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Two WINning ways to make your firm more efficient

Problems have occurred in a Welsh town due to new limited waiting zones forcing long-stay motorists to travel further up town to quiet areas to find a free space. Colwyn Bay Town Councillor, William Bagnall, forecast packed residential roads in the town on implementation of the new rules. He said: “The actual price of a ticket in the long-stay carpark on Lansdowne Road is under a pound a day if you have a season ticket. As that carpark is not fully utilised, if people are working in Colwyn Bay there is that. People should appreciate Colwyn Bay and the restrictions.” To avoid issues such as illegal parking on your site, Tensor can install a range of parking barriers which have the option of integrating into the company’s cutting-edge smart card access control networks. Each barrier mechanism is individually adjusted to meet your needs, ensuring exceptional durability and delivering longer lasting, problem-free operation. All automatic car park barriers are supplied complete and are ready to accept power and data connections. Boom arms are available in a number of different lengths to suit various road widths.
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Tensor steps up security at your plant or site

SmartWater is an intelligent move from BT, as it is a form of dye which stays on the skin of the increasing number of those who are stealing copper wire from their telephone network. Bernie Auguste, head of security at BT Openreach, said: "From now on, any criminal who targets the BT network risks being invisibly tagged with SmartWater, meaning that the police can trace them, and any stolen cable or equipment, back to the scene of the crime.” Tensor can equip firms with an arsenal of visitor control, surveillance and access control technology to step up security at their plant, factory or site. Smart card operated access control systems are ideal for your office or factory, and can control most standard types of internal and external electronic door locks and releases, for companies with under 250 personnel to large multinational corporations. You are given total control over who is allowed access through any door on your access control network, at any time of the day. Maintenance contracts are available for support of digital CCTV systems and software, which can be added to the access control system.  
News

Time and attendance systems make savings on staff

A plan to save millions in the police force seeks to introduce a voluntary redundancy package for officers who are on "light" or "restricted" duties following injury. It would need to be more lucrative than the sum officers would get if they were to take the pension entitled to them at that moment in time. But it would be less than the pension the force would be required to contribute to should the officer continue working in a back-office function until he or she had worked the 30 years required to claim a full pension. Tensor offers state of the art time and attendance systems, based on smart cards and fobs, which mean businesses or organisations make savings on payroll and staff. Since the cards are simply presented to the scanner and do not have to be swiped they will last longer, and dust and residue picked up from the working environment presents no risk of clogging the reader. Fingerprint scanners (as seen in the picture) can be added to your system to take care of more secure areas. Reports show jobs that are over budget or those approaching their budget limit.
News

Strictly good payroll software from Tensor

According to sources close to the hit television show, the BBC is reportedly revamping the pay structure for this year's 'Strictly Come Dancing' and will pay the competitors per dance. The change is being made to ensure that stars who are voted out in the early weeks do not receive huge one-off payments. Under the new system, celebrities who reach the final stages of the series could earn more than £100,000, while those voted off in the first or second weeks could dance away with as little as £10,000. Coping with different pay bands or with a complicated salary structure is easy with Tensor’s Time and Attendance payroll software, which is based on smart card clocking technology. This information can be exported in many forms to your existing payroll software. Among the features are Secondary Pay Bands, meaning certain pay bands pay into other bands either on a 1:1 basis or by using a multiplier. Additional features are available, which include Shift Premiums: here complex payment schemes are set up, based on factors such as the time of working to the grade of employee.
News

Tensor access readers transport security to another level

Government figures released this week revealed that crime on public transport is costing society £1.5 billion a year. This is the first time that such cost-of-crime figures, relating to public transport in England in 2006/07, have been published from the Department for Transport. They include all the consequences of crime, including health costs, court costs and preventative measures. There were more than 77,000 reported and recorded incidents of crime on rail, light rail and London Underground in England in 2006/07, plus unreported crimes bring the estimated total to nearly 197,000 – which excludes fare evasion. Tensor can aid transport and other companies, both large and small, with its range of top quality security devices. We manufacture, supply and install various smart card and biometric access control door entry systems which can control shutters, gates, turnstiles and virtually any other electronic barrier mechanism. A Windows™ based system, Tensor Access is modular in design, thus allowing you to build your access control system to match your specific requirements. Access readers can be located out of sight – even hidden behind brick walls – yet also providing secure entry for authorised personnel.
News

Tensor hardware protects offices or homes from burglars

We reveal some of the 10 worst places in the country for burglaries in the UK – in fact London, Burnley and Manchester top the hit list. Londoners have the highest risk of having their homes burgled, with 46.35 burglaries per 1000 people; runner-up Burnley has 24.63; and Manchester 23.76, although the Mancunian figures have gone down in the past decade. The area which has the lowest rate is Ceredigion in Wales, a tiny 2.84 burglaries per 1000 people. Tensor can provide some simple, cost-effective steps to protect your office or home from burglars. Our easy to use Access Control hardware is the most cost effective way for your business to protect its premises. The controllers can be networked together to create a powerful computer controlled security infrastructure. This provides a platform for installing other Tensor products such as Visitor Monitoring, Automatic Number Plate recognition and digital CCTV; as well as controlling all your doors, car park barriers and turnstiles. Evidence quality digital CCTV is ideal for both businesses and homes and can be customised to suit a range of needs and budget.  
News

