Digital Locking Solutions: Door Handles and Control Units from SimonsVoss

Innovative as usual: among the latest highlights to emerge from the development department of SimonsVoss is the new generation of Smart Handle AX – as well as the Smart Relay 3 Advanced, a control unit with a processor and up to three readers. This transmits access authority and configuration changes as a high-performance gateway over a virtual network to the identification media.

A modular construction, with BLE-based functions such as Phone-2-Door (available in 2019) and multiple variants – SimonsVoss has brought a new level of intelligence, convenience and security to its Smart Handle AX. An adaptive design and the interplay of various metal elements give users creative design freedom. The product for internal doors can be fitted to existing escutcheons (DIN 18251) without having to drill any holes.

Flexibility, adaptive design, investment security

The AX-handle in a characteristic, adaptive design can be combined with the hardware of well-known manufacturers – and it allows users to react flexibly to every situation: The Smart Handle AX can be adapted to the thickness of the door, the hole center distance and the spindle. The handle can be fitted on the left or the right. Intrinsic Security Architecture (ISA) provides security, based on a so-called Secure Element – this forms the heart of the Smart Handle AX.

And it is always possible to add additional functionality later if required, such as Door Monitoring or Do-Not-Disturb (both available in 2019), so the initial investment is well justified. And backward compatibility is also provided to a large extent: The Smart Handle AX can even be opened with a transponder of the first generation.

Reliability is one of the manufacturer‘s most important claims, and the ‚Made in Germany‘ label as well. During the development of the Smart Handle AX, the firm has invested in the quality and stability of the mechanical and electronic components, which can be seen, for example, in the high-precision tolerance to which it is built. In the production facility in Osterfeld, the new handle has already successfully completed around 1 million test cycles.

Control Unit

The Smart Relay 3 Advanced is a high-performance control unit that consists of a processor and up to three readers. Working as a high-performance gateway, it transmits access authority and configuration changes in a virtual network to the identification media. Up to three readers can be connected that are available for active (transponder) or passive identification media (smart-cards). A rapid IP connection via Ethernet (incl. PoE) enables immediate transmission and updating, even of large amounts of data.

Virtual Networking

Within the manufacturer‘s System 3060, the Smart Relay 3 Advanced provides powerful, virtual networking of offline locks. It can be operated with both active and passive identification media. It has three digital inputs and a relay output – and thereby permits up to three readers (active / passive) to be used at the same time. Its direct connection to the database means that data exchange is immediate. Changes to authority can be programmed almost without limit. Even if there is a temporary network failure, the time budget can still be extended and stored blocked IDs transmitted to the identification media.

*Bluetooth Low Energy functions available in 2019