In Focus / EDS ( Electro UK) - Bespoke Turnstile Systems

Stadiums and larger venues require high endurance, high volume and highly secure access control systems. These are aspects of security automation that EDS (Electro UK) excel in. fcbusiness finds out more.

DS (Electro UK) turnstile and entry automation installations have scaled for clients in the Premier League like Manchester City to a bespoke drop-in system for Scarborough Athletic FC in the Northern Premier League. Additionally, they have supplied volume turnstile hire solutions for several stadia including Wembley and the 2012 Olympic Water Park.

Based in Birmingham, the company, which has been operating for over 30 years, specialises in designing and installing bespoke access control systems for stadiums, including full-height turnstiles, speed lanes and automated doors. They offer solutions for various stadium needs, from new installations to retrofits of existing systems, catering to different budgets and requirements.

Turnstile Design and Customisation

Services include design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance, ensuring seamless operation and long-term functionality of the turnstiles they produce.

The company’s turnstiles are customisable to fit various stadium apertures and incorporate team colours. Offering both standard and bespoke designs, they can adapt to unique stadium layouts and requirements, and their in-house design team ensures flexibility and efficient solutions which offer the highest quality products and minimise disruption.

Paul Evans, Head of Sales at EDS, explains: “It’s about being flexible around what the stadium’s requirements are, because every stadium is different.”

“A lot of stadiums have stands that have been developed over a number of years, so one stand may be completely different to the others,” adds EDS Operations Manager, James Edkins.

“For the design team we have in-house that isn’t an issue; we manufacture to order and build to bespoke needs.

“So, if there’s five revisions of a turnstile in one fit-out, we can still compete with the market on price with companies that are just producing standard turnstiles.”

Integration with Existing Technologies

The company’s systems integrate with existing stadium technologies, including digital readers and access control systems. They also collaborate with third-party integrators to ensure compatibility and seamless functionality. Their focus is on providing a complete solution, including hardware, software and maintenance.

“We ensure that we can integrate with any reader and have the expertise to make any system work with our system,” said, Edkins.

“There’s a need to know who’s in the stadium and where they came in. By knowing exactly who’s coming through what turnstile, you prevent people from entering the wrong area and mitigates flow rate issues as people travel through the gates. Clubs have a duty of care, and we need to ensure everybody is in the right area and following the right flow rate.”

The recently introduced Martyn’s Law, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is a UK law designed to improve public safety by requiring certain premises and events to take proactive measures to protect against terrorist attacks. It aims to ensure that venues and event organisers are better prepared to respond to threats and reduce their vulnerability. 

Evans, explains: “The technology available helps increase the security of the venue. That coincides with the newly introduced Martyn’s Law. It’s now providing a secondary line of defence,” Edkins, adds.

“For instance, hospitality areas are a little bit more open, and I think there’s a need for more barriers such as speed lanes. We’re seeing a trend for that really ramping up now. Just because people are in the hospitality area, we still need to know who is in there.”

Solenoid System for Budget-Friendly Upgrades

A solenoid system allows for cost-effective upgrades to existing full and half-height turnstiles. This system adds electronic ticketing capabilities without requiring complete turnstile replacement and provides a solution for clubs with limited budgets while improving access control.

“We’ve got solutions for every club no matter their size, requirements or budget,” says Evans.

“When putting the solenoid system in it pays for itself within 3 or 4 games. It’s an inexpensive solution for clubs without the capital expenditure to invest in a full replacement or bespoke system.”

Project Timeline and Support

Project timelines typically involve an assessment and design phase, followed by manufacturing and installation. Timeframes for installations depend on project size and complexity, but the company aims for efficiency whilst its focus on continued support includes regular maintenance checks and a comprehensive service contract.

“We’re always incredibly busy every summer,” mused Evans. “But because our engineers and fabricators are used to manufacturing these products in volume, we can be pretty quick with regards to turnaround.

“Following installation, we have a dedicated service and maintenance contract which is at the forefront of the service we provide. Once the turnstile has been installed, there’s a lot of clubs that don’t even consider the service and maintenance side of it.

“If you’ve got 80,000 people going through these turnstiles in a season they need to be serviced and maintained at least four times a year.

“Because of the heavy traffic coming through things need to be checked to make sure they run smoothly, because if something happens just before kick-off, and you’ve got thousands of fans trying to get in it can cause major problems, so this is critical.”

About EDS (Electro UK)

EDS (Electro UK) is a multi-service, precision automation engineering company, offering a unique and impressive portfolio of products and services. A rapidly growing, yet agile business, our workmanship has established itself as a mark of quality and integrity based on our excellent track record and ongoing success. We are positioned as key supplier to many major clients such as international corporations as well as valued residential customers. Since our foundation in 1992 through to the present day, our skills, dedication and expertise, together with our core values have provided the building blocks that drive us into the future.

For more information, visit: www.electrouk.co.uk