Interview with Johan Park, Managing Director for Samsung Techwin Europe

Samsung has recently bolstered its IP and network product range with the introduction of Full HD megapixel network cameras and is on its way to
become a total solution provider for ­security. Some weeks ago Johan Park was appointed Managing Director of Samsung Techwin Europe the company responsible for promoting and supporting Samsung professional and consumer security equipment and solutions across Europe, Russia and CIS. GIT-SECURITY.com interviewed Johan Park about Samsung's plans for the security business.

Mr. Park, you are already familiar with the European market through your recent positions at Samsung. What was your role within Samsung before you were appointed Managing Director for Samsung Techwin Europe?

J. Park: I have worked for the Samsung Group for 24 years. I was previously Chief Financial Officer of the Group's Security Solutions Division with special responsibility for operational management issues, personnel and the implementation of work processes and systems. My understanding of the European market has been acquired whilst carrying out a number of senior roles for the Samsung Group, including six years as a Director of Samsung Electronics Nordic division, during which I was based in Sweden.

How do you see Samsung's position in the European security market?

J. Park: Samsung Techwin has been acknowledged by independent research companies as one of the top three European security brands. However, until recently our strength has predominantly been in the analogue marketplace where we are clear leaders across Europe. Whilst we have been enjoying this leading position, our R&D teams have been developing our IP range over the past two or three years in line with the industry trend towards IP based systems. We now have a very comprehensive range of IP devices from cameras to recorders and I am confident that we will achieve a significant market share of the growing IP market during 2012 and beyond. Our ability to integrate products together from various technologies and the upgrade path we offer customers from analogue to IP are key strengths that customers really value.

You have added access control products to Samsung's security product range recently. What has been achieved on your way to offer security solutions beyond video surveillance?

J. Park: Our Access Control range is proving to be a valuable and successful addition to our product portfolio. It allows us to compete for projects which have up to 128,000 doors with a choice of reader technologies which encompass fingerprint recognition, proximity and smart card & PIN, as well as time and attendance options. Equally important, it equips us with the ability to offer a fully integrated solution. For example, a Samsung Access Control solution can be fully integrated with Samsung's SRD DVRs and selected SRN NVRs, allowing users to achieve maximum advantage from their investment in a security system by ensuring that access control events and alarms can be reliably synchronised with relevant video. This type of integration is very easy for installers and system integrators to achieve, and being Samsung, is fully future proof and scalable.

In the past Samsung has grown its market share for analog video products significantly in a quite short period of time. Do you expect to grow your business with the new IP products at the same speed?

J. Park: Samsung has developed its IP and network range to the extent that it now rivals the breadth of its analogue product range. Until recently, Video over IP was perhaps only perceived as a solution for large projects, but Samsung are increasingly seeing the technology utilised in small to medium sized installations also. In a tough economic environment, customers are looking for maximum benefit from their investment in security. Samsung believes that IP network based systems can now provide installer and system integrators with an excellent opportunity to generate new business, whilst offering clients substantial cost and operational benefits compared to traditional analogue based solutions. The answer to your question is therefore definitely ‘Yes' in that we are looking to achieve substantial growth in the sale of products in our IP and network solutions portfolio with the continuing support of our loyal pan-European customer base. The key to our success is however, allowing customers to choose the best solution for their specific application or environment. Our product catalogue now provides customers with a choice that includes a comprehensive and competitively priced range of analogue cameras, DVRs and monitors, a complete end-to-end IP solutions range, license-free viewing and recording software, and an impressive line-up of high definition megapixel cameras. ‘Hybrid' options include encoders, which provide a cost effective and easy to implement method of adding analogue cameras to an IP/network based video surveillance system, and HD-SDI cameras which allow the transmission of uncompressed and non-packetized Full HD (1080P) video over analogue cabling. We also have an ongoing programme to integrate with leading ISVs (Independent Software Vendors),that offer ‘open' software specifically designed to facilitate the integration of equipment and systems from different manufacturers. This is to further provide customers with the flexibility to choose the perfect combination of security products to match their specific requirements.

Samsung's focus has been on cameras in the past. What role does the new series of new network video recorders play, you will launch now?

J. Park: It is true to say that in the past Samsung Techwin's professional security division was only really known for its analogue cameras. Our product portfolio has, however, changed dramatically over the last three years with over two hundred new products being launched, including HD megapixel cameras, domes and NVRs. Collectively, they provide installers, system integrators, specifiers and end-users with the flexibility to specify the best combination of products for the job in hand. Our NVRs will, I believe, play a major role in our success over the coming months. Using H.264 compression, they give customers the choice to record images in real-time at a variety of resolutions and can therefore be configured to minimise storage requirements and bandwidth consumption. Our recently launched four channel SRN-470D and sixteen channel SRN-1670D NVRs will prove to be extremely popular amongst installers and users as they have been designed to have the look and familiarity of a DVR, whilst delivering all the benefits of an NVR and for larger solutions. we have recently updated our Net-i Ware network recording software to be able to manage the video streams from a large number of HD megapixel cameras.

You have announced the introduction of new pre and post sales initiatives. What can we expect from Samsung in 2012?

J. Park: Our efforts during 2012 will be based on a philosophy of delivering Smarter Security. Producing ‘Best of Class' products and solutions is of course not in itself a guarantee of success. We also need to add to the exceptional value that our products offer by delivering the highest levels of pre and post sales support. Training is at the heart of a range of our support services which also includes free system design, free technical support and a full three-year warranty. During 2012 Samsung will be running IP network solutions training courses for installers and system integrators and on our stand at exhibitions, such as IFSEC, we will have hands-on workshop areas to give sales professionals and technicians the confidence to recommend, design and install integrated IP network based access control and video surveillance systems.