Physical access control manufacturer Turnstar Systems launched its innovative Speedstile Secure turnstile at the International Fire and Security Exhibition and Conference South Africa in Midrand, earlier this month.

The high-speed secure access control solution is manufactured from 304-grade stainless steel and fitted with a heavy-duty three-phase motor.

Turnstar Systems director Craig Sacks tells Engineering News the solution is fitted with an inverter drive to ensure the best performance of the motor, which is energy efficient and, therefore, ideal for use in green buildings.

Access through the Speedstile Secure is gained either by swiping an authorised access card or through fingerprint recognition, with the glass wings of the Speedstile Secure opening in less than a second.

The Speedstile Secure is also fitted with safety features that include two 24-beam light curtains, which ensure that accidental closing does not occur. Another set of beams is used to prevent tailgating and entry from the opposite side of the turnstile.

“This product is designed and manufactured in South Africa and has superior safety features, compared with similar products on the market. We hope that the product will be used as a more sophisticated alternative to standard turnstiles,” Sacks states.

Also new to the local market is Turnstar Systems’ Guardian Bollard vehicle barrier range. These barriers are buried on a roadway and rise to heights of 600 mm, 800 mm and 1 200 mm.

The range is fitted with internal hydraulic pumps, which control the up and down motion of the bollards.

The descending time of the Guardian Bollards is three seconds, while the ascending time is five seconds. Multiple bollards can be connected simultaneously to accommodate the entrance of a wide vehicle.

The Guardian Bollards are available in various types of steel and are fitted with light-emitting diode indicator lights for added visibility.

Sacks adds that, compared with spiked barriers, the Guardian Bollards offer a higher level of protection, as it has proved to be an impenetrable barrier.

“These bollards are typically designed to withstand an impact of a 2 t vehicle travelling at 57 km/h. Our recent orders include installations for Botswana’s national broadcaster Botswana TV and an European embassy, in Pretoria,” he notes.

Sacks expects that the bollards will soon replace the more conventional spiked barriers.

Sacks says the company exports 20% of its products globally and he hopes the product will gain traction in the European and African markets, where Turnstar Systems is focusing its efforts.