Midlands Entrepreneurs Launch Smart Entrance Technology Solution

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24 May 2021

Three Midlands entrepreneurs have joined together to launch a new venture – Strand Technologies – producing technology-based solutions for safety, security and control which can be used across a range of industries.

Managing multiple visiting guests or members of staff within a large building site has always been a challenge for FM teams.  But in the context of a global pandemic, it’s clear visitor management and the remote management of buildings is now even more important.

This led three Midlands-based business people to launch Strand Technologies, to spearhead a range of products that can be used to monitor and remotely control a variety of operating systems including automated pedestrian entrances, access control systems, industrial doors, gates and shutters as well as road signage and refrigeration.

Catherine Franks, Paul Ryan and Simon Bowden all run and manage businesses within the door hardware and automatic doors sector and have previously partnered on other projects.

Remote Monitoring, Control and Diagnostic Management

Catherine Franks is heading the company as Managing Director, overseeing day-to-day operations and aligning Strand Technologies entrance solutions market alongside her existing business, Strand Hardware.

Simon Bowden, who previously worked for GEZE UK, Record and GU Automatic Doors, has taken on the role of Commercial Director, managing sales and new product development, while RTR founder Paul Ryan, is Director for strategic support for business development.

The business, based in Walsall - the home of Strand Hardware, has iContact among its product range. This is a device that can be applied to any electro-mechanical operating system for remote monitoring, control and diagnostic management.

By connecting the black box to automatic doors, industrial gates, shutters and barriers, it uses real-time information to enable remote or on-site diagnostics and operations via a digital user platform.

iContact has a variety of application interfaces including a virtual engineer, safety reporting and diagnostics, Sentry for safeguarding public buildings, and WebTAG for commercial and domestic remote management of buildings.

Virtual Usher for Visitor Management 

Strand Technologies also has the Virtual Usher – a range of products to manage volume and footfall entering buildings using a traffic light management process with a user platform to control occupancy rates.

Franks commented: “iContact was introduced to the market some years ago and was probably ahead of its time but its application has extended well beyond its envisaged initial use. We are continuing to develop the system to ensure that it can be fully integrated against technology standards across the globe.

“The pandemic has taught us that there is a need for technology-led solutions to be applied in real situations to enable efficiencies and cost-effective problem-solving. Strand Technologies gives us opportunities to fully focus and develop these types of products and systems to make life easier for the end user.”

Bowden reinforces this view: “There is enormous potential within a product range of this type. It offers a great deal of versatility which means that it can be used across a wide range of industries with very specific needs.”

Ryan added: “We are delighted to finally unveil our plans for Strand Technologies. The demand for smart entrances is only going to increase and by harnessing the power of technology, we can extend our products to meet these needs.”

Picture: a photograph of the three founders as children for The Three Amigos Campaign 

In the lead up to the launch, the directors trickled out a social media ‘teaser’ campaign, "The Three Amigos", which features their younger selves overlaid with hand-drawn illustrations of their personality types: angel, devil and joker.

“Although we are involved in a serious business, we are all of the same mind that it’s important to bring something of yourself to the table. We enjoy working within our industry and Strand Technologies creates a bridge to sell our products within a wider range of markets," said Franks.

“Technology is the enabler – we are the problem-solvers,” she concludes.

Picture: a photograph of a spacious reception area in a building

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 24 May 2021

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