Enhancing Emergency Response with Visual Notifications

December 17, 2024

Effective communication can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe in emergencies. While auditory alarms are vital, visual notifications such as LED signs, flashers, and strobe lights add clarity and urgency, enhancing emergency response. These tools are indispensable for ensuring safety in environments with high noise levels, such as industrial facilities, warehouses, and for individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired.
Visual signals cut through the noisy clutter in factories or warehouses. Bright, attention-grabbing indicators like flashers and LED signs ensure that emergency notifications are noticed promptly, reducing response times and increasing the likelihood of swift action. These tools are especially valuable in large venues, such as stadiums, airports, or schools, where clear and actionable information is crucial for directing people unfamiliar with the layout.

Valcom’s LED signs and digital message boards offer more than alerts; they provide specific, actionable instructions. Messages such as “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight,” “Evacuate,” or “Hold” give clear guidance for immediate action, helping to minimize confusion and panic. These visual messaging cues are essential in emergencies, giving a situational awareness of what is happening and allowing them to focus on appropriate actions rather than succumbing to fear or uncertainty.

Visual alerts extend beyond interior spaces to exterior areas. For example, Valcom’s VL590 Large LED Sign can be installed outdoors to notify those approaching a building of ongoing emergencies inside, instructing them to stay away. Enhanced features, like multi-color displays and bilingual programming in products like the VL520BK-F-FC, further improve accessibility and effectiveness. Valcom’s VL520BK-F-FC LED sign can be programmed in schools to correspond with the standard response protocols from the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. The multi-lingual feature enhances comprehension and helps individuals overcome language barriers in settings with a diverse population.

From guiding evacuees to an area of refuge to ensuring accessibility for the hearing impaired, visual notifications bridge critical communication gaps that auditory signals cannot address. As a cornerstone of comprehensive emergency response plans, these tools enhance safety, inclusivity, and security, ensuring everyone receives the information they need to stay safe in a crisis.

Building a Culture of Safety

Empowering Safer Schools Through Preparation & Practice

October 30, 2024

Creating a safe space for students and staff has never been more critical. School safety isn’t just about emergencies—it’s about fostering an environment where students can thrive without fear. Modern K-12 safety solutions prioritize both everyday security and emergency preparedness. This requires proactive measures and reliable systems to prepare schools for any situation. At the core of any emergency action plan is effective communication. In emergencies, timely and clear communication across the school is essential, ensuring everyone receives critical updates when needed. Using advanced paging systems to deliver real-time information helps schools keep everyone informed, reinforcing the sense of safety throughout the campus. Integrating these safety tools with other systems—like access control, video surveillance, and public safety networks—also plays a vital role in school safety. Schools can connect directly with local emergency services and distribute real-time alerts campus-wide through partnerships and compliance with standards like Alyssa’s Law. This seamless communication provides a framework supporting daily security and emergency readiness.

Building a culture of safety involves not only providing the right tools but also preparing students and staff to use them effectively. An example is how Cherry Creek School District developed a safety-first culture by implementing Valcom tools and using The “I Love U Guys” Foundation Standard Response Protocols to train students and staff. The district further reinforces this culture by conducting regular safety drills, allowing students and staff to practice their responses and build familiarity with the protocols. This combination of tools, training, and hands-on drills ensures everyone understands their roles during an emergency, fostering confidence and collaboration across the school community. By fostering confidence through training and awareness, schools can empower their communities to respond proactively and create an environment where safety is part of the daily routine, supporting a secure and positive atmosphere for learning and growth.

Unlocking the Future of Communication Valcom IP Solutions

Scalable. Adaptable. Essential

October 10, 2024

In today’s fast-paced environment, efficient, scalable, and adaptable communication systems are essential for businesses and organizations. Valcom’s IP Solutions offer many benefits that revolutionize how notifications and alerts are managed. By seamlessly integrating with existing systems, these solutions provide a modern, future-proof approach to communication. One significant advantage is their ease of integration. Valcom’s IP solutions can be deployed without interrupting current operations, ensuring a smooth and effortless transition. Unlike traditional systems, which are limited by distance and require physical modifications, Valcom’s IP systems can cover vast areas and be managed remotely. These IP devices are designed to use minimal bandwidth, ensuring network performance is not compromised.

Versatility is another standout benefit. For example, the VIP-893 Interactive Console and the VIP-895-S Building Communication Panel are foundations for robust IP systems, offering intuitive touchscreen controls for managing messages and alerts. The VL-520BK-F-FC multi-function endpoint further exemplifies this versatility by integrating an LED display, loudspeaker, and flashers into a single device. This combination simplifies installation and enhances functionality, providing an all-in-one solution for diverse communication needs.

