Helgoland, Germany’s offshore island in the North Sea, has gained a novelty attraction for inhabitants and guests. After extensive modernization activities, the seawater bath “mare frisicum spa helgoland” has been opened in July 2007. The pay station and access control system from Scheidt & Bachmann has been supplied and installed in August 2007.
As an entrance ticket, the guests receive a barcode ticket, which can be purchased at the cashier’s desk or from an automatic pay station. Guests who make use of a cash-value card will have a chance to pay at a reduced tariff. 

By a coded VPN connection via DSL, the main computer at the pay station in the sea water bath is connected to the computer of the cashier in the spa administration. This enables the personnel of the spa administration to perform administration of customer data, without interrupting or disturbing the cashier staff's work.
The software for the cashier and access control system is based on the latest release status. Some applications of the leisure centre management system are based on Java technology and thus can use a browser. This means that irrespective of the location of the computer, in the bath or in the spa administration, these applications can be accessed.
The service engineers had to face a special challenge. As the island can be reached by ship or by plane only and has a no-car traffic, the usual service car with a mobile workshop had to be waived. On top of this, the approach luggage had to be limited to 20 kg maximum weight. Therefore, the selection of tools needed for installation was a matter of very thorough consideration.

(August 2007)