Current Press Archived Press

07/07/2010 | APT AND CIRCONTROL PUT NEW POWER BEHIND ELECTRICAL VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING SOLUTIONS

APT Controls Group, the

05/07/2010 | APT GETS SET TO PUT LUTON STREETS AHEAD FOLLOWING NEW CONTRACT WIN

APT Security Systems, the high-end integrator for high-performance access systems, has helped design a new street scheme for the Arndale Centre

14/06/2010 | APT’S COMPLETE RANGE IN CRASH TEST TRIUMPH

Following the launch of its new ‘Complete' bollard range, APT Security Systems, the high-end integrator for high-performance vehicle access sys

13/06/2010 | APT SKIDATA LAUNCHES NEXT GENERATION IN INTEGRATED PARKING MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY

APT SkiData has taken its thought-leadership in parking management solutions a step further with the launch of Plato Pay, the next generation i

19/01/2010 | APT SKIDATA APPOINTS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR

Sean Dunstan has succeeded Dermot Murphy as Managing Director of APT Skidata, the UK‘s number one parking technology specialists. Dermot has mo

18/12/2009 | APT EXTENDS RANGE OF CRASH-RATED AUTOMATIC BOLLARDS

A new mid-range automatic rising bollard that can withstand the impact of a 7.5 tonne vehicle striking it at 30mph has been launched by APT Sec

14/12/2009 | APT MAKES A STAND FOR STREET FURNITURE!

What is believed to be the first crash-rated cycle stand with anti-terrorism/ram raid properties has been launched by APT Security Systems (par

07/12/2009 | APT TECHNOLOGY GIVEN LUXURY THUMBS UP FROM HARRODS

Harrods, the luxury London store, is controlling traffic to its delivery bays and valet car park using a number of barriers from APT Security S

30/11/2009 | PARKING TECHNOLOGY FROM APT SKIDATA HELPS VIRGIN TRAINS

Future-proof parking technology from APT Skidata is playing a central role in a £90 million investment programme by Virgin Trains to modernise

16/11/2009 | APT ACCESS TECHNOLOGY KEEPS TIGER FANS ROARING

Sophisticated people access control technology, designed and installed by APT Skidata, is helping fans of the Leicester Tigers gain a speedy an

07/10/2009 | FIRST OUTING FOR APT’S NEW ‘FLEXY BOLLARDS’ AT ANDERSON HOUSE

The UK's most advanced Flexible bollards have been installed by APT Security Systems, the high-end integrator for high-performance vehicle acce

30/09/2009 | APT SKIDATA COMPLETES HAT-TRICK OF UPGRADES FOR BAA

APT SkiData has completed final works on the third of three complete system upgrades and expansions at all of BAA's London Airports – Heathrow,

28/09/2009 | APT LAUNCHES NEW ‘CLASSIC’ BARRIER RANGE

A new ‘Classic' range of cost-effective and highly reliable barriers designed for long-term residential and commercial use has been launched by

20/07/2009 | NEW BOLLARD THAT RISES, FLEXES AND GLOWS IN THE DARK!

An innovative bollard that automatically rises, flexes and even glows in the dark has been launched by APT Security Systems, leaders in vehicul

APT TECHNOLOGY HELPS MAKE PARKING STRESS FREE

APT Skidata's state-of-the-art technology and solutions have been installed in the car park at Bristol's new shopping district.

Cabot Circus forms part of the redevelopment of Bristol city centre, the largest regeneration project since the end of World War II. The work was in conjunction with the Bristol Alliance – a partnership between UK property developers Hammerson and Land Securities. The development features a stunning glass roof and incorporates a Grade I listed former Quaker Meeting House.

The £500m complex provides a range of leisure facilities including 120 new shops, a 13-screen ‘Showcase Cinema de Lux', more than 200 residential homes, public spaces and a modern car park.

The multi-storey car park opened on the 25^th September 2008, it accommodates over 2,555 vehicles and is the largest in the city. APT Skidata has installed 13 parking barriers from its APT 450 range at the entry and exit lanes and 17 pay stations, featuring electronic locks.

All of the ‘traditional' locks on its APT SkiData pay-on-foot units were replaced with innovative programmable electronic locks and ‘cyber' keys from Ez-Assure, to dramatically improve the effectiveness of its routine and extraordinary maintenance operations, as well as enhancing management control and security.

Ez-Assure offers a web-based management solution for controlling physical access via electronic keys and locks. One key can be programmed to unlock either all parts of the pay station (ie the internal locks on the notebook and cash box for example) or just the front door (ie to allow access to the ticket coder to fix paper jams), depending on what is required.

Norman Ship, Car Park Manager for Cabot Circus is pleased with the cyber keys performance: “Each member of the team now has an assigned electronic key which they are issued at the beginning of the day.

“The key is pre-programmed so the parking specialists have keys that unlock the locks inside the pay station, but the remainder of the duty assistants can only open the front door which is sufficient for them to resolve the most common issues,” Norman continues. “The assistants carry their key with them for the duration of their shift and all activity is recorded.

“At the end of their shift, the cyber keys are returned to the docking station and the information is downloaded to the secure web-based administration centre where I can see a full status report. It lists which machines have been opened and when, and highlights when attempts at un-authorised access have been made.”

For drivers using the new car park, a level counting system from sister company APT Technologies is being used to help them find spaces quickly and with ease. Occupancy levels are sent to electronic VMS (variable messaging system) display, informing them where spaces are available.

In addition, software designed by APT Skidata allows for integration with Bristol City Council's urban traffic management control (UTMC) so that drivers are informed of space availability on their approach to the car park.

The entire parking system will operate over IP, along with all other building management and security systems and will be managed at Cabot Circus' central management suite.

Dermot Murphy, Managing Director of APT Skidata adds: “The car park at Cabot Circus is one of the most technologically advanced in the country.

“Surveys show that most customers feel stress trying to find a parking space. All of the software and technology designed by APT Skidata and Technologies has been designed to remove this stress and make the whole experience more pleasant.

“It is the first and last impression the customer has, so it is crucial they leave with a good overall feeling of the shopping centre – the car park plays a major role in that.”