Paxton has launched Net2 PaxLock which the company describes as a complete access control system in a door handle. This includes the control unit, proximity reader, network communications and electro-mechanical actuation all powered by 4 standard AA batteries.
In the last 5 years the access control market has changed significantly with door handle type systems carving out a significant market niche. Many customers are now willing to add access control to lower security internal doors such as offices and cupboards, as solutions become more affordable.
The door handle type systems that have existed up until now have, according to Paxton, fallen into one of two camps depending on the background of the company that has developed them. Products from manufacturers of electronic access control systems have possessed the required features and functionality, but have tended to be weak mechanically. Conversely, systems from mechanically biased lock manufacturers have been very robust physically but have lacked the supporting software, features or solutions for external doors.
“I will admit that, in the past, Paxton have been guilty of falling into the former camp,” says managing director Adam Stroud. “With PaxLock we have taken great care to design a product with exceptionally high quality mechanical properties. Our actuation mechanism uses very little power and has been subject to test cycles of 1 million uses. To put this into context, it is the equivalent of using the product 100 times a day, every day for 26 years. I’m delighted with it.”
Being part of the widely used Net2 range means that Paxton is able to offer a complete solution without compromise. And the product has been designed to make installation a simple procedure.
Many systems of this type use the cards themselves to transmit data such as changes to access permissions and events. This can have the shortfall that you can never be certain whether the system has been updated. Barring a card for example just won’t work if the next card to be presented to the door in question is the barred card. In addition, event reports are updated sporadically and so you can never rely on a report being accurate.
“This is too much of a compromise for Paxton and we maintain the view that an on-line system should be kept accurate and up to date,” says Stroud. “To ensure that Net2 PaxLock remains easy to install we supply wireless bridges that plug straight into an IP network. The bridges support Power over Ethernet (PoE,) if the local infrastructure supports it. In readiness for the launch of PaxLock, we have spent a great deal of engineering effort increasing the robustness and reliability of our wireless technology in order to withstand ‘noisey’ wireless environments.”
Other innovations on the new product include the all new ‘low power mode’. Individual PaxLocks can be switched to low power mode in order to minimise their power consumption thus increasing the battery life. The only noticeable compromise is that, instead of just presenting your token to the door handle, you have to press a button first. When the batteries do eventually have to be changed, Net2 is able to send you a helpful text or email as a reminder.