Many Manufacturers Announce Price Increases Today

A recent memo from some of our suppliers informed us about many of the leading brand manufacturers increasing their prices for their products, effective February 1st, 2012.

Assa-Abloy, HES, Schlage, HID, etc are among the few who have raised their prices.

Lucky for some, we actually lowered many prices on our specialty inventory items.

It is a competitive market out there and by offering the identical products to everyone else online and offline, the only way to remain competitive, many vendors can only compete on labor charges.

Fortunately, by offering products that are less mainstream than brand named lines, we can offer super-competitive prices, as long as you are not fussed about having the brand named products.

We offer Cal-Royal, Carbine, LSDA, Baron, Emtek, Meroni, Cowdroy, Lock Focus, Bilock products that are often similar in application to the more mainstream brands but at more competitive prices.

We will also provide almost any requested brand, but realize that we will not be so competitively priced.

Safe Combination Lock Model - Made From Wood

Woodgears.ca is a woodworkers site that displays different contraptions built by a keen woodworker and his peeps.

Pictured here is a model of a combination lock they designed and built themselves. I think this is a great project for budding locksmiths apprentices and safe workers to understand how a typical safe combination works. It can also provide some hands on practise to budding manipulators wanting to practise their combination manipulation skills.

Sure, it may look like a toy but the principle is sound and as a practise jig would be fun to work with, no?

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Oops - I Dropped My Keys In The Water - Help!

Water sports enthusiasts rejoice. No more keys lost to the bottom of the lake.

A talented Dutch boat enthusiast was perturbed at losing his keys in the lake so he decided to invent this intelligent floating key buoy encased in a small key fob.

This unique and intelligent product will save the day for boaties or fisherpeople intent on recovering their dropped keys.

It is a one time use item but it is effective at allowing you to retrieve your keys.

When your keys hit the water, the sponge inside soaks up the water and triggers the buoy into action, raising your keys to the surface. A bright colored marker rises above the water line allowing you to locate it easily and save your day.

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Silca are the world leader in manufacturing of locksmith keyblanks, key duplicating and originating machines, engraving mechines and software tailored to the key making industry

I personally have used their products for much of the last 30 years in the business and have no hesitation in recommending them as the number 1 source for locksmith machinery equipment and inventory.

The range of keyblanks manufactured far surpasses many competitors in the field. The quality of product is second to none. In fact, many of the available machines sold in the USA are often re-branded Silca machinery.

If you are in the locksmith business you will be aware that Silca are indeed the most respected manufacturer in the field.

From hard to locate keyblanks, to exquisite and precise machinery, to modern electonic keys, Silca are well known and respected worldwide as the standard setter in the field.

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NFC Enabled Door Locks

Yale Lock Co., a subsidiary of Assa-Abloy, the worlds largest lock manufacturer are testing this concept residential door locking system designed to modernize the way we use our doors.

NFC is an acronym for Near Field Communication. Companies like Google have been at the forefront of introducing this technology to enable our mobile phones to be used as mobile wallets, keys and other access devices for a few years now.

Perhaps the future of mechanical keys is limited although, with respect, I believe that maintaining the mechanical key option will ensure you can still operate your lock in the event of electronic or battery failure.

With the world starting to embrace wireless electronic security, it is still not as green or environmentally minded as pure mechanically operated keyed locks and handles.

Many consumers may enjoy the convenience of not having a key to use or lose, however the ongoing maintenance cost and service costs massively outweigh the little cost option of mechanical keyed systems.

So - You Want To Buy A Safe? Are You Sure?

Back in January 2011, we posted this video and received a significant number of hits and emails about it.

This interesting video in German (subtitled in English) shows exactly why you should purchase a quality safe from a quality specialist lock or safe provider.

Many of the types of safes found in this video are available at main stream big box vendors like Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Harbor Freight, Ace Hardware etc.

Basically the video in itself helps to explain the value of purchasing your safes at specialty retailers like locksmiths and dedicated safe companies.

