52 • HARDWARE & SECURITY
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Strengths of diversity
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THE LOCKSMITH JOURNAL was recently invited to view the new dedicated Iseo department at the premises of architectural hardware specialist , M . Marcus Ltd , in Dudley . We also got to meet the new technical support executive , Veeru Harrad , and were given a tour and pottedhistory of the company by Neil Sheane-Smith , Commercial Manager of Security Products , who has been with the company for 18 years .
The company ’ s commitment to Iseo is clear . Over the past 5 years it has expanded its Iseo Security department as well as developing a standalone sales and support offices for hardware , Iseo Security products and Heritage Electrical Accessories , as part of its strategy to provide support to its customers across its entire range . This was marked by the recent appointment of a new dedicated technical support executive , Veeru Harrad . Veeru ’ s appointment is regarded as an essential part of the company ’ s development to reflect market trends . He is the trouble shooter for the Iseo electronic security division and provides support to the company ’ s customer segments of ironmongers , locksmiths and fabricators .
Throughout the 70s and 80s , M . Marcus Ltd used its strengths in the manufacturing and distribution of heritage hardware and electrical accessories to grow the business . But , in 1996 , the company formed a distribution partnership with family-run Italian manufacturer , Iseo , to introduce the ISEO security products brand to the UK , setting a new agenda for the company that would see it diversify and ultimately lead to the introduction of ISEO ZERO 1 electronic security and access control range to its portfolio , giving M . Marcus a product offering that encompasses everything from the old to the new .
M . Marcus Ltd was formed in 1940 in Ironmongers Row , London , selling cabinet handles and general ironmongery . In 1962 , the company was purchased from the Marcus family by Mr V . N . Karnani , who ’ s sons , Mr N . Karnani and Mr P . Karnani , still own and run the company today . Originally , the business was run from an old brass foundry in Lye , West Midlands , where brass furniture was made exclusively for M . Marcus and would be shipped in from Europe and the subcontinent , then packaged and distributed around the UK .
In the 80s , M . Marcus bought units in Dudley , previously belonging to an upholstery factory to house the company ’ s growing stock that was predominantly sold to house builders . In the early days of the business , as well as merchants and retail brassware ,
Neil Sheane- Smith the company added Italian produced designer levers to its range , due to its customer base expanding to include ironmongers , specifiers , architects and interior designers . With the appetite for architectural hardware as a design feature continuing to increase , further investment in advanced manufacturing machinery has been made and all production is now concerned with high quality hot forged decorative brass products across the range , leading to the recent addition of further finish choices ( up to 9 finish options in some cases !).
A specialised cylinder pinning department was formed , where M . Marcus could produce a full range of master key suites . In such a specialised industry , staff retention is essential to ensure a skilled and knowledgeable team , and the company has many long-standing members of staff , evidence of the familyrun mentality that remains at the heart of its ethos today . The locks team in particular has since expanded to more than a dozen specialist individuals in recent years , with the lead time for master keying now at a 3-5 day turnaround ( even on high security patent protected ranges ), with next day service also being an option , which has proven to be a huge selling point for the company .
M . Marcus now boasts many thousands of product lines for which , despite the significant stocking challenges this poses , the company operates an impressive stock holding policy . The company also exports its products all over the world .
The new Iseo department is the culmination of hard work , further investment and endeavour from the whole
Veeru Harrad
team in order for it to become fully operational . Branded in a sleek , contemporary design , it comprises of an assembly office where master key suites are written and pinned by 6 full-time experienced pinners , a key cutting room with computerised machinery , as well as a sales office for the team of dedicated Iseo sales staff and finally meeting / showrooms . The new addition to the M . Marcus premises provides a platform from which the company is set to launch a wave of new Iseo products that have been designed to work with the new ISEO Argo mobile app .
ARGO
Argo is the mobile application that allows you to open doors , edit users , delete lost cards and credentials as well as managing your locking plan . Argo works in any Bluetooth enable smart phone with iOS or Android . There is no software to install , all you need is an ISEO Smart product and the Argo App . It works even if you are not connected to Internet as the Argo App connects directly to an ISEO smart device with the latest encryption protocols ensuring the highest security in data transfers .
MULTIBLINDO EMOTION
Multiblindo eMotion is the perfect combination of comfort and security in any situation . The new electromechanical automatic
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | MAR / APR 2017 Sponsored by Insafe International