Traka's intelligent key fobs are locked in a special key cabinet and operators identify themselves at the cabinet using their company ID cards.

Over 200 forklifts and other materials handling equipment at Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood site in Liverpool are now being managed by Traka electronic access management systems.

Jaguar Land Rover employs over 1,900 people and produces a car every 135 seconds. Forklifts are used to transport materials and components to the production line. The company wanted to address issues like driver accountability, damage control, cost savings and health and safety compliance.

When Traka was introduced, the company found that good drivers reacted well to the system, while others realised they had to change their behaviour or risk disciplinary action. The system has done away with paper forms, cutting administrative work and enabling drivers to know that trucks will be in the right place when needed and be in good working condition.

Jaguar Land Rover has also recorded a decrease from 27 driver incidents a week to just one.

"Traka has provided Jaguar Land Rover with better control and complete accountability," says Traka's Godfrey Anderson. "It has clearly improved productivity as well as considerably reducing damage to stocks, trucks and infrastructure."

Traka uses intelligent key fobs called iFobs, each of which contains an electronic data chip and is attached to every truck key with a security seal. The iFobs are locked into a designated port in a special key cabinet and operators identify themselves at the cabinet using their company ID cards. An iFob will only be released if the operator has permission to access the cabinet. It will only give access to the keys to trucks which he or she is authorised to drive.

This is all controlled through the Traka32 software, with user and key details stored on a central database. Each truck is fitted with a receptor socket into which the driver inserts the iFob to start the truck. Because all trucks are not keyed alike, the driver who has driven a particular truck at any time can be identified.

Jaguar Land Rover has also adopted Traka to manage keys to rooms, buildings and storage areas following the success of its forklift fleet control.

Traka plc of Olney developed the Traka system after working closely with some of the world's largest corporations. The company says the system is used extensively in the UK and in over 30 countries.