Fit for James Bond
October 12, 2006
At "Security 2006," watch where you step. If you tread on one doormat, you'll be met with a high-decibel greeting meant to scare intruders away.
The screaming mat is one of many new devices on view at the trade show ending Friday in Essen that aim to prevent theft or espionage -- corporate or otherwise -- or meet even more serious threats, such as those posed by terrorism.
At a stand run by technology firm Simons and Voss, several entry doors have been set up side-by-side. They are meant to illustrate the company's new digital lock system, called "Transponder." The small coin-sized mechanism can open -- and lock again -- dozens of doors, cabinets and gates which have been programmed to respond to it, meaning the days of the heavy keychain might be numbered.
The device can also be programmed to read biometric data from an individual, meaning only he or she can operate it and only open certain locks.
"Let's imagine we have a large building housing several companies," said Lars Gneisse, Simons and Voss's product manager, who stepped into a virtual elevator with a reporter. "We can program the device so that workers at a company only have access to the floors they work on."
Meeting terrorism threats
In another hall at the show, there is a Jeep with bullet-ridden windows and an exterior body that has been nearly shredded. It is a vehicle make of armored steel designed to withstand a bomb and which could prove a life-saver for aid workers or military personnel in crisis regions.
European Logistics Partners, a company based in the city of Wuppertal, is showing off a scanner that can detect explosives in hand luggage and dangerous liquid substances, such as the type that played a role in the recent terrorism plot uncovered in London to blow up trans-Atlantic flights.
The company is also featuring a remote-controlled robot, already in use, that can defuse bombs in busses, trains or planes.
Bells, whistles and booms
Visitors to the fair weren't bored, especially since a vast open space was set aside for demonstrations of fire accelerants, explosives and other devices. One group presented its concept for a skyscraper designed to withstand the impact of an airplane.
The fair, which began on Oct. 10, recorded a record number of first-day visitors and organizers expect some 40,000 by the time the fair ends on Oct. 13. In the age of growing concerns about terrorism, German security firms are making healthy profits. Last year, the sector recorded profits of 9.6 billion euros ($12 billion). For 2006, industry watchers say that number could surpass 10 billion euros.