This is the second Queen’s Award bestowed on Traka, the electronic key security manufacturer and asset control solution provider, say Managing Director, John Kent:
“I’m absolutely delighted that our continued efforts have been recognised and rewarded – this is a wonderful achievement and it reflects more than twelve years of inspired technical development, customer understanding and international sales success”.
Traka out-scored many other hugely successful businesses to earn the Export Award; with some 50% of its annual turnover coming year on year from the export market to more than 26 countries worldwide. Only a small number of organisations proposed for the awards receive this recognition; to win the Queen’s Award twice in 4 years is quite an outstanding achievement, a fact acknowledged by Marketing Development Manager, Martyn Baker.
“The Award means that as a electronic key security manufacturer and asset control solution provider, Traka products are recognised as being at the forefront of electronic systems for managing keys and valuable equipment and Traka been acknowledged by the highest office for both its innovation and export achievements. And rightly so – Traka is innovative and forward thinking, and we’re very proud of it”.
Traka has distributors in 20 countries and has grown its overseas revenue by 500%, bringing sustained profitability through the development of a very successful and committed sales base, identifying and targeting business in countries with strong market potential. Customers range from Petrochemical giants in South Africa to National Defence organisations in Australia; from the Vatican in Italy to La Louvre in Paris; from US Casinos to Global Theme Park Industries, not to mention the European Parliament. In the UK Traka is widely used in the Distribution industry, by Police Forces, Prisons and Hospitals. Recent new users include the O2 Dome, Kew Gardens, The British Library and many other public sector and commercial organisations.
Traka, the electronic key security manufacturer and asset control solution provider was formed by John Kent in 1990 when British Airways asked him to develop a system to safeguard the use of ground support vehicles. Traka has since grown rapidly, now employing more than 40 staff in North Buckinghamshire.
Some of the features that helped Traka win the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2008 included:
1. If a key is not in the cabinet when it should be, there’s no need to ask around the office who has taken it – the Traka system will have logged the user automatically when they took the iFob.
2. The Traka system operates by securely attaching each key or key-set to a special “iFob” using a security seal where upon it locks into the Traka electronic cabinet. From there on Traka ensures that only authorised staff with the correct access privileges can gain access to the cabinet and each individual key is independently restricted. The use of each key and every key taken is recorded automatically into a central PC database, showing the key user’s name as well as the date and time taken, and equally importantly, when it was returned. Once users are accountable, they take more care of the keys and the equipment they access.
3. Traka holds all the information on powerful networked software so that long-term records may be stored and maintained to analyse equipment use, identify faulty equipment, show late returns of keys and to prove key usage.
4. With Traka there is no argument about who has damaged a vehicle, taken a piece of equipment, received a speeding fine or lost a key. Access to Traka managed keys can be via PIN code, swipe card or fingerprint recognition. Traka can even incorporate an alcohol testing facility to ensure keys aren’t released to operatives of dangerous equipment prior to taking a breath test.
5. Traka can help to plan the usage and value of company assets: how long a vehicle has been used for; how often certain files are accessed; and how many times a year a lift motor room has been accessed for maintenance.
6. As every iFob has a built-in electronic tag, it doesn’t need a label, so anyone finding a lost one won’t know what it opens or starts.
7. Every Traka system can now give instructions to each user in their native language – so if a worker is Polish, Czech, Spanish or Japanese, they will be able to follow the instructions.
8. The iFob, which can be used to operate fork lift trucks, can also collect and store information. It can record that a driver accepts the condition of a fork truck before using it each morning. Its shock sensor can even record if the truck has been in a collision. When an iFob is returned to the Traka cabinet, faults can be reported, ensuring that the equipment is locked out of use until the repair is made.
9. iFobs not only grant access to authorised personnel, but they can be programmed to work only at certain hours, or for specific lengths of time. Traka systems can also ensure that any faulty equipment is locked out of general use until repaired, whilst still allowing the service manager access.
10. Keys can be reserved in advance for later use, and a reminder is shown on the key display if anyone else tries to take a key when it needs to remain in place for the “booking”.
New features recently developed by Traka, the electronic Key security manufacturer and asset control solution provider, include intelligent electronic lockers. These are being widely adopted for managing equipment used in businesses that are attractive to steal or are prone to being lost or damaged by users. Items such as security radio handsets, personal alarm systems, radio data terminals, PDA’s and laptop computers can all be RFID tagged and managed centrally. They can be pre-booked, perhaps remotely, for an operator to use at a specific time and date. Administered from a single PC, assets across an entire organisation can be monitored to see who took them and when, when they were returned, including logging any damage to the equipment.
For more information please contact:
John Kent (Managing Director), Traka plc, 30 Stilebrook Road, Olney, Bucks, MK46 5EA UK
email: jbk@traka.com or Martyn Baker (Marketing Manager) email: mb@traka.com
Traka
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