From vision to reality – helping to ensure the right product for the right location

Many high-profile buildings right across the globe have chosen our entrance control products to secure their people and assets.

But as well as product quality, we also pride ourselves on the support we offer to our customers. That means taking time before sale to ensure what is proposed is exactly right, during installation to assist integrators, and then on throughout the life of the units.

We know that sometimes our customers find it difficult to imagine how their lobby will look with a set of turnstile lanes installed, or how it might look with Fastlane products instead of their existing turnstiles in situ.  Perhaps they are considering a higher security option so want to visualise whether a turnstile with a full barrier height would look aesthetically pleasing.

To help facilitate this, we offer our customers the option of a digital render, showing how our products will look when they are installed.   This coupled with the expert guidance of our sales team partnered with one of our valued integration partners at the quotation stage can often help reassure customers they have the right product for the right location.

In-house expertise

Try before you buy is an old phrase. With any product, it’s an advantage to have as much information as possible before making any commitment. If the product is to be installed physically by an integration partner, that would appear to be pretty difficult – but technology to the rescue.

“Part of my work is using Autodesk’s AutoCAD software,” explains Matthew Cooper, who is a member of our Inside Sales team. “AutoCAD is a family of professional design and draughting software products, extensively used to create 3D lifelike models of objects and places. We create 3D models of all of our products at the design stage. Often specifiers and architects insert those into their models of buildings, and often specify our products on that basis.”

Many locations don’t have architect’s models available to us, so to create something site-specific, we use a number of site photos. “My colleague Alex Wilkins is the specialist in 2D art packages like Photoshop,” continues Matthew. “He’ll clean up the photos, removing any existing turnstiles, and also often people and other objects that might just be a distraction. Meanwhile, I’m using AutoCAD to create a render of our product that has the exact colour, finish and shape chosen for this particular install.”

After the unit to be fitted is replicated digitally, Matthew will size it correctly and create a render – a 2D image taken from the 3D model. This is inserted into the picture Alex has created and can be used to complement any quote with a visualisation of what we propose.

Bespoke solutions

Adding surface qualities like colour is pretty straightforward. More work is needed if more bespoke options are needed, for example, our recent case study discussed a sixth-form college where our turnstiles needed to be mounted on protective plinths and given customised side panels suited to the limited space available.

“Recently, I was working with an integration partner of ours, adds UK Sales Manager Phil Allen. “They had proposed our units for a customer operating at several high-street locations. It was really helpful to be able to show the customer exactly what we were suggesting, in place and at each of their locations. The work that Alex and Matthew do can help bring the products to life.”

Not every way to visualise is hi-tech, even today. Customers are always welcome to arrange a visit to our facility in Feltham, West London, where everything is designed and built, and see the products for themselves.

Visualising the space

A 3D camera, adapted for subtle depth perception, captures footage from which software can automatically create an architect’s model of the space. Other elements, like turnstile models, can then be added in.

The first use of such a location model is internal. “Step one is establishing exactly what to propose,” says Tony Smith, our Major Accounts and Marketing Manager. “We spend a lot of time preparing each quote, and it’s not just getting the technical specs right. We know in practice things like the sort of throughput you can expect and the space that’s good to have around each unit.” Once the basis of the quote is finalised, we can share images with the customer, either from a digital model of the space or from photographs of the location.

“The tools do keep evolving,” comments Tony. “Phone footage is higher and higher quality these days. More often than in the past, that’s enough to create a sense of the space. We want to add value in whatever way works for the individual case, not just apply one solution every time.”

Our consultative approach

The in-situ rendered images we can offer may or may not be what you need. Even if not, what we are sure you will value is the committed, consultative approach.

Even if your primary interaction is with an installer or other partner, we always stand ready to advise and work alongside you in whatever ways will help the most.

Whether the discussion is about the number of lanes you will need for acceptable throughput, or the obligations of the Equality Act and wheelchair access, with IDL you will never be left to work through the issues on your own.

Want to learn more or arrange a visit to us? Get in touch on +44 (0)208 890 5550 or info@fastlane-turnstiles.com.