The old system in use required time consuming and costly manual synchronization of low quality videotape and order timing logs when a problem with customer fulfillment arose.  Kenton Brothers’ solution for this issue was a video-verification system that provided Glazer’s with a high quality image of the packing carton and the attached information laden bar-coded label in a format that was synchronized with the appropriate time-stamped order.

These cameras are time-coordinated with the bar-coded labeling system and record every full-case and mixed inventory carton as they move along 6 high-speed conveyor lines on their way to Glazer’s delivery trucks.

Now, when a customer identifies a potential fulfillment error, a Glazer’s associate quickly pulls up a high quality image of the packing carton and the attached bar-coded label to verify that the order was filled accurately.  The process that used to take hours now takes only minutes to resolve.

If you have manufacturing needs, or just want to have a Kenton Brothers’ associate trouble shoot some of your issues, please give us a call at 816-842-3700.

Gina and Neal recently made a trip to Springfield, MO with Dave Brainard, the Flir representative, at the request of Nick Rasey with City Utilities of Springfield to share this amazing technology with Missouri State University, City Utilities of Springfield, and the Springfield Police department.  It was a cold day outside the Flir mobile training unit, but inside the guys got quite a show.

Concerned with copper theft at remote sub-stations, Nick needs the ability to clearly see in pitch black conditions from a remote location.  Placing the mobile training unit next to the sub-station on the MSU campus allowed Nick and City Utilities to experience first hand the Flir difference.  Not only can a Flir camera show defined images in night conditions, it also shows better images in daylight using thermal imaging.  Plain and simple–it’s impossible for people to hide the heat of their bodies.

If you would like to see these cameras in action, you can go to the Flir Thermal Vision website flir.com.  If you want to see what they can do in person, just give Kenton Brothers a call at 816-842-3700.

A man walking by noticed an opportunity to enter the building un-noticed.  It was the lunch hour, so the receptionist was in the break room and not at her desk.  The man took full advantage of this walking out with the receptionist’s purse, and $1000 in petty cash the company kept in her desk.

When businesses invite the public onto their premises, the law recognizes a distinct relationship.  This relationship imposes a duty on building owners and managers to protect members of the public from harm on their property; whether caused by negligence or by intentional, criminal acts.

The owner of this company is completely liable for the theft because of the issue of foreseeability: He knew the door was non-functioning, yet he did nothing to repair it.  In addition, he did not make visitors aware of the problem.

If the owner had only called Kenton Brothers, he would have learned Nate could send a technician with a plate that would have fixed the existing door and cost considerably less money than replacing the whole thing.  The door would have functioned properly and the robbery would have never taken place.

If you have any areas of your building you are concerned about or unsure of, please call  us and we would be more than happy to have someone come out and take a look.  816-842-3700

Liability information taken from an article published on buildings.com by John Leighton, 8/1/2010.

Kenton Brothers offers the simplest ‘Watch My Stuff’ cameras that you simply plug in to an outlet and monitor from any internet connection.  But we can also configure and engineer the most complicated cameras with video analytics and hosted systems to actually prevent incidents, not just record them as they occur.  With smart video analytics, it is possible for a camera to ‘learn’ it’s surroundings and know the difference between a small animal and an actual human threat; thereby drastically reducing false alarms.

Video surveillance can also be used in another way: to assist with business processes and increase production quality. With a high quality camera, automated production lines can be monitored and quality control becomes possible from any remote location using a secure unique IP web address.  Kenton Brothers is ready and able to engineer a complete surveillance system, install it, and service it should the need arise.

Please don’t think your existing system will need to be completely replaced to upgrade.  Many times, Kenton Brothers can work with an existing system, integrating new components with old and bringing the entire system up to current standards.  If we can be of assistance in any way, please give us a call at 816-842-3700.

So, we give you Part I: the Foundation of Security which is hardware, locks, and keys.

To have a truly secure location, you must begin with the doors.  Do the doors close properly?  What type of lock is on the door?  Who has keys to the lock and is there a Masterkey System?  Does the door need to be opened and closed from a remote location?  Do you want certain people to access the building during certain times?  What if the power goes out: do you want an electrified door to remain locked, or open?  All of these questions fall under the category of locking hardware and access control.

From the most basic single-cylinder lock, to advanced network-based IP access control with internet configuration and self powered power levers, Kenton Brothers can engineer, install, and service them all.

Once the doors are secure, you move on to the actual building, grounds, and product: video surveillance.   But that will be for next week!

If you have any questions or needs, please call us at 816-842-3700.

Kenton Brothers recently had the opportunity to have the regional sales rep for Sony in the office showing off his wares and explaining the qualities of each surveillance camera.  It was determined, that by combining different price points a complete system can be engineered; there-by giving the customer an extremely high quality system without going over on budget.

Sony is in the unique position of being a very large company with many different divisions all working on perfecting individual technologies.  How does this benefit you, the end-user?  Think of this:  the Sony Pictures team perfects the lens on a camera being used to shoot the movie “Grown Up’s” in high light situations.  Sony Labs discovers new nano-technology used in making miniature robots.  And Sony Electronics perfects a microphone that is able to filter background noise in extreme weather conditions.

With the new organization of the Sony Brand, all of these divisions now ‘share’ their unique knowledge base expanding the reach and improving products across all Sony lines.  Essentially, the new IPELA product line uses the improved lens, nano-technology, and microphone to make up a state-of-the-art surveillance camera without needing to shell out the funds for research and development.  Thereby saving you money by not passing on that cost to the consumer.

If you have a need for a surveillance system, or if you simply are interested in seeing the new Sony technology please give us a call at 816-842-3700.

