Four key “firsts” for 3M Rochford Thompson

3M Rochford Thompson has a strong reputation for bringing new technologies to market quickly. Here are four examples:

1. 1993: Multi-Function Reader

3M Rochford Thompson produced the world’s first multi-function reader for the airline industry. This combines two distinct functions – the optical reading of documents such as passports, visas and ID cards, and the magnetic reading of frequent flyer cards and ATB tickets.

Prior to this, passport readers had been produced exclusively for immigration authorities, but the increasing pressure on airlines to check the credentials of their passengers created the demand for a unit like this.

Benefits: The fact that all the travellers’ credentials and identification could be read by one unit was efficient and cost-effective for the airlines, and helped to reduce the possibility of errors.

2. 2002: Dual Illumination

The world’s first “dual illumination” feature on airline swipe readers, appeared, courtesy of 3M Rochford Thompson, in 2002. In a dual illumination swipe reader, the optical “read head” uses infra red light to read passports according to ICAO rules – and a visible red light to read the direct thermal printing on ATB tickets.

Benefits: In addition to reading passports, visas and ID cards, the unit can also be used for the detection of fraudulent, or stolen, airline tickets.

3. 2002: battery powered portable reader

3M Rochford Thompson developed the world’s first battery-powered, portable passport reader with Bluetooth wireless communications.

Benefits: This unit gives police and immigration officers considerable tactical flexibility, allowing them to roam up and down queues, open up temporary passport control points, and even conduct random passport checks onboard trains or ferries. Resources can be quickly focused on bottlenecks in the event of disrupted travel patterns.

4. Active Video

3M Rochford Thompson developed the world’s first full page passport scanner with active video. This automatically detects a travel document which is placed anywhere in the scanner window, in any orientation, at any angle.

Benefits: This innovation massively enhances the speed and efficiency of an officer manning a passport desk. Before this development, the need to place a document with precision on the scanner could cause delays.