Mobile Smart Track CCTV camera system delivers effective security at Morrisons Distribution Centre

(22/10/2009)

Morrisons is the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain. In order to service a large number of its new stores it has recently opened a new 1 million sq ft (92,900 sq m) Distribution Centre at G Park in Sittingbourne, Kent, close to the M2 motorway. Distribution warehouses can be difficult environments for achieving effective security with high storage racking and multiple loading bays, and a warehouse of this size employing around 1000 staff presented a significant challenge for both security and health and safety issues.

The use of CCTV plays an important part in supporting the role of the security department, as well as providing critical evidential footage when investigating accidents or potential breaches of health and safety procedures in the warehouse. Morrisons recognised that deploying a traditional CCTV system along with the necessary infrastructure to provide effective coverage of such a large site would prove cost prohibitive and unwieldy to manage.

They turned to security providers Intrepid Security for a solution. Intrepid already has a well established reputation in the logistics sector with a number of major retailers for providing a fit for purpose, reliable and cost effective CCTV system through its mobile Smart Track technology.

Developed by SentryVision® in the United States, SmartTrack is the only travelling camera system offering the option of both one and two pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera carriages that travel along a ceiling or wall mounted aluminum rail. The SmartTrack camera system is particularly suited for the distribution warehouse environment and provides excellent coverage of large areas because it offers unobstructed, continuous tracking of people and events, with a capability to provide flexible coverage of picking aisles and loading bays. With a camera range of up to 200 metres, a single track can achieve what would otherwise require a large number of fixed or independent positioned PTZs.

SmartTrack also offers software features including programmable inputs to direct the camera to respond to open doors, as well as other vulnerable areas linked to motion detectors, or burglar and fire alarms. Some users have also employed SmartTrack to monitor areas where staff work alongside potentially dangerous machinery to ensure there is compliance with on-site safety rules. The versatile system can be programmed with up to six automatic tours and 60 carriage presets per tour. There is an added bonus in that because of its unique opaque housing, the coverage and flexibility achieved when employing SmartTrack can save the cost of installing temporary covert cameras for later identified problem areas.

SmartTrack operates either as a stand alone system or integrated with other CCTV products including conventional PTZ and fixed cameras. Sentry software engineers have built interfaces to integrate SmartTrack with most of the world's leading CCTV brands and it can be operated using a conventional CCTV joy stick console or a wireless PDA and can be monitored remotely over the internet.

Alison Hudson, Head of Security at Morrisons says “Sittingbourne is our largest distribution centre to date and required a different approach to that in our existing sites. Such a large site was always going to be difficult for CCTV coverage but with the track camera solution we have been able to overcome this problem and we are particularly pleased with the quality of the system and its versatility. The SmartTrack CCTV technology has enabled us to implement our preferred security arrangements at a significant cost saving to a conventional system.”

Noel Verbruggen, Managing Director of Intrepid Security said, “Our customers have found that SmartTrack simplifies their CCTV requirements in warehouse environments which are often difficult for traditional systems to achieve without installing significant numbers of independent CCTV cameras and all the extras of wiring, mountings and multiple monitors. We have been installing SmartTrack systems for a number of years and its flexibility and reliability is well established. The system features provide a range of benefits that are especially useful in warehouses and larger store formats. We are delighted to welcome Morrisons to our list of valued customers.”

Morrisons joins ASDA, Sainsbury, Tesco and Boots amongst others in acknowledging that the SmartTrack solution delivers better functionality and value for money than conventional CCTV systems when equipping large format stores or warehouses.

Related topics:  CCTV cameras and domes   CCTV system and accessories   Monitoring systems 

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