News

TMD shockwave-triggered note-bonding 'changes the rules' of ATM explosive attacks

May 24, 2017

TMD Security has announced the release of the TMD Security Note Bonding Kit, an addition to the company's portfolio of physical security solutions focused on the growing global problem of ATM gas and solid explosive attacks. In Europe alone, criminals carried out 988 ATM explosive attacks in 2016 — a year-over-year increase of 47 percent, according to data from the European ATM Security Team.

In an explosive attack, NBK shockwave technology releases a bonding agent onto the notes inside the ATM, gluing them together and rendering them unusable, TMD said in a press release. The technology behind NBK is the same as that employed in the TMD Security Note Staining Kit.

The use of glue and ink to spoil stolen notes and discourage ATM attacks is not new, TMD said. However, previous glue and ink solutions have not been effective in gas or solid explosive attacks because the explosion occurs so suddenly that the systems are destroyed before they can dispense their contents.

Shockwave technology-based solutions are effective in an explosion because the canisters containing glue or ink fracture instantly upon impact, the company said. And, because shockwave technology does not rely on early detection of an attack, there is no risk of false activations.

"ATM explosions are a significant risk to human lives," TMD founder Cees Heuker of Hoek said in the release. "By introducing stronger safes, the industry has been taking the wrong direction because criminals use even more explosives and the risk to human lives becomes even greater. Shockwave technology changes the rules and has been so effective with ink-staining that we have released a bonding agent-based solution so that our customers can choose the security solution that best meets their needs."