During the darkest months of the year, CCTV manufacturer Raytec plan to launch a spectrum of lighting products designed specifically for the CCTV market.
The firm reports that installers and systems integrators will have access to a range of Infra-Red and White-Light illumination systems, from a single manufacturer.
Shaun Cutler, Raytecโs MD, says: โLighting is fundamental to CCTV, yet is often specified and installed by non-CCTV professionals. Not only are we jeopardising the performance of the CCTV system we are allowing the revenue from lighting to go to another industry whose products are simply not designed for CCTV applications.โ
About the firm
Based in North-East England, Raytec are a manufacturer in the CCTV and the ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) markets. The company also plans to manufacture a range of number plate capture (ANPR) cameras and stand-alone LED illuminators designed specifically for use in ANPR systems.
Raytec add that they believe that lighting can play a more central role in the pro-active prevention of crime. In 2006 Raytec will launch the first of a range of Illumination Deterrent System (IDS) products that will use a flashed visible light to deter intruders and prevent crime. The mindset that a "flashed light" indicates that a criminal is being monitored, has been established by the proliferation of "flashed" speed cameras throughout the UK and many parts of Europe, according to the firm.
People
Shaun Cutler, Managing Director, is joined by David Lambert, who is responsible for marketing and building the Raytec brand internationally, and Tony Whiting, who will head the operations and finance element of the business. Shaun Cutler adds, "I am delighted with the experience and drive of our team and look forward to bringing fresh concepts and ideas to the market, whilst ensuring we remain customer focussed at all times. As an experienced team who have worked together for a long time we are relishing the chance to make a difference to our customers and the market.โ
The directors of Raytec point to having won industry awards for product design, market development and export performance. They have helped provide CCTV systems to protect royal palaces in Belgium, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, a number of embassy buildings internationally and multiple public space surveillance projects, including town centre schemes and out of town shopping.
In the ITS market the directors have helped design the lighting requirements for Londonโs Congestion Charging System, Germany and Austriaโs Truck Tolling Systems, and various border control systems. David Lambert says: โThe directors have a track record of selling equipment internationally through Europe, North America and the Middle East to Senegal, South Korea and New Caledonia, and we are looking forward to establishing an international network for Raytecโs products.โ
Products
With their RayMAX and RayLUX illuminators, each unit will be fitted with SMT (surface mount technology) LEDs operated with a Cool Running thermal management system. Each unit is covered by a five-year warranty. According to the manufacturers, lighting is a requirement of any 24-hour CCTV system and Infra-Red is an industry standard: town centres, schools, hospitals, airports and the military all use Infra-Red specified by CCTV professionals. However, while Infra-Red is seen as the responsibility of the CCTV professional, White-Light is typically the responsibility of the electrical contractor. It is here that Raytec intends to shake up the market, the firm says. Shaun says: "As light pollution becomes an increasingly hot political issue, well designed, well directed lighting will become increasingly important: It will no longer be acceptable to simply flood an area with light and trust that the target will be illuminated. The target must be precisely illuminated in an evenly distributed light. We believe that any lighting used for surveillance, even if it is also used by pedestrians, is the responsibility of the CCTV professional.โ
Adaptive illumination
When specifying illumination one of the difficulties facing installers is matching the angle and power of the illumination to the camera and lens prior to installation, according to the firm. Traditionally Infra-Red lamps are provided with a fixed angle of illumination that should be calculated prior to the installation and matched to the Field of View on the camera. However, the firm adds, Adaptive Illumination allows the installer to set the angle of illumination anywhere from 20 to 60 degrees on each product and allows more flexibility to provide tailored lighting to the target area.
