As retailers look for a positive customer experience, electronic merchandise monitoring (EAS) has evolved in recent years to accommodate this trend. The antennas and bases that are a key component of EAS can now be seamlessly hidden, providing a welcome entry point into the retail store while still protecting the store's valuables.
Antennas are a key component of EAS loss prevention technology. These antennas protect the entrance to the retail store, maintaining constant communication with the security tags and labels affixed to the products. When a tagged or labeled product comes near these antennas, an alarm sounds to alert employees that an item may be leaving the store.
Until recently, antennas were fairly obvious, but now retailers have options. improvements in EAS technology mean that antennas can be hidden inside the door frame of a store, under the floor of an entrance aisle or even overhead.
AM anti theft shop Alarm system eas antenna
Hidden EAS comes in many forms. It can be under the entrance floor, hidden in a door frame or placed overhead. Some hidden EAS technologies have also adapted to emerging trends such as RFID.
Under-floor EAS does not take up retail space and offers maximum discretion, involving the burial of EAS antennas in a hidden cavity at the entrance.
Not all stores have this available depth under the floor, which may affect whether the system is right for you.
If under-floor is not suitable, then further technology can provide the ability to monitor and track items from overhead.
The system uses a small square overhead antenna located near the doorway. It is an RFID system compatible with encoded RFID frequency tags that not only alerts employees to theft, but also tracks items and assists with inventory management.
Suitable for door frames of all sizes, another option is to conceal your EAS in the entrance to your store without significant impact on the floor.
The technology works through two small receivers hidden on either side of the doorway and a small cable running around the door frame.
RF/AM EAS 8.2mhz Tag Deactivator and Detector
While each system offers the benefit of improved aesthetics, the physical design of the store may influence which option is right for you. Items to consider include
1.The frequency of the EAS tag - whether you are using RF or AM.
2.The width of the doorway - some systems are limited to smaller openings, while others require more modules to be installed to get a larger width.
3.Ceiling height - Overhead antennas need to be placed low enough to keep the product in range.
4.Depth under the floor - If you are looking at an under-floor system, you will need to build a 20 mm concealed cavity to accommodate the antenna. Not all stores have this depth.
5.The appearance of the entrance - While they are not pedestals, some systems require a panel to be installed to accommodate the concealed antenna.
For some, the visible presence of an antenna helps prevent theft. For others, the physical layout of their entrance way may not be suitable for a concealed EAS. either way, a concealed EAS can offer many benefits. To learn more about EAS, please contact us.
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