Even though it’s not quite Halloween, we are already hard at work on end-of-year projects. Our Best of 2023 December issue will feature a look back at the top 20 products introduced in the last year.  In the meantime, here’s a look back at the Top Products from 2022.

Our other end-of-year project is the 2024 Security Register, our annual directory of manufacturers and distributors serving the locksmith industry. We’ve been publishing this annual reference for many years, and there do seem to be fewer and fewer players, as a result of both economic pressures and industry-wide consolidations.

In the past year, we’ve seen a ton of activity from ASSA ABLOY, most notably their purchase of Kwikset and Baldwin and their associated sale of August Home, Yale Home and Emtek to Fortune Brands, parent company of Master Lock. ASSA ABLOY has also acquired gate lock manufacturer D&D Technologies and lock and door hardware manufacturer Securitech on the U.S. front, plus a number of smaller international companies. Other mergers and acquisitions include LTI and Q Security’s purchase of safe lock company NL Lock and Lockmasters’ purchase of Allied Locksmith Supply.

In the midst of all this change, we are tasked with updating our Security Register. While the big players are great about submitting their listing changes, we fear that there are smaller suppliers flying under our radar that have opened, closed or expanded their product line. The safe market, in particular, seems to be in a state of flux.

Of course, our goal is to provide the most accurate information possible. We have a favor to ask. If you have found a great new source of products – manufacturer or distributor – please let us know about them. If a former vendor is no longer on the scene, we’d also like to know.

For our manufacturer and distributor readers, please make sure your listings are correct using this online link. This is free and easy and will provide security pros with your contact information when they are searching for product sources.

Emily Pike