VARs Can Open Doors To New
Markets With Access Control
Two years ago, VAR Identatronics Inc.
(Chicago) initiated a co-development relationship with Accu-Time
Systems (ATS) (Ellington, CT), a manufacturer of time and attendance
and shop floor data collection terminals. "ATS was really
starting to expand its access control terminal business at the
time," says Michael Grzegorek, VP at Identatronics. "We
wanted a partner that would allow us to give input during the
hardware development process so we would know how to design our
access control software and meet the needs of our customers."
One of the features ATS and Identatronics
worked on was the anti-pass-back functionality of the ATS series
7000 access control unit. The anti-pass-back feature prevents
employees from passing badges to colleagues to gain multiple access
through a single entry. This function also lets a company know if
everyone who has entered the building has exited. Furthermore, if
someone tries to use an ID card that isn't registered in the access
control system, the software will track who is trying to get in and
how many times he or she tried. For example, it could be a
terminated, disgruntled employee who didn't turn in his ID badge.
"Access control sales are growing
because many companies want to protect their employees from
workplace violence and theft [e.g. from tool/supply rooms],"
explains Kevin Drummond, marketing manager at ATS. "Our VARs
have installed units in a range of businesses, from private
clubs/restaurants to manufacturing plants that want to control
access to an office area from a production floor. Quite a few
businesses are using these systems on back doors to allow employees
to enter from rear parking lots."
The ATS series 7000 operates by dedicating
one access control unit (ACU) to each door. It includes a dual input
connection that can be used to automatically trigger alarms if doors
are left open or are forced without a valid ID badge.
"The next ATS product we plan to offer
is the series 7010, an Ethernet-based terminal that allows users to
attach to the existing cabling and infrastructure of a company's PC
network," Grzegorek explains. "This can dramatically lower
installation costs by eliminating pulling cable, which is often the
most costly portion of these projects. We plan to pilot this system
in our new headquarters."
News | VARs Can Open Doors
to New Markets with Access Control
