Shopping carts go high-tech

Theft protection, plastic construction and improved Cart Corrals are changing the store and parking lot landscape.

Shopping cart theft represents a considerable expense to supermarkets and a great inconvenience to neighborhoods where carts are abandoned. In order to minimize these problems, several companies have developed anti-theft systems and refined them over time.

One such company is Carttronics LLC of San Diego, Calif. Carttronics manufactures and markets the Cart Anti-theft Protection System (CAPS), which uses an electronic caster and buried perimeter antenna to prevent thefts. By employing a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to generate a low-frequency, low-power signal along the antenna line, a limit for the cart travel is defined. Then, as a CAPS-protected cart approaches the boundary, a braking shell in the caster is electronically released, and the cart is disabled.

"This modifies the behavior of certain consumers," explains Carttronics' president Art Salyer. "They learn that they can't take the carts any further, so they stop trying."

In addition to reducing cart loss, the CAPS system offers a number of other benefits:

* Reduced retrieval, cleaning, repair and replacement

* Cart fleet inventory needs are lowered by 20 to 25 percent

* Lower maintenance

* Electronic reliability

* Steam-cleanable, all-weather operation

* No false or unintended locks

Safeway plc was the first UK supermarket chain to invest heavily into CAPS. According to Andy Kalia, Safeway's store equipment manager, "We are already extremely pleased with the results we have seen from our stores that have tried CAPS. Safeway is committed to eradicating the problem of trolley loss from its stores. Aside from the inevitable cost to the business, key issues that we will address with this new system are to help the environment, and providing our customers with clean trolleys which are good in working order."

Carttronics recently improved upon its original design for CAPS. "We have made it more robust for better survival in inclement weather," Salyer says. "We're also using stronger casters and better electronics so there are fewer repairs and less maintenance."

Another company selling an electronic shopping cart retention system is Kart Saver, Inc. of Sacramento, Calif. Their system uses infrared (IR) technology to prevent having to dig a trench in the parking lot to bury the antenna.

"We put a transmitter at the entrance and exit of the store," explains vice president of sales, Oscar Lizotte. "When the customer attempts to remove the cart, the signal activates our K-2000 mechanism which is mounted on the left front wheel. This locks the caster so the cart only can be turned in circles, which prevents it from being taken."

OTHER INNOVATIONS

In addition to anti-theft systems, there have been numerous other advances in shopping cart technology. For instance, McCue Corp. of Salem, Mass., has greatly improved upon its Cart Corral design.

"With our new Nex-Ten, we've covered the Cart Corral to keep the carts clean and dry," says Doug Perilli, general manager at McCue. "Also, the Nex-Ten's base components are ballasted with water to eliminate having to drill into the pavement to anchor them."

Perilli attributes many other benefits to the Nex-Ten:

* Their design allows stores to put signage and personality out into the car park.

* Plastic barriers prevent rust and protect shoppers' car doors.

* Modular base components slide together for easy setup.

* Side panels can be customized with graphics to make the Nex-Ten stand out even more.

The shopping carts themselves have also gone high-tech. Supercart of Wellesley, Mass., which manufacturers all-plastic carts, has expanded upon its product line.

"Supercart is made of 100 percent plastic," says president Martin Deal. "Metal carts can twist out of shape, which leads to wobbly wheels. Plastic, on the other hand, has memory, so Supercarts will always return to their original shape if they are hit."

Deal adds that Supercarts come with a lifetime guarantee against jams, are fully recyclable and can't rust. In the event of an accident, component part assembly makes repairs quick and easy. They are also easier to clean - all that is required is soap and water.

Supercart's newest model, which is a full-sized version, will begin shipping this spring.

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