Face it! Too many people have decided to keep their cash and valuables at home rather than the bank. At home you are less protected but have the benefit of convenience and around the clock access to your valuables.

Worse still is that most burglars know this too.

I think it is especially troubling how easily the expert found the mans safe in the first place he looked.

If you want to have and use a safe, isnt it worthwile to spend more to protect your valuables than $50-$100?

Meroni Luccotto Padlock Securing A Residential Garage Door

My video skills are not too impressive but these short clips show you a use for the Meroni Luccotto modern day padlocks.

These excellently designed padlocks are quite unique in their design and can be used in many varied applications.

The Meroni Luccotto range come in 2 sizes (lengths) and are keyed using a tubular pin tumbler key system. They can be ordered keyed to differ or keyed alike.

Other uses include but are not limited to

• Bicycle Chains
• Bicycle Rotors
• Motorbike Rotors
• Refridgerators/Freezers
• School Lockers
• Gym Lockers
• Tow Bars
• Gates
• Lifting Chains
• Tool Boxes

We are proud to include Meroni Luccotto Padlocks in out inventory of unique and specialty security products

Preventing Smash And Grab Entry - Smash Proof Glass

We have been extolling the virtues of Shatter-Gard window film products for a short time lately and are still conducting our own tests on this fabulous product.

Saf-Glas are a manufacturer of world leading modern polycarbonate glazing products that are so tough that they can virtually prevent any window from being smashed.

Window smashing is well known as one of the primary methods of entry in burglaries. There are a few manufacturers of products designed to reduce the likelihood of this security breach, one being ShatterGard, that we are proud to offer. But if you were to install these type of secure windows during construction of your buildings you will mitigate the potential for suffering a break in from this method, almost completely.

The video above is an excellent example of how and why polycarbonate glazing products are so good.

Many window manufacturers today build double glazed windows with an Argon gas layer between the frames. This is to reduce the heat or cold from getting in. But these windows need to be sealed correctly too. We receive a significant number of calls from people who need seals replaced because of moisture getting between the frames. We do not provide this service.

We also receive numerous leads from people who experience glass breakage due to a stone thrown from a lawnmower that breaks the sliding patio door window. We do not replace glass. Many customers think that replacing the glass in a sliding door is a simple and quick task. Unfortunately it is not, especially when you consider that most windows today are the Argon filled double glazed types. Most replacement windows require to be custom built to suit the application, hence why windows and frames can be quite expensive.

Consider installing polycarbonate glazing as an alternative to typical windows. It may be more expensive initially but in the long term you will save considerable pain and anguish let alone replacement window costs.

The tornado that hit parts of St Louis, Missouri at Easter last year, smashed many of the glass windows at St Louis Lambert International Airport, effectively closing down part of a terminal for close to 6 months. This could have been prevented if builders had used smash proof and tornado resistant polycarbonate glazing products as opposed to glass.

If only we could have the benefit of hindsight to give us 20/20 vision.

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Reinventing Neighborhood Watch

Village Defense, an Atlanta based startup have recently modernized the neighborhood watch program system, popularized at the end of the last century. Remember when we actually knew our neighbors well enough to watch for suspiscious activities in our neighborhoods and worked together to protect each other?

Well, Village Defense is the brainchild of Nathan Black, a Georgia Tech engineering graduate who straight out of school created his vision for modernizing the ages old Neighborhood Watch program that was so popular last century.

Simply put, Nathan devised a system that combines modern communications technology with concerned neighbors action. The system is designed so that if or when a neighborhood resident witnesses or hears a crime in progress, they first call 9-1-1 and then the Village Defense hotline. Village Defense then contact all neighbors in the program to inform them of the criminal activities using cell phones and email alerts.

Would you even know if a crime happened in your street? How do we find out about crimes in our neighborhoods? Usually it is through the local newspaper or police bulletins and quite often, at a significantly later date.

This kind of physical security product is an important weapon in defending our homes I think, because it immediately alerts us of criminal activity and can allow us to be better prepared to protect ourselves, no?

