CYLINDERS
Phillip’s
Arc
» AFTER MORE THAN 15 YEARS AS AN
architectural ironmonger, Phillip Parkinson
established Secure Arc Ltd in his home town
of Bolton, in 2012. Now, eight years later, his
vision of ‘good quality products at sensible
prices’ has seen this fledging business
flourish. Despite his extremely busy
schedule, including the release of a new line
of classroom cylinder locks (designed by
Phill himself and manufactured under the
Secure Arc brand), a new brochure about
to be released, plus a bustling workshop in
Bolton – Phill, here in The Locksmith Journal
Cylinders special, exclusively explains
why he wanted to set up shop, what he has
brought to the locksmith industry so far, and
Secure Arc’s plans for the future…
“Our mission here at Secure Arc is
provide good quality, innovative products
and services at competitive prices,” Phill
explains. “And unlike other companies
in our industry, we do not compromise
quality for price, and will never select or
manufacture a product that is below par in
order to achieve a marginally lower cost.”
Indeed, it was this ethos – combined with
architectural ironmonger Phill’s expertise
and ideas for design and development – that
first inspired the idea for Secure Arc, and
has been the thread that has run through its
business operations ever since.
Now, at the beginning of 2020, Phill’s
eagerness and enthusiasm to provide
locksmiths with the best products at the
best prices has never wavered. And, with
a constant strive to add new products
to Secure Arc’s already comprehensive
range, and consistently improve core lines,
this year sees the launch of a brand-new
Classroom Cylinder with anti-barricade/
clutch function.
Phill explains: “in essence, a classroom
cylinder lock means that someone
cannot trap themselves intentionally/
unintentionally in a room, as even if
locked from the inside, a key can be used
to override it and open it from the outside.
While this sounds simple enough, as with
any product – in any sector, not just security
– there will always be varying degrees of
quality. At Secure Arc, even our entry level
34
lines are safer, more reliable, and more
durable than most on the market; always at
a fair price. Our cylinder locks, for example,
have been designed and manufactured to
BS EN 1303:2005 with a rating of 160106C2.
“Paying particular attention to the new
and improved classroom cylinder lock, it
can be easily handed to right or left before
fitting, or on site, just with the switching
of a pin; or if you prefer an anti-barricade
system only, remove the pin completely.”
The classroom cylinder lock is just one
small – though significant – part of the
Secure Arc catalogue. Phill and his team
in Bolton also provide a comprehensive
range of Euro Single and Euro Double
locks, oval cylinders, bathroom locks, plus
anti-ligature furniture of knobs, pulls,
hooks, turns, handles, and hinges.
In addition to the product ranges, key
profiles come with the option of SR – Semi
Restricted profile (as standard), or RR –
Restricted profile, which means that no
other key could be copied for that lock at a
third-party key-cutter. Secure Arc achieves
this by using an exclusive profile that
is uniquely designed for the team, and
cannot be replicated anywhere else.
The ‘icing on the cake’ at Secure Arc
though is the customisation of products,
from state-of-the-art colour matching, that
can plate products to match existing door
furniture, where Phill adds: “we have yet to
find a colour we can’t match to” to branded
cylinders and keys with a customer’s own
company name and/or logo.
Phill says: “The own-branding service in
particular has proved to be highly popular,
and enables our customers to retain their
own client base, achieve a bigger turnover of
repeat orders, and look more professional,
all at once. It’s all part of the service for us –
but from my own experience before setting
up Secure Arc, and every day working at the
‘new’ business since – I’ve come to realise
how big of a difference these relatively
small touches can make, especially in a
competitive market.”
With cylinders – and more – to suit all
needs from ‘a house to a hospital’, Secure
Arc certainly has the catalogue to meet
the requirements of its customers, but its
far-reaching range of off-the-shelf items
also means the team can ensure same
day delivery for an impressive number
of orders, while extra services such as
engraving, suiting, drill and tap, and
special size requirements, further prove
Secure Arc is set to be going above and
beyond for a long time to come, just as
Phill hoped, when he set up the company
eight years ago.
www.secure-arc.com
JAN/FEB 2020
locksmithjournal.co.uk
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