• More demand: range of applications is growing - from batteries to blockchain
• More uniformity: European laws should be harmonised
• More sustainability: Green production is a long but successful journey

Frankfurt/M: Battery fires, the confusing array of European regulations, digital protection of valuables: at the ESSA's General Assembly, safe and security experts from around the world addressed a wide range of security topics. The association had organised workshops, keynote speeches and presentations for this purpose. Managing Director Falko Adomat welcomed around 140 participants to the meeting in the German city in November. He presented this year's ESSA International Leadership Award to Josef Reingen. The safe expert, who is world-renowned in the industry, has been supporting and promoting the ESSA for over 40 years since 1977, helping it to become a leading international association for the physical security industry.

Fire hazard: store batteries safely

The range of services offered by the security and standardisation segment is growing, and the demands – for example in the area of green production or digital value protection in the blockchain – are increasing. And new segments are emerging, including the fire-protected storage of lithium-ion batteries. ‘This topic only came to our attention through its use in e-bikes and the like,’ says Falko Adomat, managing director of the ESSA. His association has been involved in the new VDMA specification 24994 for testing fire-protected battery storage cabinets. In a workshop, Kevin Walter from the Karlstein Volunteer Fire Department illustrated the importance of safe storage: his unit has had to respond to over 60 battery fires in recent years.

Storage of weapons: no standardised international regulations

The world of European security regulation is anything but harmonious, with each country having its own laws. This was also apparent from the exchange between experts from different nations. In particular, the storage of firearms is by no means uniformly regulated. The ESSA is now striving for harmonisation.

Sustainable safe production requires a change in mentality within the company

Net Zero 2050 – even safe manufacturers have this goal in mind. Markus Hartmann from the company of the same name reported on the long but ultimately successful journey to a lower CO2 footprint. It has already launched a greener safe at the end of 2022. Myriam Bevillon from Gunnebo also described the journey towards decarbonisation as a long-term task that affects all business areas, requires transparency and a change in mentality within the company. In addition to the two presentations, the ESSA presented further sustainability measures from member companies. In early summer, the association had launched a survey on the topic.

Digital assets: crypto wallets also need a safe

The future is digital – but what about the storage of non-analogue assets? Achim Hepp of the German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW) took a look with the ESSA members at software, hardware and paper wallets that store private keys. His conclusion: high potential, but also a challenge: ‘Crypto wallets need to be stored as well.’ The specialist sees opportunities for partnerships between blockchain security and traditional physical protection in the future.