The need to combine resources and personnel, creating the highest efficiency for every arm of local government is now; and the concept of ‘shared’ cameras with the ability for dispatchers to efficiently respond to events is now possible with software from Anixter and OnSSI.

Please consider this potential test case: the director of the Parks and Rec department sets a virtual trip wire from his desk surrounding a $150,000.00 new playground on the outskirts of town.  One Saturday night, a group of teenagers decide to loosen the bolts to the railings on this playground.  The second one of those teenagers crosses the virtual trip wire, an alert is sent to Police dispatch where a dispatcher now has a live view of the park.  The dispatcher attempts a remote talk-down, letting the would-be vandals know they need to vacate the premises immediately or an officer will be dispatched.

Typically, this would be enough.  However, for our purposes, let’s say the teenagers continue on with their plan to loosen the bolts.  The dispatcher can watch, in real time, the action on the playground.  He/She notifies a police officer in the vicinity of the event taking place, talking the officer through what is happening as he arrives on the scene.  The officer is now able to walk into the scene with full knowledge of how many vandals there are, where they are located, and what weapons they may be carrying.  No more walking into an unknown situation.  No more necessary patrols of outlying areas.  No more insurance claims for damaged playgrounds.

Of course, this is just one of dozens of applications for the products we have available.  Kenton Brothers can do a site visit and engineer a security system to fit your particular needs and problems.  To set one up, give us a call at 816-842-3700.

At the beginning of August, Dennis Curry, with Bayer Crop Sciences came to Kenton with a non-functioning Best stand alone push button access control lever lock that was no longer supported by the Best company.  It was obsolete technology that ran on batteries and required a heavy amount of maintenance, in addition it had a high cost in battery change outs.  Employees were leaving the door un-secure by placing a rock in the frame to keep it from locking, causing a serious security concern.

Bill Harris, one of our long-time salesmen suggested changing out the Best lever for a KABA power lever
(http://www.kaba-ilco.com/access_control/products/powerlever_9550.aspx).   It is a self powered push button lever requiring no batteries–which means less maintenance and over-all cost.  In addition to the KABA lever, Bill suggested adding an exit bar thereby bringing the building back up to life safety codes.

One month after the install, Bill had a meeting with Dennis to look at more projects and asked how he likes his new lever.  Dennis gave nothing but praise for the quality of the KABA power lever, the quality of the install, the customer service from Brad the installer, and the reliability of Kenton brothers.

It’s been more than 114 years since William and Leon opened the doors to Kenton Brothers.  We’ve changed some in that time.  We no longer sharpen lawn mower blades or re-cover umbrellas.  But, over a century later, the people of KC continue to come to our door and receive the same attentiveness  to customer service, quality products, and quality service.

If you need any help finding a solution to your security needs, please give us a call: 816-842-3700.

Problem: Damaged and vandalized AC units leaving both inoperable.

Stoney Point Church in Kansas City, Kansas recently made a very hard decision:  to spend over $20,000.00 out of a tight church budget to add air conditioning to the church gym.  The church could not use the gym during the hot summer months, as it was unbearably hot.

While the church waited for gas lines and a security fence to be installed; an unidentified individual ripped apart both AC units, removing the coil from one, and draining the Freon from the other.  With no Freon, the compressor burned out of the unit and it was completely destroyed.

Kenton Solution:

To install the AC Copper Cop and use security tools in a new way:  to prevent as opposed to react.

Kenton Brothers designed a remotely monitored system combining intelligent video with a ‘talk-down’ feature and strobe light: all available to be viewed remotely from any internet or wireless connection.

With intelligent video from VideoIQ, the alarm monitoring company is able to determine with a mere glance if there is a true threat, or if it is simply a roaming animal.  As soon as a perpetrator sets foot on church property, a strobe light begins flashing and the alarm company operator is heard over a loud speaker.  The perpetrator is warned that he/she is on private property and the police have been notified.  If the perpetrator does not leave, the police will be dispatched.

Root Cause:

Church AC units located 30 yards from a busy road.   Easy access to a turn out, extensive vegetation providing cover, and no visible line of sight from the church office.  Additionally, no after hours monitoring.

Now, companies devoted to the safe play of our children engineer mini cities with wobbling bridges, climbing ropes, look-out towers, and safety swings.  The material under the playgrounds is so high tech NASA couldn’t have developed something more spring-y, environmentally safe, and fully recycled.

These highly specialized play areas come at a hefty cost.  The average price for a small school playground is over $100,000.00.  For a larger, handicapped accessible playground, the cost skyrockets to over $150,000.00.  With budgets tighter than ever, and schools needing to watch every penny spent, a playground is the last place districts need to be putting money.

Unfortunately, vandals don’t seem to care about tight budgets or children losing the use of their playground.  In the Blue Valley District, vandals set fire to rubber mulch which ignites and burns hot and quick; causing massive damage to metal and plastic.  In the Belton District, vandals removed bolts from safety railings on a handicapped accessible playground.

With new technology in video robotics, we can set virtual trip wires, track vandals, and remotely talk them down. The goal with a talk down is prevention, rather than arrest, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

As seen in this playground video, after the trip wires are set, a red box surrounds the vandal and alerts the monitoring company of a breach in the perimeter.  The monitoring company then activates a strobe light and loud speaker letting the vandal know they are on private property and the police have been notified.  With the installation of this system, playgrounds can again become safe, and schools districts can save precious dollars.

For more information, please contact Kenton Brothers Systems for Security at www.kentonbrothers.com, or 816-822-3700.