Intelligent Electronic Locking at University Hospital in Frankfurt

With its 32 clinics and 20 research institutes, the University Hospital in Frankfurt is the largest hospital in Hesse, ­Germany. More than 4,500 employees treat around 270,000 patients per year. Extensive new expansion and renovation in multi-phase construction stages have been in progress since 2001. As part of an access control overhaul, electronic eCliq ­cylinders and keys from Assa Abloy now provide the secure locking system for a new building. Nurses update access rights every morning for the day ahead.
Host GmbH Hospital Service and Technology and its staff of 150 employees are responsible for all the technology in use at the University Hospital. An Assa Abloy locking system has already provided several years of faultless operation. Therefore, it was an obvious choice for them to install eCliq in a recently completed new building. This system comprises 1,100 cylinders with an equal number of keys, and a customized web system. There are also five wall-mounted programmers, four of which are provided with anti-vandalism protection.
And not only hospitals benefit from this technology: Cliq systems are already providing convenient lock management in ski resorts, schools, medieval castles, theaters, museums and railway buildings, alongside many large and small offices around the world. Retail banking combines high security with complex workflows; staff need efficient access; facility managers need the flexibility to design access permissions around individual needs and clearances. Creval’s bank doors across Italy’s Lombardy region are now locked with more than 30 eCliq cylinders, putting managers in total control of entrance security. In the unlikely event that a key is misplaced, Creval administrators simply delete it from the system.
Elsewhere in Germany, eCliq locks Ampelmann branches and their 2,200 m2 logistics center, meeting the needs of a decentralized branch organization. Its eight Berlin branches are staffed by several permanent employees while external service providers like cleaners also need access at certain times. eCliq provides it, safely, securely and without major key-management workload.

Rights Management
An electronic locking solution minimizes security risks when keys go missing. Everyone’s access can be managed from anywhere, at any time, electronically, securely and wirelessly. Thanks to multiple software options, users’ access rights are managed in a way that best suits the situation. Authorized key-holders carry a single, battery-powered key that is programmed with only their cleared access permissions.
The eCliq system is built around precise locking mechanics and high-end microelectronics. A battery inside each programmable key powers the wide range of programmable cylinders and padlocks – and secures every data transfer. eCliq keys are durable, compact, and waterproof (IP67), and are easy to reprogram, enabling temporary and time-limited access permissions for every employee or contractor. AES encryption, rapid processing, and efficient energy management are built into the chip. When a key’s battery runs out, it is easily replaced without tools.
Unlike other electronic access control systems, eCliq uses no mains electricity. The microelectronics inside a lock are powered by a standard battery inside every key. Energy-efficient and sustainable, battery power also minimizes disruption when you switch to eCliq. Because there is no cabling around the door, you don’t need to schedule invasive, expensive electrical wiring.

Not Just for Doors
Robust and durable cylinders are available for a wide range of doors, cabinets, lifts, alarm boxes, machines and entrance gates. Maintenance of the components is also easy: an integrated lubricant reservoir ensures cylinders remain maintenance-free for up to 200,000 cycles. Mechanical and encrypted electronic elements work together to make an installation highly resistant to both physical and electronic attack.

Simple, Secure Management
Managing eCliq is straightforward. You can program keys with easy-to-use Manager software: choose between a local software installation or secure web-based software which manages access rights from anywhere, in the cloud. Security managers can host the Web Manager software on their own or use Assa Abloy’s Software as a Service solution. Missing keys can be quickly de-authorized, cutting the risks associated with key loss or theft. At any time, facility managers can generate a full audit trail to discover who has accessed which locks. Users can also update their own keys with a range of programming devices, including wall-mounted units.
“eCliq is more durable, more secure and more efficient than conventional locking systems,” says Stephan Schulz, Product Manager at Assa Abloy Opening Solutions EMEA. “This evolution of our technology is already protecting businesses and public services across Europe. A range of sectors and building types, from banks and hospitals to shops and warehouses, have found that eCliq provides the control and flexibility their premises need.”