Valcom’s IP solutions are also designed with future growth in mind. Businesses can cost-effectively upgrade and expand their communication systems by leveraging existing network infrastructure. Valcom remains committed to innovation and the production of high-quality products designed, manufactured, and supported in the USA. You can rely on these adaptable solutions to keep your people safe, informed, and on schedule.

Potter Global Technologies Appoints Roel Vestjens as CEO

Potter announces the appointment of Roel Vestjens as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors. Roel Vestjens succeeds Gerry Connolly, who has led the company since 2019.

Roel joins Potter after an extensive career across leading industrial businesses. He most recently served as CEO of Belden, a signal transmission solutions company, where he spent 17 years in various leadership roles. Prior to Belden, he served in various roles at Royal Philips Electronics and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young.

“We are confident that Roel’s track record and wealth of experience in elevating companies and growing global businesses will be invaluable to supporting Potter’s continued ability to develop new ways to serve our customers and protect lives” said Mark Levy and Kevin Layne, Co-Chairmen of the Board at Potter. “We are grateful to Gerry for his contributions to Potter’s success over the past several years and are pleased to welcome Roel to lead Potter in its next chapter.”

“Potter has a rich history as a trusted provider of mission critical, high-quality fire safety and emergency communication equipment supported by incredible customer service. I see substantial potential for continued growth and am delighted to join the team at such an exciting time in the company’s journey. As we grow from here, we will be building on Potter’s legacy of reliability and innovation in fire and life safety to better serve our customers and protect the public,” said Roel Vestjens.

“I am incredibly proud of the tremendous growth and milestones that we have collectively achieved over the past several years,” said Gerry Connolly. “Potter has a bright future ahead and I look forward to supporting Roel and the Board as they continue to take the company to new heights.”

Valcom & Convergint Partnership

Convergint and Valcom Partner to Enhance K-12 Safety with Integrated Communication Solutions

September 4, 2024

To improve safety measures in K-12 schools across the country, Valcom a pioneer in communication and security technology has partnered with Convergint, a top global system integrator. Through the partnership, Valcom’s cutting-edge software solutions, comprehensive hardware offerings and Convergint’s system integration expertise are combined to produce a unified platform that caters to the particular security needs of educational institutions. This combination of software and hardware is a key differentiator, setting Valcom apart from competitors who typically focus on only one of these aspects.

The Unified Safety Solution

The partnership between Valcom and Convergint brings together best-in-class technologies to create a robust safety ecosystem for educational institutions. Valcom’s integrated software solutions streamline communication, automate emergency notifications, and provide real-time monitoring, ensuring that schools are prepared to respond swiftly to any situation.

Key components of the solution include:

IP6000 Site Manager®

A scalable solution that provides consistent audible and visual alerts at individual locations, ensuring effective local communication for safety and security

VEMASS (Valcom Enterprise Management & Security Software

Enables real-time monitoring and management across multiple locations by connecting with IP6000 SiteManagers. VEMASS ensures swift, site-specific communication and offers enterprise-level control for reliable emergency response.

VEEWS (Valcom Earthquake Early Warning System)

Provides early earthquake warnings in California, Oregon, and Washington, quickly communicating signs of seismic activity to enable timely protective measures.

V-Alert

A mobile alerting application that enables quick and reliable emergency notifications. With features such as geofencing, unlimited messaging, and seamless API integration, V-Alert ensures that critical information reaches the right people at the right time.

Enhancing School Safety and Operational Excellence

Convergint and Valcom’s partnership represents an innovative approach to management and safety in K–12 education. By integrating Convergint’s extensive expertise in security and system integration with Valcom’s cutting-edge communication, emergency notification technology, and hardware, schools can achieve previously unattainable standards of safety and operational efficiency.

With Valcom’s unified platform, which includes both software and hardware, schools are able to streamline daily operations and ensure quick, organized emergency responses. This partnership enables educational institutions to proactively safeguard their most valuable assets—staff and students—while optimizing their maintenance and communication procedures. The combination of these advanced technologies guarantees the prompt and accurate delivery of vital information, promoting a secure and safe learning environment where operational excellence and safety are the norm.

About Convergint

Convergint is a global systems integrator focused on delivering results for our customers through unparalleled service excellence. At Convergint, our top priority is service in every way — service to customers, colleagues, and community.

