Exensor Technology

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Exensor Technology's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Exensor Technology is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett

Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.exensor.com

29EXENSOR TECHNOLOGY LTD UK |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2018

Phil Ashworth,

managing director

Exensor – committed to providing

unprecedented technological solutions

for real problems

Forget

Mission Impossible

. “Seeing” through walls, providing

“invisible” barriers – these seemingly unachievable feats were

problems now solved by defence and security world leaders

Exensor Technology Ltd over the course of their 40-year history.

Managing director of Exensor Technology Ltd UK, Phil Ashworth,

here discusses Exensor’s unique provision for both private and

governmental consumers in the realms of surveillance and

security, and the vital role networked unattended ground sensor

systems can play in matters of personal and national security on

an ever-changing international stage.

By re-investing over £1.5 million annually in technological evolution, Exensor has

become the most accomplished provider of networked unattended ground sensor

systems in the world. We offer the highest level of protection, using network

communication, currently accessible to people, assets and facilities, and we are

always looking to take our extensive product portfolio to the next level.

Working with both international governments and commercial clients who require

covert and discreet surveillance, we provide solutions that are not only the best, but

that are also the most cost-effective. From airport to border control, special forces

to prison wardens, we lead the way in increasing protection while reducing the

risks to personnel by using the very latest in technological advances.

So what are “invisible digital borders” and why should we use them?

Imagine a scenario where surveillance is required. Let’s take a border for example. Yes,

we could build a wall and have it heavily manned and laden with large CCTV cameras.

FACTS ABOUT

EXENSOR TECHNOLOGY LTD UK

»Managing director: Phil

Ashworth

»Established in 1987

»Based in Basingstoke,

Hampshire, with international

partners in Sweden and France

»Services: Supply of Flexnet;

networked unattended ground

sensor systems as covert and

discreet surveillance solutions

»No. of employees: 19

»Longstanding government

and commercial clients

worldwide, including the

MoD and homeland security

organisations

»Success is based upon

reinvestment to provide

innovative solutions for real-

world problems

»www.exensor.com

Exensor Technology

Ltd UK

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW

Highlighting best practice

30 | EXENSOR TECHNOLOGY LTD UK

Or we could have something far less

obtrusive and yet far more effective – an

invisible digital border!

A “networked unattended ground

sensor system” consists of a suite of

network communication intelligent

miniaturised sensors and cameras,

known as “Flexnet”, placed

strategically along the border. Cleverly

hidden devices provide 360-degree

monitoring, 24/7, 365 days per year,

using their “seismic acoustic” and

passive infrared capabilities (PIR – light

radiating from objects in its field of

view). In other words, the autonomous

sensors detect motion or infrared

within the allotted area, decipher who

or what is causing the motion and raise

awareness when a threat is identified.

Detecting and recognising the seismic,

acoustic or PIR “fingerprint” of a

person, terrestrial vehicle or aircraft,

whether within a line of vision or

through solid barriers such as walls and

vegetation, makes Flexnet far more

proficient at surveillance than a person

or CCTV camera. And when there is a

threat, no person is put at risk through

patrolling a dangerous area.

Man and machine in harmony

While our systems are currently used

in 22 countries protecting static

structures and areas such as borders,

secure buildings and power plants, we

also protect movable targets such as

special forces and vehicle fleets.

Military forces, as an example, can

spend many months on the move,

relying on each other for protection

as they sleep by taking turns patrolling

their camp. By using our Flexnet

protection system they are capable of

rapidly deploying an array of sensors

around their area, this compact, discreet

and lightweight battery-powered ring

of protection giving indications and

warnings of any imminent threat.

What does the future hold?

We’re constantly looking to predict the

seemingly unpredictable and provide

technological solutions that eliminate

threats before they arise or become

widespread.

The prison service, for example, is

suffering a new threat from drones

being used to transport contraband

into prisons. We have the capabilities

to help eliminate this problem without

the need for additional manpower or

considerable expense.

We are also able to provide border

control between apparently open

borders, for example between

Northern Ireland and the Republic of

Ireland following Brexit, by integrating

a range of unattended ground sensors

through a silent mesh network of

cameras and command and control

systems. As mentioned above, the

Exensor solution would not require

significant manpower or expenditure.

Border security can

be maintained using

Flexnet, without the

need for barriers or

footpatrols

The Flexnet suite of

products

We provide

solutions that

are not only

the best, but

that are also

the most cost-

effective

“

31EXENSOR TECHNOLOGY LTD UK |

BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2018

Technology isn’t everything …

Looking back as well as forward has

helped us maintain our position in

the marketplace by enhancing our

technology to meet with current

requirements. Listening to and taking

care of our longstanding clients,

and working with them to provide

solutions that reach way beyond

their expectations, has always been

paramount. What has worked in the

past, how goals have been achieved

and what we could have done

differently are always questions that

we ask of ourselves and our customers.

