News Briefs June 2011

June 7, 2011

Medeco’s M3 Logic Offers Enhanced Electronic Accountability

With facilities around the world requiring greater security, Medeco Security Locks answers the call with its newest Logic electronic cylinder platform, M³ Logic.

With M3 Logic, users can employ just one key to control electronic cylinders within the same system as mechanical cylinders, creating the ideal combination of superior strength and loss and liability protection.

According to Joseph Kingma, director of eCylinder business development at Medeco, security needs within any facility are varied and may change quickly. Facility managers must be vigilant against any security breach, in part by utilizing a system that allows for uncomplicated, rapid system changes. 

“Particularly within facilities with strictly secure areas such as airports and government buildings, or highly trafficked facilities like hospitals and universities, managers are increasingly held accountable for who has access and when.  They must be equipped with a system that not only promotes accountability through access control, but that can accommodate any security challenge as it arises in an efficient, cost-effective manner.  M³ Logic’s added accountability and audit features are the ideal add-on to new and existing Medeco mechanical systems to address this need,” says Kingma.

The M³ Logic electronic cylinder combines the most desirable characteristics that electronic systems offer, including audit trails, scheduling, and the ability to efficiently add or delete users, yet requires no wiring, door or frame modifications, or additional hardware since they are simply cylinder replacements. M³ Logic is also ideal for both internal and external installation and can be retrofitted into existing hardware in less than five minutes, nearly eliminating installation expense.

The very compact M³ Logic key is patent-protected against duplication, holds up to 1,000 audit events, features multiple time schedules, and incorporates both visible and audible status feedback.

Variations of the M3 Logic platform include Biaxial Logic and Original Logic, which are compatible with older Medeco mechanical technology.

Also from Medeco, NEXGEN XT allows facilities that utilize small format interchangeable core (SFIC) cylinders to quickly and easily retrofit with an electronic cylinder. User scheduling, audit logs of entry, and key expiration are unique and valuable characteristics of the product, which requires no wiring, hardware changes, door or frame modifications.  

NEXGEN XT allows SFIC mechanical systems administrators to upgrade hardware in areas where sensitivity to loss or liability might require higher accountability at the point of entry. The core is a direct retrofit into any Best™ style housing and is operated by a small, rugged, rechargeable key. Keys can be programmed to operate on specific schedules or times, or have expirations set for administrators wishing to limit long-term access to a particular area. 

“The primary benefit to most facilities is the added accountability the scheduling and audit features provide, and the nearly instant upgrade ability for SFIC users,” says Kingma. “Accountability is an increasingly important security tool because it allows administrators to identify suspicious access trends as they work to reduce either loss or liability within their facility.” 

Both the NEXGEN XT cylinder and key are constructed from high-quality stainless steel for reliable operation in nearly any environment, and they are rated for exterior use.   

“There’s a growing need beyond what mechanical masterkey systems can offer for enhanced protection, flexibility and data needed to control access in today’s increasingly complex security environments,” Kingma adds. “NEXGEN XT goes beyond basic lock functionality to offer extensive benefits to the end user. It is a viable, cost effective solution that delivers convenience, durability and peace of mind.”

ProSeries® Recodable Padlocks Save Time

Property owners and security managers now can change the keying on locks in as little as 15 seconds with ProSeries® Recodable solid steel padlocks introduced by Master Lock Company. That’s great news when the unexpected happens and a new key is needed. It’s no longer necessary to replace the padlock or have to wait on someone else to rekey it.

A patented cylinder in the new ProSeries 7053 and 7053LJ Recodable locks enables property owners and managers to use a simple change tool in order to switch from one key to that opens a lock to another key. This can be done in four easy steps:

(1) Insert the current key and turn it to the unlocked position.

(2) With the key still in, insert the change tool into a hole in the cylinder next to the keyway.

(3) Remove the old key and insert the new key, with the change tool still in place.

(4) Remove the tool and turn the new key to the original (unlocked) position.

The new key now will open the lock.