As an integrator, Convergint works alongside a global network of partners and manufacturers to design, install, and service security, fire alarm, life safety, audio-visual, and building automation solutions for enterprise customers.

Our unique and empowered culture, guided by our Values and Beliefs, helps us stay accountable to our mission, and our number one objective: to be our customers’ best service provider.

Sound360° Voice Paging Quality

Voice Paging Quality in Warehouse Distribution Centers

August 29, 2024

Distribution centers and warehouses that provide voice paging and background music face significant challenges in optimizing sound quality. These buildings typically have large open spaces with high ceilings, concrete walls and floors. These create reflective surfaces, which cause sound to bounce around. This phenomenon, known as reverberation, degrades overall voice paging quality. The more reflections and reverberations there are, the more likely it is that a voice page will become less intelligible.

How can you overcome these audio challenges in a warehouse enviornment?

To optimize warehouse acoustics, it is crucial to understand how sound disperses from speakers, reflects off surfaces, and what type of speakers can overcome these challenges.
Horns and cone-type speakers are the most installed speakers for warehouses. Horns are powerful and suited for noisy environments, but they are not designed for music reproduction. Playing music through a horn will sound “tinny” and in some cases cause premature failure. Horns produce sound via a moving coil and diaphragm within their structure. The sound then travels through the horn and is emitted out through the bell. The sound is usually highly amplified to reach long distances and it reflects off the many surfaces it hits. To cover large sound areas, multiple horns must be used and must be spaced a certain distance apart.

Another common and popular style of speaker is the cone-type speaker. These speakers are found in large gymnasiums and warehouses in low to medium ambient noise environments. Cone-type speakers can emit sound in large open spaces and play quality background music but have their limitations. A cone-type speaker is not as efficient (loud) as a horn so to cover the same amount of area, even more speakers would have to be used than horns to provide the necessary sound coverage. This results in many more points in the warehouse where sound is dispersed, and this results in a greater amount of reverberation. Horns and speakers are generally installed facing in one direction and disperse sound in that same direction. The direction/area that each speaker or horn effectively covers can be described as a dispersion angle. Dispersion angles of traditional horns and speakers at low frequencies are fairly wide but as frequencies increase the dispersion angle narrows. The frequencies that provide voice intelligibility are in these higher frequencies. Still, a properly designed and balanced horn or speaker system can provide an intelligible voice paging system in warehouses. But, there is a better solution.

What audio solutions exist that is not a horn or cone-type that will have less reverberation in a warehouse environment?

An alternative solution worth considering is the Sound360° warehouse speaker from Valcom. The flat panel style acts as if it has many tiny speakers in the panel and disperses sound in 360 degrees. The Sound360° speaker replaces up to 3 to 4 horns or speakers in a warehouse design. This results in less points of sound dispersion and therefore results in less reflection points and less reverberation. The graph to the right shows the narrower range of sound dispersed in a horn or cone speakers and the narrow range of intelligibility compared to the Sound360°. The eloquent design disperses sound in a wider area and provides a greater range of intelligibility than a cone or horn type speaker. The cleaner dispersion of sound results in less trouble with blended areas than you have with horn or cone-style speakers. The Sound360° speaker from Valcom provides better quality sound in a warehouse than a traditional horn and can replace up to three to four horns as illustrated by the graphic on the right.

The Sound360° Flat Panel Speaker facilitates voice paging and high-quality background music, making it suitable for distribution warehouses, light manufacturing centers, and large retail stores. The Sound360° Flat Panel Speaker come in IP, self-amplified and 25/70 Volt. Other innovative products launched by Valcom to improve workplace efficiency and day-to-day communication include the Building Communication Panel. The Building Communication Panel helps companies streamline daily communications and allows for quick activation of emergency alerts to multiple departments and channels.

Modernizing Communications in Warehouses

Moderning Communications in Warehouses

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

The adoption of digital technology and the movement towards “smart warehouses” is a leading topic these days that is written about in industry publications such as Industrial Distribution. These articles highlight that manufacturers and distribution warehouses are shifting toward smarter technologies to automate processes, connect employees, and create a more modern environment. This new technology shifts recommends improving the communication process with employees. Automation might not come to people’s mind when they think about communicating with employees on a manufacturing floor but automating daily announcements, shfit and break tones, and emergency alerts simplifies redundant tasks so your staff can keep the organization running smoothly.

