Ingersoll-Rand Offers Its Biometric Handreader Device To Any Airport Looking to Improve Security
IR HandReader at Salt Lake City International Airport Technology Already In Use at San Francisco International, Other Airports
HAMILTON, BERMUDA - March 25, 2002 - Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR), a leading diversified industrial firm, today announced a global "try me" initiative - offering to provide one of its biometric handreader units - to help airports see how biometric security devices can enhance security measures. Salt Lake City International Airport, the first airport to take advantage of this program, is now using IR's handreader technology to protect one of the most sensitive areas of the airport, the Operations Center.
"This is a great opportunity for us to see how IR's biometric technology can help make our operations even more secure," said Tim Campbell, executive director of Salt Lake City International Airport. "It clearly adds another layer of security for employees who have access to our secure areas."
The handreader verification system reads more than 90 unique measurements of the size and shape of a person's hand, taking only a few seconds to complete, and then compares that information to an employee database.
"We're very excited about this opportunity to provide the Salt Lake City International Airport with our biometric technology and demonstrate how handreaders can be the cornerstone of an airport's security solution," said Martin Huddart, general manager of Recognition Systems Inc. (RSI), the biometrics division of IR's Security and Safety Sector. "It's a proven technology. This 'try me' initiative should help airports to easily test how biometric handreaders can help them to improve security."
IR is a leading provider of comprehensive, integrated security and safety solutions, including advanced biometric access control technology. IR's comprehensive access control solutions are used to secure some of the world's busiest airports. This includes San Francisco International Airport, where since 1991, more than 30,000 airport employees have been using IR biometric handreaders to protect access to the critical air operations area. IR's biometric technology is also being used at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, to verify the identity of some 50,000 passengers per month. IR's biometrics unit, Recognition Systems Inc., is the world's leading provider of biometric solutions, with more than 60,000 of its innovative handreaders installed in airports, government facilities, office buildings, power plants and other critical installations across the globe.
In October 2001, IR participated in a demonstration of biometrics technologies convened by Utah Congressman Jim Matheson at the Salt Lake City International Airport.
"It makes sense to respond to the 21st century terrorist threat with 21st century tools, like those offered through biometric technology," Matheson said. "Testing a variety of these technologies at our airports is an important part of enhancing security at airports and on airplanes for the traveling public."
In addition to its biometric handreaders, IR's Security and Safety sector offers a broad selection of the industry's best known hardware products, innovative software systems, and advanced access control solutions, such as Schlage locks and electronic and key management systems, Von Duprin exit devices, Locknetics electronic locking systems, and Interflex networked access control, time, attendance and personnel scheduling systems. These technologies and systems can play significant roles in addressing the security concerns of other critical installations, such as government buildings, hospitals, schools, power generation facilities and water treatment plants, and sports stadiums.
About Recognition Systems
With over 60,000 hand geometry units throughout the world reading millions of hands each day, Recognition Systems, founded in 1986, is the pioneer of hand recognition technology used in access control, time and attendance and identification applications. The company is the world sales leader of biometric verification devices and serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Campbell, Calif. The hand geometry website is www.handreader.com. Phone is 408-341-4100. Recognition Systems is the biometric component of Ingersoll-Rand Corporation's Security & Safety Group's Electronic Access Control Division. The Ingersoll-Rand website is www.irco.com.