After installing security systems for the Marshall Group of Companies for almost two decades, installer Guardian Security and Communications Ltd, was invited to tender for an upgrade and for the provision of systems to serve a new Forward Base Operations and Maintenance Repair Operations complex for corporate jets.
After analysing the requirements of this complex project – which involves widely separated multiple sites – the company decided that the versatility and comprehensive functionality of the Bewator Granta 5 access control system from Siemens Building Technologies Security Systems made it an ideal choice for the application.
The Marshall Group of Companies comprises Marshall Aerospace, Marshall Specialist Vehicles, Marshall Motor Group and Cambridge City Airport – a regional airport, serving East Anglia. The security systems cover the main sites at Cambridge and satellite sites such as the one at Mildenhall, 15 miles away. Each site has many buildings and, in total, the security system was initially required to serve a total of 60 doors.
Capacity for further expansion, including addition of extra sites, was essential, as was the option to provide integration with the company’s CCTV system in the future. It was also vital that any new system would be able to interface with existing card readers, and that it would be compatible with the 2,500 cards in use.
Brian Hodges at Guardian said: "We had no doubt at all that the Bewator Granta 5 was the best solution. Granta is highly expandable, it provides easy integration of both access control and CCTV functions, and its TCP/IP support means that it is easy to set up network connections with remote sites. The Granta system can accommodate most types of card readers and cards, which meant that we could make effective use of legacy equipment. Finally, but just as important in this project as in any other, Granta is very affordable and it offers outstanding value for money."
Having won this contract on the basis of using Granta, Guardian Security and Communications was pleased to find the installation and commissioning to be straightforward, despite the added complexity of setting up the 15-mile long TCP/IP Ethernet link to the Mildenhall satellite site.
Because of its foundation of SQL database technology, and its track record in large high-security applications, the Granta installation was also able to satisfy the Ministry of Defence that it would meet its especially demanding security requirements for the military areas of the various sites.
The new system is delivering a whole range of important benefits to the end user, The Marshall Group. "The system’s biggest benefit is undoubtedly ease of use," said Tom Richards, Chief Security Officer for the Group. "Once you’ve understood the basics – and that’s certainly not complicated – it’s a simple process to create access groups, create and amend records and to interrogate the system."
Tom Richards also commented on the product insight provided by Siemens Building Technologies Security Products at its headquarters in South Wales, which allowed him to see at first hand the strength and resources behind the brand. Added to this reassurance was the training provided by Guardian, as well as ongoing system support.
"On the very few occasions when it has proved necessary to call on support services to resolve highly complex and sensitive security network issues, Guardian and Siemens staff have invariably proved knowledgeable and helpful. Both organisations have worked well together as partners to provide us with a speedy solution.
"The Granta system has fully lived up to our expectations, and has proved to be an excellent tool in the ‘security in depth’ approach that the Marshall Group adopts. When there are new build and refurbishment programmes on site, security aspects are always high on the agenda, with the specific details of access control being particularly important.
"Our current preferred solution," he continued, "which is to extend the networked Granta system rather than rely on standalone systems, is proving very successful, dependable and cost-effective. In summary, we’re delighted with the current performance of our Bewator Granta installation, and its expandability means that we are confident that it will go on serving our requirements well into the future."
