
But for the steady drone of traffic
lazily drifting in from the invisible highway, there’s precious little
indication that we’re somewhere in the heart of Johannesburg. In front of us –
and seemingly stretching to the horizon which is only now, at about 6:30,
beginning to blush with the rising sun – is a sprawling golf course lined with
trees already ablaze with fiery autumnal splendour.
It’s a setting befitting the
crowning of a king, which is exactly what CENTURION marketing and sales
director Richard Rohman will be officiating in just a couple of hours.
For the moment, however, the
Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead is a hive of activity as staff from
CENTURION and Events Company Contact Media scurry to get the venue ready for
the coronation ceremony of what we are calling the heir to the throne of access
automation, the SECTOR II high-volume traffic barrier.
The guests – among them architects,
property developers and installers of security development - start to arrive at
9am, after enjoying some coffee and conversation, sit down to a hearty
breakfast, lovingly prepared by the gastronomical artistes of the Johannesburg Country Club.
Shortly after, Richard finally
takes to the stage, accompanied by the sounds of royal trumpets that echo
through the club’s Kingfisher Hall.
“Our tale begins, as these things
often do,” Richard booms, “once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away…”

While Richard keeps the audience
spellbound as he traces the original SECTOR’s meteoric rise to glory as the
valiant guardian of housing estates, airports, car dealerships, office parks
and even warehouses, the real focus is on the six beauties that flank him on
either side.
A direct descendant of its
predecessor, and yet superior in so many ways, the SECTOR II is sleeker,
harder, better, and has been adorned with a crown as is befitting a king.
Richard spends some time on the
exceptional aesthetics of the SECTOR II – highlighting the sleek, attractive
design, stylish powder-coated aluminium lid (which includes a condensation
shield) and three stunningly beautiful colours in which the enclosure is
available – before moving on to the optimised layout.

The electronics carrier has been
moved to the top of the barrier, Richard explains, for easy access. It is now
at the perfect working height and looks much neater, incorporating cable
channels and dedicated, independent switches for AC and DC isolation.
Additionally, the all-important SECTOR controller neatly clips into its holder
but is still hinged so that it can be tilted up to expose components
underneath. The battery is housed in its own easily-accessible pocket, while
the charger is tucked away neatly underneath the controller.

The access door is in the spotlight
next, with a brief treatise on its clever design allowing it to be easily
unclipped from the cabinet, and an illustrative animated video clip to drive
the message home.
Some 20 minutes later, and our
guests have been given a thorough education in what makes the SECTOR II
superior to its predecessor, and what makes it stand out head and shoulders
above the competition.
For your edification, here’s the
executive summary:
- Easy access to electronics
- Sleek, attractive design
- Available in different coulours to befit any
entrance
- Die-cast aluminium lid for greater durability
- Pre-wired for quicker installation
- AC and DC isolators for greater safety
- Convenient mains connector for easy maintenance
- Extended battery compartment for longer power
failure autonomy
- Seamless integration with CLAWS for easier
installation and enhanced security

Vivat
rex! Long live the king!