LOCAL electronics and software engineering firm AAA Barcode is hoping to piggyback on the success of local security technology firm Biometrics Limited by manufacturing that company’s new biometric security system.
LOCAL electronics and software engineering firm AAA Barcode is hoping to piggyback on the success of local security technology firm Biometrics Limited by manufacturing that company’s new biometric security system.
AAA Barcode is the manufacturer of Biometrics Access Control Solution (BACS), invented by Subiaco-based Biometrics to meet the post-September 11 demand for security technology.
BACS is a new development in biometric security as it involves the scanning and recording of the combination of height, face and fingerprint details of a person attempting to enter a secure area.
These details are combined into a complex algorithm, which is then compared with details stored in a database.
Biometrics Limited completed an IPO last week, raising $3.64 million.
AAA Barcode managing director John Rounsevell said the companies were now discussing the commercialisation and development of other products.
Biometrics CEO John Cross said the companies were working together on research and development projects to service a broader market, and that an arrangement whereby Biometrics would commercialise AAA Barcode’s product suite would be “a natural progression”.
“AAA Barcode are manufacturing the technology that we have developed and they are major shareholders in Bio-metrics Limited,” he said.
“Apart from manufacturing, we are working with them [AAA Barcode] to develop ‘solutions’.”
This would involve “whole security” solutions for customers and would be another level from stand-alone products, Mr Cross said.
Mr Rounsevell hoped the commercialisation of BACS would mean further growth for AAA Barcode, which became involved in the project in mid 2000 and, after completing a proof of concept in April 2001, developed a prototype of BACS in October that year.
The next stage of the development was streamlined manufacturing in order to get the product ready for sale.
Mr Rounsevell said the company would manufacture 100 units a month initially, but planned to reach a manufacturing capacity of up 300 units a month.
“BACS involves cutting edge technology, it has a large market and there has been interest from around the world,” he said.
“There are all sorts of possibilities that will come out of this float and we are looking at all those opportunities.
“There is no doubt we are anticipating substantial growth.”
Mr Rounsevell said AAA Barcode, established in October 1994, was a self-funded research and development company.
It had developed its own suite of products over the past 10 years, but company growth had been slow as profits were channelled into research and development rather than expanding the business.
The revenue-generating part of the business – including the supply of barcode scanners, printers and industrial machinery – kept the company financial while it developed its suite of products.