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Keyed Pocket Door Lock - To Be Recontinued

Our very popular Cowdroy P697 Keyed Pocket Door Lock has been selling like hotcakes. We recently revealed our discovery of 3 more units hidden in our inventory. We are down to 2 units left now.

Due to significant demand and various customers contacting the manufacturer we have negotiated a new deal and expect to recontinue this product offering in the very near future.

Pricing details will follow soon, but we expect to have new inventory within 3 months.

Serrature Meroni Combina Hardware Installed In Canberra Australia

Early last year, we communicated with a discerning customer from Australia intent on purchasing and installing Meroni hardware on their new home.

We communicated back and forth over a period of time, to determine suitable options and solutions, tailored to their specific tastes and desires.

Being a considerable distance away made it difficult to accurately see the site to determine solutions easily .

The result of thorough questioning, enabled us to find a suitable solution to their needs and we transacted a solution that made them very happy.

We recently received an email from them with some pictures of the completed and installed product, that we attach here. As you can see, the product looks amazing and is easy to use and fully functional.

Pictured above is a Serrature Meroni Combina K13 Entrance set in US26D (Matte Chrome) with an LR (Kelon - Red) cover button. This is the inside of the door.

Here (above) is a picture of the outside of the same door.

Pictured above is a picture of the house's entry door with another Serrature Meroni Combina Entrance set in US26 (Polished Chrome), both body and upper cap. The deadbolt above the Meroni is a Lockwood 005 Paradigm deadbolt.

Neverwet Anti-Icing Technology

Brrrr.....winter has hit Missouri and it's been snowing for most of the last 36 hours.

The cold weather snap has reminded me about a recent article I posted here about Neverwet Solutions. The Neverwet product is due to be released in early 2012, commercially.

A few years ago, shortly after moving here and not being familiar with such a cold climate, I experienced the calamity of power failures due to extreme ice and snow during a winter blast that tormented the whole region.

With power lines coming down and electrical transformers blowing due to excessive ice buildup, the power and emergency services were run off their feet trying to repair and allow consumers to warm up. Some counties were without power and heat for days to weeks.

Neverwet have produced another solution that may allow for similar episodes to never be repeated, if the power companies coat their electrical circuits and boxes in their anti-icing solution.

Check out the video of how it works....

http://www.neverwet.com/videos/anti-icing.html

The benefits of this product will change people's perspectives on waterproofing and protect doors, roofs, power transformers and lines from the harsh realities of the wintry forces of nature.

I post this here because I believe that protecting our doors from the elements is a variation on security design. Not only should we protect ourselves from break ins, but also protect ourselves from the elements of nature that can threaten our health and comforts.

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Furniture Locks By Meroni

It is no secret that we have become the source in the USA for Meroni locking system products. We have been extolling the virtues of some of the unique range of Meroni handle designs like the Combina and Pigio and Nova handles.

But do you know how Meroni first developed their market?

A little over 60 years ago, Meroni began developing it's range of products in the Brianza area of Northern Italy, widely known as the epicentre of the Italian furniture industry. Meroni capitalised on their early entry to market by developing long term relationships with many of the leading Italian furniture manufacturers. Italian produced furniture products are known internationally for their quality of workmanship and leading style designs. Adopting Meroni products became an excellent fit for many of these companies and the relationship continues today.

In fact, many of the furniture locks you see by other manufacturers worldwide are based on the original designs that Meroni produced over the last 60 years.

It is no wonder that Meroni continues to be the undisputed leader in it's field with most of the leading furniture companies still preferring Meroni locks for use in their pieces.

We recently provided a range of master keyed cam locks to a discerning buyer for use on an oil platform, that required to be made to very exacting keying specifications. Sure there were many choices on offer for this company, some that were even considerably cheaper. But with the depth of Meroni's expertise and reputation for quality, we were able to provide the perfect solution in the required urgent timeframe. Another satisfied client.

