31 May 2019
Optex Celebrates 40th Anniversary – Interview with OPTEX CEO & President, Toru Kamimura
The OPTEX Group now comprises 1,963 employees across 35 companies delivering leading sensing products and services worldwide, turning over approximately €327 million. But how did it all begin? As we celebrate our 40th Anniversary we interview our CEO and President of OPTEX Japan, Toru Kamimura, about the history and the future of the company.
How did OPTEX’s journey begin?
Toru Kamimura: On the 25th May 1979, in a coffee house in Kyoto, the idea of OPTEX was born. Toru Kobayashi, an electronics engineer and three likeminded colleagues shared a vision for a new business that could contribute to the creation of a safe, secure and comfortable world using sensing technologies. The vision still remains today, and the idea is to solve challenges by using sensing technologies, it has led OPTEX to create solutions for niche applications.
Can you tell us about the culture of the business?
Toru Kamimura: Our people are at the centre of the business. OPTEX uses a locomotive analogy to explain its culture, but rather than the management driving the team, they actively encourage the team to drive the engine forward. It is a collaborative and entrepreneurial culture, and one that empowers every employee to have the same dreams as the original founders. The founder’s vision is about developing employees as individuals, to build their own skills and talents, and to make a positive contribution to the wider society.
What are the three key technological achievements you are most proud of?
Toru Kamimura: OPTEX’s most competitive advantage is our sensing algorithm know-how, which we have built up through many years of field-based technological development. This sensing algorithm know-how is central to our evolution and the base for the three key technologies which I would say OPTEX is most proud of: Far-Infrared, Near-Infrared and Laser sensor technologies.
What kind of impact do you think OPTEX has had in the world?
Toru Kamimura: Our sensors and sensing technologies are implemented in many industries to improve everyday lives, like our automatic door sensors. Many automatic door manufacturers are using our sensors and it wouldn’t be surprising that the door of the next shop, office, hotel, hospital or leisure centre you visit will be triggered and opened by one of our devices. On the security side, our outdoor sensors are keeping thousands of home and business owners safe from intruders. The last 10 years has seen significant growth in high security and critical infrastructure projects, protecting the perimeters of utilities, airports, distribution and data centres and government buildings.
What are the key goals for OPTEX in EMEA in the next three years?
Toru Kamimura: OPTEX Europe EMEA is the sales, marketing and technical support structure for the security products, while our office in the Netherlands is the HQ for the entrance business. On the security side, our key goals for the next three years are to carry on supporting our core business with distribution by providing more localised sales, technical and marketing, support throughout the region.
Developing the project business for higher security sites and critical infrastructure is another goal that requires working closely with the project teams of our distributors, as well with consultants and system integrators, providing support for site visits, system design and help with commissioning. We will strengthen our existing technical alliance partnerships, and developing new partnerships also remains a key focus for us in the next few years.
To provide the right solution to the end-users it is essential that different components of a security system not only talk to each other seamlessly but also that the integrity of the system cannot become compromised. This means ensuring that the performance of every device on the system is monitored and that the communication protocol is safe. We will carry on working closely with our VMS, PSIM and Camera Manufacturer partners to ensure this.
Is visual verification OPTEX’s next challenge?
Toru Kamimura: Our future is to carry on solving problems by using sensing technologies. Visual verification has a been an area of activity for years with its Redwall long range PIRs and LiDARs range to trigger CCTV cameras to create an event driven solution for security systems being either monitored locally or by RVR centres. We are now extending our offering by providing a number of additional products and solutions for visual verification. Two new solutions are being brought to the EMEA market. One solution combines camera and outdoor sensors to provide a self-monitored visual verification for residential premises whereas the other one provides a way to bring CCTV and intrusion system together in monitored residential or commercial sites where both were working separately.
What’s next for OPTEX?
Toru Kamimura: We never stand still. We are taking our knowledge and ‘know how’ to new levels, using machine-learning and artificial intelligence software to enhance detection algorithms and introduce greater automation, and create the sensor detection technology for the next generation of security professional.
Gates and full-height turnstiles can be a security weak point in perimeter fencing
Critical infrastructure, data centres and high security sites usually have a very secure perimeter, combining physical fencing or walls with additional electronic security perimeter protection which will detect people trying to cut though, climb over or go under the perimeter line. They require entry points, either through industrial gates or pedestrian access-only full-height turnstiles.
On numerous sites, turnstiles are placed between fence or wall panels with no additional physical or electronic security above them, giving the opportunity for intruders to use ladders to climb over them. For such cases, OPTEX’s LiDAR device can be added to the security system and create a virtual wall that will detect any attempt to go above the turnstile.
A similar security issue is the possibility for individuals to penetrate a security site when a sliding gate is open to let an authorised vehicle through. Our Redscan Laser scanners are perfectly suited and have been deployed across numerous sites for such applications. Used in vertical mode, the Redscan creates a virtual wall for the width of the gate and can be set to detect a certain size object so humans can be detected while vehicles are ignored for instance. It can also be set to detect any object coming through while the gate is in the process of opening or closing.
Tech Tip: How to ensure your Redscan is grade 3 compliant
OPTEX’s RLS-2020 LiDAR sensors are now compliant to TS 50131-2-11:2017 which means they can be added directly onto a Grade 3 intrusion detection system. RLS-2020I and S models have been designed to be Grade 3 indoor sensors with all the necessary built-in features. However, to ensure your security system is fully Grade 3 compliant, a number of features need to be tested and fully functional to guarantee the sensor will detect and send out an alarm in any of the following event.
Our tech team has prepared this check list on what to test:
- Masking detection - An IR transmitter LED and an IR receiver are located either side of the lens, pointing outwards. If the lens is covered or sprayed on, then the infrared beam light emitted by the transmitter will reflect onto the IR receiver and trigger the antimasking output.
- Sensor is removed from the mounted surface - The tamper switch located at the back of the RLS-2020 will detect when the sensor is removed from the wall or ceiling where it is mounted.
- Change in the orientation – The sensor has an accelerometer that can recognise rotation, so if turned to a different direction than the one it was originally oriented to, it will trigger the alarm.
- Tamper detection – If the front access window of the sensor is removed, the device will sense that there is an active attempt to compromise the device’s integrity.
- Resistance to access the inside of the device – There is one screw holding the RLS-2020 cover and window which needs to be in place and firmly attached.
- Low supply voltage – If power drops below its required operation power at 12V, the sensor will detect it and send out an alarm.
- Total loss of power supply – Similarly, if power is cut or lost, the sensor will send an alarm signal.
- Local self-test - The sensor can detect any malfunction and send a device monitoring (DM) code to raise an alarm.
