News

United Just One Company using Arral's Kiosks

June 4, 2002

Published Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 12:00 AM

By Kevin Smith

Staff Writer

ONTARIO - Planning on flying United Airlines in the near future? If you are, you'll probably get your boarding pass quicker and with less hassle - thanks to Arral Industries Inc.

The Ontario-based design and manufacturing firm makes high-tech, kiosks that are used in the airline, transportation and banking industries. Arral recently sold 100 customized, mobile kiosks to United Airlines.

The kiosks allow United employees to book flights, change flights or upgrade passengers to first class without having to be tied down to a reservations desk. "They have complete and full wireless connection to United's (computer system), and they can do everything that can be done at check-in," said James N. Winsor, Arral's vice president of new business and technology. "The kiosks can be moved to areas of congestion, like lobbies, so passengers can book flights there."

The state-of-the-art Mobile Chariots" stands four feet tall and weighs about 450 pounds. They are equipped with a computer a telescoping LED sign that displays flight schedules, and a built-in public address system that allows United employees to make flight announcements from remote locations of the airport.

United is using the portable kiosks at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington D.C.

"They are also ergonomically designed," Winsor explained. "They have a (retractable) footrest and the keyboard is adjustable."

Although heavy, the kiosks roll easily from one area to another and are equipped with an automatic brake that prevents them from rolling when unattended. Each unit is powered by a rechargeable battery that lasts about eight hours.

The kiosks - which can be free-standing, wall-mounted or table-top in design - use off-the-shelf software, although they are customized to suit the needs and design schemes of individual industries.

The company's other clients include Chase Manhattan Bank, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, Gila River Healthcare in Arizona, Metcalf Bank in Kansas City and the Richmond, Virginia Times-Dispatch newspaper.'

Most of the kiosks range in price from $3,000 to $5,000. United Airlines' units, which come equipped with more customized features, run about $15,000 each.

Arral has several pending orders, Winsor said, adding that the company is gearing up to manufacture several hundred kiosks a month.

The company also designs customized ADA-compliant kiosks with touch0-sensitive computer screens for users with physical handicaps.

"If someone can come up with a design on a napkinÂ…we can built it," said Benjamin J. Wheeler, the company's sales manager.

Graham Atkinson, senior vice president of marketing for United Airlines, said the Mobile Chariots are part of the air carrier's push to improve customer service. "We recognize the value of our customers' time," he said.

Arral Industries Inc. operates a 50,000 square-foot manufacturing facility on Carrillo Privado in Ontario and employs about 30 workers.

Arral also builds launch-tube assemblies and battery cooling units for Stinger missiles. During the l980's 90 (90%) percent of the company's productions was geared toward government contracts.

Arral has since redirected its focus, however, to building commercial kiosks.

Kevin Smith can be reached by e-mail at k_smith@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909)483-9395. "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />