FOOD PREPERATION CASE STUDY

Enhancing Access Control in Food Preparation Facilities

INTEGRATING AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS’ TRS FULL HEIGHT TURNSTILES AND FIRSTLANE SPEED GATES FOR A SAFER, CLEANER OPERATION 

Summary 

In today’s food manufacturing and preparation environments, hygiene, safety, and traceability are non-negotiable. Controlling the flow of personnel between hygienic zones is a critical step in preventing contamination and ensuring regulatory compliance. 

Automatic Systems offers a seamless, integrated access control solution: 

  • TRS Series Turnstiles for external perimeter control, ensuring that only authorized personnel enter operational zones 
  • FirstLane turnstiles for internal transitions, supporting stringent hygiene and cleanliness standards 

Together, these systems provide a comprehensive access management framework designed specifically for the food industry’s unique cleanliness and compliance requirements. 

Industry Context: The Hygiene-Security Nexus 

Food preparation companies face a dual challenge: 

  • Preventing contamination through strict segregation of personnel between hygiene-controlled zones 
  • Maintaining security by ensuring only authorized, trained, and properly equipped staff enter critical areas 

Traditional access control systems often lack the design features, materials, and hygienic profiles required for such environments. Automatic Systems bridges this gap with turnstile and speed gate solutions engineered for food sector applications, resistant to corrosion, and compatible with cleaning protocols. 

External Access Control: TRS Turnstiles 

The TRS Series (Full Height Turnstile System) offers robust and weather-resistant access control for facility perimeters and staff entry points. 

Key Features & Advantages: 

  • Optional Stainless steel construction ideal for outdoor food industry environments 
  • Integration with RFID, badge, or biometric readers to ensure secure, traceable entry 
  • IP-rated housings for enhanced weather protection 
  • Anti-tailgating mechanisms to maintain single-person access integrity 

Application Example 

At a food processing plant, TRS turnstiles control employee entry from external parking areas. Staff must authenticate via their ID badges before entering, ensuring that only trained and authorized personnel access production zones. This reduces contamination risk from uncontrolled external access. 

Internal Hygiene Access: FirstLane 

Once inside, FirstLane provides high-speed, contactless, and hygienic access between zones such as locker rooms, gowning areas, and production floors. 

Key Features & Advantages: 

  • Contactless operation: reduces surface contamination through optical detection and automatic glass obstacle movement 
  • Smooth, silent, and fast throughput suitable for shift changes with high throughput 
  • Customizable finishes designed for easy cleaning and integration into hygienic environments 
  • Stainless steel option for maximum resistance in the demanding, moisture-filled environment of a food processing factory 
  • Bi-directional control for both entry and exit monitoring 
  • Slim profile for space-sensitive internal corridors 
  • Higher IP is available 

Application Example 

Employees pass through FirstLane gates after completing gowning and hand-washing protocols. The gates can integrate with hygiene control systems (e.g., hand disinfection validation), ensuring compliance before granting access.

Advantages of an Integrated Systems

Conclusion  

By combining TRS turnstiles for external security with FirstLane speed gates for 

internal hygiene control, food preparation facilities achieve: 

  • Controlled, traceable personnel movement with real time monitoring and reporting 
  • Enhanced hygiene compliance with hygiene verification points (handwashing & PPE checks) 
  • Improved operational flow while ensuring employee authentication  
  • Reduced risk of cross-contamination 

This unified system enables food companies to maintain complete control and 

traceability, aligning with BRC, IFS, and ISO 22000 food safety standards. 

Automatic Systems provides a future-ready, hygienic access control ecosystem tailored to the specific needs of food production environments — where cleanliness and control must go hand in hand. 

About Automatic Systems 

Automatic Systems is a world leader in the automation of secure pedestrian and vehicle access. With over 55 years of expertise, the company designs and manufactures high-performance entry control solutions for critical sectors — including food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and clean industries. 

For more information, please visit www.automatic-systems.com  

To get a quote, email us: sales.nam@automatic-systems.com 

To download this Case Study, use this link: Case Study

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