Smart card clocking accurately records pay to prevent disputes

Inequality of pay has been smoothed over by BT following the possibility of industrial action. The chief executive, Ian Livingston, saw his bonus more than triple last year, taking his total pay package, including shares, above £3m – while the workforce were initially offered a 2% pensionable pay rise from April 2010 and a 3% rise from January 2011. The union had previously demanded a 5% rise for 2010/11 alone. The company had also offered lump sum payments worth up to £500 for each team member but these have now been removed given the revised 3% terms agreed over 39 months. Using Tensor’s Time and Attendance computerised smart card clocking regime, however, your company can ensure all pay rates, shifts and other complicated wage matters are all streamlined and accurately recorded to prevent any disputes. With the software, among other features, you can view all time and attendance information for an employee or a single department; or quickly find the details you need with the ability to sort on any column or perform a surname search at the touch of a button.
News

T3510 Scanner Controller is most cost effective access control

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude reacted angrily to Assistant Commissioner John Yates's comments that spending cuts would increase the risk of terrorist attack, accusing him of "shroud-waving" and "alarmism". Mr Yates said the Metropolitan Police (Met) would see £87m wiped from its anti-terror budget. Mr Maude – the man David Cameron has put in charge of ensuring greater accountability from public servants – warned Mr Yates against "alarming" the public. Beef up your office security with Tensor’s easy to use Access Control hardware. Our access controllers can be networked together to create a powerful computer controlled security infrastructure. The T3510 Low Cost 4 Scanner Controller, working with simple smart card entry, can be configured in many different arrangements, controlling a smaller number of doors at first and then more at a later date as need and/or budget permits. As the security network grows and requires more control points, further T3510’s are installed. This “building block” approach is the most cost effective way to install access control. The T3510 has a volt-free input that can be wired directly into your fire alarm system.  
News

Workforce pay made more efficient with clocking system

There may be a move towards another strike ballot at British Airways as cabin crew have rejected by a ratio of two-to-one the airline's latest pay offer. The number of votes cast, just over 5,000, represented less than half of the unionised cabin crew and was well below previous ballots that saw more than 70% of them express their views. The no vote raises the prospect of more strikes, as union leaders plan their next move in a dispute which stretches back to before Christmas. BA shares stood 1.4% lower at 199p shortly after the announcement. You can keep up morale at your workforce with an efficient Time and Attendance clocking system – it is so comfortable working with patterns, rosters and shifts that disputes are less likely to arise. Additional features are available, which can be implemented on your smart card-based time and attendance system to take into account diversity with working rules between different organisations. Secondary Pay Bands, for example, means that certain pay bands pay into other bands either on a 1:1 basis or by using a multiplier. Installation support and training is available.
News

Turnstiles increase social inclusion for the aged

The lack of a public toilet in many town centres and leisure areas has a hidden social cost – it effectively makes older people a prisoner in their own homes. Age UK, who used to be called Help the Aged, published a paper entitled "Nowhere to Go", which highlights this matter. Twelve per cent of older people (1.2 million) feel trapped in their own home, it says. Furthermore, about 100,000 never go out. The organisation suggests that lack of public toilets is a major factor in this, and the situation will worsen as toilet provision continues to decline. In order to aid the increase in public toilets, Tensor plc’s toilet turnstiles enable public conveniences to be built in towns to a good standard by local councils and provide the finance for their upkeep – they do cost money to maintain and clean. The durable coin operated turnstiles are adaptable, so that the coin box can be positioned to the most accessible point. They then permit entry with a small charge. Tensor’s turnstiles can cope with high volumes of traffic, while causing minimal disruption. For more information on a Tensor turnstile, barrier or gate, please contact our sales team. Half height and full height versions are available.  
News

Smart cards meet security needs if police resources cut

Police spending cuts could hamper the fight against crime in England and Wales, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary has warned. The Chief Inspector said a "total redesign" of how officers work, such as shift patterns, could save 12%. He said further cuts would hit police availability "unless it was prioritised over everything else". The analysis of the future of policing comes in a joint report from the Chief Inspector, Sir Denis O'Connor, the Audit Commission (which covers England) and the Wales Audit Office – just as spending on policing faces a drop by a quarter in national debt-busting measures. Tensor can provide your organisation with a sophisticated access control system guaranteed to improve your security requirements if police resources are cut. Access Lite is the entry-level package of our range of proven Windows™ based access control systems which bar entry to unauthorised personnel. It comprises a complete smart card access control system, and includes sophisticated software for monitoring access patterns, alarm status, and detecting forced entries. It is ideal for smaller companies with less than 250 employees or made up of many small sites, and comes with 50 smart cards.  
News

Keep property crime down with Tensor CCTV security

Official figures reveal that offending across England and Wales is at its lowest level since 1981 – in the last year it fell by 8 per cent. Home Office chief statistician David Blunt said improved security measures, including alarms, better door and window locks as well as vehicle immobilisers are responsible for falling property crime. He said the trend has been reflected in many other developed countries during the same period. Mr Blunt said: "There is no single definitive explanation and it seems likely that a number of different factors have contributed in different ways." Investing in a CCTV Surveillance camera and recording system will give you a better than even chance of avoiding being a victim of property crime at your home or business. Our digital CCTV evidence quality systems are custom-made, installed and looked after exactly to your requirements, whether you want one camera or a whole network, and are available for indoor and outdoor environments, or day and night shooting. We also offer technology from other members of the Tensor group of security companies dealing with smart card access control.  

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