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APT Skidata’s tap+go™ Solution Makes Parking Touchless
News APT Skidata’s tap+go™ Solution Makes Parking Touchless
APT Skidata, one of the world’s leading parking equipment manufacturers, launches tap+go™ - a new touchless parking solution that will help minimise the spread of Covid-19 in car parks by eliminating the need for drivers to touch surfaces when they park. The ticketless system makes the parking transaction process fully contactless, so customers no longer have to touch a screen, insert a ticket or key in a number at the payment station. Using tokenisation encryption of credit/debit card data at all touch points, together with Skidata’s proven Parking.Logic e-payment platform, APT Skidata client can create a seamless and convenient experience for their parking customers.
When arriving at a car park entrance, the new system will see customers wave a contactless bank card, smartphone or smart watch at the reader. No payment is taken at this point, but a ‘virtual’ ticket is issued. When the driver is ready to leave there is no need to go to a payment machine they just drive to the barrier and, using the same payment (card, smart phone, watch), tap the reader for the barrier to open.
Nigel Young, Senior Business Development Manager at APT Skidata says that it was already seeing demand for a touchless parking to enhance the customer experience but now there is a real need for it to help safeguard people: “We can expect this transition to be accelerated in response to increased concerns about hygiene during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Even as restrictions on movements are eased, there will still be a focus on social distancing and hand hygiene, and people will continue to be encouraged to avoid touching anything outside as much as possible.
“The simplest way to offer visitors touchless parking is to not only go ticketless, but to remove touchpoints. By making the whole transaction process touchless, so drivers won’t need to stand in a queue and they won’t need to touch a screen, insert a ticket or key in a number at the payment station, we are significantly helping our customers to return to normal business. ”In many cases, if a site already has APT Skidata entry and exit columns in place it is a quick and simple upgrade to the hardware to APT Skidata’s tap+go™, so it can be an immediate solution that brings benefits in the long term too. APT Skidata has already completed a retrofit at seven APT Skidata controlled shopping centres for one of the UK’s flagship shopping centre chains.
The tap+go solution adds an additional layer of security to the payment process as the card details are tokenised at entry and again at exit, fulfilling all principles and regulations of PCI and governance of deployment under P2Pe. Only when the tokens are ‘matched’, is the parking fee calculated and charged automatically.
Car park managers and operators should also be looking at how to protect their staff and themselves, says Nigel: “Traditionally we might have customers interested in our web-based platform, INS.reports, because they want to simplify reporting, or consolidate reports across multiple sites, but now we are talking to them about how they can improve remote working with INS.reports, which will in turn reduce the need to be on site or reduce the workload for onsite teams to help protect them in the long term.”
APT Skidata’s web-based platform, INS.Reports, allows for full car park management remotely, reducing the need to be on site and reducing the workload for onsite teams to help protect them in the long term. As long as you have an internet connection you can connect to the car park, or multiple car parks, and gain insight into revenue and current usage, along with customer and environmental information across the estate.
News ASSA ABLOY Project Specification Group provides flexible approach to One New Street Square
Project Specification Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, brings high specification security solutions to One New Street Square in London.
Using its capabilities in security design and specification, Project Specification Group delivered a bespoke range of complete doorset solutions worth £345,000 to London’s new retail and office building near Farringdon Station.
The 16-storey commercial building, One New Street Square, was designed by Robin Partington Architects. The building aimed to achieve BREEAM’s ‘Excellent’ environmental standard through the use of sustainable building methods throughout construction.
Working closely with the project’s principal contractor Skanska, as well as maintaining a close relationship with the architects, the Project Specification Group team delivered 204 complete doorset solutions from across the ASSA ABLOY portfolio, including high-security steel doors, architectural ironmongery and a range of door closers.
David Shields, National Specification Manager at Project Specification Group, said: “Our team worked very closely with the client, architects and contractors to ensure that we could recommend the most suitable solutions for each aspect of the multifaceted building to combine the highest security with premium aesthetics.
“As the building aimed to be BREEAM excellent rated, it was important to the client that we had a good understanding of how to integrate our products in the building and still meet the requirements of an energy efficient building. We were able to recommend an appropriate solution to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating through the EPDs and WLC data associated within our products. This meant
we were able to provide a guaranteed performance for the lifecycle of the building.”
