16 Oct Choosing the right access gate control device: EasyTouch vs TouchPanel

Remote control, touchpad, or mobile app? The device you use to remotely control your entrance control gates determines how efficiently reception staff and security personnel can manage access, respond to incidents and adapt to changing security scenarios to safeguard your building.

Entrance Control’s EasyTouch and TouchPanel solutions are designed for different security environments and price points, allowing you to choose the perfect fit for your budget.

TouchPanel: streamlined control for smaller sites

TouchPanel is a desk-mounted device providing straightforward entrance control for modest facilities with lower throughput. It features touch-sensitive buttons, an onboard sounder and LED signalling, all wrapped up in a touchpad that can be self-standing or mounted at a building’s front desk within easy reach of reception staff.

The system’s strength lies in its simplicity. TouchPanel can control up to three lanes of Entrance Control EasyGates, allowing operators to admit individuals or a group of visitors, keep a single gate open for deliveries while others remain secure, or open all gates to allow free exit in emergency situations.

This approach suits leisure facilities, smaller corporate offices, and sites where only basic, yet reliable entrance control is required and staff are on hand at reception or in a control room to approve visitors.

Entrance Control General Manager Michael Bystram said ease of use and convenience were Touchpanel’s strengths.

“TouchPanel delivers exactly what smaller buildings need without unnecessary layers of complexity, allowing reception staff to master its controls quickly and handle access control effectively without extensive training.”

Entrance Control’s cost-effective TouchPanel solution integrates discreetly into reception areas and provides clear visual feedback for reception staff and other users on the status of gates, indicating whether they are ready to admit visitors, shut, or experiencing a fault. It delivers reliable performance for facilities that don’t require advanced functionality or extensive lane management.

EasyTouch: comprehensive control for complex environments

EasyTouch represents the future of remote-control technology, designed for facilities with more complex security requirements and entrance control gates in multiple locations. The system operates from a mobile touch-screen tablet equipped with dedicated software that allows comprehensive oversight and visibility of gate activity.

The touch screen system is built for heavy lifting, capable of controlling up to 64 lanes of speedgates, with configurable windows for different banks of gates. Password protection with multiple user levels ensures only authorised personnel can access specific functions.

Real-time alarm reporting immediately alerts operators to security events, providing details of which speedgate triggered the alarm and what type of breach event occurred – whether tailgating, forced entry or vandalism.

All alarm events are logged for later review, providing reference data for security audits and identifying patterns that might indicate systematic security issues or flaws in design.

Outside of normal office hours, EasyTouch can lock down banks of lanes so they can’t be used, leaving one access point that can be monitored by on-site security guards if required. Various modes of operation can be used to create different entrance-monitoring scenarios, for example keeping barriers open, but setting off an alarm if swipe cards are not used when entrants pass through.

“EasyTouch provides sophisticated control capabilities to meet the needs of corporate installations,” Bystram said.

“It can easily manage dozens of lanes across multiple floors or buildings, while poised to update your staff immediately on any security threat that might arise.”

An optional EasyTouch – Door Access add-on hardware device lets EasyTouch interface with outside of Entrance Control’s security network, including third-party doors, boom gates and side gates. This enables unified management of all access control elements at a site from a single console, removing the need for multiple touch points.

Matching control systems to operational needs

The choice between TouchPanel and EasyTouch depends on your building’s size, security requirements and operational complexity.

“It’s a case of horses for courses,” Bystram said. “Smaller sites with more basic access control needs are well served by TouchPanel’s simplicity and cost-effectiveness, while large-scale operations are better off harnessing EasyTouch’s comprehensive functionality.”

Both systems integrate seamlessly with Entrance Control’s range of speed gates, swing gates, gym gates and turnstiles, making it easy to support staff in managing access efficiently while maintaining the stringent security protocols modern facilities demand.