Member Article

Sunderland CCTV firm on a buzz after most ‘unusual project’ reaches completion

Sunderland-based Hadrian Technology has completed an out of the ordinary security project, following a unique request from German superkmarket chain Aldi.

Asked to provide security cameras for a honey bee hotel, the CCTV firm was asked to install four high-definition CCTV cameras to protect eight hives outside of its UK headquarters at Atherstone, Warwickshire.

Aldi installed the insect observation hive as an interesting feature for staff and visitors, who will be able to watch 500,000 busy bees flying in and out of the hives on a giant screen in the retailer’s reception area.

Gary Trotter, general manager at Hadrian Technology, revealed: “This was a really unusual project for us, but we fit security cameras anywhere there is a need – and even bees need security. It will protect them from being stolen or from malicious damage.

The contract stands as the biggest ever undertaken by Hadrian Technology, which is on target to deliver a turnover of £9m during 2015/16.

Gary continued: “We have installed two internal and two external cameras protecting the entrances and the hives. It will help to protect the bees and all the equipment. We have also installed data infrastructure for Aldi to install two webcams to monitor the bees entering and leaving the hives.

“The CCTV cameras were installed before the bees arrived and Aldi will be able to monitor the security of the thousands of bees.”

While providing CCTV to protect a beehive is unusual, security cameras will help to keep the insects safe and secure and deter thieves and vandals.

Thousands are honey bees are stolen every year as a decline in bee numbers means hives, and queens, are worth more. This summer, 30,000 bees and three queens were stolen from a honey farm in Anglesey, North Wales.

The provision of security cameras for the bee hotel is part of a larger project undertaken by Hadrian Security to install and upgrade 300 CCTV cameras at Aldi’s distribution centre and car park, which is due to be completed this autumn.

Hadrian Technology designs bespoke CCTV systems for a diverse range of commercial, leisure and retail clients across the UK and Ireland, and installs more than 800 cameras every month.