With Alexis Du, Marketing Manager, Optex Inc.

What does your company do? What services, or products, do you provide?

OPTEX is the world leader in sensing innovation, specializing in security sensing solutions utilizing laser, passive and active infrared detection technology, including a variety of hardwired and wireless outdoor and indoor products. OPTEX perimeter security solutions are respected globally with applications deployed at some of the world’s most critical security sites.

While sensors are often associated with security devices, OPTEX is much more than a provider of crime prevention systems. In fact, we see our role in the broadest possible terms and are dedicated to developing sensing technologies that provide increased safety, security and comfort in an ever-expanding range of fields.

This approach has allowed us to pioneer concepts and applications that have made us a leader in a wide variety of business fields. Our goal is not to respond to change but to identify new markets and channel emerging trends in a positive direction. 

How long has your company been in the physical security market?

The OPTEX Group was founded in 1979, with over 40 years of experience and more than 25 companies in our global portfolio. We have continuously innovated sensing solutions to create a safe, secure, and comfortable society. We look at the rapidly shifting challenges faced by companies and individuals daily and use our unique expertise to pioneer user-friendly solutions. In this process, our focus is always on uncovering the fundamental issues underlying a problem, allowing us to develop real and long-term answers. 

Why did you join ONVIF and how long has your company been a member?

OPTEX has been a member of ONVIF since July 2019. As OPTEX IP detection sensors, such as our REDSCAN Pro LiDAR series, are implemented in more and more complex network security systems, it was important for us to utilize standard communication protocols over proprietary ones. The integration of our IP sensors with security systems is much easier with ONVIF, while providing flexibility to our customers, as they are not limited to one specific system.

To which specific profiles do your company’s products conform, and why is that beneficial to your business?

OPTEX offers a variety of products that conform to ONVIF Profile S. This standard communication protocol enables our IP sensor products to be configured with flexibility by allowing video streaming and alarm transmission with the assistance of cameras found within the IP product units, and enables video analytics to be streamed back to the Video Management System (VMS) for maintenance checks, assistance during set-up, or as a way of verifying alarms.

What does it mean to you to be a member of ONVIF and what kinds of business impacts have you seen as a result?

Being a member of ONVIF allows OPTEX security solutions to integrate with other industry standard systems and offer interoperability for our partners and clients, allowing our products to effectively grow across the industry. For our REDSCAN Pro LiDAR Detector Series specifically, ONVIF allows the built-in camera within OPTEX products to communicate directly with recorders and VMS platforms, allowing us to harness the power of the complementary technologies offered by our integration partners to achieve the most effective security system.

Are there any specific benefits membership brings to your business?

As OPTEX expands our presence with products deployed in some of the world’s most critical security sites, it is important for us to utilize the standard communication protocols that ONVIF offers to be able to communicate with our industry partners on a broad open-source interface, and in turn, present our customers the flexibility and ease of use that they have come to expect from the solutions we offer.