US company launches robot security guard

The night watchman of the future is 5 feet tall, weighs 300 pounds and looks a lot like R2-D2 - without the whimsy. And will work for US$6.25 an hour.

A company in California has developed a mobile robot, known as the K5 Autonomous Data Machine, as a safety and security tool for corporations, as well as for schools and neighborhoods.

"We founded Knightscope after what happened at Sandy Hook," said William Santana Li, a co-founder of that technology company, now based in Sunnyvale, Calif. "You are never going to have an armed officer in every school."

VBH launches new greenteQ hardware catalogue

Hardware supplier VBH has launched the latest issue of the popular greenteQ Window & Door Hardware & Ancillaries catalogue.
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9th ETSI Security Workshop

15 - 16 JANUARY 2014, Sophia Antipolis, France.

The annual ETSI Security Workshop has built a reputation of being a premier event on Security. It brings together the latest from those developing International Standards and security experts to discuss recent developments, share knowledge, identify gaps and co-ordinate on future actions and work areas.
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The mayor of Jersey City is planning to open a pair of mysterious safes built into a wall of his City Hall office.

Mayor Steve Fulup says he has no idea what they may have been used for, or whether anything might be inside. But he is planning to have a locksmith open them in December. City officials think they have been around for generations and not opened for many years.

Mayors who have served over the past 30 years say that they don't have any answers about them. But one bit of lore is that they may have been used to store kickbacks from city workers to Mayor Frank Hague, who ran the city from 1917 to 1947.

Source: newstimes.com

Treat yourself with a new Renault TrueCode Module from 3D Group

"Our friends over at KeyProgrammers have just launched a new software update for their TrueCode system", says 3 D Group.

TrueCode is a PC-based software system that can be installed onto any netbook or laptop and connected to the vehicle using the diagnostic cable that is supplied with it. It allows you to program keys and key cards to the vehicle quickly and easily without the need for internet access.
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Locksmiths Exhibition 2014 (Lockexpo)

Stands are now limited to 3 small and 1 large stand unsold. In the holiday period new exhibitors booked space these include Mark Hughes who will be showing off his new website; Nauta Security Storage B.V. showing this popular range of products and confirming their dedication to the UK markets; Wadsworth Security - with their world famous Best removable core master key system.

Outside in Lock tools with a range of must have kit for locksmiths; Smart Locking Systems from Dublin showing innovative mechanical and wire free electronic key and fob locking systems; Innovative lock tools Geraint Jones, David Kneafsey, Jason Jones and James King - Shiny tools abound - these 4 practically dream tools, many must have's for the locksmith. 
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Locks-of-love trend latches on to bridges across the world

By Mark Angeles

Some of the bridges are well-known, and others do not even have a name, but they share something hopeful - and somewhat heavy. From Paris to Prague and from Brooklyn, New York to Bydgoszcz, Poland, a phenomenon of sorts has been occurring at these bridges over the past few years involving the seemingly unrelated subjects of love and padlocks.

Carl F Groupco supports timber sector with FUHR slave lock

Carl F Groupco's support for the timber hardware market includes the FUHR 841 slave door lock. The established fittings distributor, which has offered FUHR lines for over 50 years, reports that the product, which is designed specifically for use on timber or timber core composite doors, is proving popular with its customers due to a number of advantageous defining features.
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Workforce will double at site of Willenhall lockmakers

The former Willenhall Locks factory has been bought by 1st Access UK Ltd which is also based in the town and is investing £100,000 in the first expansion phase.

The company, which was set up six years ago by Willenhall-born ex firefighter Jason Loydon and his partner Vikki Lindop, had a £2 million turnover last year and currently employs around 25 workers.

Jersey City Hall safes finally opened to reveal...

Fox NY released a story on December 15th that described how Jersey City officials unveiled a big mystery this week by opening two old safes that were found in the wall of the mayor's office - except it was not what they were expecting.

Steve Fulop, the current mayor of Jersey City, originally found the safes and brought it to the city's attention, not knowing what could be contained within them. It turned out that after a locksmith spent 25 minutes opening one safe and one hour opening another safe, all that was in the safes was an extension cord. This find debunked many rumors about what could actually be in the safes.
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GB's Olympic security to be beefed up after bombings

British Olympic Association chief Lord Coe will consult with Prime Minister David Cameron, Special Branch and security chiefs on extra safety measures to protect Team GB during next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Last week's suicide bombings in Volgograd which killed 31 people and left scores horrifically injured, and the threat of more to come, have brought a disturbing sense of reality that the danger will be clear and present when the Games begin on 7 February. There is no doubt security will be beefed up by the presence of much more than a handful of G4S minders.
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US security software company FireEye acquires Mandiant

In a deal that may have broad repercussions for companies and governments fending off sophisticated hackers and state-sponsored digital attacks, FireEye, a provider of security software, has acquired Mandiant, a company known for emergency responses to computer network breaches. The deal, in both cash and stock, is worth more than $1 billion, based on the current value of shares in FireEye.

The end of year acquisition was one of the biggest security deals of 2013. It merges two companies in the US$67 billion global computer security market that together could form a formidable competitor to antivirus giants like Symantec and Intel's McAfee.
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Security firm denies its cold calls are misleading

A home security company says it has provided more than 50 tape recordings to trading standards to put to rest claims it may have been misleading potential customers.

UDS Solutions has been cold-calling homes in New Addington, near Croydon, Surrey, to sell its monitored alarm systems recently. But the council was alerted with some residents saying the company might have been wrongly claiming to be working with police and the council.

Mr. Rekey awards 50 new franchises across the US

Mr. Rekey Locksmith, said to be America’s largest residential locksmith, awarded 50 franchise territories nationwide in the second half of 2013. The company has been on a fast-track to expand the reach of its industry-leading locksmith service franchises.

“This is a momentous transition for our company. Awarding these franchises represents years of work from the Mr. Rekey corporate team, and we could not be more pleased with the results,” said CEO Kenneth Jennings.
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Don't deflate the van tyres for winter

Van users are being advised not to follow outdated advice on winter driving. Steve Clarke says: "There is a long-held view that reducing tyre pressures will increase grip on awkward surfaces. This might be all right for driving over desert sand, but it is certainly not safe for winter driving." As marketing manager for The Fuelcard People, part of Fuel Card Group, he has been working with van users for years and knows the challenges they face.
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Yale recruits to strengthen trade support for 2014

Gemma Attiwell has been employed as Business Development Manager, and will focus on developing new and existing customers across the independent trade market. Gemma has a strong, 10-year background in working with the locksmith market, as well as various other trade customers from her previous employer Avocet Hardware.
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Leading Wiltshire security trainer offers apprenticeships

Westbury-based security services training provider The Formative Group is currently on the lookout for 16-18 year olds for its next Security Services Apprenticeship, which starts in January next year.

The group gives teenagers the opportunity to gain valuable skills and life experience through its apprenticeship, with the chance to continue their training in a range of NVQ courses.

Allegion new name for Ingersoll Rand's security technologies division

Allegion has been unveiled as the new name for Ingersoll Rand's Security Technologies division following the spinoff from its parent company.
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Hickleys appoints new Managing Director

Hickleys, the long-established local motor trade and healthcare company, has announced the appointment of Robin Huish as Managing Director, taking over from Duncan Meikle who moves to the position of Chairman.
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