Favorite Electrified Locks 2018

By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Mar 14, 2018

Electronic lock manufacturing is dominated by 3 conglomerates (alphabetically) Allegion, Assa and Dormakaba holding numerous electronic lock brands. But which do integrators most prefer?

In this report, we rank the 3 conglomerates, examine which brands are most popular and share 150+ integrator commentary explaining how integrators choose made their decisions.

Favorite ***** **********

*** ********* ** ********** cited *****:

*** *** ****** *********** cited *******:

**** ***** ** **** favored, *** **** *** the **** ****** ** brands
*** *********** ***** **** ***** as *** '********' ****** lock *****
******** ******* ******-*****, ******* *********************** *********** *******
********* ***** ** *****, but*** (********** ********)*** * ****** *********
*********** ******** *** ******** ******

Assa ***** *******

**** ******* *** ** *** security ******'* ******* *********, with $*+ ******* *** revenue. ***** ***** ****** of ********** ****** ******* maglock, *******, ***** *****, and **** ******** ************* covering * **** ***** of ***** ****** **** 'economy' ** ******* ************* and ******** *****.

**** ****** *** ****** especially ** *** *** and ******, *** *** conglomerate's ****** ******* ***** across *** *****:

"**** ***** - **** because *'** **** **** the **** *** **** how ** *******/******* **** with **** *********."
"** ** **** **** Abloy *** *** ***** over ************ *******."
"*** ******** **** ** use **** ***** **** customer ***** ********* **** a ****** ******* ** good ******* *******."
"** **** ** *** Assa ***** *****. **** are ********, *** **** have **** *******"
"*** / **** ***** - **** ***** ****** always ******* **** ********** and **** *******! ********* products..... ******** ** * very ***** ****** *** the **** ******* ** my *******."
"*** *** ***********, ***** Rite *** *****."
"********** *** ******** *** HES *** ******** *******. We **** *** ***** success **** **** *** you ***'* **** *** warranty *** ********** ********."
"**** ***** ******** ** locks, ******* * **** the **** *********** **** them *** **** ******* easy *** **** ** expected."
"* ****** *** ****** brand **** ** ** rugged *** *** * good ****."

***** ***** ******-******** ****** Assa ****,*** ******** *** * **** manufacturer *** *** *********** market-share ** ***********, *******, and **** ******************** ******** ** ******* Security** * **** ********* at $*** ******* *******.

Assa *********: *********, **** *****, **** ******

*******, *** *** **** mentions **** ********. **** integrators **** * ***** to ******** *** *********** as * *******, ****** poor *******, *********, *** high ***** ** ****'* offerings ** * ******* criticism:

"***** ******** ** **** Abloy ******** *****, **** are ** *** *********, I **** ******* **** them."
"*** ******** ***** ****'* been **** ***. **** Abloy ** **** ********, Allegion ** ******, **** all **** * *****, they *** *** * pain **** *********** ******** compatibility **** ****** ******* products. ** *** *** electrified ******* ******** ** a ********* ****, *** they *** ****."
"**** ******* *** **** than ***** ******** ******** deserve. ******* **** ** crap ************."

HES ******* ******** *****

** *** ******** **** brands *********, *** *** ***** ************ ** ******** ******* was **** *** ******** cited, ********** *** ~**% of *** **** *****:

"** ******** ***** ** electronic ***** ** ***. HES ******** * ******* lock ** * **** price. *** ******* ** their ***** *** ****** much ****** ** *** last ** ***** *** now **** *** *** 1500 *** **** ****** you ***'* **** ** stock ** **** ******."
"*** *** ***** *****, good *************, *** **** support. **** ****, * really *****'* *** * bad ********** **** *** electronic ****."
"*** *******. ****'** ******* reliable *** **** **** a **** ****** *** everything."
"***-** *** * *** of *** ****** ** they *** ** **** door ***** *** **** a ******** ********."
"***. *******, **********, ***** of ********. "
"***. * ***** ******* at * **** *****, and **** ** *******."
"******* ******* ** **** 95% ** *** ************"

*************, *** ** *** Assa's **** ******** ****** brand, *** ********* ****,********, ******** ************** **** ******** ***** own, *********** ********* ********.

Assa ******

*** ****** ** ****'* frequency *** *** **** the ************ **** * large ****** ** *****, access, *** **** ******** related ******,******** **** *** ***************** ****. ****'* ********* is ** ***** **** one ****** ***** ************ answered:

"****'* **** *** ***** by **** *****?"

