Industry Focus

Blue Book for Success

Anixter has a Blue Book that serves as a corporate bible; Pat Comunale, president of Anixter’s global security solutions, believes in the book from the first page on, and it would seem the Blue Book is, as he notes, second to none.

Comunale has been in the security industry for a long time, most recently as the president of Tri-Ed Distribution. The two companies joined forces in (Sept. 14) 2014, making it the largest global supplier of security products. In fact, Comunale said Anixter is the only distributor of this kind of operation, and a distribution company that has a working laboratory.

“What we have seen over the years is a company that has expertise in door locks to a high-end integrator,” Comunale said. “Now, three years later, our focus is on security and a multibillion dollar business.”

Why Anixter? Well, corporate officials invited several members of the trade media to their Chicago offices to learn more about the company and the laboratory. Their message is that Anixter has now become one of the most strategic partnerships for the integration community.

Case in point might be one of their “poster children” in Brent Edmunds, who is president and co-founder of Stone Security in Salt Lake City. Edmunds is a regional integrator, but his story is of global proportions.

“As an integrator, I am able to bring or have an end user tour the Anixter Infrastructure Solutions Lab and get a better view of the technology and how it will work for them,” Edmunds said. “There was a point in time in our business when we had to reconsider our own supply chain. Anixter was there for us; they made integration roll-outs successful, and they made us look good.”

Although Stone Security has a successful business, Anixter was able to help expand their business. The benefit for Stone is the strengths of Anixter, and likewise, Anixter grows because Stone Security is committed to its growth and offering its security integrators and their customers the best products possible. Edmunds said Stone Security has experienced 40 percent growth rate year over year for the past five years.

Wow! That is impressive, but it also means a regional integrator can count on technological, standards and equipment support whether in Salt Lake City or, let’s say, Paris, France; Provo, Utah to Auckland, New Zealand.

Anixter, combined to include the former Tri-Ed Distribution and CLARK Security, will be going in one direction and serving its global supply chain as Anixter. The company will become known more as a valueadd supplier than just a “pick, pack and ship,” company. Over time, all former Tri-Ed distribution centers will be rebranded and marketed as Anixter, whether it is in Dallas or Mexico City. The company verticals will remain the same: residential security, commercial, industrial, government, education and utilities. Anixter will also remain active on numerous standards committees and will continue to address future trends and interoperability issues occurring in the security industry at large.

For all the chatting in the board room, the real gem is the tech center, or the Infrastructure Solutions Lab. There are six satellite Solutions Briefing Centers located worldwide, combined with 65 former Tri-Ed distribution centers that will allow staff to demonstrate products and solutions when asked. The Demonstration Center of The Lab allows staff to present solutions for video surveillance, biometrics, servers and key-lock systems.

This article originally appeared in the September 2017 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities