Delray Beach, FL and Atlanta, GA - (BUSINESS WIRE) – June 14, 2010
Best Security Industries

Best Security Industries, a global leader in the electronic article surveillance “EAS” and CCTV loss prevention products for the retail security industry, today debuts its exclusive Smart Shield EAS™ solution for reducing shrink and losses due to shoplifting.

For years, the mainstay of retail shoplifting security has been the use of antenna pedestals at or on doorways to the entrances and exits of their storefronts. Recent trends by both retailers and landlords have shown a strong interest in eliminating these unsightly pedestals – that particularly pose problems for stores with large or unique entry formats. Smart Shield EAS™ now allows for intelligent EAS detection without the use of floor mounted or door mounted pedestals, loops or in floor solutions. It is based on the proven worldwide RFID Gen 2 standards, and allows retailers the benefit of a proven EAS solution, while preparing for more the advanced supply chain concepts such as item level RFID tagging trends being tested in the retail industry.

“We have been working on Smart Shield EAS™ for more than a year, with the objective being to introduce an EAS system that removes pedestals from doorways and can cover large expansive or custom entries found in upscale Shopping Mall environments” stated Steve Hall, the company’s president and CEO and a veteran of the loss prevention and RFID industries. “Since the earliest days of EAS, where microwave technology allowed for wide area coverage of storefronts, there has not been a suitable solution that does not clutter entries with pedestals or requires systems to be buried in floors” Hall added. “Microwave systems and EAS tags have been out of production for years now.”

The new system, being offered by Best Security Industries “BSI” is based upon a new and unique approach to RFID detection of hard tags and labels. Employing a special self-contained ceiling mounted enclosure, the system is based upon a Phased Array smart antenna design that can be programmed to pinpoint specific tag locations and then detect their presence, rather than creating a flooded electronic field that bleeds into nearby tagged display areas, creating false alarms. Retailers can merchandise right up to the exits and benefit from this additional display area.

In addition, BSI has incorporated its IP Megapixel covert camera to document and assist in the detection of tags in the exit area. This integrated hemispheric camera can “paint” a zone at the entrance of the store, and work together with Smart Shield EAS™ to determine if a person or object is in the detection field and allow the system to sound its alarm and visual indicators while also recording the event. This critical addition to the system is a true “two event” solution that is required to activate the alarm, reducing any chance of false alarms. With its built in DVR SD card storage, every alarm event can now be reviewed and is documented for Loss Prevention analysis.

“Smart Shield EAS™ is perhaps the most innovative EAS solution to come along in years” commented Hall. “Retailers really like the open feel of a clean entrance, yet can’t tolerate the shoplifting losses experienced in the past two years as a result of the economy. They are seeing the life of conventional EAS systems age, and have been looking for that ‘next big thing’ that can enhance their merchandise security and set them up for other supply chain benefits that RFID has to offer. This is that solution.”

The Smart Shield EAS™ system is unique in the RFID world as the phased array antenna can be programmed to look at an X, Y and Z coordinate pattern. This is similar to GPS for EAS tags as the multiple antenna package pings a specifically tuned area at the store entrance or exit. “The reading distance is remarkable and so accurate” stated Bill Davidson, president of RFID Team and the creator of the unique software that allows the system to determine if the RFID tags are either “in” or “out” of the store’s entry/exit space. “We have been working with this technology for use with the US Defense Department for years, and we were approached by BSI to adapt the system for retail EAS. We have succeeded in that mission.”

The System antenna package contains the special antenna, RFID reader, IP megapixel camera, an “on board” PC to run the program and sound and light interfaces to create alarms. It is fully contained, controlled through wireless or network access and only requires standard power at the installation site – no complex wiring. It can be mounted out of view above a false ceiling, or contained in a special housing in unique décor to match the aesthetics of the retailer’s store.

BSI has also created a number of new RFID EAS hard tag formats for use with apparel and other merchandise. All tags utilize the worldwide industry standard Gen 2 protocol, as developed by GS1 and are readily available today.

The debut of the Smart Shield EAS™ solution is being held at the National Retail Federation’s Loss Prevention Conference, held in Atlanta, GA. BSI can be found at booth #725 at this event both Monday and Tuesday (June 14 and 15).

For more information on Smart Shield EAS™, please contact Stephen J. Hall, president and CEO of Best Security Industries at (561) 900-2744. You can also visit us and learn more about the companies’ products at www.bsi-eas.com and request more information directly from its website.

About Best Security Industries - Best Security Industries is privately held and a worldwide leader in the electronic article surveillance (EAS) and CCTV industry specializing in loss prevention security. Customers look to BSI to provide them with high quality and affordable products that are delivered rapidly to their stores or distribution centers. BSI’s largest market is North America where it sells primarily to over 1,200 retailers through wholesalers, dealers, OEMs, and on a direct basis. It provides both new and previously owned EAS tags and systems in both Acusto Magnetic (AM) and Radio Frequency (RF) security tags and labels. Providing retail loss prevention to large national retailers right down to individual store owners, BSI is the affordable source to help them reduce their shrink. BSI employs more than 35 associates at its 19,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Delray Beach, Florida. For more information on Best Security Industries, please contact Eric Brotherhood at (800) 939-4995 or visit www.bsi-eas.com.

About RFID Team – RFID Team was formed by Bill Davidson, PhD and widely heralded RFID industry expert. Dr. Davidson has been involved for years in RFID and has participated on many industry committees for the development of analysis and industry standards, as well as creating RFID reader solutions. He founded North Carolina based Hamilton Davidson, which was acquired by SAMSys (now sold as SIRIT), a pioneering RFID reader company that created the first multi-frequency, multi-protocol reader which preceded the current Gen 2 reader protocols. RFID Solutions is based in Sanford, NC with representation in the US, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.rfidsolutions.com.

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