News Briefs, April 2015

April 2, 2015

STRATTEC Rings Closing NASDAQ Bell

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq: STRT), one of the world's largest producer of automotive locks and keys, visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square, NYC, to celebrate their 20th anniversary as a publicly traded company. Harold M. Stratton II, Chairman, and Frank J. Krejci, President & CEO, rang the Closing Bell on Feb 20.

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisc., designs, develops, manufactures and markets mechanical locks, electronically enhanced locks and keys, and ignition lock housings; access control products, including latches, power sliding door systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles and related access control products for North American and global automotive customers. STRATTEC ships products to customer locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Korea and China, and provides full service aftermarket support. STRATTEC also supplies products for the heavy truck and recreational vehicle markets, as well as precision die castings.

Formerly a division of Briggs & Stratton, STRATTEC's heritage goes back over 100 years to the early days of the automobile. Our long-term success is a result of our dedication to serving our customers and continuously improving our processes and product quality. Today, STRATTEC approaches business on a global basis, establishing strategic partnerships around the world.

For more information on the entire company, visit www.strattec.com. For locksmith-related products and support, visit aftermarket.strattec.com

BHMA Publishes Residential Standards

NEW YORK, NY  – The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) in January received approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to publish the organization’s first set of residential standards. ANSI/BHMA A156.39-2015 Residential Locksets & Latches and ANSI/BHMA A156.40-2015 Residential Deadbolts are now published and available for purchase.

Both standards establish performance requirements for products used in single and multifamily dwellings and include tests for durability, strength, and finish. ANSI/BHMA 156.39-2015 requires locksets to test through at least 400,000 cycles of opening and closing with a 5-pound load, as well as pass 11 aggressive tests to ensure locks provide the required level of security. ANSI/BHMA 156.40-2015 requires deadbolts to test through the same number of cycles, but products tested to this standard must pass seventeen security tests, one of which involves 1,350 pounds of force to be loaded against the deadbolt.

“For the first time, BHMA is bringing the same rigorous standards to residential products as we have to commercial,” said Ralph Vasami, BHMA Executive Director. “We are currently planning a consumer education program designed to better inform the general public about the benefits of installing certified hardware in their homes.”

The residential standards program will include a new, exclusively residential label to be affixed onto ANSI/BHMA-approved products or packaging, an educational consumer website, and direct outreach to major retailers. The program will focus on raising consumer awareness about the benefits of purchasing certified hardware and advise them to look for the new BHMA Residential label. It is due to launch later this year.

Full scopes for all ANSI/BHMA standards can be found on the BHMA website at http://buildershardware.com/bhma-standards

Master Keying Book Published

Locksmithing Education, LLC announces the release of The Definitive Guide to Rotating Constant Method (RCM) Master Keying, written by recognized industry master keying expert Don OShall. 

This book is the definitive guide to one of the industry's least understood tools - the Rotating Constant Method of master key system design. Written in easy to read language, it makes this previously often misunderstood technique very clear. It covers many techniques generally unknown in the industry. RCM, while quite simple once you fully understand it, is still often considered an advanced technique. This book is your absolute best way to learn it!

The book includes techniques such as the "Defined By" label, and subsets such as the Limited Position Progression and Limited Rotating Constant, as well as "Pure" RCM for five pin, six pin or seven pin cylinders or cores.

This valuable training and reference manual is sold by select Locksmith Distributors and through both the ALOA and ILA online bookstores, as well as online from the publisher.