A HIGH-TECH BLACKBURN company has its finger on the pulse when it comes to security systems.

Navigator Solutions has now completed the development of its revolutionary access control system that uses fingerprint recognition.

Among the first customers for the Fingertech Nav-500 security system was the Police Federation for its national headquarters.

And with the ink still wet on a deal with an American company to manufacture and distribute the device in the States, the two men behind Navigator believe they are now on their way.

Chris Marsden and Mark Underwood set up the business just over three years ago, sandwiched between a pie shop and an off licence in Duckworth Street, Darwen.

They were working on developing software for business networks when they discovered the world of biometrics - where parts of the human body can be measured and converted into computer data.

"We were fascinated by the subject," recalled Mark. "The more we thought about it, the more potential we could see. Eventually, we homed in on the concept of using fingerprints for access control systems."

Having a bright idea, however, is one thing. Turning it into a commercial reality is something else as the two were quick to discover.

It has taken Chris and Mark two years of long hours, determination and drive to bring the Fingertech Nav-500 to market - not to mention the technical setbacks and bureaucratic delays.

But, with the help of a £75,000 Smart Award from the Department of Trade and Industry, their persistence has paid off.

"We always believed in the product and knew we were doing the right thing," said Mark. "The Smart Award was a big help, but it has been a constant struggle with cashflow. Our traditional software business has had to support the development work."

The first orders are now coming in to their new headquarters at Brownhill, Blackburn, and a network of security installation firms is being recruited to boost sales.

Systems have already been installed at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and at Littlewoods' national distribution centre. Reed Working Men's Club at Simonstone also has a Fingertech Nav-500 to ensure that only members can enter.

Chris and Mark believe the Fingertech system is years ahead of the rest of the market and has a string of advantages over other access control systems which relied on keys, cards or pin numbers.

Mark explained that the telephone-sized device worked by reading an individual's unique fingerprint. Once the detailed were stored on computer, all the person had to do to gain entry was to place the finger in the machine and tap in a three digit code. If the fingerprint matched the original - in a process taking less than a second - the door would open automatically.

Registering a new user takes just seconds, as does taking someone off the system. By using a network of machines, companies could restrict access to certain sensitive parts of the building. The product also allows time restrictions to be applied to each user, detailing when they are allowed to gain entry to premises.

The software developed by Navigator Solutions also enables the company to use the device for monitoring staff attendance, doing away with the need for employees 'clocking on and clocking off'.

Mark said that the odds of anyone getting lucky with a finger print were greater than 100,000 to one. Even chopping off someone's finger would not work because the device only works with living tissue!

The device has generated worldwide interest through the internet, but the company intends to concentrate on the UK market initially before rolling the product out into Europe and beyond.

"Globally, the competition is minimal," added Mark. "The market potential is huge and we are aiming to take a fair part of it. "

We believed in the product

and knew we were doing the right thing