The Locksmith Journal Jan-Feb 2016 - Issue 42 | Page 46

46 • HARDWARE&SECURITY THE UPRISING OF SOMETHING SPECIAL FROM G-U UK Gretsch-Unitas has been servicing the locksmith industry for many decades, and most will be aware of the company’s brands including BKS and Ferco. »»THE GERMAN BASED ORGANISATION was initially founded in 1907 by Mr Viktor Gretsch. In 1910, Viktor was joined by Johann Maus as his partner and managing director. Over the last century, the company has been passed down through generations of Johann’s s descendants and is still to this day a family owned business. Specialising in the development, manufacture and supply of window and door technologies, employing more than 3,700 and operating in more than 35 different countries, G-U is inevitably one of the largest door and window hardware suppliers in the world. Locksmith’s editor, Stephanie Wright recently visited G-U’s new offices in Coventry and spoke to the company’s managing director Rob Rossall about how the business has restructured to accommodate the changes in the UK marketplace and what exciting new products Rob and his team have been developing for the Locksmith industry. Rob explains: “G-U has built its reputation in the UK initially for the manufacture and supply of our comprehensive range of multi-point locks. Since, the 1990’s our G-U/Ferco range has been a popular choice amongst fabricators, installers and locksmiths and this can certainly be accredited to the manufacturing excellence and quality supplied by our German colleagues. “Over the last few years with the downturn in both the UK and European markets, it was to be anticipated ]