PTI Access Control Systems

Gaining access to success

Just threeproductive months into his term as the new owner/president of PTI Access Control Systems,Lance Comstock is making things happen for this Scottsdale, Ariz.-based designer andmanufacturer of access-control and security systems for the self-storage industry. ThoughPTI has been in business since 1979, the surge of new blood in the company has lead to anexpansion of products and services.

A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Comstock was hired by Minico Inc. 14 yearsago to assist in the development of an access-control system for self-storage. He laterbegan his own company, Classic Security Systems of Baltimore, Md., where he has worked forthe past 10 years handling installations and supplying equipment for access controls andsecurity. With as much as 80 percent of that company's business being dedicated tomini-storage, Comstock had the opportunity to develop close ties with PTI's previousowner, Dale Bone. "I was already very familiar with PTI's equipment because I hadinstalled a lot of it while working at Classic. I had worked with the previous ownerhands-on with the designs," Comstock says.

The Falcon

The company's signature product is the PTI Falcon, a PC-based, access-control softwarethat allows remote control of the security system, including rental-unit alarms, bytelephone modem for an unmanned self-storage operation. The Falcon is a stand-alone systemthat will continue to operate a facility's access control and security even in the eventof a PC failure. It both allows and denies entrance into and out of a property,controlling gates, door strikes, elevators and lighting-control boards.

"We can control lights in buildings, elevator/floor access, different levels ofaccess into a property, alarms on individual units and perimeter beams around aproperty," explains Comstock. "Virtually any peripheral device can be controlledwith our Falcon." The system also has virtually unlimited time zones and is Y2Kcompatible.

Also offered by PTI are detailed security graphics, gate-access controls, an alarmmultiplexer, security panel and Code Express, a weatherproof keypad with an integralcredit-card swipe that allows customers to use any standard magnastripe card to enter theproperty.

Times They Are A-Changin'

Since his new ownership of PTI, Comstock has been busy implementing improvements to thecompany's already solid list of offerings. "Since I've been here," Comstocksays, "I have hired an engineering team and increased our service and staff supportimmensely. We have increased our production and service area by more than 5,000 squarefeet. We have written a Windows^®-interface program to complement our Falconsystem, allowing for better reporting and data entry via the click of a mouse. We havealso rewritten our graphics-site program into a Windows format, which allows the customerto edit and manipulate his site, or even create his site if he wants to. That saves him alot of money." Also added to the repertoire is a new, quick-key keypad.

The Internet will also be a part of the changes taking place at PTI. "We're goingto be using the Internet a lot," says Comstock. "We have a large internationalcustomer base, and the Internet allows us to work with them more efficiently. Our clientsin Europe, Australia and New Zealand are able to communicate with us via e-mail, andthat's important." Not only that, but the company's Falcon system is designed toaccept upgrades from a download off of the company's Web page.

What else is on the horizon for PTI? "The direction we're going to pursue isdefinitely customer service," asserts Comstock. "My background has always beenin a customer-service-related field, and I feel that's our strongest point. We'veimplemented a customer-tracking database to make sure that we return calls and keep ourservice up to speed. We're going to ensure that happens." Comstock also plans toincrease the company's staff as time goes on and maintain PTI's dedication to usingcutting-edge technology.

It's all in the name of moving forward and gaining access to more success."I've been in this industry for 14 years, and I have all these ideas that I can nowimplement into our product," says Comstock. "That's what's been most excitingfor me. It's like being a kid in a candy store."

For more information about PTI Access Control Systems, call (800) 331-6224 or (602)602-1259; Web: www.ptiaccess.com.