HID Brings Facial Recognition to the Door

AUSTIN, Texas – HID Amico biometric facial recognition readers make fast, secure and friction-free biometric access practical for a much broader range of organizations. Amico expands HID's biometric portfolio, bringing facial recognition within reach for small and medium-sized businesses.

Long associated with high-security government facilities and critical infrastructure, facial biometrics are becoming increasingly attractive for everyday access control. Advances in edge processing, artificial intelligence and sensor technology have significantly improved performance while reducing deployment complexity and cost, making the technology accessible to small and medium-sized businesses seeking stronger security and a better user experience. Easy-to-use, hard-to-cheat biometric authentication reduces the risk that comes with lost credentials and forgotten passwords, helping these organizations protect what matters most.

Available in both 3.5-inch and 7-inch touchscreen models, it combines multiple options to help organizations modernize access control without disrupting existing credential strategies.

"Organizations no longer have to choose between stronger security and a seamless user experience," said Sally Reitan, Director of Product Marketing, PACS NAM at HID. "Facial biometrics have reached a point where they're practical for a much wider range of organizations. HID Amico gives customers an affordable way to deploy friction-free access while maintaining the flexibility to support cards, mobile credentials, PINs and QR codes as their identity strategies evolve, so they can adopt biometrics on their own terms."

Designed for offices, healthcare facilities, educational campuses, commercial buildings and other busy environments, HID Amico secures entrances by letting authorized users move through the door naturally without stopping to present a credential. The result is faster throughput, improved convenience and stronger identity verification at the point of entry.

HID Amico offers five authentication methods including facial recognition, physical credentials, PIN, QR code and HID Mobile Access, allowing organizations to adopt biometrics at their own pace while supporting mixed-credential environments.

Rather than replacing existing access control investments, HID Amico complements broader identity strategies by working alongside physical cards, mobile credentials and multi-factor authentication workflows. Organizations can begin with selected entrances and expand biometric authentication as operational requirements evolve.

More information: https://www.hidglobal.com/products/amico

ASSA ABLOY Acquires Classic Brass

ASSA ABLOY has acquired Classic Brass Inc., a manufacturer of custom and premium decorative cabinet and door hardware.

The third-generation, family-owned and operated business is based in Jamestown, New York. “We handcraft every piece of fine decorative hardware we sell. Each piece is machined to specification and finished to order, uniquely shaped by the hands of highly skilled craftsmen in our Chautauqua County workshop,” the company website says. “Our original collections are designed to fulfill the precise and evolving needs of the trade with flexible details and flawless finishes that artfully elevate homes from within.”

 "I am very pleased to welcome Classic Brass to ASSA ABLOY. This acquisition delivers on our strategy to strengthen our position in mature markets through adding complementary products and solutions to our core business,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

 “Classic Brass is recognized for its handcrafted, design-driven hardware that brings together timeless craftsmanship, American manufacturing, and modern customization,” says Lucas Boselli, Executive Vice President and Head of the Americas Division. “Their deep expertise in creating distinctive, made-to-order pieces resonates strongly with the needs of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners seeking truly unique solutions. We’re excited to build on that legacy as part of our residential portfolio while preserving its artisan heritage and personalized service.”

Classic Brass was founded in 1996 and has 80 employees. The main office and factory are located in Jamestown, New York. Sales for 2025 amounted to about $17 million.

Classic Brass will be part of the Residential Business Segment within the Americas Division.

Other decorative residential hardware brands owned by ASSA ABLOY include Baldwin, Gallery Specialty Hardware and Valli.

Framon To Provide Support for Laser Key

After Laser Key Products, manufacturer of the 3D Elite key machine, officially closed its doors on July 1, Framon Manufacturing has stepped in to support existing users. Framon has had a long-standing relationship with Laser Key Products and founder Wayne Howard for more than a decade, including the 2013 integration of Framon’s Genericode software with Laser Key Products machines.

“Wayne built a great product and we have always felt that Laser Key Products’ machines offered tremendous value and capability for locksmiths," said Phil Agius.  “We are proud to help support existing users and continue making parts, service and support available going forward.”

Moving forward, Laser Key Products parts and service will be handled through Framon Manufacturing under LKP by Framon. Replacement parts will continue to be available through Framon and their distributor network, including common items such as cutters, stops, brushes, and other basic replacement parts. Framon is also working to make repair services, refurbished machines, and updated DSD information available for existing Laser Key Products users.

Our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible and continue supporting the locksmiths who depend on Laser Key Products machines every day, Agius said

For technical support, call 281-339-3501, the longtime Laser Key Products tech support number. Tech support is not provided through Framon, but through Laser Key Products’ Tyler Howard.

People in the News

Amityville, New York – As part of a new growth strategy to drive sales extensively across its product lines – commercial fire, security, access control & locking solutions, NAPCO’s new Chief Revenue Officer Joe Pipczynski has reorganized the NAPCO Security Technologies Sales & Support Teams.  

