Advanced security features attract Council’s attention as it battles to combat thefts
Westminster City Council (WCC) has commenced beta-testing of the new Strada Rapide Pay & Display (P&D) parking terminal for Parkeon, the world’s leading provider of parking space management solutions. The Council has installed 15 machines - which are designed to provide unparalleled security - in on-street locations, where other makes of P&D terminals have been broken-into. The Council has opted for solar-powered models, as it is keen to use this environmentally-friendly source of energy in as much equipment as possible.
WCC has also been conducting an on-street trial of 22 solar-powered Parkeon Stelio®
P&D terminals for a number of months. It is understood to be considering the installation of both Strada Rapides and Stelios. As the two models share many major components – such as the coin selector mechanism and printer - this would ensure ease-of-maintenance and optimise stocks of spare parts and consumables.
"We have been very happy with the performance of the Stelios. Our maintenance contractor has found them extremely reliable and easy to work on", notes Alec Mather,
a Technical Officer in WCC’s Parking Infrastructure Team. "There haven’t been any
jams in the coin selector, which can be a continual problem with some P&D terminals."
While the machines on-test only accept coins, they would be upgraded – if requested - to handle credit card transactions and be centrally-monitored, following Westminster’s assessment, after the trial period.
Special materials have been incorporated in the Strada Rapide to provide enhanced resistance against attacks. It is also fitted with a highly secure electronic locking mechanism that is fully-shielded inside the vault. The lock can be re-programmed, along with the key, in the event of key loss. This saves time and money in the aftermath of such an occurrence and minimises machine downtime. Once opened, the collection door provides no internal access to the machine’s secure areas.
Such security features are designed to protect parking revenues and ensure that drivers will always find operational machines – which also helps to maintain revenue streams and reduce parking disputes, respectively.
The Strada Rapide features an ergonomically-designed, exchangeable coin box to ensure that cash collections are as fast and uncomplicated as possible. It also helps to make them risk-free procedures - from the Health & Safety perspective - for collection staff. When full, the coin box weighs a comfortably managed 25kg and is presented in such a way that its weight is supported before being lifted from the machine.
About Parkeon (website: www.parkeon.com/)
Parkeon is a global leading player in the fields of on-street and off-street parking and automated mass-transit ticketing equipment and systems.
Its activities encompass the development, manufacture, installation and maintenance of equipment and systems, as well as related services, including systems management and hosting, which have leveraged a network of twelve data processing centres around the world.
Parkeon is leader of the on-street parking segment with a 58% global market share. With an installed base of over 130,000 machines, the Company’s parking terminals are a familiar sight in over 3,000 cities across 40 countries. Its Pay & Display systems control over 3 million parking spaces around the world. Parkeon also has an installed base of 3,000 ticket vending machines for heavy and light rail, underground and multimodal transport operators.
Based in Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the United Kingdom and France - where the Company is headquartered) and the United States, Parkeon employs over 850 people worldwide and generated revenues of €130 million in 2004. The Company’s R&D establishment, production line and quality control centre are in Besançon, France. Its manufacturing facility has an annual production capability of 20,000 Pay & Display units and 1,000 ticket vending machines/access control systems.
Parkeon was formed in November 2003 after the global-leading equity firm, Apax Partners, acquired the parking & ticketing division of Schlumberger. Originally established in 1970, the Company has played a significant role in the development of Pay & Display technology, in which it has over 30 years experience.
Stelio and Strada are registered trademarks of Parkeon.
Parkeon Limited, Membrain House, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7PP, U.K.
Tel: 01202 850927 Fax: 01202 850903 Web: www.parkeon.com/
Press Contact:
Terry Walsby
Terry Walsby Media Relations
Tel: 01628 639378
Fax: 01628 777605
E-mail: terry.walsby@btconnect.com
