Emerald is a touch screen reader, door controller, VoIP Intercom and system terminal all in a single box, with touch screen LCD greets cardholders by illuminating as they approach

CEM’s access terminal, emerald, has been installed at the airport providing solution beyond access control

CEM Systems, part of the Security Products business unit of Tyco, can announce that its long standing customer London Gatwick Airport has undergone a major upgrade of its AC2000 access control and security management system. The project was phased throughout 2014 and involved an upgrade of AC2000 Airport software, as well as the upgrade of more than 700 card readers throughout the airport terminals to support PicoPass smart card technology.  CEM’s revolutionary intelligent access terminal, emerald, has also been installed at Gatwick Airport, providing a modern, innovative solution that goes beyond access control.  

London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport, serving around 200 destinations in 90 countries, with more than 38 million passengers a year.

Airport needed phased upgrade that ensured zero system downtime

“Over the last year we have worked with CEM Systems to seamlessly upgrade our existing AC2000 security system, which has proven to be highly reliable and powerful. As a large system with more than 80,000 card holders and due to the critical nature of the airport environment we needed a phased upgrade that ensured zero system downtime”, said David Rees, Business System Manager for Operations. “CEM support was second to none with the AC2000 Airport software upgrade performed remotely and quickly”. 

“CEM Systems has been working in partnership with Gatwick Airport for over 25 years, during which time their AC2000 security management system has been continually upgraded and customised to meet their unique aviation requirements” said Philip Verner, Regional Sales Director, EMEA, CEM Systems. “This recent upgrade was a significant project that required all existing CEM S610e card readers to be upgraded to support highly secure PicoPass smart card technology. We are also delighted that our new CEM emerald IP access terminals have been installed to enhance operations at Gatwick Airport’s arrival gates and to act as an information point for ID staff and flight agents”.

"CEM Systems has been working in partnership with Gatwick Airport for over 25 years, during which time their AC2000 security management system has been continually upgraded", says Philip Verner, Regional Sales Director, EMEA, CEM Systems

Airport security can use remote apps on the terminal to update personnel records

The first of its kind in the industry, emerald is a touch screen reader, door controller, VoIP Intercom and system terminal all in a single box. The innovative touch screen LCD greets cardholders by illuminating as they approach and provides a user friendly security experience. As an intelligent multifunctional IP access terminal, emerald provides London Gatwick Airport with more than access control at the door. Airport security can use remote apps on the terminal to update personnel records, perform reader maintenance and display airport adverts and messages.

Gatwick Airport are also using the unique emerald flight arrivals door mode, which enables flight arrival gates in both the North and South Terminal to intelligently route domestic and international passengers accordingly. Upon a valid card swipe, flight agents intuitively select a predefined flight carrier number on the emerald terminal. Emerald then interlocks the appropriate doors to allow international passengers to be routed to passport and border controls, with domestic passengers simply routed to baggage collection. 

With the major upgrade now complete, London Gatwick Airport has a truly innovative, future proof security platform that provides resilient access control, and improves card user experience at the door and enhances airport operations.

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