Efficient handling of access control with Magnetic

In our modern world, you will find all kinds of access controls for security purposes. They are all designed to prevent unauthorized entry. Think of passenger checkpoints in airports and access gates in train and subway stations. Other access barriers for vehicles and people include barriers and turnstiles in parking garages and public facilities, at events and in sports complexes.

One of the leading manufacturers of vehicle and pedestrian access gates for a wide range of applications is Magnetic Autocontrol GmbH. The company is located in southern Germany, in Schopfheim, on the edge of the Black Forest.

Since 2012, Magnetic has been a member of the Italian group of companies FAAC Technologies. The headquarters, the technological and managerial heart of FAAC, is located in Bologna, Italy. However, the group also has a strong presence abroad. That is where most of its activities take place with both production sites and trading companies. With a total turnover of more than 600 million euros and a total of 53 companies spread over 5 continents, FAAC has more than 3,600 employees worldwide.

At the competence center in Schopfheim, over 30 employees work on hardware and software for innovative products and customer-specific solutions. An internal testing and standardization department is responsible for high quality, user safety and compliance with the relevant regulations.

The challenge: efficient and safe airport passenger checks

Magnetic has developed a new line of access control solutions called Momentum®. The solutions are designed for use in airports. As the name suggests, they are designed to keep things moving. After all, travelers want a fast and pleasant check-in experience, without long lines.

Magnetic faced a number of challenges during the development of Momentum. The goal was to place as many passenger control gate barriers as possible in the smallest area possible. The high throughput of travelers must be handled as efficiently as possible.

Many details for the end customer, barely visible to passengers

The specifications were very strict. In order to enter as many passenger passageways side by side as possible, the housing of the access control system had to be as narrow as possible.

It therefore became a challenge to house a computer to manage the access control system. On the one hand, a powerful computer was needed, but on the other, it had to be as compact as possible. In addition, extreme reliability was crucial. At an airport, downtime due to a system failure or repair can quickly escalate and lead to chaos and dissatisfied passengers. Furthermore, a reliable supply of hardware, especially given the global problems in supply chains, was an important factor. Of course, affordable price also played a role.

A compact industrial PC from OnLogic paves the way

Magnetic Autocontrol ultimately chose the OnLogic ML350G-10 fanless industrial PC. Due to its great processing power, reliability and small size, this system was literally and figuratively the fitting solution. This compact powerhouse is used in the self-boarding gate "mGo," Boarding-Gate and "mPass" Security Gate of the Momentum product line.

With the Boarding Gate, the small-format industrial computer processes boarding pass data scanned by travelers themselves. The data is then compared for verification and authorization with a database provided by the airport operator. If the passenger data matches, the glass doors of the gate open and the passenger can proceed through.

The mPass Security Gate includes a passport reader. This sends the passenger data to the integrated ML350G-10, which in turn compares it with biometric data obtained from facial recognition cameras.

An industrial PC for passenger screening - invisible efficiency

The ML350G-10 has a height of about 3.5 cm, so it fits perfectly into the passenger control system. The design of this model is fanless. As a result, it is quiet, clean and extremely reliable. This minimizes interruptions for necessary maintenance. Reliable operation is also supported by 4G LTE connectivity for failover protection. As a result, passenger checks run smoothly and efficiently.

Why OnLogic

"During the project, we really appreciated the consistently good communication with OnLogic, even with difficult issues such as current challenges in the supply chain. We were always informed and kept on time."

- TIMO RAUER, PORTFOLIO MANAGER PEDESTRIAN GATES

This was not the first collaboration between Magnetic Autocontrol and OnLogic. The company already had good experience with smaller projects, which led them to consider OnLogic for the Momentum product line.

"I am responsible for component selection and can highlight the excellent support for all technical issues. The team at OnLogic always responds well to our requirements. They always strive to find the best possible solution for us as customers."

- OLAF WITTICH, HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT, ELECTRICAL DESIGN