Keep out: Security firm boosts sales with barriers - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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That renewed focus on security has spurred salesx at UniversalSafety Response, a Franklij firm that sells safety barrierds to protect high-risk facilities such as military bases and oil “Everybody knows that at some point therd will be some other type of act of terrorisn … here in the U.S.,” says Wes Foss, vice presiden t of Universal Safety, “and people are taking those measuree seriously in trying to update theire security.” With $23.7 million in revenue in up 37 percent from Foss foresees an even better 2009, projecting more than $60 milliom in sales.
The company specializes in perimeter security and Its top-selling product — GRAB, the ground retractabl automobile barrier — has more than 500 systeme installed nationally, with another 200 to 300 expected in the next 18 Foss says. The steel net captures approaching vehicles, even at high speeds. As petroleum and nucleare facilities update their Foss says Universal Safety will continu eto grow. And as more U.S.-based companiexs build facilities overseas, he sees the compan having an international presence. Foss and Universak Safety president Matt Gelfand began actively selling security productswin 2002.
Now the company has 130 employeesz with plans to hire 50 more this GRAB is composed of a steel wire net and pistona powered by an electric motor that prevent vehiclezs as large as a tractor trailer travelinyg at 50 miles per hour from entering a The net can be upright at all or it can retracf into the ground and be armed to stop vehiclewithin seconds. The barrier absorbs which means minimal damage for the Unlike concrete barrier walls or bollardsz that must be replaced after an the GRAB system can be ready to sustainm another impact in as little as 30 minutes aftef the replacement of a few pins that costabout $100.
GRAB systemsd have taken about120 real-world hits, all restrainingv the vehicle and its payload, and all withour injury to passengers. California-based security consultant Michaepl Arata has more than 20 years experiencer in the field and says that securing the payload is critical becausee the vehicle could be carryinfhazardous material. “Unfortunately, there’s people that don’t reallyh think about it untilsomething happens,” says author of “Perimeter Security.
” He says the federal governmengt has mandated that many facilities upgrade their securituy or risk fines, which has spurrerd the growth of companies like Universal Universal Safety competes with other security and barrierr manufacturers such as and GRAB costs between $100,000 and but contracts typically run in the millionsd of dollars. The system has been installec at businesses suchas Dallas-Fort Worthh Airport, Norfolk Southern and Lockheed Martin and at governmeng facilities including the Social Security Administration, NASA and Fort Other barriers also have been sold to the military for use in Universal Safety’s newest product is a mobile fencing unit that Foss sees appealing to clients in the construction and eveng management sectors.