The Meroni catalogue today lists over 7000 items designed for the furniture sector. The enormous choice allows for furniture producers to find ready-made solutions for virtually every need, in a product range that offers a vast spectrum of sizes, materials and finishes.

Some of the Meroni solutions include:

• Cupboard and Wardrobe Doors
• Sliding Doors
• Bureau Doors
• Filing Cabinets
• Drawers
• Tall Boys
• Dressers
• Basquill locks etc.

Serrature Meroni's long experience in producing furniture locks and its close

cooperation with the marketing and design departments of its customers in the furniture sector have enabled them to develop a exceptional capabilities in the analysis and resolution of every kind of design problem. Being able to grasp design requirements immediately, propose solutions and introduce rapid adaptations are key competencies of the Meroni design office.

For this reason, in those cases in which the extensive choice of existing products is not able to meet particular needs, Serrature Meroni's technical centre is always available to create a tailor-made solution. This flexibility is one of the company's strengths and a source of competitive edge for those companies that approach Meroni looking for a creative work relationship and a complete range of design and marketing services.

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Pocket Door Lock With Key

We recently discovered a few more of these wonderful and highly sought after pocket door locks, in our inventory shelves.

I have 3 silver ones left available for sale.

They are $150 each and shipping in mainland USA is $15.

Please contact me by email if you are interested and I will send an online invoice.

Guardian II - Simplified Access Control

An interesting solution just came across my desk that purports to be one of the simplest and most competitively priced access control systems in it's class available today.

The Guardian II is a stand alone system enabled to work with electric strikes, magnetic locks and other door entry products. There are four options as explained in the video, to suit multiple different application parameters.

One of the better options with this simple system is the localized audit trail abilities. An administrator can easily determine who and when a controller has been operated.

These products are available from leading access control and locksmith companies.

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ShatterGard - Security Film

We recently received our test sample of this fabulous product and are putting it through our internal tests.

So far, it seems to be the real deal.

The incidence of break in is rampant across America and due to many Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ's) insisting on property owners NOT using double cylinder deadbolts to secure entry ways that have glass near the door locks (life safety and building code regulations), products like ShatterGard, that actually prevent the smash and grab technique, are being sought for more widely.

If you have ever been broken into, more than likely you have suffered either a smashed window or a door kicked in. The likelihood of having your locks picked, bumped or destroyed, while certainly increasing across society, is much lower than experiencing a kicked in door frame or glass breakage.

Using the ShatterGard product and combining it with a Strikemaster II Pro door frame casing reinforcer, significantly decreases the likelihood of these two primary methods of entry.

We are still testing ShatterGard and are looking to include in our inventory in the very near future.

Stay tuned!

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Seat Recognition Technolgy To Replace Facial Recognition Technology In Cars Of The Future

Japanese researchers have developed new technology aimed at preventing the incidence of automobile theft.

Seat recognition technology employs a range of sensors embedded in a car seat designed to measure key attributes of the driver. The technology is still in it's infancy but could lead to other advancements is security product design that passively protect our precious auto property.

"The way the technology works is pretty simple. The seat is retrofitted with 360 different sensors. Those sensors take into account things like your weight, the highest value of pressure on the seat, and where you come in contact with the seat. The idea is that we all sit in car seats relatively the same way each time, so the seat should be able to tell who is sitting in it, ensuring that the person is the owner of the car rather than a car thief."

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Camlock Systems Merge With Bilock North America

Bilock North America recently announced details of it's merger with Camlock Systems.

This brings together 2 specialty product manufacturers of high security lock and key systems.

Camlock Systems will be now based out of Connecticut instead of Illinois.

Pictured here is the Camlock Systems Series 35 new age high security cam lock. This advancement in cylinder design adds another unique product to dealers inventories.

These locks are available keyed to differ or keyed alike. With around 750,000 different combinations and factory restricted keys, users can be assured their security is well maintained.

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Wrench Handle - Concept Door handle

This concept door handle design by Tirdad Kiamenesh is a lever handle that might look great on the office doors of the local mechanic's workshop, no?

Discerning tastes provide greater markets for designers to develop concepts that might appeal to different customers.

