S News meets Javier Roquero, CEO Salto Systems, and Mark Handels, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer (CMSO) Salto Systems.
Mr. Roquero, SALTO is a multinational company with its headquarters in Spain. SALTO achieved remarkable results in little over 10 years. Can you give us some figures and data, and why “SALTO”?
From its inception in 2001, SALTO was created with one objective: to create a world class access control system that was simple to use and extremely efficient, giving users the ability to control all their access needs and secure all their doors, but without the need for complex and expensive wiring. Substitute mechanical locks and create keyless environments.
Why SALTO, you are asking me… Well, looking at the access control systems available at the time, we spotted a gap in the market for a new way of doing things. So with excellent experience in this area, and a small group of enthusiastic people, we decided to launch a new company and a new product called SALTO, which in Spanish means Jump.
The challenge was to develop a new access control system based on a stand-alone solution that had to be simple to install, easy to set up, cost effective, reliable, complete and future-proof.
At SALTO we go the extra mile to engineer the solutions the market needs in order to deliver the outcomes it demands. It’s who we are, it’s how we work. We make sure we focus all of our energy, passion and knowledge into delivering the solutions our customers need.
It’s why we are proud to provide this service in over 90 countries and it’s why, in little over 10 years, we have installed over 1,500,000 electronic locks around the world, in over 11,000 projects, and today an estimated 12,000,000 people use our products every day.
Really surprising… And, just to know you a little deeper, what is SALTO in brief?
In brief we can say that in 2001 SALTO launched the first stand-alone battery powered electronic lock for access control, and in 2002 SALTO revolutionized the access control world by its Data-On-Card system called SALTO Virtual Network. Product and technological innovations continued, year after year, as SALTO built upon these innovations steadily gaining market share.
A few of our other really notable achievements include in 2008 the SALTO wireless system which was the first access control system that combines a stand-alone locking device with online real-time capabilities all without wires. In 2009, we introduced AElement, the RFID electronic lock with wireless DNA that is a minimalistic electronic lock combining excellent design with the highest RFID technology and wireless online capabilities. And in 2012 SALTO launched the SALTO GEO Cylinder, the most versatile electronic cylinder in the market, combining efficiency, reliability and practicality in a new range of products with almost unlimited possibilities.
If you could use 4 key concepts to explain SALTO, which would you choose?
Well, I would choose: the highest expectations, quality, R&D&I, and a complete local network.
The highest expectations because from our headquarters in Oiartzun, Spain built in 2006, we aim to create a modern working environment where SALTO staff can continue to research and develop innovative new products and technologies that incorporate our passion and enthusiasm.
About quality, we control everything from the definition and design of new products, right up to the final manufacturing and shipping processes. This allows us to ensure that our products meet the highest quality standards, giving our customers the flexibility, delivery, and peace of mind they require.
It is also why at SALTO virtually everything is done in-house to confirm that we meet and exceed the highest standards and our customers’ expectations.
Evidence of this is that SALTO is ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001 certified, insuring rigorous quality management and environmental management systems are in place to ensure the design, development and manufacturing of our electronic access control products.
R&D&I because at SALTO we have a passion for access control technology. We are one of the largest investors in RD&I (Research, Development and Innovation) in our industry with a 20-person strong team dedicated to developing new products and systems shaped to meet the demands of the market both today and tomorrow.
And a complete local network because at SALTO we are always aware of the need to listen to the market and to our customers, in order to understand how we can anticipate and satisfy our customers’ needs.
It is this level of service and support that makes us different from our competitors. It’s why today SALTO products can be found in use in over 90 countries all over the world.
Mr. Handels, in terms of Italy, what can you add?
We have 10 years of experience working with clients in Italy and decided that given the outstanding opportunities in the marketplace, the time was right for SALTO to open our own office in Italy.
It is important that we are able to offer first-rate support to our growing Italian customer base. In this way we can best provide the outstanding sales and technical support at the concept and design stages of new projects that give both existing and potential Italian specifiers, customers and consultants the confidence to incorporate the benefits of SALTO access control system into their installations.
by Monica Bertolo
