Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. (AMS) has announced the acquisition of Gryphex, Inc., a leading developer of GPS monitoring technology. The acquisition, which was completed in November, is part of the company’s larger strategic expansion of their product offerings in order to better meet the needs of a rapidly growing community corrections market segment.
The Gryphex system is a new, pioneering technology in an industry that has seen few major technological advancements in the last 10 years. Known as Flexible GPS Monitoring, a single Gryphex bracelet can easily switch from GPS to cellular House Arrest monitoring and back, based on the location and the level of monitoring intensity required for each client.
The Gryphex system is the fourth product introduction for AMS in the last 15 months. In 2013, as part of their expansion, AMS introduced SCRAM Remote Breath, a portable, handheld device clients carry with them for random or scheduled breath tests; SCRAM House Arrest, which utilizes basic RF location monitoring to keep individuals at home during required periods; and SCRAM GPS, our leading GPS monitoring system. These products join the flagship SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring system, which was launched in 2003 in order to automatically monitor repeat, high-risk alcohol clients 24/7. The products are all marketed as part of the SCRAM Systems suite of products, which all integrate into a single software platform known as SCRAM Optix.
According to AMS Chairman and CEO Mike Iiams, the Gryphex product acquisition means agencies can acquire all of their monitoring technologies from a single company, simplifying purchasing processes. It also means agencies can access monitoring data, training and support services via one provider, one software system and one log-on.
“We believe the Gryphex technology, which already exceeds industry standards for reliability, is a unique and highly scalable approach toward a new product category,” says Iiams. “Our mission has always been to provide leading-edge technologies that cost-effectively help courts and agencies manage justice-involved individuals in the community, and this new technology is consistent with that mission.”
AMS will leverage their employee and operational infrastructure in order to scale the Gryphex system. “Because of our expansion in the last 12 to 18 months, we are in a unique position to be able to manufacture, distribute, support and quickly scale this system in the marketplace,” says Iiams. There are currently an estimated 500 active Gryphex units across the U.S. AMS plans to make the Gryphex technology available via their network early in 2014.
Gryphex was initially launched as Ascend Systems in 2008 when a team of leading executives and engineers from the electronic monitoring industry came together in order to develop and deliver the first flexible GPS Monitoring System. The company was renamed Gryphex in 2011. The AMS acquisition includes the Gryphex staff and offices in Alpharetta, Georgia.
