EANS-News: Hoeft & Wessel unveiling a new generation of stationary ticket vending machines (with photo)

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Subtitle: - almex.midi with compact dimensions and a solar panel
- Further extensions to the Europe-wide successful ticket vending series

Hanover/Germany, 09/09/2010. (euro adhoc) - Hoeft & Wessel is unveiling a new
generation of stationary ticket vending machines with particularly compact
dimensions and a special solar-powered version. In this way, the company is
ushering in a new era of ticket vending machines which are powered by solar
energy and therefore do not need to be connected to the electricity grid. As
simple as this may sound, it was in fact a particular challenge. The IT and
engineering Group for ticketing, parking and mobile solutions has developed the
first stationary solar ticket vending machine offering the same easy to operate
handling as large vending machines. The Hoeft & Wessel Group´s Almex business
division will be presenting the new product for the first time at InnoTrans in
Berlin.

Known as almex.midi, the vending machine extends the successful almex.station
series, of which more than 10,000 units are in operation across Europe on
railway platforms and public transport stations. Whereas the almex.station has
a width of 90 centimetres, the new model measures only around 68 centimetres.
Although smaller, it offers the same functions as the larger model thanks to
the optimised arrangement of the modules.

The almex.midi will be available in two versions - a conventional one to be
powered by the electricity grid and a version which is fitted with a solar
panel and can therefore be operated independently of the electricity grid.

Energy consumption is the "be all and end all" for solar power. By using highly
efficient components and heating only individual parts rather than the entire
device, it has been possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent.
Further potential for saving energy is harnessed by shutting down the machine
overnight and when it is not in use. The utilisation of LEDs instead of neon
lights also saves energy and, despite the higher initial costs, pays off
quickly thanks to the energy costs saved. What is more, the illumination looks
better and has a substantially longer life expectancy. The specialists at Almex
recently developed and integrated a new LED lighting system for the 1,100
ticket vending machines operated by London Bus at the bus stations in the UK
capital.

In developing the solar-powered version of almex.midi, Almex was also able to
rely on the many years of extensive experience gained by subsidiary Metric. Its
car park ticket vending machines are a good example of the role which
alternative energies are already playing today. Around 60 percent of the
parking machines sold already feature a solar module, with this figure set to
rise in the future. As early as in the 1990s, more than 15,000 solar-power car
park ticketing machines had been sold. As these machines do not have to be
connected with the electricity grid, the cost-intensive infrastructure
preparations can be dispensed with. At the same time, the environment is
preserved and CO2 emissions reduced. This makes the new solar-powered version
of the almex.midi a good example of Green IT.

The new compact stationary ticket vending machines are still multi-talents.
Passengers can pay for tickets in cash or with cards and e-tickets complying
with the ITSO or VDV-KA standard are also supported. A large touch screen and
language support make it easier to use the machine. Finally, Hoeft & Wessel´s
Almex machines are highly vandalism-proof and easy to use. TPG ("Transports
Publics Genevois"), the canton of Geneva´s public transport company, has
already opted for the new almex.midi.

Almex at InnoTrans, Berlin: Hall 2.1, Booth 232

Press kit with photo of almex.midi:
http://www.presseportal.de/pm/12945/hoeft_wessel_ag/

Further inquiry note:
Arnd Fritzemeier
Tel.: +49-511-6102-300
E-Mail: [email protected]
end of announcement euro adhoc
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Pictures with Announcement:
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http://resources.euroadhoc.com/us/Dn4sNFKk

issuer: Höft & Wessel AG
Rotenburger Str. 20
D-30659 Hannover
phone: +49-511-6102-0
FAX: +49-511-6102-411
mail: [email protected]
WWW: http://www.hoeft-wessel.com
sector: Technology
ISIN: DE0006011000
indexes: TecDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Hannover, München
language: English

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