Kwikset
Parent Assa Abloy | | |
Website | kwikset |
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Kwikset is an American
The current name for the company was derived from the company's first locks, which pioneered the then-revolutionary tubular lock design, which was relatively fast to install. Kwikset key blanks (KW1, Ilco 1176, Axxess 66) are available at almost every location where keys can be made.
Kwikset currently has manufacturing facilities in
History
Adolph Schoepe and friend [2] Karl Rhinehart founded Gateway Manufacturing Company in South Gate just before the end of World War II. They manufactured locks under the Kwikset brand. They moved the company to Anaheim in 1948.[2] During the Korean War, demand plummeted, but the company took a risk, producing more goods than they could sell. When demand surged after the war, their ability to supply goods from the earlier manufactured stock cemented a position as the largest United States supplier of locks.[2]
Rhinehart retired in 1952. Schoepe sold the company in 1957,
In 1992, Kwikset introduced its higher quality, high-security Titan product line. Around the year 2005, the line was rebranded as the "Signature Series".
In March 2010, Black & Decker was purchased by Stanley Tools. Kwikset subsequently became part of the Hardware and Home Improvement (HHI) Group of Stanley Black & Decker, which also owned lockset manufacturers Weiser and Baldwin. Kwikset evolved to include many Weiser features, and Weiser locks now use Kwikset's "SmartKey" self-rekeyable lock technology and Kwikset keyways.
On October 9, 2012, the
On September 8, 2021, Assa Abloy announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Spectrum Brands' HHI division, including Kwikset, among other brands, for a purchase price of $4.3 billion.[3][4] The transaction was initially expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.[3][5] On June 20, 2023, the purchase of the "HHI" division of Spectrum Brands was competed, this included the Kwikset brand.[6]
References
- ^ Orozco, Helen (May 9, 2016). "130/366 Lock and Keys". Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Rowe, Jeff (1986-05-20). "He and His Company Have Given Toilets a New and Water-Saving Image". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ a b "ASSA ABLOY to acquire Hardware and Home Improvement ("HHI") division of Spectrum Brands" (Press release). ASSA ABLOY. 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
- ^ Rhodes, Brian (2021-09-09). "Assa Abloy Acquiring HHI / Kwikset". IPVM. Retrieved 2021-09-10.(Subscription required.)
- ^ "Update on timing of ASSA ABLOY´s acquisition of the Hardware and Home Improvement ("HHI") division of Spectrum Brands" (Press release).
- ^ "ASSA ABLOY´s acquisition of HHI and the divestment of Emtek and the Smart Residential business in the U.S. and Canada have been completed" (Press release).
- Kwikset company history Archived 2007-01-06 at the Wayback Machine
- [1]
- [2]
- [3] Archived 2014-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
- [4]
- [5]