Here is a concept that just might appeal to a mechanic with taste. It certainly would be a talking point in your workshop.

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Off - A 2011 Red Dot Award Winner

The Red Dot Design Awards date back to 1955. They are acclaimed worldwide as a world leader in recognizing talented engineering and design for concept designers of promise.

The Off product is a concept exterior door lock system designed to enable you to control your gas and electricity mains from your door lock.

I believe this is simply a convenience switch that enables total control from your entry door, negating your need to re-enter your premise to manually switch on or off electricity, gas or other appliances. It is not designed as a physical security device (so you will still need your deadbolt to secure your door)

The merging of electronic and mechanical technologies continues to stun the world with ever increasing design concepts being produced that could have far reaching potential to make our lives easier.

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Fosters Locksmith Commercial

A friend recently pointed me to the above commercial for the very well known Australian beer Fosters Lager. He sent it to me because I grew up in Australia.

I love satire, dont you?

To keep sane, I find that the ability to laugh at yourself is important, even in these trying times.

Ignition Key Transponders Explained

We will soon be introducing Automotive Key origination and duplication to our inventory of products and services.

We spent many of our formative years in the locksmith trade concentrating on automotive locksmithing and have an excellent grounding in manufacture, fabrication and repair of car keys, motorbike keys and truck keys. We also trained extensively in repair of auto locks, especially Asian and European brands.

We have been reluctant to offer this service locally because we believed the high cost of specialist machinery and tools required, couldn't justify the necessary price we would have had to apply, to be able to remain solvent.

We decided a couple of years back to slowly build our inventory and machinery to be able to offer these products and services, due to the increasing numbers of calls we receive.

We believe that it is necessary to have sufficient supply of suitable tools to service our clients and prefer to be prepared, hence our delay to bring this to market. We are not quite ready yet to begin, but thought it might be prudent to post an easy to understand video of Transponder Systems Explained to enable future clients to understand the complexities of their car keys and why they cost so dang much.

UltraSECURE - A Revolutionary Security Product

UltraSECURE™ is the first fencing system of its kind. The system features unique steel panels fixed between each pale providing an extremely strong and secure perimeter.

The system is available in two forms, solid panels for applications requiring total privacy or perforated panels where good surveillance of the premises is required.

The patented design of the UltraSECURE™ Fencing System offers heightened levels of defence against the four most common breaches:

UltraSECURE™ panels deter the use of hack-saws as intruders have to cut the whole of the panel to gain entry.

UltraSECURE™ panels are fixed securely in place to help prevent fence pales being levered apart.

Rail to post fixings are hidden by the UltraSECURE™ panels to avoid tampering.

UltraSECURE™ panels strengthen the framework of fence and therefore reduce the opportunity to bend pales.

In addition to being lightweight and easy to fix, UltraSECURE™ utilises a unique slot fixing that has been designed to provide a raking installation that conventional mesh fencing systems find difficult to achieve, therefore eliminating the need for stepping of individual bays.


Perforated infill panels are supplied Polyester Powder Coated only.

Solid infill panels can be supplied either Polyester Powder Coated or Galvanised.

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Odd Spot: NYPD Officers Locked Out Of Squad Car

A rather odd predicament for some of New York's finest. Being locked out of your vehicle can be troubling even for authorities. Why didn't they call a locksmith? Perhaps the NYPD doesnt have a slush fund for unusual emergencies of their own creation.

Notably, the vehicle is a Chevrolet brand. Isn't Onstar available to Chevrolet? Why wouldn't the NYPD have Onstar too?

We regularly attend to vehicle openings in our region and rarely does it take more than a minute or two to unlock a vehicle. The methods employed by these officers, generally do not work on more modern vehicles, due to auto makers improving the designs of vehicle door mechanisms.

As locksmiths, we have deliberately trained to work with modern tools and methods of entry, so that the inconvenience caused by this scenario can be easily mitigated.

iKey 2 - Smartphone Connected Door Locks

Leave it to the Dutch to design another intelligent advanced lock system that works with iPhone and Android smartphones.