******, *** *********** ***** more **** ** ********** manufacturing ****** *********:

Second *****: ********

********** * ******** ******** to *** ***** ******* old **** ******, **** as * ********** ******* in **** **** ********* **** **** *** Security. ** *** ******* brands ******** ********* **** Von ******, **** ***** as *** ********* ** exit *******, *** *******, a ***** ********** ** both *** *********** *** commercial **** ********:

"******** ( ******* ) the ******* ** *******."
"*** ****** *** ****** been ***** *** **. We **** **** ** when ** *** (********, sturdy, **** *******)."
"*** ****** ** **** we ********* ***. **** are ***** ******** **** is ***** ** **** for * **** **** and ** **** ** won't **** **** ******* calls."
"******* *** *** ****** seem ** ** **** reliable *** ***** **** good *******."
"******* ***** *** *** go ** *****."
"*** ******...**********, **********, *********** and *******-****. ***** ******** 30% **** ** ******* per/lock. ** ** ***** one ******* **** **** well ***** **. ** deal **** * **** deal ** ******* *** universities ** **** * heavy **** ********** ******. Dont **** ***** *** service ***** *** ** failed **** ****** ** entrance ** ****. "
"******* *** *** **** support."
"**** ** *** ******** products ******* **** ******** our ******."
"********: *******, *** ******. These *** *** ************* I **** **** ** know ******* ************* **** specific *********."

Allegion's ******

***** ********'* *********** **** access ****** *** ********************** ******, *** *********** **** other **** *** **** hardware ********* **** ** LCN (**** *******),**********(********** ***** *****), ******** (****** ******* *** ***********):

Dormakaba *****

*** *****-***** **** ** held ***********, * ******* ****** by ******* ****** ** ***** hardware *** **** ********, ** * **** we ******** **: *** $* ******* ****** Giant. ******** ********:

"**** ******. *** **** robust ******** *******. *** BEST ** ** *** best *********** **** ** production ********."
"* **** **** ****** most ****** ******* ******** options. * *** *** least ****** **** **** though."
"******* ***** **** **** Highly ******, ****** ********* offers ******* ****** ** door *** **** ****** monitoring"
"*****, ******* ** ******* accessibility"
"**** ** **********, **** because ** * ************* Customer *************."

RCI **** ******* ********* *****

*************, *** **** ******* Dormakaba ***** ***** ************ ******** (***), ****** * ******* *****, independent ************ *********** ***** ****. ** **** **% of ********* ****** *********, those ******** ************ ***** RCI:

"*** *** *****. * have *** ** ********* a ********* ***** ******* got ******* * ******** installed, ******** ******* ***. The ***** ****** **** that ****** *****/*** *** that *** *** *** clear ****** * ********* indicating *** **** ******."
"** ****** *** *** door *******, ** *** all ** *** ******** from *** **** ******* that ******* ****** *** readers. *** **** ******* seem ** ** ****** and **** **** * lot ** ********* *******. We ***** ******* **** a *** ***** ********* but *** *********** ****** came **** ** ***. I ***** ****** **** what **** **** ** install."
"**********. ******** ****, **** quality, ********** *****, ********* line ** ******* *** almost *** ************."
"** ** *** ** our *** ************ **-*****, but *** *** ** use ****** **** **********, and ****'** **** **** reliable."
"*** ***** ** *****, and ** **** **** them ****** **** **** bought *** ** ****. Will ******** ** *** them ***."

Dormakaba ******

******, **** * *********** brands ***** *** ********* umbrella *** ****** ********, the ********* ** ******* than *** ******* *** conglomerates, *** ***** ***** include*******,****, *** *** ******** Dorma *** **** ******** product ******** ******* ******** commercial ********* ****** **** in ***** *******, ******, and **** *******.

Other ****** *****

*** *** ******* **** into ********* *********. ******, ~15% ** ******* ********** ** independent lock ******* ** ***'* ****** control ****** **** ******** especially ***** ******* *********** and ***** ***** ** Asia:

"****-****, ******* **** ************ in ** *******."
"** *** ** **** Electronic *****.***** *** ********* Easily ** ****** **** cost *********** **** ( L *******, ** ******* and * ********)."
"** *** *************** ***** and ******** ***** **** in ***** ******* *** other ****** ** ************* couldn´t ******* **** ***** very *** *****. ** tried * **** ** years *** *** ********* models *** **** *** excellent *** **** ********* for *** ******."
"**'** ****** * ***** quantity **** ***** *** we ***** **** **** in *****. **** ** the ****** *** ** still *** ****!"
"** **** ******** ******* of ***** *******."
"******** **** ******** - best ********** *********** *** mortise ******** ** *** market, *** ***** ***** bar *************** **** ** in **** *** **** great."
"* **** ***. ****'** always ******** *** **** a **** ****. ** rarely **** ** ******* them ** * ***** date."

