security system that would allow the integration of intrusion
and video surveillance functions to deliver a more powerful and flexible
solution.
OBI also required a flexible
access control system that could be integrated with the security system so that
one swipe card could be used for both the access control and intrusion
functions.
OBI defined that the
integration software must provide a simple, intuitive yet comprehensive
graphical user interface, possibly using "touch screen" technology, to enable
store managers to use the interlinked and complex security system quickly and
easily. This graphical user interface was to be located in the main information
and control centre located in the reception area of every store.
Elcon Italia has worked for many years in the field of
systems integration and was responsible for proposing customised software that
suited OBI’s requirements.
Solution
The search for the most appropriate system resulted in the selection of
Honeywell Galaxy Dimension. Galaxy Dimension was the only platform that would
allow the security system to be integrated with the access control system while
also allowing the development of monitoring software that would integrate all
security functions (intrusion, video and access control). Galaxy Dimension meets
the increasing need for the security market to adopt open systems which can
integrate with each other, even in highly complex systems, and also provide the
end user with a user-friendly solution, ease of installation and maintenance.
Galaxy Dimension’s access control function and its
compatibility with standard Wiegand readers made it possible to use one swipe
card for intrusion and access control. This offered a considerable advantage in
terms of both time and cost. In addition, the Galaxy Dimension system integrates
with third-party manufacturers’ systems enabling OBI to retain its existing
video system so that only the intrusion system needed to be replaced.
The selected control panel was Galaxy Dimension 520 due to
its ideal suitability for the size of OBI's stores and its flexibility for
future expansion.
"We now have a complete security solution which
offers the appropriate level of protection to suit OBI Italia’s requirements:
totally flexible with a simple and intuitive graphical user interface that
allows quick and effective control," said Daniele Sgrilli, Technical
Director of OBI Italia.
The advantages
Savings
By integrating existing components into the Galaxy Dimension system BUS
savings are possible in cable laying and time consuming connections. A
considerable saving has also been made in terms of the cost and time to install
and commission the new system, allowing the solution to be implemented in a very
short time, fully satisfying the customer's requirements. Furthermore,
maintenance and programming of Galaxy Dimension can easily be carried out
through a remote management tool which permits automatic monitoring and direct
communication with the OBI store personnel responsible for maintenance. This
results in considerable cost and time savings by reducing the frequency of
on-site operations.
Integration
Galaxy Dimension’s flexibility was one of its biggest selling points! Its
integrated access function and open platform allowing it to merge seamlessly
with other building control systems have enabled it to fully respond to the
customer's requirements. Thanks to its extensive knowledge of the Galaxy
Dimension system, Elcon Italia has developed the supervision software to enable
management of the various intrusion, video and access control functions from the
control centre in the reception area of every store using one simple and
intuitive touch screen interface.
"Combining access control and intrusion in a single
integrated system with one point of contact has resulted in greater ease of use
and flexibility for the employees who use the system every day,".stated
Giacomo Bonassi, Store Manager of the OBI Reggio-Emilia.
Proven security
Honeywell's Galaxy solution has been used by Elcon Italia for many years,
due to its reliability and complete range of functions. The Galaxy Dimension
system is certified according to European standard EN50131-1, security level 3,
Environmental Class II.
Solution Provider
Inres, a consulting and design company, that has been actively involved in
the technical management and developments of OBI Italia for many years, has used
its technical skills to deliver solutions that place OBI at the forefront of
technology. By constantly searching for new technologies that are aimed at
satisfying the customer’s requirements, Inres has been able to outclass ordinary
products offered on the market. The security requirement proposed was to find a
complete and reliable system that would offer the ability to integrate with
other systems and technology and above all, be able to meet the need for
customisation. Inres, maximising the potential of the Galaxy Dimension system,
has not only fulfilled the customer's requirements but has also exploited the
system to make savings in hardware and production time.
Result
Within one year in Italy, six new stores have been built and another three
have been modified with the new solution which incorporates Galaxy Dimension.
OBI Italia now has a complete and integrated system which
can be adopted by all stores and managed from a simple graphical user interface
where it is possible to display not only alarm signals but also maps and related
video images in detail.
A trusted partner
System integrator Elcon Italia operates throughout Italy providing
integrated security systems and solutions for building automation since 1983.
Elcon Italia has been able to adapt to the needs of the market using products
and solutions that exceed its customers’ expectations. Thanks to a strong
relationship with Honeywell, Elcon Italia has developed a broad and detailed
knowledge of the Galaxy Dimension system, which allows it to take full advantage
of the system’s potential for the benefit of its customers.
"We can count on Honeywell Security products to
protect our customers. Honeywell's solutions have always provided the answer we
need for specific customer requests.” said Marco Nanni, Project and
Technical Manager Elcon Italia.
Products
- Galaxy Dimension 520 central control unit
- Galaxy MK7 keypads and Keyproxes
- DCM Access Control Module
- MAX4 proximity reader
- GALAXY RIO
- GALAXY SMART power supply units
 OBI protects its businesses with Honeywell Galaxy® Dimension (pdf)
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