In this article, we explore the company’s latest tech innovations, including its multi-tech readers, mobile credential solution and controllers.
Armatura is a US access control brand headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Though the company is relatively young, its innovative spirit is nonetheless impressive. In this article, we explore the company’s latest tech innovations, including its multi-tech readers, mobile credential solution and controllers.
Multi-tech readers
Armatura recently introduced the Explore series of mobile credential multi-tech readers (EP10C and EP20C), which are among the most advanced RFID readers in the market and win out with various features. These are summarized as follows:
• Multi-tech card reading: EP series readers can be optionally equipped with different RFID modules to support up to 100+ card types (covers most of the card types in the market) and dual RFID frequencies (13.56MHz & 125 kHz).
• Robust design: EP series readers are certified for up to IK10 vandal-proof standard and IP68 water and dustproof standard and are strengthened with UL94-V0 flame retardant capabilities.
• Data protection: The readers support OSDP V2.2 communication protocol and support AES1258 end-to-end encryption standard. They are embedded with an EAL6+ certified crypto chip for data storage.
• Mounting: EP series readers are designed to be compatible with different gang-boxes, such as Asian Gang-box (also known as 86 box), European Gang-box and Single Gang-box (EP10 reader needs to use back-box to fit in different gang-box installations).
Compared to the EP10C reader, EP20C differs primarily in three ways. Size-wise, EP20C is an Asian Gang-box size reader compared to EP10C’s compact mullion mount design (in other words, EP20C is bigger than EP10C). Further, EP20C has keypad options and a QR code scanner option.
Access via mobile credentials
Both EP10C and EP20C support Armatura’s mobile credential solution, which enables smart devices like smartphones and smart devices to act as credentials. The solution allows access via the following modes: card mode, where the user simply presents their smartphone to the reader to gain access; remote mode, where the user clicks or presses the button in the Armatura ID mobile app from a long distance; and QR code mode (EP20CQ and EP20CQK), where visitors are enabled to access designated areas by scanning the QR code on their smart device.
Raymond So, Marketing Director of Armatura, says the company places a strong focus on mobile credentialing due to its strong growth trajectory moving forward. “Most RFID cards will be replaced by either mobile credentials or biometric technology soon, and this is an obvious trend,” he said. “The reason we want to launch our mobile credential solution is that we believe mobile credential is the future. Secondly, the mobile credential has excellent market potential, the technology is ready, the public is well educated to use their phone to access, and competitors’ marketing strategies are conservative. Thirdly, the mobile credential is a better solution regarding user experience, data security, privacy and convenience.”
Applications varied
According to So, the EP series readers are built for all kinds of applications, but they can serve certain segments particularly well, including multi-national projects and use cases in special installation environments.
“Some of the multi-national corporations are used to different card types across other counties in the old days; when their senior officers travel across different country offices, they need to carry a number of cards, and that caused a lot of troubles. Using multi-tech cards or upgrading to mobile credentials will be a good choice for them,” So said. “For special installation environments, the EP readers series are certified with all sorts of protection levels, such as IP68, IK10 and UL94-V0. EP readers are good for installing in different critical environments, such as prison, seaside, outdoor and heavy industry plants.”
Primary controller and door unit
Aside from the EP series readers, Armatura will soon launch its AHSC-1000 primary controller, AHDU door unit, AHEB IO Expansion Board, as well as the OmniAC20/30 standalone terminal and the security platform Armatura One.
The AHSC-1000 primary controller serves as the “core control” in the access control system architecture and comes with the following major features: third-party integration, scalability, dual system ROM protection design, intelligent power monitoring, port failover and redundancy, and supervised inputs.
The AHDU series are IP-based biometric door units that also come with various advanced features. It’s however worth noting that AHDU is not a pure door unit; it’s more like a hybrid controller (door unit plus primary controller).
“Traditional door unit controllers do not have any access control logic calculation, but AHDU can act as a standalone controller when needed. AHDU can communicate with the Armatura One security platform and process all access control logics,” So said. “Meanwhile, when AHDU connects with AHSC, AHDU will become a door unit; the access control logic will still be processed in the AHDU, but all the cross-panel linkage functions, access records, and credential information will sync with AHSC-1000, and some of the cross panel linkages functions will be processed in the AHSC-1000 primary controller instead of Armatura One.”
Perfect match with ZKTeco
So doubles as the Head of Marketing for ZKTeco, which is the Sole Global Distributor of Armatura. According to So, Armatura and ZKTeco are a perfect match.
“ZKTeco own its mature biometric and security products distribution channel over the globe, and ZKTeco's market segment is middle-end to middle-low-end products and has gained significant success in the past 20 years, which successfully penetrated over 100 countries,” So said. “On the other hand, Armatura is a newly founded technical-based company, whose market segment is aimed at middle-high and high-end security and biometric products. But it lacks a distribution channel and experienced teams to manage multi-national pre-sales, sales and after-sales services and management. So, Armatura and ZKTeco can back up each other, and the senior management of both companies are happy to have each other’s support to cooperate and form an alliance to strengthen and synergize company.”
