Highlands Grow, a fully licensed industrial-scale cultivator, has installed Net2 access control at its facility, which produces cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes on a large scale.
Based in Lapeer in Michigan, Highlands Grow provides consumable cannabis products to US-based retailers and projects. As stated by Michigan state law, the volume of produce they cultivate is extremely high-market value and needs to be secured with a sophisticated and advanced security system.
Before the new Net2 security installation, traditional locks and keys secured the Highlands Grow facility. This meant that they were open to potential security risks, and their site would not meet the legal requirements to secure the higher volume of products they plan to produce as they increase the size of their ever-growing customer base.
Highlands Grow, called Existo Solutions, a consulting company that specialises in services designed specifically for the budding US cannabis industry. They recommended Paxton’s Net2 access control due to its customizable high-security functionality and integration options.
Chris Hernandez, Operations Lead at Existo Solutions, said: “Achieving compliance while growing cannabis in most US states is related to the security and access of the facility. Cultivators who don’t comply can receive up to a $90k fine from the US government, so access control is vitally important to get right.”
For the new security system to meet legal surveillance requirements, cameras need to be integrated alongside a remote alert system. For Highlands Grow, that means monitoring 50 cameras while securing 21 doors, which lead to large-scale grow rooms and secure vaults, storing curing cannabis and finished products.
Having this functionality is crucial so the owners can receive real-time notifications and video clips of potential security risks on individual doors when the facility is at low capacity.
Chris continues: “What is very important for the customers in our industry isn’t just knowing who goes in and out of a facility, it’s who goes up to a door when they are not supposed to. It’s about being aware of who tried to open a vault when no one is there.”
Existo Solutions installed Net2, Paxton’s flagship networked IP access control system, which was originally launched into the US market in 2007. Since then, the system has received consistent updates and integrated with many leading cameras and fire and intruder alarms.
The system was integrated seamlessly with VIVOTEK cameras, meaning that Highlands Grow can now remotely monitor every door on their facility 24/7, using Net2Online software and the Paxton Connect app.
“Paxton is our go-to when it comes to access control. We like the way Net2 integrates with VIVOTEK cameras, and the system just works every time,” pointed out Chris and added, “Net2 has enabled us to provide Highlands Grow with the highest security service package we offer, which is great for them.”
Paxton’s vandal-resistant Entry range touch panel has been fitted on the main entrance to the facility, alongside an Entry Premium monitor in the site’s security station. The Net2 software has been configured to provide notification alerts on the owner’s smart devices if people are trying to enter the building outside of business hours.
Net2 readers were fitted across all doors alongside the camera integration to monitor access from internal employees to grow rooms and vaults. These readers have been configured to allow different access levels depending on seniority in the company, and time restrictions added to lock down rooms with no need for frequent access.
Chris concludes: “I think access control is so important as one of the initial means to manage the workspace and how people move around. There are lots of locked doors in the cannabis industry, and opening them using Net2 makes it easy to move around with large plants on carts.”
“Paxton makes our job straightforward. It’s beyond simple, it’s beyond easy, and the technology is so stable that it’s easy to support.”
The Net2 system has been installed with no problems and the owners are pleased with how easy Net2 access control is to use. They have been maximising the use of its feature-rich software and have been impressed with the proximity cards, which they have doubled up as access tokens and ID cards.
Matt Saagman, Director of Cultivation at Highlands Grow, said: “Using Net2 is very smooth. Once I started using the Paxton Connect app, it was a breeze. Almost too easy.
“As we expand out our facility, we plan to keep building on the current system and we are interested in seeing what else it can do as we grow.”
You can find out more about Net2 on Paxton’s website.
