Transport Vehicle Manufacturer Deploys Intelligent Video for Preventing Metal Theft

HERZLIYA, ISRAEL − July 19, 2006—ioimage US, a leading provider of intelligent video security solutions, has announced that Merkavim, one of the largest transport vehicle manufacturers in the Middle East, is deploying ioimage systems’ to prevent scrap metal theft and unauthorized removal of materials from the factory site.

Units from ioimage enable dozens of pan-tilt-zoom and stationary video surveillance cameras at the 100,000 square-meter assembly plant to automatically detect and at the same time track intruders and threats. The system seamlessly integrates into the existing loss prevention program to provide comprehensive physical-security in and around the site. By using ioimage’s system, Merkavim reduced security guard expenses by 30%.

"We were pleased to find a security solution that was easy to install and operate, giving us the same level of protection that ioimage provides for such mission-critical sites as nuclear facilities and airports,” said Micha Micksner, CEO of Merkavim. “Because we have a sizable facility, we felt we would need to hire additional night watch personnel and increase patrols. With ioimage we achieved expanded and more effective security coverage, invisible-fence perimeter security and automated site monitoring without added labor costs or burdening existing personnel with more monitors to watch."

“Whether its street signs, utility power substation, telephone wires, metal bridges, or entire train cars, scrap metal theft shines a bright light on the growing problem of protecting items spread out over a wide area that fetch scrap metal value,” said Roni Kass, ioimage’s CEO and founder. “Merkavim is joining a growing number of companies that benefit from our high performance, easy-to-use systems. Systems that are ideal for homeland security programs as well as for commercial applications because they effectively detect trespassing, theft and vandalism.”

Founded in 1946, Merkavim Metal Works Ltd. employs over 300 people and is one of the worlds leading producers of transport vehicles. Merkavim offers an entire range of mini-buses, low-floor and articulated low-floor city buses, inter-city buses, tourist coaches, armored and prisoner buses and other specialized passenger transport solutions.

Its manufacturing facility, located in Central Israel, constructs bus bodies for its line of transport vehicles. Backed by the technological expertise of joint-owners Volvo – the second largest bus maker in the world - Merkavim delivers a full range of purpose-built vehicles to a growing global customer base in the public and private transportation sectors.

ioimage US is a subsidiary of ioimage Ltd. Founded in 2000, ioimage has pioneered the concept of intelligent video appliances, delivering high performance video analytics designed and packaged for simplicity. ioimage helps government, public and commercial organizations transform video surveillance into a proactive, event-driven process, using networked DSP-based devices for real-time detection, alert and tracking of intruders, vehicles and threats. ioimage US will be exhibiting at the ASIS show, booth #3152. More information is available at www.ioimage.com.