TOLEDO, OH; CAMPBELL, CA - September 23, 2003 - Demonstrating its commitment to security and serving as an example for other airports to follow, Toledo Express Airport, Toledo, OH, unveiled its new biometric security system, which accurately verifies the identity of an individual by the unique physical characteristics of his or her hand. With the new system, Toledo Express is the second airport in the United States and the first in the Midwest to completely control access to its tarmac and other sensitive areas using biometric technologies.
With HandReaders from Recognition Systems Inc. (RSI), a business of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited, Toledo Express Airport now can monitor the movements of airport employees throughout its facility, ensuring that only approved personnel can gain entrance to the tarmac and other critical areas. Through its installation of RSI biometric HandReaders, Toledo Express Airport joins San Francisco International Airport, with its 18,000 employees, as the only two U.S. airports to use biometrics to completely control access to tarmacs. Both airports use RSI's HandReaders.
"Security is a paramount issue for the air service industry. By electing to use this system to monitor our employees, Toledo Express joins an elite group of airports that employs biometrics, one of the most effective security technologies for optimizing security for employees and passengers," said Paul L. Toth, Jr., Airports Director for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.
Easy to use, RSI HandReaders turn the hand itself into an identification card. The devices use patented technologies to analyze more than 90 unique measurements of the size and shape of a person's hand, taking only a few seconds to complete. The hand geometry is then compared to information in a central database that tracks and monitors employee movements and access to sensitive areas.
"The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's efforts to improve security at Toledo Express Airport are to be commended," said U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). "With enhanced security and safety measures, Toledo Express Airport can serve a model for others airports nationwide that are seeking new approaches to help address heightened security concerns."
RSI is the world's leading supplier of biometric verification systems for the aviation and additional industries. Along with Toledo Express Airport, numerous regional and international airports have selected RSI biometric HandReaders to secure vital operations areas within their facilities, including Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose, CA; Boise Airport in Idaho; Salt Lake City Airport in Utah and Manchester International in the United Kingdom.
Toledo Express is among a group of airports globally that has begun to employ RSI HandReaders to monitor employees, who often have access to sensitive areas of an airport where employee and passenger security could be compromised. In addition to Toledo Express, San Francisco International Airport and Ben Gurion Airport in Israel use RSI HandReaders to monitor employees for greater security. Every day SFO processes 18,000 employees with access to critical air operations through the RSI HandReaders.
Ben Gurion, whose operations have been cited as the model for airports in the U.S., processes 50,000 passengers a month using the RSI HandReaders as part of a Trusted Traveler Program.
About Recognition Systems
Inc.
With more than 75,000 hand geometry units throughout the world reading millions
of hands each day, Recognition Systems, founded in 1986, is the pioneer in hand
recognition technology used in access control, time and attendance and identification
applications. The company is the world sales leader of biometric verification
devices in diverse industries and serves an international clientele from its
headquarters in Campbell, California Recognition Systems is a business of Ingersoll-Rand
Company Limited, a leading innovation and solutions provider for the major global
markets of Security and Safety, Climate Control, Industrial Productivity and
Infrastructure. For more information on RSI and its HandReaders, visit www.recogsys.com
and www.handreader.com. For sales, please call (408) 341-4100. Further information
on IR can be found at www.irco.com.
About Toledo Express
Airport
Toledo Express Airport is a full service, user friendly, regional airport with
40 daily flights to 9 destinations and ample cargo facilities and fixed base
operator services. Toledo Express Airport is operated by the Toledo-Lucas County
Port Authority.
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