Mitsubishi Electric’s Air Conditioning Division based in Livingston, Scotland, has deployed Grosvenor Technology’s new SATEON browser-based access control system as part of a major security upgrade.
Founded in 1993, the company known today as Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe Ltd, is a recognised world leader in the manufacture of air conditioning and heat pump systems. As a business it is therefore keen to use leading-edge technology in all parts of its own building systems.
SATEON is 100 per cent browser-based and powered by the latest web streaming technology to deliver a slick and graphically rich user interface through the user’s preferred browser. There is no limit to client-licenses, allowing Mitsubishi Electric to have as many operators as required with access to the system, at no additional cost. The system also has a very low on-going IT overhead as there is no client software to install.
Commenting on the success of the project, Andrew Galvin, Health, Safety and Training Manager, said: “The main driver for upgrading was to replace our ageing proprietary system with a solution that offered total flexibility, ease of management and future-proof, scalable technology that could grow with our business. SATEON has delivered on all counts and provides us with a powerful system that has an easy to use and intuitive user interface. We have to constantly remind ourselves that we are working in a browser because it looks and feels just as responsive as if the software was installed on a dedicated PC. ”
SATEON is a feature rich system that can deliver Enterprise level administration and reporting tools directly to a browser. These include advanced access levels, card ID printing, alarm management, navigable graphic maps, people in area monitoring and a suite of management reports. Thanks to its open architecture and resilient Microsoft SQL Database back-end it can easily integrate with 3rd party database sources as well as numerous CCTV, intruder alarm and other separate security systems.
At Livingston the SATEON system is connected to over 30 doors distributed across 4 buildings, all of which are not on the same site. Being IP-based allows the system to communicate with readers and door controllers over the company’s standard corporate WAN/LAN. The majority of the existing RS485 wiring from the original installation was reused, with RS485/IP Line Headers used to connect them to the network. Any new access points were connected directly to the IP network. Power over Ethernet (PoE) is fully supported, helping to further reduce installation costs.
The SATEON system was installed by Grosvenor Technology’s approved partner FPG Security Solutions Ltd, who is also providing a high level of on-site support. Commenting on the flexibility of the solution, Jim Williamson, Director of FPG, said “Whilst SATEON delivers full IP connectivity and web browsing capability, the flexibility to utilise existing RS485 cabling infrastructure, reader and card technologies offered a significant advantage to Mitsubishi Electric, minimising downtime during system changeover and limiting disruption to staff ”.
Grosvenor Technology has a large installed base of JANUS and Siteguard access control systems in Scotland. However, Mitsubishi Electric is the first new site in the region to embrace SATEON. For existing JANUS/Siteguard users SATEON is fully backwards compatible with existing door controller and reader hardware. This provides a very attractive upgrade path with minimal disruption to the existing infrastructure, without the need for additional investment in expensive hardware.
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