Panduit Corp. Chooses Axis Network Cameras for Unified Operations Center

By Jacqueline Lee
Contributing Writer

Panduit Corp. built new headquarters just outside of Chicago in 2010. To converge core business systems including communications, power and security, Panduit decided to install pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras at its seven manufacturing and warehousing sites in the U.S.

Through sales partner IPVision, Axis Communications delivered a single Unified Operations Center (UOC) solution for Panduit. The company’s two Security and Network Operations Centers were combined into one facility.

Operations at Panduit’s seven sites are monitored at the UOC. The cameras provide intelligent video modeling for perimeter security. For example, if an object of a certain size crosses a virtual property perimeter line, Axis (News - Alert) cameras track the object, alert security staff and send a video stream to HQ.

In addition to providing intelligent perimeter security, staff members use the cameras to monitor potential crisis situations remotely. Video is archived onsite, but each facility is monitored centrally. That way, staff can monitor potentially harmless situations, such as an employee who leaves a door open for too long, instead of alerting on-site personnel and disrupting operations.

“Instead of sending security staff to physically investigate every alarm, we use the video cameras to remotely monitor the situation and then investigate the triggering event if necessary,” explained Jeff Woodward, Panduit’s senior manager of Global EHS and Security. Labor savings, according to Woodward, could generate a 16 percent ROI on the cameras.

Axis cameras work at a minimum temperature of -40 F and a maximum temperature of 150 F thanks to Dotworkz dome enclosures. This temperature range enables camera applications both indoors as well as outdoors in the harshest environmental conditions. This way, Panduit can use a unified camera system no matter where its peripheral sites are located.

Additionally, the Dotworkz enclosure reduces the AC voltage entering the devices to between 25 and 30 watts.

“Panduit runs fiber to the edge of the buildings to avoid electro-magnetic interference and protect against lightening strikes,” explained Ben Green of IPVision. “The Dotworkz enclosures allow us to install a media converter between the fiber cable and the Ethernet cable we use to power the Axis cameras.”

“We want to maintain an open and welcoming atmosphere on our first floor, but we also want to make sure people are staying within our security policies,” concluded Woodward.

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Edited by Brooke Neuman