Sonitrol Corp., Berwyn, Pa., announced the appointment of Gregg Groenemann as vice president of marketing. He will be responsible for leading all marketing efforts.

Optelecom-NKF Inc., Germantown, Md., was named one of Maryland’s fastest-growing technology companies in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 program. The company, a manufacturer of video transmission systems for IP/Ethernet and fiber optic networks, was ranked based on the percentage of growth in fiscal year revenues over five years, from 2000 to 2004.

Winners of the 15 regional Technology Fast 50 programs in the United States and Canada automatically are entered in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 program, which ranks North America’s top 500 fastest growing technology companies.

February 1, 2006 marks the one-year anniversary of whenTri-Ed, the independent distribution company was acquired by a group headed by Steve Roth. Tri-Ed, Woodbury, N.Y., will be hosting its customers and its vendors at each of its U.S. and Canadian locations on Feb.1, for refreshments, prize drawings, and special pricing and promotions.

Over the past year, several new branch locations have opened their doors, including Boston, Clearwater, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Buffalo and San Antonio.

“February 1st marks a very special anniversary for Tri-Ed, its customers and its partnering vendors,” said Roth, president and CEO. “We look forward to celebrating our accomplishments and mutual success with them at every one of our locations.”

Grace Communities and IPN selected Burbany, British Columbia-basedViscount Systems Inc.’sMESH system, to secure its new 44 Monroe project being constructed in downtown Phoenix. Located at the corner of Monroe and 1st Avenue, 44 Monroe is destined to be one of the tallest buildings in Phoenix and one of the city’s most prestigious residential addresses. Viscount dealer Teknon, partnering with IPN, will be providing a complete complement of MESH Touch Screen Visitor Stations, Keyfob access and security, AMX home automation and an array of state-of-the-art technology.

Viscount Systems Inc. also announced that its MESH system has been chosen for a number of new high-rise projects in Vancouver. The systems will be installed by Blue Mountain Technologies of Surrey, British Columbia, and include a full complement of MESH panels, card access, and elevator control.

“Since this summer we have installed three MESH systems and have another 10 projects sold,” noted Steve Leach, president of Blue Mountain.

Viscount Systems Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of telecommunications and electronic door control access systems for the security industry. Additional information about Viscount’s products may be obtained online at www.viscount.com.

Toshiba Surveillance & IP Video Products Group, a business unit of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Irvine, Calif., has added bilingual support staff to provide technical assistance to Spanish-speaking customers in Mexico and Latin America, where Toshiba has experienced rapid sales growth for its video surveillance products.

“Our bilingual representatives will act as liaisons to our customers, providing troubleshooting and technical support in the language they are most comfortable communicating their needs in,” said Sergio Collazo, national sales and marketing manager, Toshiba Surveillance & IP Video Products.

Sequel Technologies LLC, Golden Valley, Minn., a designer and manufacturer of security systems, announced the addition of Donald Natale as vice president of sales. Natale will be responsible for overseeing Sequel’s dealer recruitment, sales force development and training.

ScanSource Security Distribution, Greenville, S.C., a sales unit of ScanSource Inc., has added Integrated Biometrics to its line card. By doing so, ScanSource Security can provide its reseller partners with additional forms of identity solutions to offer their end-user customers. Integrated Biometrics specializes in solutions that grant access privileges based on true biometric identity utilizing an input technology for finger-based biometric systems.

GE Infrastructure, Security, Austin, Texas, announced that factory initiatives to increase manufacturing capacity at critical plants around the world have produced increased shipments to dealers for three months in a row. At GE’s plant in Hickory, N.C., an additional 15 percent more manufacturing people have been hired and are on the job, with an additional 10 percent added in Tualatin, Ore. Factories in Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico and Shanghai, China have increased capacity 20 percent. To handle the increase in orders and shipping, the company’s customer service department has added 15 percent more employees.

Brink’s Home Security, Irving, Texas, opened its fourth new branch office of 2005. The office, located in Lincoln, R.I., will serve the Providence, R.I., metro area and surrounding community.

Aiphone Corp., Bellevue, Wash., participated in an episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” On a recent taping of the show, Aiphone was asked by Olympic Security & Communication Systems, Arlington, Wash., to donate an intercom system for the family home. Paul Hefty from the technical services department at Aiphone helped install the system throughout most rooms of the home, while several other Aiphone employees volunteered their time to help with the general home building process. The episode is scheduled to air in January.

In further television news,Russound, Newmarket, N.H., also had its products featured on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” The ABC television show used Russound’s multiroom audio equipment to provide an easy-to-use, high-fidelity sound system for a home in Wells, Maine featured on an episode that aired in November. Russound donated the multiroom sound system. It covers 10 zones in and around the house, and allows family members to listen to different audio sources in the kitchen, living room, bedrooms and other areas.

TOA Electronics Inc., San Francisco, Calif., has been designated as an approved vendor of the member-owned and operated PSA Security Network, linking TOA to hundreds of security systems integrators. The organization is known for its training, support and other services it provides to its members. In addition, members can purchase TOA products through PSA’s centralized buying process.