Anti-theft devices have become a mainstay for retail companies across the globe, complementing loss prevention’s efforts to keep products safe and secure. By harnessing the benefits of cutting-edge technology with the merits of proactive physical security measures, these critical tools help us balance product access and customer service with the essential need to keep high-risk merchandise protected and available.
Strategic decisions on the use of these tools—what products to protect, the extent to which they need to be protected, the devices chosen to maximize availability while maintaining security, and the ability to effectively balance protection with a positive customer experience, have long been challenges for the industry. These, coupled with finding cost-effective solutions, are questions we’re faced with every day.
Innovation Remains Our Greatest Need
In an age where ORC poses real and ongoing threats, innovation remains the constant. Both retailers and solution provider partners have had to adjust and modify, finding new and creative ways to keep products on the shelves and available to customers. Longstanding staples are tweaked and fine-tuned, while new products are introduced, always looking for that balance between product protection and customer satisfaction.
Even the most novel professional is familiar with many of these tools. Both EAS and RFID products have been around for many years now, and most understand the use and application of both hard tags and soft tags and how they are managed in the retail setting. Recent trends include the use of product keepers. With dozens of sizes to choose from, these tough, clear polycarbonate cases are designed to protect everything from electronics and razor blades to cosmetics and baby formula. Most are available for use either alone or in combination with electronic article surveillance systems.
We know what the products are for—and we have a general understanding of how they work—but we wanted to take things a bit further, and see how it all comes together. This is what led to our recent visit with the team at Checkpoint, who invited us to tour their facilities in Canton, Ohio for an up-close look at how some of these products come to life—and even how some are recycled to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
Let’s Take a Tour
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- Stuart Rosenthal, Checkpoint global vice president of sales, marketing, and operations, gives us an up-close and personal tour of the Checkpoint factory in Canton, Ohio. The facility has been in operation for 35 years and supports approximately 200 employees.
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- The 210,000 square foot facility hosts a number of different projects to maximize the efficiency of the operation. Here product is stored and staged for delivery to customers.
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- As is true with every facility and especially a factory setting, safety is the top priority. Ergonomic tables, personal protective equipment, and other safety precautions are practiced throughout the facility.
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- Design and construction of security Keepers is one of the primary functions in this facility. More than 70 different sizes are currently manufactured here.
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- Keeper molds are custom designed for each size and style of Keeper. Dozens of molds are necessary to meet the demands of the customer. The shape and size of each Keeper is customized to fit the needs of the customer.
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- All plastics and waste from manufacturing are fully recycled to create new Keeper products.
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- Recycled Keepers are ground into polycarbonate chips for use in new molds.
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- The automated Keeper construction process individually builds each Keeper.
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- Keeper construction is carefully controlled to maintain quality and performance.
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- Quality control audits are conducted to ensure products meet necessary standards.
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- EAS keys are also constructed at the facility.
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- They are then fitted with lanyards…
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- …and engraved with serial numbers for identification purposes.
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- Each device also includes a barcode for identification.
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- A digital printing lab is also part of the facility.
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- This area houses a variable and customized printing on RF labels for use by individual customers.
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- Cutting and binding operations and quality insurance.
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- A separate area of the facility has automated machines designed to create disposable security Hard Tags.
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- Every area is designed to be clean, efficient, and safe.
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- A test lab provides an additional step in product efficiency and quality assurance.
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- This also includes various EAS pedestals…
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- …and other equipment compatible with how devices will be used in the stores.
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- A product sample area houses all the various products manufactured at the facility for easy access.
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- The facility also includes a recycling area to minimize costs and maximize efficiencies.
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- This area includes equipment and Keepers that will be recycled, along with used EAS hard tags that will be forwarded to another facility once processed.
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- Pallets of product are then stored to await shipping…
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- …and eventually moved to the shipping dock to make their way to the retail customers.
“Our manufacturing operation is an environmentally sustainable facility,” says Stuart Rosenthal, global vice president of sales, marketing, and operations at Checkpoint. “We are committed to sustainability. We recycle 100 percent plastic, cardboard, paper, glass, magnets, and all other materials. We have a customer recycling program as well for old Alpha products. Outfitted with the latest injection molding machines that reduce electric and water consumption by 25 percent. The addition of motion-sensing LED lighting will only further reduce electric consumption.”
Final Thoughts
Tools are only as good as the hands and minds that use them. Learning more about the tools that we use every day—and what goes into bringing them all together—can only make us better at what we do. Doing our best to make sure each step is a step forward only helps make us better leaders and valued partners. Stay current, relevant, and informed. It’s not just a priority—it’s a leader’s responsibility.
