NEXGEN - Electronic Vending Locks

Established in 1968, Medeco® has set the standard in high security and key control. With extensive experience in the vending industry, Medeco is the first high security lock company to include an electronic solution to compliment an already full line of vending locks. Medeco's full product line includes the NEXGEN® electronic cylinder, as well as standard high security cylinders, t-handles, padlocks, cam locks, and plug locks. This full line of products makes Medeco the only high security lock company to offer such a package.

Medeco has been the market leader in electronic high security locks for nearly a decade with an installed base approaching one million locks.

Electronic Lock Program

Medeco has created an electronic lock system after a growing need for electronic security in the vending industry. With an extensive background in the industry, Medeco is able to offer a solution that meets the physical security requirements of a vending lock, combined with the added feature of electronic access control.

The lock also features a proven Medeco cylinder equipped with a steel shell, bolt and a hardened steel plug face for strength and durability. The NEXGEN product is able to withstand the most abusive forms of attack.

A NEXGEN system is comprised of a high security electronic cylinder, a collection/audit key, and the VendSecureTM software.

This product is distributed through Medeco's exclusive service center network.

System

The NEXGEN lock works with the VendSecure software, which was designed from the ground up as a route management system, not lock and key manager software. Only Medeco produces the codes to access the locks, and all electronic locks and key codes are factory controlled. This protects against system hacking.

VendSecure is capable of running in the most demanding route management environments. The software is network compatible, and utilizes a monthly calendar for scheduling.

The system allows for maximum flexibility in route optimization, and routes can be reassigned, combined, or split apart.

Lock

The NEXGEN lock meets NAMA specification standards and is guaranteed to retrofit into NAMA standard t-handles. In the event an audit from collection keys may be suspect, an audit history can be accessed from a lock. The lock itself can store up to 2,000 audit events, and when full, the audit rolls to allow the oldest events to be overwritten first.

Instead of maintaining an unauthorized key list, which is limited, the system uses a series of levels that can be changed in case a key is lost or stolen. Any time the system level is changed, a key on a previous level will not work. This will help prevent someone with a stolen key from accessing a lock. The system levels can handle up to 256 different changes.

The actuator in the lock cylinder has been tested to a minimum of 150,000 cycles. Based on average lock access, this ensures years of trouble free openings.

Although electronic in nature, NEXGEN still maintains the highest levels in physical security. Equipped with a steel shell, bolt and a hardened steel plug face for strength and durability, the NEXGEN lock is able to withstand the most abusive forms of physical attack.

Key

The collection key can be used on a daily basis and has the capability of storing up to 6,000 events and up to 2,000 locks. This allows for large service areas to be covered with a single key, and can also be used to allow multiple route collections on a single key.

During normal collections the lock will pass to the key any unauthorized events that have occurred, such as unauthorized - key expired. This gives the supervisor an exception report of lock audits which only includes unauthorized attempts to access a lock.

On a daily basis, you will have the ability to control the time the key is active for collecting. For example, you can limit the key to working only on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

During route programming the key can have a date as to when it will expire. This allows a key to be programmed with a daily activation schedule and a date to which the daily schedule is no longer valid.

A collection key will not function if the audit buffer is full. Once a buffer is full the collector will not be able to access a machine without resetting the key.

The collection key utilizes an off the shelf battery and is capable of providing several months of lock openings. If the battery were to desist during use, all route and audit information would remain intact.

The collection key can also be programmed as an audit key, which will retrieve events from the lock. It can be configured within the host software for the number of audit events to be retrieved from a lock. Therefore, if the audit key was programmed for 100 events per lock, it has the capacity to audit 60 locks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if someone steals a key...what is my exposure, and how do I react?
Keys are programmed to operate during a specific period. After the time has expired, the key becomes useless. In addition, each key and cylinder is set with a system level. If a key is lost or stolen the system level can be changed to void the key. This way if a key has a long duration before expiring it can be removed from access before expiration.

How many venders can be opened before my key runs out of memory?
The key can store approximately 6,000 audit events. Once the audit event buffer is full the key will not open anymore locks even if the time has not expired. This is done to ensure a valid audit trail. The audit buffer is cleared each time the key is programmed.

What information will I be able to download from my key?
The audit will include date/time stamp for each vender accessed and unauthorized attempts, which includes venders not on the route and venders that have expired.

Will I be able to program my key from the field?
Not in the initial roll out. However, the second phase will have remote programming capability.

What if my battery dies in the field during use?
The battery is field replaceable. The key will display a warning LED when the battery is getting low.

What kind of battery is in the key?
The key uses a CR123 battery. This is a common off-the-shelf product.

Does my key "expire" every day?
The key can be programmed to expire after one day or two months if desired. The key can also be programmed on an active daily schedule for 7 days. For example, a particular service key is programmed to expire after 6 weeks. During those six weeks the key can have a different activation for each day of the week; Monday 9am-3pm, Tuesday 8:15 a.m. -2:30 p.m. nd Thursday 8am-5pm. The activation schedule is valid for the entire six weeks.

Does the lock store any audit information? If so, what?
Yes. The lock stores 2,000 audit events which includes information about all keys either gaining access or attempting to gain access.

Is there external power required for the lock?
Yes. The key provides power to the lock. The lock requires no power from the machine itself.

How many different electronic codes will there be?
There are billions of electronic security codes.

Is there any bypass?
No. A bypass is a risk to the security of any product.

What do I need (minimum) to get started with NEXGEN?
A medium to high end PC, VendSecure software and a programming station.

What is the warranty on the NEXGEN?
1 year from the date of programming at the Service Center.

I am a current Medeco customer; do my current mechanical locks have any trade-in value?
Medeco will accept trade-ins on models 0150s, 0950s, and 1050s. The buy back period expires 7/31/2003. Contact your service center for further details.

What training is included with your program?
Installation, setup, and training will be structured on a customer by customer basis.

What efficiencies can I expect to gain?
Much better control of your route person's time, no exposure to lost keys or soft vandalism, and better prevention of internal improprieties.

What reports can be generated?
The VendSecure software will report all lock access activities by route, collector, key, lock, and date.

What are my computer system requirements?
Pentium® III 600MHz or better, Microsoft® Windows 2000®, CD-ROM, 3 1/2 floppy drive, 20 GB hard drive, free serial port, 15 inch monitor.

Will I be able to import data from my existing records to this system?
As long as the data is stored in a format that can be imported by Microsoft Access®.

How many different routes can I have on one key?
The key can "hold" 2,000 cylinder codes at one time.