Using ******** ******

* ****** ************ ***** integrators ** **** ******** brands *** ******* *** specific ***** ** *****, but ***** ********** *** not ******* ** *** conglomerate's *********. ******, ** was ***** ** * number ** ********* **** the ******** **** ****** ******* in **** ***********, ***** suppliers, *** ******** ************:

"** ****** ******** *****. Schlage *** ******** *****. Adams-Rite *** *** ****** for ***** ****. *****-**** for ******* ****** (***** front *****). *** *** electric *******."
"* *** *********, ********* brands *** *******, ****, and ********** *****, *******, indoor, ***."
"*** *** **** **** care *** *****, **** for ********** *** **** rated *****, ***** **** for ****** (**** *********** and ********** ******)"
"***** ** ** ******** favorite *****. *******, ** prefer ** *** **** Abloy *** **** *** customer (**: *** *****) and ** ******** **** with ******* ***** ***** Nordson *** ********** ***. So *** ** ****."
"**'** *** ******* **** both **** ***** *** Allegion. ** **** ****** a **** **** ***** the ********* *********** ************ and **** ********* **** up ******** ** ** one ***** **** *** other."
"*'* ******** *** ******** at ***. **** ****** are ***, **** *****"

Comments (17)

Campbell Chang

03/14/18 01:00pm

Just as a note.

FSH is an Allegion brand

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Campbell Chang | 03/14/18 01:07pm

Thanks. I’ll make that edit!

Campbell Chang

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 03/14/18 01:30pm

And while you're at it, Effeff is an AA brand

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Campbell Chang | 03/14/18 02:09pm

Here's their website: Effeff is a Germany-based hardware manufacturer. Thanks Campbell!

Campbell Chang

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 03/14/18 09:46pm

Does this end up affecting the 15%?

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Campbell Chang | 03/14/18 09:48pm

No, it does not. We recorded over 150+ responses to this survey, and the FSH and EffEff responses were the only single mentions of those brands.

Campbell Chang

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 03/15/18 12:03am

I was wondering if any other single brand mentions ended up being Allegion or AA

Undisclosed Integrator #1

03/14/18 09:36pm

Being fairly new to access control something which has long confused me regarding the door hardware industry - why do they never seem to fully consolidate their sub-brands? Is it because when you see a Von Duprin crash bar you are more likely to call Von Duprin rather than track down the current parent company for a latch retraction kit?

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/14/18 09:45pm

A big aspect is risk-avoidance, where a Von Duprin exit device has been on the market since 1910, but an Allegion exit device is one that no one has ever heard of.

Also, there is considerable effort/money spent to hard-spec certain manufacturer hardware by controlling the A&E Specifiers. I've commonly heard that ~90% of door hardware specification writers work for one of the big conglomerates. (A facet we covered in Should Manufacturers Write A&E Specs?)

Like most buyer's A&E specs, those 'Division 8' boilerplates tend to hang around and are reused/cut&pasted over and over again, and conglomerates do not want to cut themselves out of a legacy spec they've benefited from for decades simply by consolidating brands.

Shannon Davis

TED Systems
In reply to Brian Rhodes | 03/16/18 11:29am

The issue for the customer when these boiler plate specs are made is that their is often too much hardware put in the spec. Especially power supplies for electric locks. Once in great while we can get the spec changed to eliminate some of the hardware from the spec but usually not. What happens is the customer pays for equipment that is never used thus driving the price of the project up. A while back I did get involved after the fact in a meeting and the hardware spec was changed mid stream due to my recommendations therefore saving the customer money and putting the right parts in the first time on the job.

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 03/16/18 01:51pm

Usually I am driving the conversation with end user about access control locations but the door hardware rep, acting as the consultant for architect, is throwing mud at the wall. Some projects can get pretty consuming trying to reconcile their schedule. IMO, they should be following my lead but it rarely works out that way.

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc.
03/15/18 04:25pm

Most of the hardware sited is not electronic hardware; it's electrified hardware. For example electric strikes and mag locks are electrified hardware.

Those are really two big distinctions that each have there own category.

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ty Mullen | 03/15/18 09:11pm

Thanks, I agree with you. I changed the title to 'Favorite Electrified Locks', so anyone using that term can search for this, or otherwise won't be confused by this.

Undisclosed #2

03/16/18 04:53am

As a A&E firm (security consultant) that writes security specs, Allegion is nice to work with for their door hardware schedule is easy to read and understand. What I wish both companies were bettter at is having spec sheets or part # that are more easy to search for.

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc.
In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 03/16/18 05:52am

Does Allegion always generate the hardware schedule for you? I was going to ask in a separate thread if there was any software companies used to put together door or security schedules.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Ty Mullen | 03/16/18 11:33pm

Yes they do. You usually have to get them a door hardware schedule from the architect but they will put a door hardware list together for you.

Ty Mullen

COR Security, Inc.
03/16/18 05:56am

Command Access has very nice electrified hardware to work with. I feel that they are as good or usually better then the bigger brands. Now granted they are usually taking the larger brands hardware and just modifying it.

Price is good, hardly any problems, long warranties...what's not to like.

They do a lot of OEMing so in some cases that's what you are getting when you purchase the bigger brands. So does SDC and ACSI.

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