Southco takes the lead in positioning and access control solutions to meet stricter security demands imposed on the European medical industry

Ulrike Sturman, Industry Marketing Manager for Diversified Technologies at Southco, explains: “Our strategic focus is driven by the growing importance being placed on issues of security and access controls across Europe and the urgent need for such issues to be addressed. Our strategy is backed up by an extensive product and systems portfolio encompassing industry-leading positioning technology, security and electronic access solutions. Using these technologies, our aim is to provide the solutions that meet the medical industry’s standards across three key areas of concern in terms of access and positioning control – medical instruments, medical support systems and homecare, and medical dispensing and storage units.”

Southco’s product offering across the first two areas, medical instruments and medical support systems and homecare, draws on its industry-leading positioning technology expertise. Medical instruments’ applications include analytical, diagnostic and treatment instruments, such as imaging equipment, spectroscopy, dialysis machines, lighting and in vitro diagnostics, incubators, ventilators and supply units.

Applications benefiting from the company’s positioning technology within the medical support systems and homecare sector include patients’ beds and furniture, exercise equipment, bedside entertainment systems, wheelchairs, hoists, and portable treatment monitoring devices, such as blood pressure or glucose monitors.

Sturman: “A good example of a new product which is catching the eye and imagination of the medical sector in the instruments segment is our recently launched AV-D30 dynamic mounting arm. This new modular designed AV series has been developed by utilising all of Southco’s expertise in positioning control technology to provide a class defining feature set. Intuitive grab and move operation enhances the user experience with no knobs or tools required for the precise positioning of specialist medical equipment in areas such as screening and early diagnosis. This allows the user to achieve precise operating efforts whilst securing ‘no drift’ positioning even in applications with dynamic loading.”

In order to meet the medical industry’s stricter measures for increased security and higher level access control, particularly across medical dispensing and storage applications, the thrust of Southco’s value proposition is on innovative products and systems that help, control and monitor access. This is being achieved by enhancing the company’s range of electronic access solutions to support the tracking of drug administration and audit control, ensure confidentiality of medical records through user-specified signal input devices, and to reduce the transmission of germs through access.

Simon Williamson, Electronic Access and Position Control Technologies Business Development Manager at Southco, takes up the story: “Safe distribution of medication, secure drug storage and controlled access to patients’ records are key concerns for any healthcare professional. At Southco, we have been working with industry specialists to develop a proposition for electronic access solutions which helps prevent medication errors, improve drug delivery efficiency and ensure privacy and, as such, alleviate the pressure on hospital staff.

“These cutting edge access solutions comprise access control options that signal electromechanical latches and locks to actuate. They can be remotely operated by a variety of access control options including electronic keys, keypads, RF proximity readers, RF key fobs, biometrics and custom switches. In addition, we can provide creative mechanical and electrical override solutions to provide access when power is unavailable. Typical applications include medication carts, dispensing equipment, bedside cabinets and workstations.”

Two key electromechanical products offering significant access control benefits to the medical industry are the R4-EM electronic rotary latch and the EM-10 electronic strike.

The R4-EM combines robust rotary latch security and electronic access convenience in a single integrated solution. The gear-motor drive in the R4-EM is a major advantage to solenoid driven electromechanical latches and it is more efficient in terms of lower power requirements and higher load capability, thus providing versatility for performance.

Designed to complement a mechanical latch, the EM-10 electronic strike provides greater versatility for a wide range of enclosure applications with electronic actuation in the keeper instead of the latch. An electronic signal permits remote monitoring, audit trails and alarms. It works with a variety of door-mounted mechanical latches and provides simple transition from mechanical to electronic access.

Sturman: “At Southco, we are committed to meet the medical industry’s standards by developing versatile industry-leading access solutions. Working in partnership with global designers and manufacturers of healthcare equipment, we are continuing to expand our already comprehensive portfolio of mechanical and electromechanical access solutions and position control technology in an aim to meet current and prospective legislative standards on security and hygiene and, at the same time, contribute to the cost efficiencies expected by healthcare customers.”