Ship to Shore

Alpro Architectural Hardware have supplied their waterproof access control keypads to the principal ferry operator in Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne. Caledonian MacBrayne serves 45 ports across the west coast of Scotland and sails to 24 destinations including islands such as Arran, Bute, Mull and Iona.
Alpro’s marine keypad is waterproof to IP68, this being the highest certification available in terms of protection against ingress of water. These bright aluminium keypads are vandal-resistant and suitable for up to 200 users. They are available as self-contained or two-part units and there are surface or mortice-mount variants for both.

Benefiting from piezoelectric technology, whereby pressure on the sensors is converted to an electrical charge, the keypads have no moving parts. They are suitable for both internal and external use. With space on even large ferry vessels being at a premium, installers and end-users will appreciate the slim-line design with dimensions of 44.5 mm (w) x 181 mm (l).

The keypads are ensuring that access to operational sections of the ferries is restricted to appropriate personnel, so contributing to safe operation and protection of passengers.

Keith Parry, Divisional Sales Manager at Alpro, said: “There are very few waterproof keypads with IP68 certification in the marketplace and still fewer with the levels of vandal resistance and aesthetic appeal offered by Alpro. These keypads combine simple installation with ease of use. They are proving a default choice in environments where protection against corrosion, reliability and maintenance-free performance are at a premium.”

The units’ security plugs offer tamper resistance, and users can employ various length codes (from 4 to 8 digits) simultaneously. There is a 2 amp chargeover relay and the anodized graphics contribute to durability. There are timeout functions for both code entry and programming.
A favourite option for Caledonian MacBrayne passengers are the ‘Whisky Hopscotch’ trails around the island distilleries. Day trips include Arran in the Firth of Clyde and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The ferry operator offers landing and non-landing excursions. Caledonian MacBrayne is publicly owned and controlled by the Scottish Government.