Case Study
ASO Siderurgica Group
Protecting steel manufacturing sites
with Genetec Omnicast video surveillance
Italian steel producer upgrades to Omnicast IP video surveillance to counter raw material
theft and keep factory workers safe.
Business challenge
Established in 1971, ASO Siderurgica is an Italian steel producer
with an exceptional reputation for quality and manufacturing
technology, and a trusted partner in global aerospace and energy
industries. Its ‘Made in Italy’ label is a differentiator ASO
Siderurgica takes seriously, and thus requires controlled and
uninterrupted operations through its three main manufacturing
sites across Italy, namely Ospitaletto (Brescia), Castegnato (Brescia)
and Raldon (Verona), to ensure the quality of its production and
the timely delivery of its supplies.
With the largest manufacturing plant spanning over 70,000 square
meters, ASO Siderurgica had previously invested in a DVR-based
analog security system to monitor its plants, protect its perimeter
and ensure its assets and people were safe. However, in recent
years, break-ins and thefts of raw materials and finished products
were becoming more rampant, and searching through video tapes
to resolve incidents became troublesome. Instead, ASO Siderurgica
turned to Certified Genetec Integrator and Distributor, LAIS S.r.l,
with plans to upgrade their analog video system with the latest IP
security technology.
ASO Siderurgica has massive facilities with lots of shift workers
coming and going, so its security team needed a cutting-edge
video surveillance solution that would let them monitor
happenings around the clock, and maximize their resources
during the night shifts when thefts are more prevalent and
security staff is minimal. According to Mario Pasquino from
LAIS, “We suggested Genetec for its proven reliability in
other installations across Italy, and because it would allow this
large-scale steel producer to easily add cameras across its other
manufacturing sites as well as integrate the latest IP hardware and
software thanks to a truly open architecture.”
Multi-site monitoring with real-time analytics
Today, Omnicast IP video surveillance, version 4.8, is installed
at the three sites with 44 cameras in Ospitaletto, 15 cameras in
Castegnato and 28 cameras in Raldon. Although each system is
independent from the other, ASO Siderurgica is also monitoring
and controlling their systems from a central location as if they
were part of a single virtual system using the Genetec Federation
feature. This feature helps its security team better allocate their
personnel and become more efficient during off-hours.
“We suggested Genetec for its proven
reliability in other installations across
Italy, and because it would allow this
large-scale steel producer to easily add
cameras across its other manufacturing
sites as well as integrate the latest IP
hardware and software thanks to a truly
open architecture.”
ASO Siderurgica chose Axis Communications P1346-E network
cameras and AXIS Q1921-E thermal cameras to achieve complete
coverage and better visibility over extensive perimeter and critical
junctions during nighttime darkness. LAIS also deployed Vi-System,
Agent Vi’s real-time video analytics solution, integrated with the
Axis cameras by embedding the Agent Vi software component in
the cameras. Within Omnicast, the following Vi-System detection
rules are activated:
• Person crossing a line to detect and alert to perimeter
intrusions; and
• Person and vehicle moving in an area to detect and alert to
unauthorized personnel and vehicles moving in restricted areas.
“At each site, we installed one NVR server and one NAS server
for storage which includes 10TB for video archiving. We use
ISCSI protocol between the NVR and NAS server, and have also
implemented a dedicated server for software integration such as the
Agent Vi real-time analytics,” explained Mr. Pasquino.
Preventing loss while keeping workers safe
Since upgrading to Omnicast IP video surveillance, ASO
Siderurgica has been able to better handle incidents of thefts and
apprehend suspects. Adding an extra layer of intelligent analytics
has also heightened security in and around their facilities.
The Agent Vi analytics integration within Omnicast provides
operators with instant alarm notifications which are brought to the
forefront of the monitor alongside live video as soon as an event is
 ASO Siderurgica · Case Study

detected. This allows the operators to respond to potential threats

within a moment’s notice. LAIS has also configured the system to
automatically bookmark these events so they are easy to find when
reviews need to be undertaken by ASO Siderurgica’s security team.
“Our Omnicast IP video management system is very easy to use
and highly intuitive,” confirmed Michele Perini, Information
Technology Manager at ASO Siderurgica. “Since installation,
our security team has been able to handle incidents and find
video faster than ever before. This ultimately means we are able to
minimize thefts, keep our operations running smoothly and make
sure our workers are always safe.”
“Each of ASO Siderurgica’s sites had vulnerable spots, including some
with poor or no lighting, that were causing a nuisance and resulting
in robberies. Following significant testing, it was clear that Agent Vi’s
analytics, combined with thermal IP cameras from Axis delivered
the best solution for this customer,” confirmed Mr. Pasquino.
“Immediately after installation, we started receiving detections of
unauthorized people and cars at the sites. With the instant display of
the intruders’ movements in the Omnicast interface, the company
security team now operates at an optimal level.”

Expanding IP security across more sites

Knowing Omnicast is proven to handle growth beyond thousands
of video devices, ASO Siderurgica is looking to continue adding “Since installation, our security team
more cameras, while also considering the expansion of the federated
system across more of its sites. ASO Siderurgica is also interested
has been able to handle incidents and
in upgrading to Genetec Security Center, the unified security find video faster than ever before. This
platform that blends multiple systems in one powerful solution to
start leveraging more features from the Genetec portfolio. Top of ultimately means we are able to minimize
mind is the Mobile feature which will allow security guards to access thefts, keep our operations running
cameras from their smartphones, and Plan Manager, the map-based
interface, which provides ease navigation through their massive smoothly and make sure our workers are
facilities from 2D or 3D map layouts. always safe.”
“Protecting our organization and our people, while delivering
on the promise of quality to our customers is at the core of our
mission, so we could not be more pleased with how this complete
security solution has supported everything we strive to achieve as a
leading steel producer,” concluded Mr. Perini.

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