Statistics released in 2011, by SABS News Online, showed that the prevalence of ATM bombings increased by 61% against previous years and over 300 cases were reported in Gauteng and North West provinces.
In an effort to combat crime of this nature, Salberg, a supplier of precast concrete products developed an innovative bomb resistant housing structure, making ATMs increasingly difficult to target. The multi-million rand project took 37 months to complete from the inception of the concept in April 2008. During this time, the team and staff worked closely with ATM Solutions and with the South African Police Services. Tested in real conditions, the blast resistant structure passed with a bang.
Dr Rudy Absil, Salberg CEO says, "The project required innovative thinking and creativity to develop a state of the art solution that generates positive guaranteed results. The company takes pride in its team who are able to think 'out of the box' and who enjoy challenges. The solution is an industry first and sets new standards of excellence."
"Our team invests an immense amount of emotional, intellectual and psychological energy in developing products that set new standards of excellence for innovation in our industry," adds sales manager, Annemerie Hilhorst, project owner of the groundbreaking design.
The robust material and structure of the blast proof casing maintains its frame during an explosion, protecting the money vault and ensuring minimal damage to the ATM unit. In addition, attention has been given to the external structure to ensure it is aesthetically pleasing and functional. The housing is made up of lightweight units with built-in lifting hooks and levelling devices for easy transportation and installation. These housing blocks have enabled ATM Solutions to expand their network of installations into rural areas where an ATM can simply be "dropped down" with the only requirement being a plug point.
"This project demonstrates how clients and suppliers can develop solutions in innovative ways and we are proud to have reached the forefront of ATM security in South Africa. Since January 2012, the company has deployed over 100 of the units throughout South Africa, particularly in rural areas where explosive resistant ATM structures are in demand," explains Frans Swanepoel, operations director at ATM Solutions.