We also understand that great

invention and innovation can only be

truly great if it solves a problem. And

that’s why we place our clients at

the centre of our work – not just the

technology! Listening to our clients

and examining the world around us

helps when we select the best areas

of technology in which to concentrate

our substantial reinvestment.

The European Job!

So, what is Brexit – a threat or

an opportunity? Based in the

UK, partnered with our Swedish

counterparts and with a French parent

company, we truly are a modern-

day blended family. As a forward-

looking European company we have

been working with our continental

friends from the very outset and we

foresee no change in this harmonious

partnership, whatever the UK’s

future relationship with the European

Union may be. We’ll also maintain

our ongoing relationships outside

of Europe, the potential being that

these will become stronger as trade

agreements strengthen.

On the home front

With a loyal workforce, many of whom

have been part of the Exensor family for

over 20 years, we recognise that quality

products and services only arise from

nurturing a committed team where

goals are shared. And that is exactly

what we have here in Basingstoke. We

value and respect each other, working

together in the development and

production of exceptional products.

Recently introduced additional flexible

working alongside our established

“nine-day fortnight” gives staff the

flexibility to maintain a healthy work-

life balance and ensures commitment

to success and excellence.

Always moving forward …

Providing unprecedented technological

solutions for real problems that our

clients face every day is just one of

the reasons why I’m incredibly proud

of Exensor. Reinvesting, reinventing

and removing boundaries have always

been, and will always be, at our heart.

Taking networked communications

into unexplored realms is vital to what

we do, but at our core are our clients.

The problems are they facing, how

we can use technological advances to

provide solutions and what promises to

benefit the world at large will always

be our Mission Possible!

Providing

unprecedented

technological

solutions for real

problems that

our clients face

every day is just

one of the

reasons why I’m

incredibly proud

of Exensor

Phil Ashworth

“

Exensor’s Flexnet can

help prevent contraband

being transported into

prisons via drones,

without the need for

additional manpower

Our Exensor team work

together in the development

and production of

exceptional products

www.exensor.com

This article was sponsored by Exensor Technology. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it. The publication in which this article originally appeared contained the following foreword from The Rt Hon Theresa May MP.

The Rt Hon Theresa May MP's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By The Rt Hon Theresa May MP

This foreword from the then Prime Minister appeared in the 2018/19 Parliamentary Review.

British politics provides ample material for analysis in the pages of The Parliamentary Review. For Her Majesty’s Government, our task in the year ahead is clear: to achieve the best Brexit deal for Britain and to carry on our work to build a more prosperous and united country – one that truly works for everyone.

The right Brexit deal will not be sufficient on its own to secure a more prosperous future for Britain. We also need to ensure that our economy is ready for what tomorrow will bring. Our Modern Industrial Strategy is our plan to do that. It means Government stepping up to secure the foundations of our productivity: providing an education system that delivers the skills our economy needs, improving school standards and transforming technical education; delivering infrastructure for growth; ensuring people have the homes they need in the places they want to live. It is all about taking action for the long-term that will pay dividends in the future.

But it also goes beyond that. Government, the private sector and academia working together as strategic partners achieve far more than we could separately. That is why we have set an ambitious goal of lifting UK public and private research and development investment to 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027. It is why we are developing four Grand Challenges, the big drivers of social and economic change in the world today: harnessing artificial intelligence and the data revolution; leading in changes to the future of mobility; meeting the challenges of our ageing society; and driving ahead the revolution in clean growth. By focusing our efforts on making the most of these areas of enormous potential, we can develop new exports, grow new industries and create more good jobs in every part of our country.

Years of hard work and sacrifice from the British people have got our deficit down by over three quarters. We are building on this success by taking a balanced approach to public spending. We are continuing to deal with our debts, so that our economy can remain strong and we can protect people’s jobs, and at the same time we are investing in vital public services, like our NHS. We have set out plans to increase NHS funding annually by an average by 3.4 percent in real terms: that is £394 million a week more. In return, the NHS will produce a ten-year plan, led by doctors and nurses, to eliminate waste and improve patient care.

I believe that Britain can look to the future with confidence. We are leaving the EU and setting a new course for prosperity as a global trading nation. We have a Modern Industrial Strategy that is strengthening the foundations of our economy and helping us to seize the opportunities of the future. We are investing in the public services we all rely on and helping them to grow and improve. Building on our country’s great strengths – our world-class universities and researchers, our excellent services sector, our cutting edge manufacturers, our vibrant creative industries, our dedicated public servants – we can look towards a new decade that is ripe with possibility. The government I lead is doing all it can to make that brighter future a reality for everyone in our country.

British politics provides ample material for analysis in the pages of The Parliamentary Review

The Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Prime Minister