Safety for staff of operator Finavia and the airport’s customers is paramount. For obvious reasons, only authorised people should have access to many areas. The safe management of movement — by passengers, staff and contractors — is critical to Finavia’s mission to deliver an efficient service in Helsinki.

To enhance user convenience, they sought new access solutions to help facilitate adoption of keyless security at the airport. Finavia also require solutions which provide compatibility: They secure all types of opening, from doors and cabinets to fences and cargo. Devices must integrate seamlessly with their Lenel access control system.

“Safety, functionality, durability, security of supply and usability were the reasons we chose the Assa Abloy solution,” explains Kari Mäkinen, Senior Access Control Specialist at Helsinki Airport.

A single supplier, a vast range of connected access control solutions. Working with Assa Abloy gave Finavia the broadest possible choice of solutions to meet their complex security needs. With Aperio H100 battery-powered handles, many types of airport door are now connected to their access control system. These Aperio devices with inbuilt RFID capability were easy to install — without the cabling that traditional devices require.

“Now we see in real time who will open the lock and when, and we can modify and grant access rights — remotely,” says Kari Mäkinen.

Authorised building users come and go with programmable, secure ID cards. It’s much more convenient than a mechanical key: “The access cards of both Finavia personnel and staff of other companies are easily programmed with necessary access rights,” he adds.

“When employees change, their access is disabled. Or if the card is lost, it can be completely removed from the system. With mechanical keys, that process is much harder.”

Multiple connectable Assa Abloy solutions are deployed alongside wireless Aperio and Cliq Protec2 electromechanical door devices. Keyless, mobile-operated Abloy padlocks secure fencing and cargo. An antimicrobial coating on Abloy door automation buttons helps to prevent germ spread and reassures staff.

The availability of all these solutions from a single manufacturer — easily used with their existing access control solution — helped Finavia to create a unified, integrated system at Helsinki Airport so passengers pass through safely on the way to every corner of the world.