Tim Halford, the Project Director at Skanska, said: “The BREEAM rating was very important for this project, and the team from ASSA ABLOY were on hand every step of the way to help us achieve the rating and supply fit for purpose solutions.
“We found the data ASSA ABLOY provided was extremely useful when calculating the long-term maintenance and overall performance of the building – something that helped us reduce any anticipated risks for the architect and the client. Plus the product specific EPDs formed a vital part in assessing the building’s overall energy performance.”
To find out more, please call 0845 071 0882 to speak with an experienced Project Design Consultant, email ukspecification@ assaabloy.com or visit www. assaabloyopeningsolutions. co.uk/specification.
News Arcus FM and GMS join forces
Leading facilities management company Arcus has partnered with national security firm, GMS Group, enabling the two companies to work together with existing clients and explore new business opportunities.
With over 10 years’ experience operating in the FM sector, Arcus currently delivers a blend of hard and soft services with technology-led solutions for clients in retail, logistics and public sector. By joining forces with GMS Group, Arcus will now be able to offer a comprehensive security service across the UK.
GMS Group has been leading the market in innovation, service and delivery since 1998 supporting clients such as Jaguar Land Rover, Cemex, VAX, Aston Martin and Kerry Foods many of which have been customers for more than a decade.
Speaking about the partnership, CEO of GMS Group Neil Male, said: “We’ve been approached many times by large FM companies wanting to work with us, but such opportunities have never suited our way of working. Being at the forefront of the customer relationship is what we do best, and this move strongly aligns with Arcus’ ethos, making it a natural collaboration.”
Chris Green, CEO of Arcus, said: “At Arcus delivering a winning service for our clients is one of our core principles. There is a clear synergy between the way both businesses work, with a strong emphasis on client service which makes for a good fit.
For more information about the services Arcus offer please visit: arcusfm. com. To find out more about GMS Group please visit www.gms-group.co.uk.
Kärcher helps the nation get back to work
While most of the nation’s workforce has been compelled to work from home or pause working altogether, it’s now time for the working world to get back on its feet. Kärcher, renowned German manufacturer of professional cleaning products, is helping organisations to prepare a safe and hygienic workplace through a series of specially prepared online resources and virtual training available to all.
It has never been more important to ensure a clean and safe environment for both employees and customers. Expert in effective cleaning, Kärcher recognises that different working environments require different cleaning regimes and equipment and its newly launched online cleaning resource reflects this. Available at https://www.kaercher.com/ uk/professional/protect-yourpeople.html it comprises a useful guide, cleaning tips and checklists pertinent to multiple workplace areas.
Many businesses will have purchased new cleaning equipment or increased the head count in cleaning teams to optimise hygiene processes,
both routes necessitating training. Kärcher’s new virtual training resource answers this need from a safe distance through a series of online training videos, as well as live customer consultations for those requiring more tailored instruction https:// www.kaercher.com/uk/ professional/academy-live. html Filmed at the Kärcher Academy, using Kärcher Professional machines, these training assets provide direct access to cleaning experts.
In these video tools, Kärcher explains how offices are vulnerable to dirt buildup on everyday touch points such as desks, keyboards and telephones. These are critical areas for contamination and need to be hygienically clean. Cleaning with water & detergent is an effective way to remove impurities, dust and dirt, followed by disinfection to destroy pathogenic microorganisms and leave surfaces hygienically clean. Cleaning teams must also use personal protective equipment (PPE) – disposable gloves and aprons are a minimum standard. It goes on to give specific advice on shared kitchens for employees as a number one priority, to prevent contamination and transmission of germs and bacteria. Ensure pipes have been thoroughly flushed through so the tap water is safe, as water that’s been left sitting in pipes for a long period of time could have accumulated chemicals and harmful organisms such as Legionnaire’s Disease. Deep cleaning and sanitising all kitchen utensils like forks, knives and spoons at 60oC or above will kill most germs and bacteria. Kärcher has a broad machine, accessory and detergent range to help achieve high hygiene standards.
