fromtheeditor
As another busy and eventful year draws to a close, many
of us will be looking back at what we achieved – or didn’t –
during 2013, and setting our stall out to do better in 2014.
There are some signs of encouragement
on the economic front, with many
companies experiencing an upturn after
the long dark days of recession.
There are healthier indications from the
Bank of England with only slight concerns
expressed on a potential interest rate
rise if its employment targets are met.
The government seems to be focussing
less on Europe and looking to the wider
world – something this industry has been
doing for a considerable time. Clearly,
as a nation we do need to take a global
perspective to give the UK the best
opportunities to bring our expertise and
products to new and bigger markets.
PRIME TIME FOR CRIME
Winter brings with it the dark days and
nights with the inevitable rise in crimes
such as burglary. Christmas is, of course,
prime time for thieves who will grab any
opportunity to relieve households of
their Christmas presents - at a time when
many people are distracted by the busy
festivities.
Locksmiths and other security
businesses can play their part by
promoting their services and working with
police and community crime prevention
organisations to remind householders of
the need for effective security inside and
outside their property.
Before Santa arrives, however, autumn
is prime time for bike thieves so therein
lies another opportunity – could you liaise
with motorcycle and other cycling groups
in your area to offer advice on security?
SAFELOCK SYSTEMS
2013 brought new investment in
renewing Safelock Systems’ marketing and
business operations, and most recently,
the launch of a new website (www.
safelocksystems.com) and significantly, a
major expansion of the product portfolio
for this enterprising family business.
GB LOCKING SYSTEMS
One of the predicted future main growth
areas in the A1 trade is Access Control.
The Locksmith journal caught up with
one of the companies that specialises in
this field, north-east based GB Locking
Systems, whose three directors can boast
a century of trade experience between
them.
NO-GO GLASS WINDOW LOCKS
The best inventions come from personal
experience and it was through his
previous jobs both as a double glazing
installer and later as a “window doctor”
that David Murphy, founder of No-Go
Security Products, came up with his
simple, unique but highly effective idea
which is helping enormously in the fight
against crime.
AVOCET INVESTS TO BE THE BEST
The Jain family has invested a further
£2.1million in Avocet Hardware – taking
the total invested since it bought the
Brighouse-based company out of
administration in February 2012 to
£10.6million. In this issue, we hear
from Dr Tinkle Jain, director of Avocet
Hardware, who comments: “We now have
the team, the product and the product
availability to confidently state that the
Avocet Hardware house is well and truly
in order.”
ABUS SECURITY-CENTER OPENS
NEW ‘GREEN’ BUILDING
ABUS Security-Center, manufacturer
of alarm systems, video surveillance
system, door intercom systems and
detectors, celebrated yet another chapter
of its success story in October 2013, with
the opening of a new building at the
company headquarters in Affing.
TROTEC UK EXPANSION CONTINUES
Encouraging news from Trotec, one
of the world’s leading manufacturers of
laser machines for cutting, engraving
and marking a wide range of materials.
Trotec’s UK headquarters is based in
Washington near Newcastle-uponTyne in England’s North-East. With five
regional sales offices around the UK,
Trotec is fast becoming one of Britain’s
leading laser machine manufacturers.
Now, as part of its UK expansion,
Trotec, which inaugurated its new HQ
in Marchtrenk in October, will shortly
open a new showroom in Warrington,
Cheshire, where the full family of Trotec
lasers will be on view.
HOPPE REACHES SILVER
Congratulations to HOPPE (UK), which
has celebrated its 25th anniversary
in style with customers and suppliers
at Uttoxeter Races and with product
launches.
Finally, we would like to thank all
our valued advertisers, sponsors,
contributors and readers for their
support and encouragement this year,
and wish them and their families a merry
Christmas and a prosperous, safe and
secure New Year.
Pat, Editor
5 Star Service
www.advanced-keys.co.uk
4
THE NOV/DEC 2013 ISSUE
SPONSORED BY ADVANCED KEYS
To read more, visit www.locksmithjournal.co.uk