Yale Conexis L1 - A New Smartphone Enabled Access Control Locking System

Yale, the ages old company and inventor of the modern day pin tumbler principle, the same name for which the world reknowned university was named, in recent years has seen it's original premise and products be modified and expanded to encapsulate more diverse fields, including (but not limited to) trucks, forklifts, golf-buggy's, etc.

Yale, once known as the leader in residential, commercial and institutional security products, are continuing to press the boundaries of the digital revolution with the introduction of the Conexis L1 electronic, wireless access control product.

Part of their Real Living genre of products, Yale have decided that their foray deeper into the modern digital era involves eliminating the very product for which their name was made famous.
The Key.

While many consumers agree that the convenience aspect of modern day access control products is most likely the primary aim, statistical analysis conducted by many agencies using multiple surveys and other data gathering techniques, reveal that the humble mechanical key is still a highly sought after feature desired.

Removing the mechanical key component does help to produce more competitively priced products, but can be an impediment to sales because electronics failure or electronic malfunction cannot be mitigated using a mechanical key, in an emergency or urgency.

Yes, battery technology continues to improve and the long term future for electronic wireless - battery powered products is intriguing. I do suggest that companies need to continue to include high quality mechanical key overide systems with their new products, to offer the consumer the continuing benefits mechanical brings.

The video below shows typical installation for the Yale Conexis L1 in the UK.



In America we are getting to see many similar types of door locks offering the atrium type of mechanism. Companies like Pella, Anderson, Peachtree etc, have been bringing in these modern and stylish types of doors, in excess of 25 years now and the market for these types of doors continue to evolve. Many customers enjoy the quality and convenience offered by these styles and types of doors.
HOWEVER.......


I have been practising the craft of locksmithing almost 35 years now as man and boy. I have been lucky enough to have worked on 4 continents and in 9 different countries, learning many of the types of doors and locking systems offered in these diverse locations. I am especially disappointed that many/most construction companies (in America) continue to put their faith in timber construction materials rather than coming into the modern world and using aluminum or steel or even nylon/carbon fiber building materials. It has been explained to me multiple times that the primary reasoning for the continued zealous use of timber is because of it's far lower material cost.

The quantity of consumers who have been steered down the wrong path by conservative yet misled and badly trained sales people and construction technicians is appalling. It appears that many of these poorly trained people have been taught that cheap building materials is the way to go because the life expectancy will likely mean continued and more frequent service, ensuring more jobs for more people for significantly longer.

The building codes and regulations in many countries (including USA), have continued to evolve with the times, although apart from the USA, most other countries decided to build primary frames for buildings from steel, because steel is significantly stronger than timber and the issues that timber tend to lead to, include increased weathering, and swelling of frames, contracting of frames, water damage and other issues that steel and aluminum dont equally share.


The Yale Conexis L1 product is currently aimed at the UK market but will operate with some of the American found brands mentioned above.

We expect to see variations on the product, aimed at the lucrative North American market, in due course.

You can see by the pictures that the handle furniture trim appears to be narrow style, which means the product will likely operate with many narrow frame doors. (like found predominantly in North American shopfront doors)

Apparently the product is available on Amazon in UK.

(source...)