Keep out: Security firm boosts sales with barriers - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

http://www.iavias.com/2008/05/ffdshw-rev-1975-20080526/
That renewed focus on security has spurrerd sales at Universal Safety a Franklin firm that sells safetuy barriers toprotect high-risk facilitiex such as military bases and oil refineries. “Everybod knows that at some point there will be some other type of act ofterrorismm … here in the U.S.,” says Wes vice president of Universal Safety, “and people are takingv those measures seriously in trying to update theier security.” With $23.7 million in revenue in up 37 percent from 2007, Foss foresees an even bettedr 2009, projecting more than $60 millioj in sales.
The company specializes in perimeter security and Its top-selling product — GRAB, the ground retractabl automobile barrier — has more than 500 systems installe d nationally, with another 200 to 300 expected in the next 18 Foss says. The steel net capturesw approaching vehicles, even at high speeds. As petroleum and nuclear facilities updatetheirt security, Foss says Universal Safety will continue to And as more U.S.-based companiesz build facilities overseas, he sees the company havingg an international presence. Foss and Universap Safety president Matt Gelfand began actively selling security productzin 2002.
Now the company has 130 employeed with plans to hire 50 morethis year. GRAB is composed of a steel wire net and pistons powered by an electric motor that preven vehicles as large as a tractor trailetr traveling at 50 miles per hour from enterinhga facility. The net can be upright at all or it can retracrt into the ground and be armed to stop vehiclezwithin seconds. The barrier absorbs energy, which means minimao damage forthe vehicle.
Unlike concrete barrier walls or bollarde that must be replaced afteran impact, the GRAB system can be readyu to sustain another impact in as little as 30 minutes after the replacement of a few pins that cost about GRAB systems have taken about 120 real-world hits, all restraining the vehiclew and its payload, and all without injury to passengers. California-basedd security consultant Michael Arata has more than 20 yearss experience in the field and says that securingb the payload is critical because the vehicle coulfd be carryinghazardous material.
“Unfortunately, there’zs people that don’t really think abouft it untilsomething happens,” says Arata, author of “Perimeter He says the federal government has mandatede that many facilities upgrades their security or risk fines, which has spurred the growtgh of companies like Universak Safety. Universal Safety competes with other security and barrier manufacturersd such as and GRAB costsbetween $100,000 and $300,000, but contractx typically run in the millions of dollars.
The systek has been installed at businesses suchas Dallas-Fort Wort h Airport, Norfolk Southern and Lockheed Martib and at government facilitied including the Social Security Administration, NASA and Fort Hood. Othef barriers also have been sold to the military for use in Universal Safety’s newest product is FenceBox, a mobile fencing unit that Foss sees appealingb to clients in the construction and event management sectors.