Wallonia 007

Just imagine if James Bond had been Walloon! No, maybe not … but where does the famous secret agent stock up on that arsenal of gadgets? You never know, maybe the one-man-band of security devices discretely hops over the Channel on a shopping spree, as suppliers in Wallonia are reputed as the best in the industry. In fact, Walloon control and security companies design, produce and export technological masterpieces. But don’t expect James to disclose his sources – it’s classified information my dear!

Nestling among the green and peaceful valleys of Wallonia are a large number of companies active in the fields of control and security. Again, contrary to appearances, this sector does not only supply security guards or airport security control equipment, but covers a broad spectrum of increasingly sophisticated products that we use in our day to day lives, or at least that we would use if we were James. Encryption for the sending and receiving of confidential documents via all means of transmission, including electronic mail, or undetectable investigation equipment are effectively reserved for the exclusive use of the government intelligence services and institutions.

Preventing accidents thanks to new control methods

More commonly, Walloon companies supply many countries with road traffic control equipment for use in cities and along the main highways. These products are earmarked for the highway departments and motorway operators, public transport companies (underground, tram, bus) as well as the local authorities. They develop and manufacture microwave detectors, otherwise known as “radars”, that make it possible to count and measure persons and vehicles, their speed and to classify them according to their length.

These radars are mainly used in intelligent road traffic management systems and for the opening of automatic doors.

But control and security also have domestic outlets in sectors such as the food, metal and steel, petrochemical and environmental industries or the tertiary sector. This is the case for gas detection equipment. These devices ensure the security of goods, persons and the environment against risks linked to the presence of gas in the ambient air. Other examples of industrial applications include the treatment and control of odours through the spraying of products based on essential oils, the control of the waterproofness of sealed packages by analysing them under a modified atmosphere or the detection and recording of an interruption to the cold chain.

Security of goods and persons

With its strategic geographical situation, Wallonia has made significant investments in the sector of transport and logistics. It today offers many logistical sites to international companies who wish to cover a broad expanse of the European market. The sector, organised into a competitiveness cluster, has been able to combine fundamental and applied research in order to create a more intelligent circulation of goods. It is therefore not surprising to see many component manufacturers working on behalf of this emerging sector. A software package for the automatic management and operation of warehouses has been published, for example, targeting most production and processing industries, as well as the distribution, transport and third party storage sector. Radiofrequency is used in traceability, control and automation applications.

Along the same lines, other companies develop specific modules intended for the management of entirely automated warehouses (Warehouse Control System) and for the management of flows in the metal and steel industries (management of materials, coils, slabs, etc.).

Another good example is a company that proposes efficient handling and sorting solutions for bulk materials earmarked for various production and processing industries, such as metal and steel, quarries and cement works, the agri food industry, sorting centres, etc.

Alarm systems

Video surveillance today benefits from the technical progress made in the processing of digital language and its transmission. Walloon companies have picked up on their benefits and have managed to integrate them into their offerings. As a result, they can offer individuals and companies cutting-edge video surveillance systems equipped with high resolution cameras allowing a consultation of the cameras and of the recordings remotely via Internet, intranet and mobile telephone. Others are making a name for themselves as experts in the field of video analysis, by combining image sensors with intelligent computers.

Finally, Walloon companies have specialised in the production of flexible and innovative home automation systems in the field of security lighting and signals. Developments include new technologies and new products using luminous LED or phosphorus sources.

Another up-and-coming sector is the development of alert systems for the prevention, protection and animation of works of art when on public display (Close detection of artworks). Internationally reputed, the “electromagnetic cocoon” concept creates an invisible aura around the artwork to be protected.

Access control and geo localisation equipment

But let’s get back to our friend James who, during his next mission, could be stumped by the fingerprint-based access control systems. That will wipe the smile off his face! A unique and patented, “made in Wallonia” security device that works thanks to internal fingerprinting is already on the market! This intelligent sensor makes it possible to ensure a perfectly viable, easy, practical and high security recognition of the person to be identified. It gets around the problem of damaging external interference on the surface of the skin and takes into consideration the continuous evolution of fingerprinting. Excellent news as well for Jimmy and the absent minded people who have a habit of losing their keys, badges and remote controls. The fields of application are in fact vaster than you may think. It can be used as an anticarjacking device for vehicles, to protect civil engineering equipment, boats and trailers or as access control to private and company buildings, at the same time monitoring movements and the entry and exit times of individuals. Which takes us neatly on to geo localisation. As it is possible to follow the movements of vehicles or persons with Walloon equipment. Devices make it possible to transmit information relating to their position (and, eventually, other additional parameters) towards a server centre on which the data are archived.

The market basics

We should not forget however the more traditional equipment, which is also manufactured and widely exported by Walloon companies, such as the different models of automatic gates (anti fraud), rapid opening doors or one-way doors, tripod turnstiles, gates for persons with a reduced mobility or very rapid or rising opening barriers, full-height turnstiles, etc.

Fireproof, vandal-proof, bullet-proof, sound-proof and explosion-proof metal doors are also manufactured in Wallonia.

As we have seen, the superior quality, the huge capacity for innovation, modern production methods and exclusive test equipment make Walloon companies solid partners in the field of control and security.