The Card Technology segment of the automatic laundry industry is now a reality. During this recent Clean 99 show we noticed that coin storeowners and distributors were doing their "due diligence". People interested in converting existing locations and/or expanding to new locations now understand the importance of smart card systems. The type of questions we were being asked showed more then just casual interest. They indicated direct contact with locations or contact with storeowners. We would strongly suggest that you do no less. Upon request, we will furnish you with a list of customers, address, phone numbers, etc.

The most frequently asked questions related to smart cards, smart card readers, and "tearing" of cards.

1. We hear about smart cards behaving erratically with values changing for no reason, why?
2. What makes your unit different from your competitor's product?
3. What makes your PAC (Purchase Add-value Centers) different.

Smart cards come in 2 varieties, one is a full microprocessor chip card and the other is a memory card. When looking at these two cards, both appear to be similar. There is a world of difference between them. There are many people in the smart card industries that feel a memory card should not even be called a smart card. At Set-O-Matic, we only supply a full microprocessor smart card. If you are considering using a smart card system, make sure to ask your supplier of the system, what type of card they are supplying? AND get it in writing. A response of an "unlimited refill card" should not be adequate, make sure that it is a full microprocessor smart card.

There is a term used in the card technology industry known as "tearing" (as pronounced in tearing a sheet of paper). Those people who have card stores and are using memory cards for unlimited refills are quite familiar with what happens. These cards are extremely susceptible to noise, spikes, dirty lines, which can
easily alter the value on the cards. A common scenario is a customer has $ 2.00 value left on their card, then goes to an add-value machine, adds $ 10.00 and now has $ 12.00 total. They proceed to a washer and use their card for a $ 3.00 wash and now notice they have a $ 5.00 balance instead of $ 9.00.


One of big pluses in using the more powerful microprocessor smart card is that a full microprocessor card, virtually eliminates the "tearing" situation. You will also note that we print the serial # on every card and we are able to track every transaction with a time and date stamp. We write the last 41 machine transactions and the last 4 add value transactions directly to the card. The information on the card would show time & date, machine #, value deducted, and balance remaining and will note and confirm if everything went OK. Every transaction is kept in the PC application program for easy to use reports.

If the units you purchase have friction card readers, as opposed to a soft landing contact smart card reader, your chances of "tearing" cards has been greatly increased. Friction card readers are again on the lowest and cheapest technology level of card readers. Each time a customer inserts a card into a friction reader, they are generating turbulence on the line. The reader makes electrical contact with the card, which is still moving until it has reached the correct reading & writing position.

In a soft landing contact card reader, only when the card is in place, does the head of the card reader come directly down on the chip to read & write, without causing turbulence. Needless to say it is much cheaper to supply systems with memory cards and friction card readers, but you should always know exactly what you are buying.

Look closely at the method of manufacturing used by the various smart card systems. We are the only manufacturer that uses a more costly method of assembly. Even though our methods and components are more costly, we are very competitively priced - a very big plus for you. Our modular plug-in of components means more reliability in operation, and if vandalism or malicious mischief occurs, it means that you will not have to buy a complete unit. Other units solder all components to the one PC board, so if you have a broken display, card reader, etc. it will not be a repair that you can do. All of our components use snap-in modular plugs and card readers, displays, main control board can be replaced in minutes, on location by removal of 2 - 4 screws, and at a nominal cost.

Our display is a 2-line backlit LCD, 16 alphanumeric characters per line, total of 32 characters. Others use 8 character non-backlit or 4 digit 7 segment displays. Each of our machine units can give information in English only or English & Spanish.

Any of our units can be used to display the balance on a card. Your customer does not have to go to the Add value center to find out their balance. This feature usually keeps the Purchase Add Value Centers open for customers who want to purchase a new card or add value to an existing card. Some manufacturers will tell you that they show the value on the card, but they do not tell you that it is the value after the transaction is done. (We don't think that your customer will be very happy if they have to pay for a cycle just to see their balance on their card!)

Our PAC (Purchase/Add-value Center) is available as a front loading wall or base mount or rear loading through the wall units. Our rear-loading unit was totally designed for rear loading installation and is not a converted front load cabinet. The rear load has an oversized stainless steel plate, designed for security and a finished recess look. All of our PAC centers are designed for maximum security with double Medeco locking devices, 3/16" cold rolled steel, weighing approximately 150 lbs., not like the rather industry standard 45-50 lb. Units others use. Our PAC's can be programmed to offer 3 different bonus levels, depending on the amount of add value $ the customer selects. If you program the unit to give a 10% bonus for $20.00, the customer can use any combination of bills to reach the $20.00. Some other Add Value Centers require the customer to use a $20.00 bill only, if they use 2 - $10.00 bills, the bonus will be lost, and probably the customer too!