“I am confident these changes will exploit our strengths & successes, increase overall support and expand NAPCO’s loyal customer base of security professionals under our NapcONE offering, providing and extending some of the top brands and technologies in the security industry, including entering new market verticals, such as A&E, government & international sales. In short, this plan is designed to effectively multiply our workforce, position us to create more strategic partnerships, and attain key company goals & metrics, as established by senior leadership, with an eye toward double-digit YoY growth,” Pipczynski said.

“Much like the MVP Cloud Access platform combines the strengths of the company’s software and hardware, with this new plan, effective July 1, NAPCO has combined its dealer-oriented fire & security and access control sales teams, NAPCO & Napco Access Pro, now all collectively supporting fire, access control & security technology products, along with their expert independent rep firms, and sold by security distributors throughout North America,” said Stephen Spinelli, SVP of Sales for all NAPCO divisions.

Elliot Bean has been promoted to VP Distribution. Also under the new structure, this team will now be linked between Eastern & Western US, managed by its new VP/General Manager for Fire, Access Control & Security Tech., Rob Etmans (formerly of Napco Access), and his two sales directors, Troy Bonnano, in the East, and newly-promoted Christian Brandow, West.

The company’s robust Alarm Lock & Marks USA Sales Team has been combined to market its well-known locking and access control solutions, including MVP-EZ mobile app access management, architectural, OEM & custom locking, through its contract hardware and locking distributors, headed up by newly-appointed VP/GM of Locking Sales Ray Krispin, and sales directors Chris Donohue in the East and Lorne Landry in the West, two business development managers, RSM’s, and a strong team of Independent locking rep firms.

David Sperber takes on a new leadership role as Vice President of NAPCO's National Accounts group, working alongside Manager Ric Gibbey, in managing and supporting the company's largest national partners across the complete NAPCO Security Technologies product portfolio. This group is strengthened by the extensive expertise of Tom Karl, VP NAPCO Corporate Sales, inside NAPCO HQ. VP Duane Warehime will lead the company's expanding International Sales efforts, while also overseeing strategic special projects.

Dominic Macri has been promoted to VP of Corporate Customer Relations, assuming responsibility for Technical Support, including its technical trainers and field sales engineers across all product lines, as well as Inside Customer Sales, headed by Director, Corporate Sales Operations David Crews.

For more information, visit www.napcosecurity.com.

St. Louis –Channel Championz, a specialist in distribution channel development for the security hardware industry, announced that Roy Miller has joined the firm as Special Projects Director, further strengthening its capabilities in Original Design and Equipment Manufacturing (ODM/OEM) and specialty project development for global OEM lock and security hardware customers.

Miller, a former president at ASSA ABLOY company Mul‑T‑Lock and director at NAPCO Security Technologies, brings decades of hands‑on experience working with locksmiths, institutional buyers, OEMs, integrators, and end users across the security hardware value chain. Based in the Asia-Pacific region, he will represent Channel Championz on the ground with key manufacturing partners in China, Taiwan, and greater Asia, enabling faster project turnaround and tighter alignment between customer requirements and factory capabilities.

“Roy brings something increasingly valuable to this industry: true, ground-floor security hardware knowledge combined with a global manufacturing perspective,” said Jerry Burhans, founder of Channel Championz. “We both understand how products move through the real security channel, from manufacturer to distributor, locksmith, institutional buyer, OEM, integrator and end user. Having Roy on our team gives Channel Championz and our partners more capability to turn hard-to-solve security problems into commercially viable products.”

Miller’s addition comes as the security hardware market continues to evolve beyond mechanical systems. Today’s security solutions are expected to interact with digital credentials, smartphones, biometrics, wearables, monitoring systems, GPS tracking platforms and other connected technologies. Channel Championz sees growing demand for experienced professionals who can bridge the gap between product concept, manufacturing feasibility, field application and channel execution.

“Security hardware can no longer be evaluated only by the strength and quality of the hardware itself,” said Miller. “The way that hardware interacts with the user is changing. People now interface with the world through smartphones, biometrics, wearables and connected devices. No single company can do it all anymore, and technology moves too fast and the expertise is too specialized. Smart companies know when to bring in help instead of trying to build everything themselves. That's exactly where I come in.”

As Special Projects Director, Miller will support Channel Championz partners in several key areas. These include original design manufacturing (ODM) initiatives, global sourcing and OEM manufacturing coordination, and product design support. His work will also support Asia-Pacific manufacturing collaboration for customers.

For Channel Championz, the addition of Miller represents a strategic expansion of the company’s role in the security hardware market. The company will continue supporting manufacturers with channel development, distributor relationships, sales strategy and marketing communications programs, while adding deeper capabilities in product development, OEM/ODM projects, engineered applications and custom security product development programs.