“Our ProSeries Recodable padlocks can be real time- and money-savers in any situation where re-keying is needed for security purposes, or when the user wants to match padlock and door hardware so they can use a single key for both,” said John Ficcadenti, Master Lock Senior Product Manager, Security Products.  

“For greater convenience, our Recodable padlocks can be keyed to match Master Lock Grade 3 residential and recodable door hardware or any door with a Kwikset® keyway. In any case, re-keying is simple and fast. It avoids the time and expense of obtaining and installing new locks and can be repeated as often as needed.”

Along with re-keying speed, ease and savings, durable solid-body, solid steel ProSeries Recodable padlocks stand up to the elements as well as would-be intruders. Boron alloy shackles are twice as hard to cut as standard hardened shackles. The padlocks’ ball-bearing locking mechanism provides superior protection against prying, shimming and rap attacks. Resistance to lock bumping and picking is also built into these new padlocks.

“For owners and managers of business operations or multi-family properties where frequent tenant or employee turnover is the norm, ProSeries Recodable padlocks are an ideal choice,” sums up Ficcadenti. “These padlocks make it easier than ever to maintain security for storage lockers, gates and fences, storefronts and other things, with single-key convenience and do-it-yourself savings as part of the bargain.”

Marks USA Secures Trump Tower

Marks USA welcomed the challenge of creating custom locksets for Trump Tower in Chicago, utilizing custom escutcheons engraved with the Trump World logo. The 486 residences of Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago present an extraordinary lifestyle opportunity known to few throughout the world. This is private, residential living in the heart of downtown Chicago with luxury, comfort and extraordinary style.

Marks USA Custom Lockset Division manufactures mortise, cylindrical and tubular locks in a large variety of designs and functions. They also offer custom trim with engraving and conventional and high-security keying for residential and industrial systems. For more information, visit www.marksusa.com.

Biometric Fingerprint Reader Works Underwater

Lumidigim partner i-Evo demonstrated biometric readers able to work in the harshest conditions – even underwater or through Latex gloves – at IFSEC, May 16-19, in Birmingham (UK).

“Not that long ago, security designers had to be very careful about deploying fingerprint biometrics,” explains Shaun Oakes, managing director of i-Evo.  “If the environment wasn’t exactly right, it was difficult to enroll people and, later, get their reads satisfactorily.  Thus, they have not been able to get rid of their cards, which are costly to replace and not very secure, until now.  Lumidigm’s multispectral imaging technology sensors make this all possible.”

That is because Lumidigm multispectral fingerprint sensors capture fingerprint data beneath the surface of the skin so that dryness or even damaged or worn fingers create no problems for reliable reads. Using multiple wavelengths of light and advanced polarization techniques to extract unique fingerprint characteristics from both the surface and subsurface of the skin, Lumidigm’s sensors provide results that are more consistent, more inclusive and more tamper resistant than conventional biometric readers in all types of environments.

As a result, i-Evo biometric readers can scan through dirt, dust, high ambient light, water and even some latex gloves.  According to Oakes, they are ideal for contractors on site who sometimes must obtain worker fingerprints through damage or dirt.  For instance, major UK contractor Willmott Dixon decided last January 2010 to specify a new biometric turnstile access control system to join existing CCTV and manned guard security on their construction sites.  Willmott Dixon, which employs over 2500 people, wanted to use a biometric system because of previous problems with proximity card and pin code systems which can easily be lost, stolen or passed from person to person.

Using i-Evo biometric readers leveraging Lumidigm’s multispectral fingerprint sensors, Willmott Dixon can now see which company (sub-contractor) has been on site and how many staff and of which trades.  This ensures correct pay rates are used and that any disputes with timekeeping on site are quickly resolved because the biometric evidence is irrefutable. They can also use the anti-passback facility on the software which means the system will not let personnel scan off site unless they have scanned on and vice versa. This is critical for health and safety because Willmott Dixon knows exactly who is on site. When they run a fire drill, they can compare the software report to actual people on site. They have run a number of these reports and been 100 percent accurate.