Independent Locksmiths & Security are rolling out a project that includes 100 doors of a shopping centre on the Salto Systems XS4 access control system. We are really impressed by the technology that has been developed by Salto. The locks are a battery powered escuteon that fits over a standard mortice lock or tubular latch. With the locks being powered by batteries there is no need to run cables to each door on the system. This cuts down the labour cost on the job considerably. 

Below is a demonstration of how the Salto locks operate in the field.

The swipe cards used in the system have read and write capabilities that allows the audit trail to be stored in the card. When the person carrying the card goes through an online lock reader point known as a 'Hotspot', the audit trail information is taken off the card and stored in the database for the system. The software used by the Salto System runs on Microsoft SQL and is robust. Salto locks are engineered and manufactured in Spain. The system is used widely in Europe with more than 400,000 doors fitted with Salto locks. We can see why the locksets are so popular and they will become a threat to traditional wired access control systems in Australia due to the fact of the cost per door for access control is cheaper.

Managing a shopping centre is busy work that runs around the clock, 24 hours a day. Keeping track of who has the security keys for various parts of the centre is normally the responsibility of a security team who sign out keys to contractors and trades people. It is important to keep track of who is responsible for the keys because if a significant key in the masterkeyed system is misplaced then the centre is at risk from illegal entry.

It is an expensive exercise to re-key a shopping centre that takes up the time of operations staff within the centre to get the system re-keyed and redistribute keys. In an effort to reduce the risk of keys being lost the Castle Towers shopping centre in Sydney, Australia has implemented a Keywatcher in conjunction with the installation of the high security keying system known as Galaxy and a wireless Access Control system by Salto Systems. The Keywatcher is a 6 module cabinet that holds 96 assests, from the image below you can see these assets can include keys and access control cards.

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The latest Master Keying innovation from Australian Lock Company, known as Galaxy Platinum has arrived.

Benefits of this system include:

• Cost effective rekeys - The cylinder no longer needs to be removed from the door.
• Durable keys - Lifetime guarantee.
• Longest world wide patent for restricted keying systems until 2024.

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