Secure traffic access at Vodacom World
Vodacom is a leading African communications company providing a wide range of communication services, including mobile voice, messaging, data, financial and converged services to 73.6 million customers. Touted as having 58% of the cellular communications market share in South Africa, the company was also the first cellular services provider in the country.
Vodacom has grown its mobile network business to include operations in Tanzania, the DRC, Mozambique, Lesotho and Kenya. Its mobile networks cover a population of over 260 million people. Through Vodacom Business Africa (VBA), it offers business managed services to enterprises in 32 countries.
When Vodacom’s flagship facility – Vodacom World (Vodaworld) – opened its doors in Midrand in 1998, it was then the world’s first cellular shopping mall. Twenty years later, Vodacom has decided that it is time for a radical change to the building which entails a revamping project to improve aesthetics and functionality.
As part of the upgrade at Vodaworld, security measures are being enhanced to ensure that employees as well as customers are able to interface in a safe environment. Not only do hundreds of thousands of people enter and leave the property every year, but delivery vehicles constantly convey consumables and stock to the building, and relay products and consumables to various Vodacom dealerships throughout the country.
“Such high volumes of traffic can be problematic in terms of logistics,” says Craig Sacks, MD of Turnstar. “As part of the solution, Turnstar was asked to provide an automatic vehicle barrier that would ensure maximised security, without hindering traffic flow.”
Vodacom selected 41 Turnstar Velocity industrial vehicle barriers, manufactured with 304 grade brushed stainless steel cabinets with matching powder coated lids in the iconic Vodacom red. The automatic Velocity barrier incorporates the latest SwiftDrive technology which allows for rapid adjustable opening and closing speeds of between 1.0 and 3.0 seconds, dependent on the length of the barrier arm.
Sacks points out that the Velocity is built with operational efficiency and durability in mind, citing the brushless DC motor, which eliminates the probability of wear experienced with brushed DC motors. In addition, the elimination of the commonly used worm gear further ensures reliable operation over many years.
Due to the fact that no tension springs are used, the adjustable compression springs allow for precise barrier arm balancing. Added to the ease of use is the incorporation of the effortless mechanical override for manual operation, should power outages be experienced or the 7 Ah battery backup is exhaused, thereby ensuring that bottlenecks do not occur.
“We are confident that the addition of the Velocity industrial vehicle barriers, which have undergone extensive testing, will enhance Vodacom’s service reputation while simultaneously providing customers, employees and suppliers with the assurance that only permissible vehicles will be allowed to enter the premises,” says Sacks.
