The Products You Need Since 1967
Framon Manufacturing Company, Inc., has been producing precision key cutting equipment since 1967. Frank Agius, the company’s founder, was active in the locksmithing industry but unhappy with the machinery available to him. Frank invented his own machine (soon to become the Framon #1 Code Machine) & began collecting depth & space information armed with only a set of dial calipers and an assortment of cylinders and keys. The machine was patented and sales officially began for Framon in 1970.
As sales for the machine began to catch fire, keys with angled cuts, such as Medeco & Emhart surfaced, and the #1 was joined by the #2, which had a tilting spindle to accommodate these keys. Both models are still available today.
In 1982, Framon introduced a tubular code machine, the TKM-100. The next year, a safe drilling fixture was introduced, the DF-1 (the DF-1 has just been redesigned and can now accommodate magnets or a chain/strap to affix it to a safe). In 1986, the DBM-1 Flat Steel Key Duplicator was brought to market, followed in 1988 by the DC-300 Duplicating Code Machine.
The automotive industry began introducing side-milled keys in the late 80’s, and Framon introduced the Sidewinder to handle the task of duplicating these new keys. The first true duplicating machine for the company was sold in 1992, the Express, a semi-automatic model. In 1997, Framon introduced two new machines, the KX-1, a high-speed manual code machine, and the FRA-2001 Computer Driven Code Machine. In 2000 the MD-1 manual duplicator was introduced.
In the midst of all of the key machine production, Framon joined forces with Gale Johnson in 2002 and now distributes Genericode key code software (formerly known as Computext or just “LLCD”). Several tools to make life easier for the locksmith were born in Alpena, Michigan, including an Impressioning Tool and hollow metal frame dimpler (DT-1).
In May of 2013 Framon partnered with Laser Key Products in Houston, Texas. Wayne Howard and the LKP staff are known throughout the industry for the 3-D Pro, Xtreme and now Xtreme-S – fully automatic machines that can originate or trace high security and standard edge cut keys. Our Genericode program will now send key cutting information to the line of LKP machines. Framon is proud to be partnered with a company focused on precision machinery.
One advantage Framon has over all of the other competition is that we still run a full time locksmith shop, staffed by the same people who produce the key machines. Frank’s Key & Lock Shop, Inc., serves as the test bed for all new products we introduce. All of our products are backed by a one-year, parts, labor & freight warranty.
If you’re thinking key machines, think Framon first!