Bold - Smart Cylinder Access Control Technology

Bold Security Technologies just recently released their own iteration of a smart lock. But this particular design is somewhat different.

Technologies like this have been around for a few years now, with industry leaders like Salto, already including a similar product in their vast range of high security mechanical and electro-mechanical access control systems.

The Bold is trying to secure crowdfunding thru Kickstarter and it may even come off, although at $129 per cylinder and only aimed at the (relatively small and already competitive) European market, it is a tad dear.

I think the premise has merits and the idea may even have legs, but competing in an already top-heavy market, with many of the established industry players including Assa-Abloy, Salto, Simmons-Voss and others already producing much broader ranges of smart cylinders that operate across more markets than just the Euro cylinder segment.

The market has seen a number of recent entrants, all vie for share, including August, Kevo, Lockitron to name a few.

One of our signature product lines Meroni, are knee-deep in R&D to bring their nouveau, modern style product line of unique door hardware into the "smart" family. Meroni are perfecting their recent auto-magnetic latch mechanism design, that already provides an almost silent and hidden latch mechanism, with a system that can be locked and unlocked by smart-devices (cell phone, proximity device, etc).

We are anticipating a release of late next year on the Meroni.

Our Recent Computer Catastrophe Has Proved Unrecoverable

It is with deep regret that we unhappily announce that our recent computer catastrophe has rendered our database 99% unrecoverable.

This means that all our high security restricted key system data has been lost forever. The computer failure was sudden and unexpected and compromised our backups too.

We apologize to our many clients who trusted us to maintain these records.

NOTE: None of our systems have been compromised or lost to hackers or stolen details. We have simply lost the intellectual data. That means that all systems already in existence are still secure. We just cannot access any of the data required to produce new key copies or generate new cylinders keyed to existing cylinder loadings or run reports of current quantity of issued keys.

Each System's Contact Information, including all recorded signatories have also been lost.

We will try to contact some clients to update their authority signatory forms and enroll the systems in our new updated and backed up (in multiple locations including the cloud off-site) software.

To our customers, if you require additional keys or any service on your systems, we will require to view an image of all your different existing keys in your system. This way we can rebuild the database by hand and can service and update your systems.

We apologise again and thank you for your understanding.

Many Manufacturers Are Increasing Prices In October - In Spite Of Zero Inflationary Pressures

The locksmith and door hardware industry is not immune to financial pressures. Many industries are increasing their prices even though the wider economy is not experiencing inflation.

What is especially interesting is that while these manufacturers are increasing their prices, they are not increasing wages and compensation for their employees. While the greater economy shows that American employers are continuing to offer more jobs and increase hiring, wages are stagnant and in some cases actually dropping.

Some manufacturers increasing their prices in October include:
 Schlage: 10/3/16
Von Duprin: 10/3/16
LCN: 10/3/16
Falcon: 10/3/16
Glynn Johnson: 10/3/16
IVES: 10/3/16
Steelcraft: 10/3/16
Kaba Simplex Mechanical Pushbutton Locks: 10/15/16
Kaba PowerPlex/E-Plex Electronic Locks and Software: 10/15/16


The above manufacturers are mostly companies that produce their products off-shore, where the economies abroad are not seeing the growth of previous years and prices have by large not increased.

So why are they increasing their prices? probably due to shareholder demand!

Will local service providers also increase their prices? Most likely not but they should.

GM Ignition Key Fault - Not So Fast Says Texas Jury

A couple of years ago we reported about the GM Ignition Switch fiasco that was taking place across the country, in the wake of repeated mechanical problems suggested to be directly and indirectly caused by faulty ignition switches.

To read the articles we wrote previously click here

In a new article in USAToday, a Texas jury has sided with GM in a closely watched court case where the car maker was sued over a supposedly faulty ignition switch.

The particular case (see article in source below) was about an accident that occurred where the occupant lost control of the vehicle after hitting the key switch with their knee.

The jury found that case investigators determined through extensive research, that the driver was driving recklessly at the time of the accident.

This does bring into question the legitimacy of other claims of impropriety by the car manufacturer and does suggest that they are not at fault like previously thought.

(source...)

Locksis - Smart Lever - An Updated Variation On The Keyless Lever Lock System

The Touch Lever Lock by Locksis, a Korean manufacturer of unique door entry products is making it's debut to the door hardware market.

The video above gives a glimpse of this very interesting product, aimed at reducing the reliance on mechanical key products, while maintaining security, aesthetics and convenience to the access authorized.

The fundamental difference with this new product, compared to similar products in it's genre, is the use of high grade stainless steel providing ease of use and quality for internal and external environments. Stainless steel is well known to provide better functioning and protected internal mechanisms especially when used outside.

This product looks quite functional and easy to install. The benefit that external battery connections provide include easy access from outside if the internal batteries havent been replaced (like could happen if your dwelling has been unoccupied for some time and the internal batteries have not been replaced).

With no mechanical override key, there is no key to lose or worry about being copied without your permission. The provision of a master code and an operating code, allows for easy changing of the combination, further protecting users.

A unique and modern approach to the deadlatching function enables this product to act like a deadbolt and latch mechanism in one product, eliminating the need for a handle and a separate deadbolt.

We hope to be able to offer this product in due course.

(source...)

Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - New Model Arrived And In Stock

Our very popular Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock is selling fast.

The new model is here and now makes this lock able to install to 1-3/4" thick doors too, without any special drills required.

With increased shipping and import duties we have been required to marginally increase the unit cost, even though the manufacturer has not raised their prices.

The product is available now for only $128.00 plus shipping.

You can purchase the product at our sister site or by visiting the link in the source below.

We choose to ship with UPS in the continental United States and the shipping fee is for UPS ground. Greater quantities incur higher shipping fees.

To Canada and off shore states and territories we choose to ship with USPS with the average delivery time of 7-10 days.

Please remember that all shipping requests out of the country require your contact telephone number be included.

(source...) 

Catastrophic Computer Problems Are Causing Us Issues - We Apologize For The Inconvenience

We suffered a monumental catastrophe at the beginning of July that caused us to lose much of our data. Our backups cannot be used until we rectify our hardware issues and we are working to correct these problems as soon as possible. We thank you for your understanding and patience and apologize for the inconvenience.

Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - New Model Arrived to Suit 1-3/4" Thick Doors Too

As informed, we happily announce our receipt of the new and updated Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock. This new updated model replaces the older version and is now designed to also work on 1-3/4" (45mm) thick doors too.

The former version will only work correctly on 1-3/8" (32mm) thick doors but it could have been used on thicker doors with a little door modification.

The new version has been modified using a stronger and modified connecting tail, inside the mechanism that allows for the one product to be used with doors up to 1-3/4" (45mm) thick.

(view the installation video)

The manufacturer have seen fit to maintain the cost at the previous price point, enabling us to offer the newer product without a price rise, although shipping and customs rates for importing products from abroad have seen a marginal increase, which we have to pass on unfortunately.


Unlike another vendor in California who is offering the same product, but suggesting to purchase a special drill for installing to the thicker doors, our new offering enables simple installation without door modification.

UPDATE: Only US$128.00 Plus Shipping