In the last few weeks, Karcher has seen a surge in demand for steam cleaners. In particular for public bathroom facilities, a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, which make exemplary hygiene standards crucial. For hard-toreach, high-risk touchpoints like sinks, taps and soap dispensers a Professional Steam Cleaner is ideal to disinfect without cloths and chemicals. Steamcleaning ensures these areas are germ-free.
Steam-cleaning is also well-suited to general public areas if you want to avoid chemicals, and it easily reaches the nooks and crannies that can be difficult to reach with a cloth. High footfall public areas, like reception and the canteen, must be kept hygienic to ensure a safe working environment, combining everyday maintenance cleaning with deep cleaning methods.
When cleaning matters most, Kärcher delivers.
To request a live customer consultation, visit https:// www.kaercher.com/uk/ make-an-enquiry.html
News Works commence on £3.9m renovation of King Edward VI School
Construction has started on the £3.9m renovation of King Edward VI School in Lichfield, with works being led by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson for Staffordshire County Council under the Staffordshire Construction framework.
This is the second contract secured by G F Tomlinson through the Staffordshire Construction framework for Staffordshire County Council, led by Entrust Property Services - the first being the £5.2m Poppyfields Primary School in Cannock, which was successfully completed last summer within a major housing development in the area.
The project involves the design and build of an extension to an existing building and the construction of a new modular building to provide much needed replacement teaching and auxiliary spaces at King Edward VI School.
Building on a winning partnership from the successful delivery of the Poppyfields Primary school, G F Tomlinson again appointed Arc Partnership to provide architectural and engineering services for the scheme.
Phase one of works at the Lichfield co-educational comprehensive for pupils aged 11 to 18, involves the construction of a new three-storey extension on the site of a former swimming pool, which had been closed for over ten years and was demolished as part of preliminary site-wide enabling works by ENTRUST prior to commencement.
The extension will provide replacement teaching and auxiliary spaces, as well as an administration area on the lower ground floor, which will be the location of the school’s new student services area. Completion for this phase is expected in spring 2021.
Phase two involves the demolition of existing accommodation and obsolete prefabricated buildings, to be replaced with the construction of a brand new standalone modular structure, providing modern and enhanced science laboratory teaching facilities at the school.
Ideal Modular, part of G F Tomlinson’s existing supply chain, has been appointed to deliver the modular element of this project. Works for phase two are expected to be completed in winter 2020.
During the course of the construction works, G F Tomlinson is looking to engage with both staff and students of the school. The site management team will perform virtual live site tours for the school to report project progress and allow them to raise any queries they have. Once government guidelines allow it, the contractor also plans to carry out regular site tours and school assemblies, as well as communicating the project’s progress through meetings with the school. Regular newsletters will also be distributed to the school and local residents.
Chris Flint, director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are pleased to be able to commence construction works for our client Staffordshire County Council, particularly in the current climate. The works will maximise space and upgrade the existing buildings at King Edward VI School. These important renovations will optimise teaching spaces and improve the overall educational experience for students and staff.
“It has been rewarding to engage with Entrust Property Services again and we look forward to working for them and Staffordshire County Council to deliver this project, whilst continuing to build strong relationships with Arc Partnership and our other local supply chain partners over the course of both phases.”
County Councillor Philip White, cabinet member for learning and skills said: “These works are being completed to ensure the site can accommodate an increased demand for pupil places at the school, as a result of new housing in and around the city. Once finished, the work will enable the school to expand by 150 pupils.
“We have been planning for this for a while, and construction is taking place over the course of a year to minimise disruption as much as possible. I’m sure pupils and teachers will enjoy using the brand-new accommodation in September 2021.”
John Doherty, CEO of Entrust Support Services, said: “We are proud to see works commence at King Edward VI School following ENTRUST’s master planning of a multifaceted brief across a split campus. This is a complex project which we are proudly project managing with our preferred contractor and we look forward to working with G F Tomlinson, Staffordshire County Council and the school to complete it. Once finished, these new teaching spaces will benefit the school and its pupils well into the future.”
Jane Rutherford, headteacher at King Edward School said “With additional students joining us each year, this project will provide all our students and staff with access to improved facilities. We are looking forward to seeing the project completed during the coming academic year”.
Staffordshire County Council is leading the project, with project management from ENTRUST, G F Tomlinson acting as main contractors, and Arc partnership acting as architect and structural engineer.
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