Automated Tape Production System

The ATaPS seamlessly combines the robustness of proven analogue crypto-techniques with new automation principles to create an effective, completely secure production system for crypto-tape. The ATaPS system reads the punched tape, identifies markers, cuts the tape, and packs it into NATO-spec canisters which in turn are assembled using ultrasonic welding. The system is produced by Beck Engineering AS in Oslo, Norway, and developed in cooperation with the Norwegian National Security Authority.

Increased Productivity

Crypto techniques have, for security reasons, not performed the digital leap. In a foreseeable future, the robust, secure and proven punched tape method will be used to produce the required output of NATO and national crypto keys for its member states. As the production process for sorting, controlling and packing crypto tape traditionally is manual, great savings in production costs can be made with automation. The ATaPS removes many of the traditional manual tasks, freeing man-hours for use in other pressing security matters.