SIA New Member Profile: Impact Recovery Systems, Inc.

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member Impact Recovery Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer of flexible, patented traffic control products and energy-absorbing steel guarding systems. The company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with a second office in Aarschot, Belgium, and a geographic footprint spanning from the United States to Asia.

SIA spoke with Liz Thompson, director of marketing and communications at Impact Recovery Systems, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Liz Thompson: Impact Recovery Systems, Inc. was founded in 1991. What started as a 5,000-square-foot company with eight employees has grown into a thriving international organization with facilities totaling 60,000 square feet and more than 50 employees. The company encompasses three divisions with a wide array of applications for highways, pedestrian areas, work zones, commercial locations, logistical sites, store fronts, warehouses and transit systems.

• Traffic – Flexible, high-impact traffic devices for road and pedestrian safety
• SlowStop Guarding Systems, LLC – Revolutionary rebounding bollards and equipment barriers system made up of steel-pipe bollards that absorb energy from impact collisions
• Sentinel Between Car Barrier System – Platform-mounted guarding system designed to alert visually-impaired riders of the space between the rail cars

Our products have prominent applications in countries such as United States, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. With worldwide patents, and patents pending, we have proudly received multiple awards for manufacturer and product innovation.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings or your company unique?

LT: Impact Recovery Systems designs, engineers and manufactures superior products that protect the physical security of people and property. Through prudent care and use of its human, physical and financial resources, the business strives to be long-term partners for its customers, vendors and employees while making the world a safer place to live and work.

What is something we might not know about your company – or something new you are doing in security?

LT: Impact Recovery Systems is committed to making the world a safer place to live and work.  Our safety solutions protect people and property, save lives, reduce exposure and mitigate liability.  We provide high-quality products that are a great fit for perimeter security.  

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

LT: We have seen SIA’s efforts to focus on perimeter security and storefront protection. Our SlowStop products are a great fit for both areas because our products are engineered, designed and extensively tested specifically to protect people and property. SIA is working on creating standards to prevent hostile vehicle attacks, and we would like to help with those standards to meet our mission.

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

LT: Our mission is to design, engineer and manufacture superior products that protect people and property. Through prudent care and use of our human, physical and financial resources, we strive to be long-term partners for its customers, vendors and employees while making the world a safer place to live and work.

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in innovative safety products in collaboration with governmental, commercial and private entities around the world.

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

LT: From crowded public spaces or critical infrastructure sites to government facilities, SIA is working on writing standards in perimeter security and storefront protection. We would like to help write the standards using our experience and testing data.  We would also like to educate companies and organizations about perimeter security and how it can deter impactful events that injure or may cause death to people.

What do you enjoy most about being at your company – and in the security industry?

LT: Impact Recovery Systems lives by its mission to make the world a safer place to live and work.  Every person who works here knows that the products he or she makes have a tremendous impact on the world. Our products protect people and can save lives. 

How does your organization engage with SIA? What are your plans for involvement in the next year?

LT: We just joined SIA and are looking at all the resources available. We are considering joining the standards and perimeter security committees, as well as attending events.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.