HAVING recently secured a number of contracts in the region including a major deal to provide an integrated security solution for the Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, Gallagher Security is confident of making further inroads into the Middle East market.

Towards this end, the New Zealand-based company has been exerting efforts to strengthen its partnerships in the region. Developing strong channel partner relationships in the Middle East is the key to securing contracts in the region and exploring further opportunities, says Curtis Edgecombe, general manager, Gallagher Security.

Earlier this year, Edgecombe spent time in the Middle East to attend the Intersec trade fair and conference where representatives from Gallagher’s access and perimeter security business development team were on site to support channel partner, Cardax Middle East.

Edgecombe says making a commitment to spend time in the market provides a valuable opportunity to discuss security strategies directly with existing and potential channel partners. He adds it also helps build strong partnerships in the market.

“Gallagher is establishing a reputation globally as a market leader of proven core security, access control and perimeter security systems. This is enhanced by our professional network of distributors in the region including Cardax Middle East,” he says.

He continues: “We are encouraged by the number of direct enquiries about Gallagher’s access control and perimeter security solutions. We’re confident the interest shown in Gallagher’s security systems is the result of high-profile successes in the Middle East.”

The contract for the Etihad Towers includes the provision of more than 1,300 Smartcard readers in five towers ranging from 59 to 88 storeys, coupled with elevator and CCTV integration. This apart, Gallagher has also been installing hundreds of special security doors at airports in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Intersec trade fair and conference held in Dubai last February was attended by 800 exhibitors and over 22,000 trade visitors and delegates. “The success of the trade show and recent contracts also provides renewed confidence in the opportunities for Gallagher this financial year, which despite the economic turmoil, is averaging 20 per cent growth per annum,” he says.

Edgecombe says his company has an ongoing commitment to research and development. “R&D plays a major role in the growth of the organisation. This commitment has been acknowledged by the New Zealand government’s decision to allocate a technology development grant worth $7.2 million over three years to the company. Our significant investment in R&D ensures we win a competitive advantage in the access control, perimeter security and animal management systems market and this is proven by over 160 patents worldwide.”

Gallagher Security is a division of the privately-owned, New Zealand-based Gallagher Group, the highly successful exporter of animal management, access control and perimeter security systems.

Established in 1936, Gallagher is one of the largest and most successful private companies in the Waikato region, employing 650 people in New Zealand, another 400 globally and annual sales of NZ$180 million ($156.7 million).

Gallagher Security, a world leader in security systems, manages the security needs of businesses, municipalities, governments, and a variety of institutions in the US, Europe, Asia, and throughout the Southern Hemisphere. It leverages the cutting-edge R&D and manufacturing capabilities of its parent company, the Gallagher Group, to bring to market its award-winning systems, the access control and intruder alarms platform and electric non-lethal perimeter security systems.

Gallagher’s in-house R&D capability rests on its team’s detailed knowledge of security requirements, data encryption, high-security applications, networking and communications, integratable systems, and industrial design. The R&D team’s skilled members include hardware and software engineers, testers, project managers, business analysts, and technical writers.

Worldwide, Gallagher has a reputation for supplying state-of-the-art, reliable solutions to address one of the most significant issues facing organisations large and small – security. The company provides premium integrated security solutions to a wide range of customers globally. It designs and manufactures Cardax electronic access control and intruder alarms systems and PowerFence perimeter security systems.