The iKey2 is a unique system designed to operate similar to the Salto systems we recently wrote about, however instead of using proximity cards or fobs, all you need is your smartphone with the suitable app installed.

It looks like a straightforward approach to bringing lock and key technologies into the modern smartphone era.

Check out the source below for more details.

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Neverwet Waterproofing

As locksmiths and door repairers we are regularly called to customers who suffer from water damage to their doors and frames. In many cases, the door and frame usually requires complete replacement due to rot having set in.

A new technology has surfaced, produced by Ross Nanotechnology is about to change our perception of waterproofing techniques.

There are many options on the market that claim to increase water resistance to different surfaces, but this company have produced what may appear to be the creme de la creme of waterproofing technology.

The applications for this product are likely to be huge and varied. I think that many customers would like to solve their water damage issues with such a simple and effective solution. Dont you?

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The Today Show on MSNBC

United States Commerce Association Award

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Master Key Systems America, LLC Receives 2011 St. Louis Award

NEW YORK, NY, November 2, 2011 -- Master Key Systems America, LLC has been selected for the 2011 St. Louis Award in the Locksmiths & Keys category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

This is the first year that a business has qualified as a Four-Time Award Winner. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

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Quirk Of Nature - The Answer Is Tin Foil...

I read with interest about a locksmith in another city who a few years ago did a job for a lady who had contacted him 5 years earlier.

Originally he had hosted a visit in his shop from a lady who was convinced someone was trying to kill her by sending X-Ray's through her walls....

"Without missing a beat, I told her in my most professional and serious voice, that the only way to avoid this was by putting tin foil on all the walls and ceiling. This seemed to calm her down and more importantly got her out of my shop. Fast forward 5 years. I get a call to change a cylinder due to lost keys that was out of our service area. I explain that we cannot be competitive in price and tried to turn the job down. No, they'll pay to have us go because they like our work. I send a tech up to the job. 2 hours later the tech returns and he looks like he's about to bust from laughter. You guessed it! This was the lady I told to put tin foil on her apt. walls! She did it and the WHOLE apt. was lined with TIN FOIL. She explained to the tech that I was the only one who took her seriously and after my suggestion, they weren't able to x-ray her apt!!! She had been living with the tin foil on her walls for 5 years. It gave her peace of mind (isn't this what we do)and got me a customer. We laughed about this for years afterwards."

Quirky consumers are the nature of the game in locksmithing. An intelligent locksmith will provide a solution, no matter how odd.

You never know!

Giobert Keys- Another Serrature Company

The fabulous Serrature Meroni product line, that we proudly bring in to the USA is seeing significant traction in the local market. Discerning buyers are realizing that the Meroni product line are an innovative and aesthetically pleasing and competitively priced, easy to use alternative to other mainstream lock systems.

Serrature also are the major shareholder in another well established Italian company that specialize in the manufacture of locks and keys for the highly specialized Italian car manufacturing sector. Giobert Keys were established in 1953 by Giovanni Bertolino in the city of Turin.

In the 1960's through '70's Giobert Keys manufactured locks and keys for the well known car maker Lancia. They began producing locks and keys for car maker Fiat in the mid '80's.

Many of today's high security keys and locks, found across many car brands are attributed to the research and development of Giobert Keys.

In 1997 they were one of the first auto lock manufacturers to supply RFID programmed keys built into the keyheads.

In the noughties, they developed newer products that found their way into the Fiat 500 production cars and they also developed lock and key products for motorcycle makers too.

The locksmith industry has used Italian made lock and key products for many years because their quality is first class. Companies like Silca, became a locksmith industry stalwart, producing many top quality key machines and key blanks found all over the world.

With Fiat owning a significant portion (majority) of USA car maker Chrysler, expect to find more Serrature made products in local car options.

We find it interesting that some Chrysler dealerships have had their interest peaked by the offerings of Serrature Meroni commercial and residential lock and key products recently too.

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