Pressefach: Höft & Wessel AG

EANS-News: Hoeft & Wessel unveiling a new generation of stationary ticket vending machines

almex.midi with compact dimensions and a solar panel / Further extensions to the Europe-wide successful ticket vending series

Hoeft & Wessel unveiling a new generation of stationary ticket vending machines

(PresseBox) Hannover, 09.09.2010, Hoeft & Wessel is unveiling a new generation of stationary ticket vending machines with particularly compact dimensions and a special solarpowered version. In this way, the company is ushering in a new era of ticket vending machines which are powered by solar energy and therefore do not need to be connected to the electricity grid. As simple as this may sound, it was in fact a particular challenge. The IT and engineering Group for ticketing, parking and mobile solutions has developed the first stationary solar ticket vending machine offering the same easy to operate handling as large vending machines. The Hoeft & Wessel Group's Almex business division will be presenting the new product for the first time at InnoTrans in Berlin.

Known as almex.midi, the vending machine extends the successful almex.station series, of which more than 10,000 units are in operation across Europe on railway platforms and public transport stations. Whereas the almex.station has a width of 90 centimetres, the new model measures only around 68 centimetres. Although smaller, it offers the same functions as the larger model thanks to the optimised arrangement of the modules.

The almex.midi will be available in two versions - a conventional one to be powered by the electricity grid and a version which is fitted with a solar panel and can therefore be operated independently of the electricity grid.

Energy consumption is the "be all and end all" for solar power. By using highly efficient components and heating only individual parts rather than the entire device, it has been possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent. Further potential for saving energy is harnessed by shutting down the machine overnight and when it is not in use. The utilisation of LEDs instead of neon lights also saves energy and, despite the higher initial costs, pays off quickly thanks to the energy costs saved. What is more, the illumination looks better and has a substantially longer life expectancy. The specialists at Almex recently developed and integrated a new LED lighting system for the 1,100 ticket vending machines operated by London Bus at the bus stations in the UK capital.

In developing the solarpowered version of almex.midi, Almex was also able to rely on the many years of extensive experience gained by subsidiary Metric. Its car park ticket vending machines are a good example of the role which alternative energies are already playing today. Around 60 percent of the parking machines sold already feature a solar module, with this figure set to rise in the future. As early as in the 1990s, more than 15,000 solarpower car park ticketing machines had been sold. As these machines do not have to be connected with the electricity grid, the costintensive infrastructure preparations can be dispensed with. At the same time, the environment is preserved and CO2 emissions reduced. This makes the new solarpowered version of the almex.midi a good example of Green IT.

The new compact stationary ticket vending machines are still multitalents. Passengers can pay for tickets in cash or with cards and etickets complying with the ITSO or VDV-KA standard are also supported. A large touch screen and language support make it easier to use the machine. Finally, Hoeft & Wessel's Almex machines are highly vandalismproof and easy to use. TPG ("Transports Publics Genevois"), the canton of Geneva's public transport company, has already opted for the new almex.midi.

Almex at InnoTrans, Berlin: Hall 2.1, Booth 232

Further press release of this company

• 14.02.2012 - Höft & Wessel mit zwei Premieren auf der IT-Trans 2012
• 13.02.2012 - Höft & Wessel AG erwartet 2011 deutlichen Verlust
• 02.02.2012 - Partner mit mobilen Terminals von Höft & Wessel erfolgreich
• 23.01.2012 - Höft & Wessel goes Android
• 17.01.2012 - Michael Höft zum CEO der Höft & Wessel AG berufen
• 12.01.2012 - Höft & Wessel-Tochter Metric gewinnt Ausschreibung über 200 Parkautomaten