Protecting Valuable Items from Theft, Fire, and Unauthorized Access
Gunnebo has a wide range of products in its portfolio designed to protect valuable items from fire, theft, and damage. They are constantly being developed to address new threats and are used in many different economic sectors around the world. Emmanuel Harir-Forouch, Product Line Manager at Gunnebo Safe Storage, discussed this with GIT SECURITY.
GIT SECURITY: Mr. Harir-Forouch, for those who are not familiar with your company, could you please give a brief introduction?
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: Gunnebo Safe Storage is a global leader in secure storage solutions, offering high-quality safes, vaults, and security cabinets from leading brands designed to protect valuables, cash, and sensitive documents. Among the brands is Chubbsafes, a company celebrating its 190th anniversary this year. Gunnebo Safe Storage has a long tradition of security innovation and provides customized solutions that meet the highest industry standards. Our expertise has evolved and expanded globally to include sustainable ATM safes, fireproof cabinets, as well as vault doors and rooms that combine technology with durable craftsmanship. Gunnebo Safe Storage focuses on reliability and customer-oriented design, offering tested and certified solutions to protect assets from theft, fire, and unauthorized access.
Could you share some insights into your professional background in the industry and your current role?
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: I have over two decades of experience in global business and product development. In my role at Gunnebo I am responsible for technical development and innovative responses to the need for security solutions. This applies strategically to the regions of EMEA, APAC, and North and South America. Since joining Gunnebo in 2002, I have played a crucial role in the development of secure storage solutions. As the product line manager for SafeStore Auto, I have driven innovations in automatic, electronic, and mechanical vault systems. My expertise also extends to vault solutions and business expansion strategies. Previously, I served as sales director for the banking division. In the industry, I was president of Eurosafe and am currently president of the French manufacturers' association Syfraco.
Can you describe your product and solution categories at Gunnebo Safe Storage: your high-security solutions, locks, safes, and cabinets, as well as software?
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: Security is not a one-size-fits-all matter. Every company has its own challenges, whether it is protecting cash, valuables, assets, or sensitive documents. Therefore, we work closely with our customers to develop high-security solutions that offer the right balance between protection, convenience, compliance, and innovation. For banks and financial institutions, security is about creating seamless, automated experiences for customers while ensuring that assets remain protected. Our safes and lockers are designed to provide secure yet accessible storage and include state-of-the-art automation and electronic locking systems. Retailers and businesses handling cash need solutions that not only protect valuables but also streamline daily operations. Our deposit safes and intelligent storage systems help prevent the increasing threat of theft while ensuring efficient cash flow management. In addition to physical security, we recognize the growing demand for digital integration. Our software solutions enable businesses to monitor and control access remotely, ensuring they always have security in view.
Which sectors and industries do your primary customers operate in?
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: Gunnebo Safe Storage serves a wide range of industries, each with different security and operational requirements. In the banking sector, for example, we help protect cash, valuables, and sensitive documents while ensuring compliance with strict regulations. Retailers, from luxury brands to retail chains, rely on our expertise to protect their assets, especially given the increasing threat of burglaries. The pharmaceutical industry demands secure storage for controlled substances, medical research, and intellectual property, requiring solutions that meet stringent security and compliance requirements. Defense organizations trust us to secure classified information, critical infrastructure, and high-risk materials. Additionally, we work with companies of all sizes, from agile start-ups to large enterprises with multiple locations, developing customized strategies that adapt to changing security needs. Instead of imposing predefined products, we listen, assess challenges, and develop future-proof, sustainable solutions that enhance protection, efficiency, and compliance. The key to every industry lies in collaborative partnerships from the initial design phase, allowing us to understand and address the main concerns of our customers. This ensures that we develop the right solution that is both scalable and future-proof to meet evolving requirements.
The future lies in intelligent security integration, where digital access, biometric authentication, and real-time monitoring ensure seamless, high-security operations.
What fuels the innovation and development at Gunnebo Safe Storage?
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: Customer needs are the driving force behind our innovation. As security requirements evolve, businesses need solutions that provide high protection while ensuring efficiency, convenience, and digital integration. Financial institutions increasingly seek automated, self-service safes that provide secure access without staff involvement. Retailers need intelligent safes that not only protect cash and assets but also optimize cash flow and reduce handling risks from internal and external threats. The demand for connected security has also led us to develop software solutions that enable real-time monitoring, remote access control, and seamless system integration. By staying close to our customers and understanding their challenges from the specification stage, we can develop tailored security solutions that evolve with the needs of modern businesses. The Module Guard vault doors and rooms are a prime example, offering enhanced security with BRE certification and FRE classification, as well as ballistic resistance against attacks. The doors and panels are classified according to EN 1522 and have an FB2 rating for ballistic resistance, designed to withstand shots from a 9mm pistol.
How do you collaborate with customers and partners in developing new solutions?
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: Collaboration with customers and partners is key to developing solutions that meet the highest standards and regulatory requirements. Security is not just about protection but also about ensuring that businesses comply with stringent industry guidelines while maintaining efficiency and user-friendliness. We work closely with our customer partners to ensure that our products meet global and regional regulations, from EN 1143-1 certification for safes and vaults to data protection laws for digital access solutions. Regular feedback sessions, audits, and pilot programs allow us to adapt our solutions to evolving regulatory and operational requirements. Through partnerships with industry associations and technology providers, we can integrate the latest security developments while ensuring compliance with regulations. Thanks to this proactive approach, our customers can rely on their security solutions to be not only innovative and robust but also fully compliant with the legal frameworks applicable to their industry.
How do you envision the future of high-security solutions such as vault rooms, vault doors, and locker systems?
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: The future lies in intelligent security integration, where digital access, biometric authentication, and real-time monitoring ensure seamless, high-security operations. As cyber and physical threats become more sophisticated, hybrid security solutions—combining physical protection and security with AI-driven surveillance and cloud-based access control—will define the next generation of vault rooms and vaults. You can have the most sophisticated, internet-enabled biometric scanning system in the world, but if the core is poorly constructed and of low quality, security will be quickly breached. The industry will continue to develop innovative solutions to stay ahead of all risks while ensuring that security remains user-friendly and efficient.
Please tell us about your current key projects...
Emmanuel Harir-Forouch: Many of Gunnebo Safe Storage's projects are confidential for security reasons, but two notable collaborations highlight our expertise in secure storage solutions. One significant project is the collaboration with Svensk Värdeförvaring, the first bank-independent provider of locker services in the Nordic countries. Svensk Värdeförvaring has taken over the banks' infrastructure and implemented Gunnebo's Safe Control software, electronic 2000C lockers, and card readers in Stockholm and Gothenburg, with an expansion planned in Malmö. This ensures a seamless transition for customers while promoting sustainability. Another major project involves private vault rooms for safes in Dubai's City Walk, where Gunnebo Safe Storage, in collaboration with Axon, has installed the SafeStore Auto and an electronic locker system. The system is available 24/7 and combines security with convenience. Both projects demonstrate Gunnebo's commitment to innovation, long-term partnerships, and future-proof security solutions tailored to evolving customer needs.
