Security sensor manufacturer OPTEX celebrates 40th Anniversary in 2019

Posted On 26 Jun 2019

Specialist security sensor manufacturer OPTEX is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2019 and, as a result, the company has taken a look back at the changes in the industry and its impact on them.

Founded on 25 May 1979, the idea and principles of the company were first agreed in a coffee house in Kyoto, Japan between Toru Kobayashi (an electronics engineer) and three of his colleagues. They had a vision for a new business. A business that had sensing technology at its very heart. Precision technology, in fact, that could detect the ‘status’ and ‘changes’ of both people and things.

Soon after its creation, OPTEX recorded a number of significant milestones. In 1980, the business developed the world’s first automatic door sensor using Far-Infrared technology (a technology now adopted as standard). Then, in 1983, OPTEX developed one of the first wireless outdoor security sensors. This was a significant innovation at the time.

On the security side of the business specifically, OPTEX’s sensing algorithm know-how, built up through many years of field-based technological development, is arguably the company’s most valuable asset and absolutely central to the evolution of its Far-Infrared, Near-Infrared and laser sensor technologies.

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About the Author

Brian Sims BA (Hons) Hon FSyI, Editor, Risk Xtra (Pro-Activ Publications) Beginning his career in professional journalism at The Builder Group in March 1992, Brian was appointed Editor of Security Management Today in November 2000 having spent eight years in engineering journalism across two titles: Building Services Journal and Light & Lighting. In 2005, Brian received the BSIA Chairman’s Award for Promoting The Security Industry and, a year later, the Skills for Security Special Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Security Business Sector. In 2008, Brian was The Security Institute’s nomination for the Association of Security Consultants’ highly prestigious Imbert Prize and, in 2013, was a nominated finalist for the Institute’s George van Schalkwyk Award. An Honorary Fellow of The Security Institute, Brian serves as a Judge for the BSIA’s Security Personnel of the Year Awards and the Securitas Good Customer Award. Between 2008 and 2014, Brian pioneered the use of digital media across the security sector, including webinars and Audio Shows. Brian’s actively involved in 50-plus security groups on LinkedIn and hosts the popular Risk UK Twitter site. Brian is a frequent speaker on the conference circuit. He has organised and chaired conference programmes for both IFSEC International and ASIS International and has been published in the national media. Brian was appointed Editor of Risk UK at Pro-Activ Publications in July 2014. Brian was launch Editor for The Paper in September 2015 and appointed Editor of Risk Xtra in May 2018.