Morpho (Safran) launched the SmartGate Plus trial at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand in June 2013. SmartGate Plus is Morpho's next generation automated border control solution based on the use of biometric technology. New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) will be testing the system during an operational trial at Auckland Airport with over 2,000 passengers per week expected to trial SmartGate Plus.
Since 2009, New Zealand's Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports have been using SmartGate to give eligible travelers the option of self-processing through passport control. The system uses facial recognition technology to compare facial images of the traveler against the data contained in the e-Passport's chip. The project has been a great success with the travelling public, with six million travelers having used SmartGate, and over 70 of eligible travelers currently using the system.
SmartGate Plus brings additional convenience as it speeds up traveler processing with a one-step process, eliminating the kiosk and ticket part of the current system. It uses e-gates that have a smaller footprint to meet the space constraints of airports while also having Morpho's latest workflow and biometric matching software. In addition to this, is the solution's ability to add other biometric capabilities such as fingerprint and iris recognition at a future stage.
"The success of SmartGate in New Zealand has been phenomenal with 6 million people having successfully used the technology since it was introduced in 2009," says Geoff Wilson, Customs Manager Passenger Facilitation at New Zealand Customs Service. "The biometric self-processing technology has streamlined passenger processing and provided a secure, efficient way to clear passport control and we are pleased to be involved in testing the next generation SmartGate Plus."
"SmartGate Plus is a clear reflection of our collaborative approach with New Zealand Customs to create, build and deploy the next generation in border control solutions," stated Bruno Pattyn, Managing Director of Morpho's local subsidiary, Morpho Australasia. "This new technology has the capability to further simplify and speed up border processing in order to meet ever-evolving border challenges across the region."
MorphoTrak, Inc., a subsidiary of Safran USA, provides biometric and identity management solutions to a broad array of markets in the U.S. including law enforcement, border control, driver licenses, civil identification, and facility/IT security. Reporting to Morpho, Safran's security division, MorphoTrak is part of the world's largest biometric company. Morpho is a leading innovator in large fingerprint identification systems, facial and iris recognition, as well as rapid DNA identification and secure credentials. With over 36 years' experience, Morpho has captured more than 3 billion fingerprints and Morpho products are used by more than 450 government agencies in over 100 countries. MorphoTrak is headquartered near Washington D.C., with major corporate facilities in Anaheim, CA and Federal Way, WA. www.morphotrak.com
Morpho,a high-technology company of Safran, is one of the world's leading suppliers of identification, detection and e-document solutions. Morpho is specialized in personal rights and flow management applications, in particular based on biometrics, a sector in which it is the world leader, as well as secure terminals and smart cards. Morpho's integrated systems and equipment are deployed worldwide and contribute to the safety and security of transportation, data, people and countries.
For more informationwww.morpho.com www.safran-group.com Follow @MORPHO_NEWSon Twitter
Contacts:
MorphoTrak, Inc.
Eve Fillon
703 797 2666
eve.fillon@morpho.com
or
Morpho (Safran)
Christelle Kinkead
Tel +33 (0)1 58 11 87 44
