Locks & Keying Systems

Locks come in many forms and are available with a wide variety of operating mechanisms ranging from simple mechanical pin or lever operation to sophisticated electro-magnetic systems. For the purpose of this document we have restricted our coverage to mechanical locks and keying options.

Mechanical locks come in many shapes and sizes and basically consist of two main elements, the mechanism and its casing (which keeps the mechanism together).

In this basic state, locks are seldom attractive or secure and are intended for incorporation into an end user product. The padlock for instance is a lock mechanism/housing (cylinder) which has been incorporated into a higher security body or housing (sleeve) for stand alone use. The same lock (cylinder) however could easily be incorporated into a vending machine or conventional door lock, etc

The internal mechanism of a lock will vary according to the lock type but in simple terms, a number of pins or levers must be correctly aligned before the key will turn and the lock can be operated. ( please note; for simplicity we will use the term Pins throughout the rest of this article to represent pins or levers ).

Security Advice and Recommended Products

To help you make the right choice when considering locks and your security needs we have put together some helpful advice along with some product recommendations.