Tower Optical chooses SECO to digitize payments for tourist binocular viewers.
SECO S.p.A. (“SECO” or the “Company”), leader in edge AI solutions for industrial applications, today announces the introduction of its KarL4 contactless payment terminal to the United States market, marking a significant step in the international expansion of the Company’s payment technology portfolio. Following successful deployments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, KarL4 is now being adopted in North America, supported by the expansion of payment card certifications and the completion of FCC certification.
KarL4 is SECO’s compact payment terminal designed for unattended and self-service applications. The solution enables secure, contactless transactions through debit cards, credit cards, and digital wallets, helping operators reduce cash handling activities while providing consumers with a fast and intuitive payment experience.
The US launch has been enabled by a series of technological and regulatory milestones, including the FCC certification. In addition to the certifications already available in Europe, KarL4 now supports Visa and Mastercard payment schemes, ensuring compatibility with the payment methods most commonly used across North America. Additional payment cards are planned.
The North American market represents a significant opportunity for the adoption of contactless payment technologies across a wide range of self-service applications, supported by the ongoing shift toward digital and card-based transactions.
SECO has already secured The Tower Optical Company as its lead customer in the US, the manufacturer of the iconic public binocular viewers installed at tourist attractions, observation decks, parks, and other landmark destinations across the United States and Canada. Through the integration of KarL4, Tower Optical is modernizing its installed base by replacing traditional coin-operated mechanisms with contactless payment technology: the solution allows visitors to activate binocular viewers with a simple tap of a payment card or digital wallet, delivering a seamless user experience aligned with the growing shift toward cashless transactions.
Beyond enabling payments, KarL4 provides operators with a reliable and easily deployable platform that can be integrated into existing equipment, extending the useful life of installed assets while supporting digital service innovation. The terminal’s integral cellular modem and low-power operation facilitate retrofit into mechanical, coin-operated vending equipment.
Dario Freddi, Managing Director of SECO USA, commented:
“The introduction of KarL4 in the United States represents an important milestone for SECO’s strategy to deliver end-to-end solutions. We are particularly proud to support Tower Optical in modernizing one of the most recognizable tourist experiences across North America. This deployment demonstrates how a proven payment platform can be applied across a variety of unattended applications, helping operators modernize existing assets while delivering a seamless experience for end users. The potential vertical applications are endless.”
Adam Rice, co-owner of The Tower Optical Company, added:
“Tower Optical’s iconic viewers are mostly outdoors and unattended year-round, so whatever went inside them had to survive the elements and use power conservatively. We evaluated a number of payment terminals and the KarL4 was the only one that met all of our requirements. Our machines have stood at some of America’s best vantage points since 1933, and for most of that time, they operated on quarters. The KarL4 allowed us to adapt to 21st century payment methods without changing anything people love about our product.”
The introduction of KarL4 in the US further strengthens SECO’s position as a provider of B2B integrated edge solutions. While the initial deployment focuses on tourism and public viewing equipment, the same technology platform can address a broad range of applications, including vending, leisure, transportation, and other outdoor self-service infrastructure. By combining secure payment technology, connectivity and digital services, SECO continues to support customers in the transition toward more efficient, data-driven, and consumer-friendly operating models.