Salberg develops bomb resistant ATM housing structure

In an effort to combat the increasing number of ATM bombings, Salberg Concrete Products, a supplier of precast concrete products, in partnership with its client, ATM Solutions, developed an innovative bomb resistant housing structure, making ATMs increasingly difficult to target.

The multi-million rand project took 37 months to complete from the inception of the concept in April 2008. During this time the staff at Salberg worked closely with ATM Solutions - the largest independent supplier and operator of ATMs in Southern Africa - and the South African Police Services. Tested in real life conditions, the blast resistant structure passed with a bang.

Salberg CEO and sales manager, Dr. Rudy Absil, and Annemerie Hilhorst, project owner of the ground-breaking design, agree. "The project required innovative thinking and creativity to develop a state of the art solution that generates positive guaranteed results. Salberg takes pride in its team of staff members who are able to think out of the box and are committed individuals who enjoy challenges. The solution is an industry first and sets new standards of excellence."

Money vault is protected

The robust material and structure of the blast proof casing maintains its frame during an explosion, protecting the money vault and ensuring minimal damage to the ATM unit. In addition, attention has been given to the external structure to ensure it is aesthetically pleasing and functional. The housing is made up of light-weight units with built-in lifting hooks and levelling devices for easy transportation and installation. These housing blocks have enabled ATM Solutions to expand their network of installations into rural areas where an ATM can simply be dropped down with the only requirement being a plug point.

"This project demonstrates how clients and suppliers can develop solutions in innovative ways and we are proud to have reached the forefront of ATM security in South Africa. Since January 2012, ATM Solutions has deployed over 100 of the units throughout South Africa, and particularly in rural areas where explosive resistant ATM structures are in demand," explains Frans Swanepoel, operations director at ATM Solutions.

Salberg and ATM Solutions walked away with the 2012 CMA's Innovation Category for their unique blast resistant unit for standalone ATMs.