News

Computerised pass system quickly checks the identity of prison visitors

The jail service is appealing to breeders to double the numbers of sniffer dogs. Officers train the dogs to sniff out banned materials, whether they are drugs or mobile phones, and the Scottish Prison Service is now asking Labrador and Spaniel breeders to nominate their pups. It is likely the number of dogs required will go up from 12 to 28. When it is time to retire the usual practice is for the dogs to become family pets. Tensor can improve security in prisons via Prison Pass monitoring. This is a low cost, easy to install, computer based pass system for registering each visitor, both on and off site. It allows HM Prison Service Officers to quickly check the identity and monitor the movements of visitors. Running on a PC using your Windows™ operating system, Prison Pass allows the pre-booking of legal representatives, contractors and inmate visitors with maximum speed and minimum fuss. Data can be stored for future reference or exported to other compatible databases.  
News

Steel metal fencing with seamless design a solution for vandalism

A landmark attacked by metal thieves is to receive nearly a half-a-million pounds makeover. The restoration at the West Midlands war memorial Barr Beacon will take three years following the cash injection. The memorial has been affected several times by thieves stripping copper from its roof, and it has been awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The HLF said the restoration aims to reinstate the site “as a shining beacon of community pride”. It is becoming increasingly difficult for companies and organisations to secure outdoor locations considering the spate of metal thefts. Tensor has many barrier access control devices to fill this need. We offer complete metal fencing solutions that offer the security of modern steel with seamless design, coupled with the looks of traditional iron railings. Increasingly seen by owner and insurance company alike as a high quality cost effective solution to obtain a secure perimeter, the palisade metal fencing has a proven record in reducing crime and vandalism.
News

Email and hard copy warnings when staff running late for work

Fuel tanker drivers will not go on strike over Easter, according to reports. Motorists were seen at the nation’s petrol stations ‘panic buying’ after being advised by the government to top up their tanks. Queues formed at many forecourts yesterday (Thursday) as demand for fuel rose. Conciliation concern Acas says it hopes talks between employers and unions will happen shortly after Monday. Analysts say this makes Easter strikes unlikely because the unions have to give seven days' notice. If your firm finds it tough to keep track of those people enrolled for work on a given day, then the Time and Attendance or Absenteeism and Lateness reporting functions in a Tensor clocking system will prove invaluable. As absence is booked and taken by staff members, the available remainder for each entitlement is updated by the WinTA software. Entitlement formulae are used to calculate more complex entitlements that work on a rising scale based upon length of service. Late employee warnings are conveyed by email, hardcopy reports and more.  
News

Alarms or alerts immediately triggered from forced entries at a premises

Scrap metal dealers across the land have been asked to sign up to a new scheme which cracks down on crime. Under the Responsible Scrap Metal Dealer Scheme, dealers will make it easier for police to trace sellers of stolen metal but it will not interfere with those who operate legitimately. Dealers commit to complying with regulations and keep accurate records. In return police will visit scrap metal dealers on a regular basis and keep them informed of crime trends. The Tensor T3511 Low Cost 1 Scanner Controller combines with the latest .NET PC based Access Control software to monitor and control access at all entry and exit points at your premises. Any standard burglar alarm can be connected directly to the T3511 so an audible and/or visual alert is immediately triggered from a forced entry. The versatile T3511 can use passive infrared sensors (PIR’s) and the WinACnet software to create a register of date and time stamped movement transactions recorded by the PC.  
News

Up to nine absence reason codes can be stored in business clocking station

In a new twist to the strike saga, the UK is threatened with gridlock after the possibility of thousands of lorry drivers blocking roads and refineries in support of striking tanker drivers was raised. The Fuel Lobby is backing tanker drivers should the unions take Easter industrial action over health and safety issues. Andrew Spence, leader of the Fuel Lobby, took part in the blockades of 2000 and said: “We are better organised than we were in 2000. This time we will bring the Government down.” Tensor can set up a complete Smart Card Time and Attendance system at a business which manages time and attendance recording. Comprehensive user-definable working patterns plus individual and group Absence Planners are just some of the features. Managers can choose to view all types of absences, a single absence type or all types with a common category. Absence categories and types are fully user-definable. Up to nine reason codes for absences can also be stored in the clocking station.  
News

Attendance recording key fobs operate using proven scanning technology

Yahoo is to cut 2,000 staff, the company announced today (Wednesday). The internet giant said the redundancies were part of efforts to make it “smaller, nimbler, more profitable”. The company expects its cost-cutting programme to save £236m a year. Severance pay is expected to amount to one-third of its annual savings, although this is a one-off figure. The affected employees will be notified later today. It is the struggling web firm’s sixth round of redundancies in the last four years. Tensor plc are acknowledged as class-leading suppliers of efficient Time & Attendance systems and products. Contactless key fobs as well as smart cards are used to operate your Time and Attendance system. The fobs operate using well-proven Radio Frequency technology. An inbuilt aerial made from copper and iron is embedded into your key fob, allowing it to be scanned by your office system. Fobs can be supplied in a grey plastic shell made from implant quality glass, similar to those used in the identification of pets.  
News

