Xtract One Technologies’ SmartGateway Deployment at PNE Exposes a New Standard for High-Traffic Event Security

Peter Evans and the team at Xtract One Technologies are tackling one of the most persistent friction points in large-scale venue security: the trade-off between thoroughness and throughput. At the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, their SmartGateway system is being deployed to manage crowds for the FIFA Fan Festival. The core innovation here isn't just the AI—it’s the engineering of a 'touchless' experience that removes the need for guests to empty their bags or undergo manual inspections.

By utilizing AI-powered threat detection, Xtract One is shifting the security paradigm from a reactive, stop-and-search model to an automated, flow-based system. This is significant because it addresses the 'bottleneck' problem that often plagues high-profile international events like FIFA fan zones. From a technical perspective, Engineering teams at Xtract One have focused on building a platform that can distinguish between harmless personal items and concealed threats in real-time, allowing for a seamless transition from entry point to experience.

The deployment is a strategic move into the Vancouver market, expanding their Toronto-based operations. For venue operators, the security mandate changes here: it’s no longer about making things difficult for attendees; it’s about leveraging intelligent screening as an infrastructure layer that supports the celebratory atmosphere of the event itself.