Company name: Jenoptik
Headquarters: Jena, Germany
Signature Product: Jenoptik’s VECTOR integrated ALPR camera
Website: www.jenoptik.us/
1. Where did your company name originate from?
Jenoptik is a globally operating technology group in which optical technologies are the very basis of our business. Our origins date back to 1846, when Carl Zeiss opened his optical workshop in Jena, Germany. Together with Ernst Abbe, he brought worldwide fame to the Carl Zeiss Jena company in which Jenoptik was founded after the German reunification in 1991.
Jenoptik’s Smart Mobility Solutions division provides innovative and industry-leading solutions for road safety and public security. Our customers include local and central government, police and enforcement agencies, as well as public and private organizations.
Since developing the first automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology back in 1979, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is at the core of our product portfolio, covering a diverse range of applications, such as average speed enforcement (section speed control), vehicle monitoring, red light violations and tolling. Our services range from initial consultation, design and manufacture through to installation and ongoing maintenance. We also offer a variety of data management solutions and services for automated data processing, reporting and analytics as well as system integration.
2. What is your signature product and how does it work?
Jenoptik’s VECTOR integrated ALPR camera is a single, highly capable compact unit that can monitor multilane high-speed traffic in the most challenging of conditions, by day or night, and capable of bi-directional operation.
Jenoptik´s deep learning software makes ALPR particularly powerful by being able to extract even more information from recorded images. The software reliably differentiates between vehicle classes, and can read and record license plates anywhere in the world. Our VECTOR cameras are suitable for both stationary and mobile applications, as well as easy to install and configure using a self-explanatory user interface.
Jenoptik’s TraffiData analysis software evaluates license plate data in real time so law enforcement agencies are always up to date, enabling quick crime detection and prevention.
TraffiData analysis software uses sophisticated algorithms to identify patterns and quickly identify potential threats. Custom filters can also be set to alert authorities when a vehicle of interest is detected within a specific area, helping to protect high-risk locations such as connecting roads, city centers, airports, critical infrastructures and public buildings.
3. Why do you believe your products are essential to the police community?
Jenoptik is making communities safer with advanced civil security and traffic safety solutions.
Our VECTOR ALPR cameras are a vital tool used by law enforcement and security agencies around the globe. Working as stand-alone units, or part of a wide ALPR network, VECTOR provides a 24/7 monitoring capability, with each camera capable of capturing thousands of plate reads every day and a back office database capable of storing billions of plate reads. Our powerful back office analysis software can locate wanted vehicles fast, or identify criminal activity through analysis of driving patterns, enabling proactive measurements, such as arrests by appointment.
VECTOR is a brilliant camera for denying criminals the use of the road by real-time identification of all vehicles entering and traveling through the force area. ALPR is firmly a part of core policing; utilized by all officers covering every element of an investigation.
Our proven red light and speed enforcement solutions also increase children’s safety in school zones as well as provide greater safety throughout other vulnerable areas, such as construction zones, by monitoring speed and changing driver behavior.
4. What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
Inferior products have led to misconceptions within the market. The notion that any combination of off-the-shelf hardware and software can deliver adequate ALPR performance and converting CCTV cameras to read ALPR will yield adequate ALPR performance is false. Jenoptik controls all elements of the solution that yields better results than a multithreaded solution coming from various partners.
5. What makes your company unique?
Jenoptik first equipped police vehicles with cameras as far back as 1955, and was the first to develop and market ALPR technology in 1979. Along with many other firsts and a leader in photonic technology, Jenoptik continues to provide innovative and industry-leading solutions for road safety and public security.
We provide in-house hardware and software manufacturing, as well as world-class customer service and support from initial consultation, design and manufacture through to installation and ongoing maintenance for the entire lifecycle of the products.
6. What do your customers like best about you and your products?
Jenoptik’s VECTOR ALPR all-in-one compact unit can monitor up to three lanes of high-speed traffic in the most challenging of conditions, by day or night. Each VECTOR camera is capable of capturing thousands of plate reads every day. Our mature and robust TraffiData back office software, capable of storing billions of plate reads, processes this information in real time, compares the results against hotlists and automatically reports suspect vehicles. Our products provide the perfect solution for civil security.
Jenoptik’s VECTOR SR camera system is a video-based system for red light and speed enforcement with automatic license plate recognition. Using traditional spot speed as well as average speed measurement, our proven speed camera solutions effectively change driver behavior to increase safety throughout vulnerable areas such as construction zones as well as school zones to keep our children safe.
We deliver world-class customer service with in-house support when needed. First in innovation with years of experience, we are your expert partner with end-to-end technologies for Traffic Law Enforcement and Civil Security.
7. What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder community?
Our technologies contribute to saving lives, and improving the safety of the general public on and off the roads.
Our VECTOR cameras, coupled with our highly advanced TraffiData analysis software that reliably manages and analyzes huge amounts of ALPR data in real-time, allow personnel on the ground to automatically obtain the information they need, resulting in streamlined use of personnel and resources.
8. Do you support any charitable organizations within the community? Tell us more.
Assisting young people through science and training as well as through social projects is at the heart of our social commitment. Jenoptik is primarily involved in the promotion of three areas that include science and education, art and culture, as well as a commitment to integration and internationality. We want to actively shape our own environment. In doing so, we are primarily focused on long-term partnerships and provide support both financially and in non-material ways. We also annually support many organizations and regularly participate in food and blood drives.
9. Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share with our users about you or your company?
Jenoptik has many industry “firsts,” such as the first to equip police cars with cameras in 1955 and innovating ALPR technology in 1979.
We are a global leader in the optics and photonics industry, servicing a multitude of industries. Trusted by NASA, we have worked on many space projects, including designing and manufacturing camera lens assemblies for the Mars Perseverance Rover, currently on the Red Planet carrying out its mission!
10. What’s next for your company?
Innovation is our driving force and the basis of our success in business. Our innovative products allow us to make significant contributions to the societal challenges we face, and facilitate both the conservation and efficient use of resources.
With a presence in more than 80 countries and supported by a strong partner network, we have delivered over 30,000 systems for traffic law enforcement worldwide. We are a world-leading supplier, with products and services constantly evolving to continue making roads, journeys and communities safer around the globe. Call us to find out how we can help your community.