In a recent study conducted by ZEBRA, it was found that the critical component to employee satisifcation and worplace efficiency is fostering a sense of unity and collaboration. As a warehouse and distribution center manager, your role in facilitating effecitve communication is pivotal. The flow of communication is what guides us in our roles, and informs us about who id doing what, when, and where. This is particularly crucial when examining workflows involving multiple employees or tasks. By identifying operation areas where overall workflow improveds could inclurease speed accuracy and productivity, you can help streamline operations well into the future. To identify productivity bottlenecks, start by asking the question, “How can I help my teams communicate better and faster?” For midsize organizations, warehouse distribution centers, and light manufacturing facilities, the task of finding a communciation solutions can be overwhelming. The need for a reliable, comprehensive and cost-effective communication system is crucial for these organizations to maintain operational efficiency and safety.

What Solutions Exists to Help Streamline Communications in Warehouses?

VIP-895-S Images. touchscreen console with colored icons enclosed in a grey casing. — VIP-895-S Building Communication Panel

Valcom’s latest solution, the VIP-895 Series, does precisely what midsize organization need: it simplifies complex communication needs, ensures rapid and secure emergency alerts and daily paging. The VIP-895-S Building Communication Panel and the VIP-895-E Emergency Communication Panel are designed with user-friendliness in mind. They simplify communication complexities and streamline emergency notifications. This ensures that even those with minimal technical expertise can easily navigate the systems, providing a sense of reassurance within your organization. Let’s take a closer look at these two panels.

Streamline Daily & Emergency Communications with the VIP-895 Series

The VIP-895 Series is engineered to seamlessly enhance daily paging and emergency communications.

One-Touch Messaging: Send recorded audio, live voice paging and text to LED signs and desktop popups with a single touch.
Intercom Support: Easliy make intercom calls to Valcom IP speakers, ensuring clear and immediate communication across yoru organization.
Scheduled Notifications: Automate shift and break-tone scheduling to maintain a well-organized workflow.
Secure Emergency Alerts: Quickly relay emergency notifications with PIN code security, targeting specific departments or groups as needed.
Pre-recorded Alerts: Streamline emergency responses with pre-recorded messages that save time when it matters most.
ShakeAlert® Compatibility: Be prepared for earthquakes with integrated ShakeAlert technology, allwoing for immediate and effective responses.

By integrating these features, the VIP-895 Series simplifies the process of keeping everyone informed, making it a valuable tool for enhancing workplace efficiency. In addtional to efficiency, the VIP-895m series provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing your organization can respond swiftly and effectively to any emergency.

Enhancing Efficiency in Light Manufacturing and Warehouses

The VIP-895-S and VIP-895-E are designed to improve workplace efficiency and communication in light manufacturing facilities and warehouses. These panels streamline daily operations and ensure emergency alerts are handled efficiently and securely.

A Cost-Effective Solution without Compromising Quality

What sets the VIP-895 Series apart is its ability to deliver robust functionality without the added expense of extra servers. This cost-effective approach means that midsize organizations can benefit from top-tier communication solutions without straining their budgets. These panels are set to become essential tools in any organization’s communication strategy by simplifying complex communication needs and ensuring quick, secure alerts.

Sound360 Improving Audio Solutions

Improving Audio Solutions in Warehouse Distribution and Industrial Facilities

February 2024

Many warehouse distribution centers face limitations in their audio technology, often restricted to basic one-way paging announcements without the ability to play quality background music.  The audio is typically transmitted through horns, which are not designed for music reproduction. This leads to poor audio quality and can cause premature horn failure.  Consequently, workers resort to listening to their music through headphones or the mixed sounds of the conveyor belt, forklift, and other machinery equipment. However, OSHA has cautioned against using headphones since “listening to music via headphones may produce a safety hazard by masking environmental sounds that need to be heard.” In today’s competitive labor market, where companies struggle to hire and retain employees in manufacturing, exploring solutions that will enhance employee satisfaction and well-being is essential. In a recent study of 500 workers, 87% of those surveyed said they “think that playing music creates a positive working environment.” 

What audio solutions exist that will improve the work environment?

According to this 2023 article from Geekwire.com, Amazon is testing headphones at some fulfillment centers, incorporating strict controls to comply with OSHA safety standards. However, ongoing headphone provision can be costly and does not allow for important paging announcements.

An alternative solution worth considering is the Sound 360 warehouse speaker from Valcom. This innovative speaker offers 360-degree coverage in open spaces and generates minimal reverberation compared to traditional cone-type speakers. Unlike headphones, Sound 360 can facilitate voice paging and background music, making it suitable for distribution warehouses, light manufacturing centers, and large retail stores. Notably, a prominent home improvement retailer has adopted the Sound 360 in all their US distribution centers. Other innovative products launched by Valcom to improve workplace efficiency and day-to-day communication include the Building Communication Panel. The Building Communication Panel helps companies streamline daily communications and allows for quick activation of emergency alerts to multiple departments and channels. To learn more, contact your Regional Sales Manager or email us.

When Seconds Count

Be Proactive in Your Emergency Preparedness for Earthquakes

March 2024

In a world where natural disasters pose significant threats to life safety, communities, and infrastructure, the need for proactive measures to mitigate their impact is a top priority. Among these disasters, earthquakes are sudden, destructive forces capable of causing widespread devastation within seconds. Yet, amidst the unpredictable nature of seismic events, Valcom’s Earthquake Early Warning System provides on-premises notifications triggered by the USGS ShakeAlert® to alert individuals to take protective actions – DROP! COVER! HOLD ON!

Earthquake early warning systems are pivotal in disaster preparedness and response strategies. These systems leverage technology and scientific understanding to detect seismic activity and provide vital seconds to minutes of warning before destructive shaking occurs. The importance of such warnings cannot be overstated, and here are compelling reasons why investing in earthquake early warning systems is paramount.

First and foremost, the paramount concern in any disaster scenario is preserving human life. With their abrupt onset and potential for catastrophic consequences, Earthquakes demand swift and decisive action. By providing advance notice of impending seismic activity, early warning systems offer precious moments for individuals, communities, and emergency responders to enact life-saving measures. Whether taking cover, securing hazardous materials, or initiating evacuation procedures, even a few seconds of warning can significantly mitigate casualties and injuries. Investing in Valcom’s Earthquake Early Warning System is a proactive approach to disaster risk reduction, and providing early earthquake notifications is imperative to saving lives.

The benefits of early warning systems are universal, whether in seismically active regions prone to frequent earthquakes or areas with historically low seismicity. As stewards of our collective safety and well-being, we must prioritize investments in resilient infrastructure and emergency disaster preparedness measures. Valcom has added its Earthquake Early Warning System to its latest product, the VIP-895-E Emergency Communications Panel. The Emergency Communication Panel is a wall-mounted device designed for facilities of any size that integrates with your existing overhead paging system and Valcom visual displays to send emergency alerts to notify employees. VIP-895-E receives ShakeAlert messages, and once the message is received, the VIP-895-E is triggered to send out an Earthquake Early Warning audibly, visibility, or both to satisfy OSHA and ADA regulations.

By adopting Valcom’s Earthquake Early Warning System, you mitigate the immediate seismic risks and enhance safety measures to save lives.

Valcom Warranty

Valcom, Inc. warrants its products only to the original purchaser, for its own use, to be free
from defects in materials and workmanship under conditions of normal use and service for a
period of one year from the date of shipment. This Limited Warranty obligation shall be limited
to the replacement, repair or refund of any such defective device within the warranty period,
provided that:

inspection by Valcom, Inc. indicates the validity of the claim;
the defect is not the result of damage, misuse or negligence after the original
shipment;
the product has not been altered in any way or repaired by others and that factory
sealed units are unopened (a service charge plus parts and labor will be applied to
units defaced or physically damaged);
freight charges for the return of products to Valcom are prepaid;
all units ‘out of warranty’ are subject to a service charge. The service charge will cover
minor repairs (major repairs will be subject to additional charges for parts and labor).
This Limited Warranty is in lieu of and excludes all other warranties, expressed or implied and
in no event shall Valcom, Inc. be liable for any anticipated profits, consequential damages,
loss of time or other losses incurred by the buyer in connection with the purchase, operation,
maintenance, installation, removal or use of the product. The maximum liability of Valcom
under this warranty is limited to the purchase price of the specific Product covered by the
warranty.
Disclaimer. Except for the Limited Warranty provided herein, the product is provided “as-is”
without any warranty of any kind whatsoever including, without limitation, any WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NONINFRINGEMENT.
This warranty specifically excludes damage incurred in shipment. In the event a product is
received in damaged condition, the carrier should be notified immediately. Claims for such
damage should be filed with the carrier involved in accordance with the F.O.B. point.

Headquarters:
Valcom, Inc.
5614 Hollins Road
Roanoke VA 24019-5056
Phone: (540) 563-2000 FAX: (540) 362-9800

Email: is@valcom.com