Secure site car park barriers have option of an impact release mechanism

Protesters are about to be evicted from areas surrounding the building of an Olympic training venue. People are objecting to the east London Olympic development since they say no proper analysis of its environmental impact was made. Attempts to oppose the possession order during an hour-long hearing were frustrated because no-one was willing to be named as residing at the camp. Therefore they could not legally be considered defendants and could not be allowed to oppose the making of the order. If your firm is having problems with trespassers at your site then Tensor can help with its gates, barriers, and turnstiles. Tensor access control barriers are the number one solution for controlling vehicle access to your site's car park and road entry points. As well as an effective method of security, car park barriers are a way of monitoring the amount of vehicles travelling through any given access point. Optional extras include: a folding arm mechanism, impact release mechanism, and hanging racks or barrier skirts.  
News

Factory working rules software uses a specific shift on public holidays

Scrapping bank holidays would boost annual output in the UK by £19 billion, says the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). The CEBR wants these holidays to be more spread out over the year to stop businesses “losing momentum”. CEBR founder Douglas McWilliams told the BBC: “About 45 per cent of the economy suffers; the offices, the factories, the building sites where people tend not to go to work on bank holiday.” Tensor has the solution for any offices, factories or multiple sites needing working rules over bank holidays or any other special circumstances. Beginning with WinTA Start, our Time & Attendance software contains the Groups function which is used to define sequences of shift patterns. Rolling Groups repeat a block of shift patterns. The block can contain any number of days or weeks. AutoSelect Groups have multiple shift patterns available per day. Each group can be set up to override the normal pattern and use a specific shift on public holidays.  
News

Compact bullet CCTV cameras help prevent criminals breaking into a property

The fact that the 158th Boat Race was halted by a lone swimmer has led to an Olympic official admitting events could be disrupted. The weekend race was delayed midway through when a protester began swimming next to the boats. British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan said all efforts will go to protecting athletes, and commented: “You can never get it perfect unless you remove all the crowds and nobody is going to dream of doing that.” Give your company a sporting chance of preventing criminals from breaking into your property with a Tensor digital CCTV system. Digital CCTV uses the most advanced compression technologies to bring you the highest picture quality and video performance. Bullet cameras are cameras mounted in a cylindrical or ‘bullet’ casing. This makes them easy to install when pointing them in the right direction, and keeps the case compact. The cameras’ small size and inbuilt lens make them ideal for situations where space and price are key issues.  
News

Personnel system extracts payroll information in exactly the correct format

Bank boss Bob Diamond’s pay has come under scrutiny. A think tank says the Barclays chief should not be awarded his latest annual bonus due to the fact that the financial giant’s shares are trading far below net asset value. Shareholders group Pensions and Investors Research Consultants commented: “We cannot think of any circumstances in which a chief executive who was part of a team when the bank got into that predicament should be receiving any bonus at all.” A Time and Attendance system from Tensor handles all payroll and hours calculation methods. The system allows you to create a series of shift premium rules that enable employees to earn bonus payments under special circumstances. A Tensor WinTA system has the ability to export information to the payroll system. Tensor has worked with all of the major payroll packages and WinTA has a wide range of configuration options to extract payroll information in exactly the correct format. It can share or receive information from third party applications.  
News

Safety conscious technology prints a report in the event of fire at work

More than 20 firefighters battled a rush hour blaze at a south coast cemetery yesterday (April 11, 2012). The crews were called just before 5.30pm, and arrived at the scene in just three minutes at the cemetery in Weymouth. It is understood that a structural engineer has been called in to assess the damage at a chapel which has been gutted. Nearby residents were advised to close windows due to the plume of smoke caused by the fire. Tensor is the number one choice for any safety-conscious employer as our security and Time and Attendance technology can be integrated with fire roll call software. The clever PC based network will automatically generate a report in the event of a fire or other emergency situation. As your workers assemble at their fire roll call points, they use their proximity read smart cards or key fobs to record their presence. If employees have not brought their cards, they can be checked off manually using the report.
News

Door security software creates alarm messages when forced entry occurs

An internet organisation boasted on its blog about climbing the summit of one of the highest buildings in Europe. The intruders scaled the 309m tall Shard skyscraper, which dominates the skyline near London Bridge, and posted photographs on the Place Hacking blog. The blog reported how the trespassers dodged security: “We waited for the guard to finish his round and go into his hut,” adding about reaching the peak: “We were so high, I couldn't see anything moving at street level.” Tensor can quickly put in place easy to use Access Control Software to improve security and ward off trespassers at all sizes of premises, whether tall or small. The WinACnet software creates alarm messages when predetermined actions take place, or if a forced entry occurs. The speech output delivers clear English spoken alerts when pre-defined ‘flagged’ actions take place – for example, when a specific door is opened by a specific individual. The system includes real time (near) graphical display showing doors being opened or those undergoing forced entry.

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