Waldkirch, Germany, October 2015 – EXPONATEC COLOGNE, the international trade fair for museums, conservation, and heritage, provided the ideal venue for SICK to present its sensor solutions for protecting precious artworks and providing general museum security. Laser scanners for monitoring interior areas were the real focal point of the trade show, with SICK showcasing the very latest security technology in the form of the TiM3xx and the LMS1xx.
It goes without saying that valuable objects need to be protected against vandalism and theft. Particularly in museums, sensors have to deal with the added challenge of visitors trying to touch the items on display. Every last touch has to be recorded without ruining the cultural experience for other visitors. The more inconspicuous, precise, and reliable the protection is for these objects, the better these requirements can be fulfilled. That said, the level of protection must not be diminished as a result.
VdS safety-certified LMC1xx 2D laser scanners from SICK have smaller fields during the day which protect several paintings at the same time. This means that visitors can examine the art work closely, and cleaning personnel can clean the floor without triggering the alarm. At night, the entire wall is protected. RFID readers, on the other hand, are able to identify those people within the museum who are authorized to touch the valuable objects on display for demonstration or cleaning purposes. In these cases, SICK detection systems do not trigger an alarm.
Interior ceilings, walls, and windows require the same level of monitoring as doors, gates, and security door systems. Photoelectric switches are capable of distinguishing between people in security door systems at museum entrances and can even detect which way people are walking. SICK sensors can also determine the level of oxygen in a room to detect potential fire hazards in good time, offering valuable protection for highly flammable artworks and documents.
External museum security
External monitoring protects museums from vandalism, terrorism, theft, and intrusion. Electronic detection and video monitoring systems also supplement protective devices such as fences and walls. These detect attempted intrusions at a very early stage, as 2D laser scanners monitor open spaces, fences, or walls in front of the building, as well as rooftops and facades. It is even possible to incorporate object tracking by moving the camera.
TiM3xx – Optimal protection against theft, vandalism, or intrusion
The TiM3xx is a user-friendly laser scanner designed to protect buildings. Its compact design allows the area scanner to monitor open spaces, facades, rooftops, or even interiors, with a range of up to ten meters. Thanks to the “touch and teach” function, the monitored area can be set up without a computer. What's more, its 16 preconfigured fields (with three fields each) can be selected via the input circuit and offer a quick and easy commissioning process.
LMS1xx/LMC1xx – Compact design meets impressive innovation
Security personnel in museums and exhibitions are there to prevent theft and vandalism, but it is simply impossible for them to see absolutely everything that goes on. But with the LMS1xx 2D laser scanner or the VdS-certified LMC1xx variant, it couldn't be easier to distinguish between different monitoring fields. If anyone gets too close to a protected object and breaches a defined area, this is instantly displayed.
LMS1xx devices are ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications. They even come in a range of variants, and can therefore easily cope with various requirements in terms of sensing range and application software. All variants in this product family stand out from the crowd thanks to their compact design and dimensions, as well as their light weight. The multi-echo technology increases the availability of the sensors outdoors and even enables them to be installed behind glass.
SICK is one of the world's leading manufacturers of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications. Founded in 1946 by Dr. Erwin Sick, the company is headquartered in the German town of Waldkirch, in the Breisgau region near the city of Freiburg. It is a technology and market leader, maintaining a global presence with more than 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as numerous agencies. In the 2014 fiscal year, SICK had around 7,000 employees worldwide and generated Group revenues of €1,099.8 million.