High-end security integrator APT Security Systems has supplied and installed three durable raising arm barriers at the UK photographic goods manufacturing site of the Eastman Kodak Company, the international imaging equipment, services, and photographic materials specialist.
Following the relocation of staff parking facilities from adjacent land, Kodak needed to redesign site access at its facility in Harrow, Middlesex. Abid Khalil, Senior Project Manager at Kodak, coordinated the work: “We initially completed a market search for barrier suppliers and asked a number of suitable companies to provide proposals,” he says.
“Based on these initial specifications we chose to work with APT, primarily because of the detail of its technical specifications as well as its competitive pricing,” he says.
Kodak improved its site entrance, which now features two entry lanes – one for employee vehicles and one for contractors and delivery vehicles – in order to manage the flow of traffic arriving at peak times such as at the beginning of the day, and one exit lane. As a result APT specified and installed three barriers from its MC Executive range, which are reliable, long-lasting and offer a fast operating action, as well as barrier accessories that included a bottom curtain, stop discs, and combined flashing beacons and warning sounders.
Access through the APT barriers at each of these three points is provided via a magnetic swipe pass issued to employees, select contractors and temporary staff. Access levels are programmed according to need, though the barriers can also be operated manually by security staff in order to enable access for delivery vehicles and visitors.
“From the initial meeting with APT through to the final installation, including working closely with its engineering department to refine the technical detail, each part of the process went very smoothly,” continues Abid. “In particular the technical input and professional advice from APT throughout was very impressive and helpful, with the engineers commenting on our plans and suggesting possible improvements.”
Chris Rowlands, Managing Director of APT Security Systems, says that with car parking space a premium commodity, it is now more important than ever that businesses take the necessary precautions to protect their property: “Kodak is a well-established, prestigious company with a long history, and we are pleased to have been able to work in close partnership with it in order to provide a secure solution to suit its access control needs.”
Based in the US, Kodak is the world’s foremost imaging innovator and helps consumers, businesses and creative professionals unleash the power of images, information and printing. Its UK manufacturing base has been established in Harrow, Middlesex, for in excess of 120 years, where its factory is the largest Eastman Kodak manufacturing plant outside of the US. The core of its activity in Harrow is now the production of colour negative paper and thermal media finishing, continuing the site’s tradition of manufacturing photographic materials.
