Manufacturing a range of controllers, readers, electronic keys and access control management software CS Technologies is responsive to market needs and its products incorporate innovative features which make it a market leader. Extensive installation experience has meant that the products are robust and ideally suited to meet the access control needs of a wide range of applications.

Strategic alliances with a range of leading international component manufacturers puts CS Technologies at the forefront of developments in access control and electronics, incorporating new features into their product range as they are released by these manufacturers.

Research and development of the product range is constantly ongoing, both in the development of new products and using feedback from customers to enhance the product range. Key products include PC3 software for Windows, networked CS Controllers, the revolutionary Silicon Key and reader, Smartcard readers, the ACE-CARD ATM lobby access controller and many other access control and associated product ranges.

History
CS Technologies commenced trading in 1987 under the name of Concise Security Systems, and primarily had the purpose of importing and promoting the Hirsch range of access control equipment from the USA. The company established a presence in the market primarily as an installer of equipment and expanded the range to include other imported products.

As time went by the directors of the company realised the limitations of imported equipment and a program of research and development was commenced to develop the company’s own access control equipment. This was in part prompted by the introduction of the iButton by Dallas Semiconductor in the USA, which it was felt would provide an ideal credential for access control.

This program came to fruition and the company formed a manufacturing division CS Technologies, which handles the development and marketing of the product range, while another division Concise Systems is an installer and service company in the Australian market. In this way CS Technologies products are extensively field-tested and refined before being released for general distribution.

CS Technologies’ achievements have been recognised in their being awarded membership of the prestigious Australian Technology Showcase.

The products
The product range has matured over several years and has grown into a comprehensive range.

The products include access control equipment utilising the revolutionary ‘Silicon-Key’ (the Dallas iButton), an electronic button key that has gained wide acceptance because of its high security and durability. Other readers supported by the system include Smartcard readers, Digital Scrambling Keypads, Presco keypads, mag-stripe card readers, barcode readers, proximity readers, and readers utilising the industry standard ‘wiegand’ interface in many different formats. The electronic controllers to which the readers connect are robust and durable, and designed with the installer in mind for ease of implementation. PC-based Windows software has been developed by the company to manage and control the access control systems.

All products are 100% Australian-designed and manufactured and ongoing enhancement and development is a constant part of CS Technologies’ operations to ensure that the equipment meets the needs of the market. Development of products for other industries is also going on and with CS Technologies’ engineering expertise staff are constantly on the lookout for applications and opportunities to exploit the design and manufacturing capabilities of the company.

Manufacture of the products is carried out locally by contractors who make the various parts of the system to exacting quality standards, with final assembly and testing carried out at CS Technologies’ Meadowbank premises. Software and firmware are developed in-house and all products are 100% tested before dispatch.

The software which manages the system is fully Year-2000 compliant as is all controller hardware and firmware. A recent innovation is a new type of fob for the Silicon Key, which was developed with funding assistance from the NSW government. Other recent developments include the Point Identification Gadget, an alarm device which provides extremely high security and simplifies alarm system installation, a carpark management module for the software and SMACS, Slot Machine Access Control System, used in clubs for poker machine base access control.

Marketing
Since the product’s inception in 1993 CS Technologies has sold thousands of controllers as stand-alone and networked systems through distributors and direct marketing. Networked systems, managed and coordinated locally and remotely by PC3 for Windows access control software control thousands of doors as well as elevator and alarm control facilities.

The CS Technologies products are sold through a network of distributors in all states of Australia, New Zealand, UK and Brazil. Other export markets currently being targeted are Fiji, Noumea, Hong Kong and the US. Since their inception many different security companies have installed the systems in many premises for high-profile clients. Current users include government departments, large corporations including banks and insurance companies, manufacturers and service companies.

CS Technologies marketing is based on providing sales and technical support to distributors and end users – not just on product but providing an overview of the clients’ needs to ensure the systems installed reflect CS Technologies’ high standards of installation and product support.

International marketing and service support is provided through a comprehensive internet website.