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Parking Validation Systems

As cities become more crowded, and parking costs continue to rise, patrons of downtown businesses seek ways to control their expenses when visiting. There are few more time-honored solutions than parking validation.

Historically with parking validation, the patron brings their parking ticket to a participating business. Since the patron is a paying customer, the business stamps the ticket with some unique identifier. When the ticket is presented for payment at exit, the attendant recognizes the manual stamp and the patron exits, either paying a reduced rate or nothing at all.

As parking systems have become more automated, the old manual stamp ceased to be effective, as it could not be machine read. SysParc, Inc., a leading Northridge, CA-based parking equipment manufacturer recognized this growing need and developed their Validated Parking Control System. By using an entry barrier coupled with a ticket dispenser, and an exit barrier coupled with a one of several payment methods, control into and out of the parking lot itself was controlled. SysParc then developed their MV-2010 Merchant Validation Printer, which is the digital replacement for the rubber validation stamp at the merchant’s shop.

When a patron enters the parking garage, a parking ticket is issued and the patron parks, taking the ticket with them. When they visit a participating merchant, the clerk inserts the parking ticket into the MV-2010 Merchant Validation Printer. The ticket is read, dates verified, and checked for previous validations. If the ticket passes these checks, the time, date, validation account number and sequential ticket validation number are printed on the ticket in both human- and machine-readable form, and the ticket is returned to the patron.

When leaving the parking facility, the parking ticket is scanned and the system automatically, adjusting the parking charges according to the data in the validation barcode.

SysParc required a printer with some unique capabilities for use in the MV-2010. First, the printer itself had to draw the ticket in, locate it at the right spot, calculate the shape of the barcode, print it and eject the ticket out the way it came. The printer had to be reliable and competitively priced, since one would be located at each participating merchant. Finally, SysParc needed a printer manufacturer who would work with them in developing the printer control features required for the product to succeed. Their search led them to Hengstler and the eXtendo X-56 printer.

The eXtendo X-56 thermal printer, with paper widths up to 60 mm, was ideal for this application. With strong programming support, the printer behavior was adjusted to match SysParc’s needs, while the rapid print speed of up to 250 mm/second helps speed customers on their way. Ultimately, several factors were influential in SysParc’s selection of the X-56:

  • Reliability was paramount, especially when early prototypes with another printer failed regularly and did not last long in the field.
  • Customization of the printer behavior was matched to SysParc’s requirements.
  • Robust, long-lasting design of the X-56.
  • Competitive price point needed since each participating merchant would need a unit.

Thanks to SysParc and Hengstler, the MV-2010 Merchant Validation Printer is keeping validation alive and well in the digital age!

For more information on eXtendo® printers, visit www.hengstler.com. For information on SysParc parking systems, visit www.sysparc.com.

For further information regarding this article, please contact Mr. Leslie Wenzler at +49-7424-89545.