Barriers, gates, turnstiles, locks: automated access control is a part of our everyday life. One of the market leaders in this field is US-based Automatic systems. For over 40 years, the company has developed and produced systems for control of access for pedestrians and vehicles. This includes paid access such as to public transport or toll stations, facilities for monitoring an area for access to sensitive areas such as ports or indus-trial spaces, and secured access for buildings or entrance checkpoints to grant access to authorised persons only.
In the Belgian subsidiary near Brussels, the new product from this family of pedestrian access came into being: Slim Lane. “This is an automatic security access lane with double revolving tempered glass door,” explains Thomas Gasparri, Project Manager Automatic Systems S.A. Slim Lane is an innovative security access system. “The revolving doors are really innovative for a system of its type: before, the doors opened to the left and right; with the Slim Lane, they revolve. It has become a compact and elegant model that combines a large throughput in both directions with advanced protection for the user.”
60 people per minute is what the system can allow through, although it is relatively small in design. Thus it has a low space requirement, but also requires extremely compact built-in motors. “For two years we have maintained an especially good relationship with the people at ebm-papst Benelux,” said the 27-year-old product manager. „They have supplied us with the ideal DC motors for the new system.” The motors open the glass doors of the access device. For this purpose, they have to be especially small and simultaneously high in performance. Thanks to their high efficiency, they need only little energy – an ideal solution for the versatile access system. In the meantime, ebm-papst is developing a higher-performance version of the current motor for future systems for public transport.
All possible security guarantees are offered by the Slim Lane, introduced in september 2011, and it possesses an especially effective monitoring system that functions on the basis of infra-red beams to prevent unauthorised access. Additionally, an electromechanical locking device prevents attempts by unauthorised people who are trying to get access anyway. An acoustic and visual alarm warns of such unauthorised conduct. “During the development of Slim Lane, we also paid special attention to the protection of users,” Gasparri emphasised. A dynamic, electronic protection system and crush guard are complemented by stringent fire safety standards. In the event of a power failure, function remains via a battery.
There are also slim lanes for many different application requirements. The system is also available in an extra-wide design for people with limited mobility. Moreover, there is a so-called “twin design” with which multiple access points can be installed within a limited space. Gasparri is proud of the result that the team achieved: “We have developed an especially effective, compact and successful product that will bring great success around the world.”
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