news release

Lacerta Group, Inc.’s " CRACKER" Solves Problem of Data Recovery From Damaged Cartridges

Boston, October, 1996: In the computer and data management industry, a damaged data cartridge means big trouble. Damaged data cartridges should not be in inserted into a computer, as it may result in damaging the drive and further voiding the manufacturer warranty. Yet valuable or necessary information may be stored on the data, making the task of recovering the data imperative.

"One day I walked into a data media center at a banking facility, and I saw someone trying to crack open a 3480-type data cartridge with a hammer. However , using a hammer, floor, door or other object to crack open a data cartridge is a safety hazard, not only to the person but to the data. I designed a hand-operated cracking unit based on the larger, automated machine we have back at our recycling facility", says Ali Lotfi, inventor and manufacturer of the Data Recovery Cracker. "Some of our current Cracker customers include 3M, Amoco, State Street Bank and First National Bank of Chicago. But, any company with a data media center which uses 3480 or 3490 type data cartridges should have a Cracker."

Lacerta’s "Cracker" provides a means to safely recover the data from a damaged 3480 or 3490-type cartridge. It utilizes four steel blades to penetrate the cartridge from the sides of the cartridge, resulting in breaking open the cartridges into two halves without damaging the internal cartridge parts or magnetic tape. The reel and the magnetic tape with the leader block can be safely recovered, and the data is secure for transfer or recovery.

It takes less than 10 seconds to open a damaged cartridge with the "Cracker", which is safe and simple to use. Minimal physical force on the handle is required to open the cartridge, as the steel blades are driven into the cartridge by using a hand lever. The blades are housed inside aluminum walls; the data cartridge is protected by a plastic housing while the cracking operation is performed.

The Cracker weighs approximately 18 pounds, measures 20 inches in length by 6 inches in width and measures 6 inches high. It can easily fit on the corner of any table, so it is readily accessible for use, and can be conveniently stored in any data media center.

Ali and his brother Mory, principals of Lacerta Group, Inc., are both mechanical engineers, and have experience in research and development, manufacturing of magnetic media, recycling and processing of plastic components, environmental and waste management . Their combined expertise and experience allows them to provide the magnetic media industry with a comprehensive solution to address environmental concerns.

Lacerta currently de-manufactures finished magnetic media products (rejects, overproduction, recalls, obsolete media formats or damaged products such as CDs, video cassettes, audio cassettes, 9-track tapes, diskettes and computer tapes), recovers the components for possible reuse, or grinds up the components for re-use in different applications. Materials currently being recovered include polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and ABS. The company also develops and produces blister -pack and thermoformed packaging materials for the industry from recycled materials, and provides de-gaussing and data destruction services.

For more information on Lacerta Group, Inc., to request a quote on recycling services, or to receive a corporate brochure, please call Lacerta at (617)-442-3111, or email taperecycle@lacerta.com.

Copyright© Lacerta Group, Inc. 1998