ROSH PINA, Israel and PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 11, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- SmartStop, Inc. today announced its commercial launch of the SmartShower(TM) system. Designed for the trucking and travel industry, the SmartShower system automates the operation of shower rooms at truck stops, travel plazas and rest areas. In addition, the SmartShower system provides an array of management reports and operational tools which allow customers to increase revenue, labor productivity and customer service, while decreasing the costs associated with their shower facilities. SmartStop has signed several major truck stop networks to install the system, with the expected installation to start in May 2002. OTI (Neuer Markt:OT5) provides the microprocessor-based smart card technology, products and solutions that support the SmartShower system.
Introduced on a limited basis in sites across the nation during 2001, the results and customer response were so positive that the Company decided to enhance the product and formally launch the SmartShower System.
"We knew the product would help increase shower revenue, but we were surprised at expense savings and labor productivity gains that our customers derived from the System," said Vincent Mangano, Product Manager at SmartStop.
The SmartShower system creates a platform for additional services at travel plazas and other closed campus environments. By utilizing smart card technology, the cards utilized for access control can be expanded to include driver identification, electronic cash and loyalty programs, and other applications essential to the efficient movement of freight across the country. The Company is investigating other applications to be added to the cards.
Rip Griffin Travel Centers has been utilizing the SmartShower System for over a year. "Our facilities operate 24 hours a day. We came to SmartStop looking for a solution to better control our shower expenses. The end result is a system that dramatically improves our labor management, reduces theft and fraud and allows us to better utilize our travel plaza real estate," noted Mark Griffin, President of Rip Griffin Travel Centers, Inc.
"The SmartShower system, based on OTI's secure access control solution, is easily expanded to a full range of applications to meet the needs of travelers. The truck stop environment demonstrates once again how OTI products and solutions can upgrade any existing platform with maximum efficiency and minimum investment," said Ohad Bashan, President and CEO of OTI America, Inc.
SmartStop will demonstrate the SmartShowers system at the NATSO Convention and Exposition in Nashville, TN, February 14-15, 2002 in Booth 522.
About SmartStop
SmartStop serves the U.S. trucking industry by integrating telecommunication and commerce solutions. Its products and services are targeted to the needs of travel plazas, commercial fleets and industry service providers and include network design, implementation and management, as well as loyalty and commerce solutions. SmartStop's website can be found at www.smartstop.net.
About OTI
Established in 1990, OTI (On Track Innovations) designs and develops contactless microprocessor based smart card technology to address the needs of a wide variety of markets. Applications developed by OTI include product solutions for mass transit, parking, gas management systems, loyalty schemes, ID and secure campuses. OTI has regional offices in the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa to market and support its products. The company was awarded the prestigious ESCAT Award for smart card innovation in both 1998 and 2000. Visit OTI on the Internet at www.oti.co.il.