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The Future Prospect of Lock Industry Development inTaiwan

Industry Report

By Tien-chenHo, OverseasChineseUniversity

There are about 270 manufacturers of locks and related components and parts in Taiwan. Taiwan lock exports have been on slow rise recently. The total production value of locks was NT$19 billion in 2007 and export stood at NT$12.77 billion. The U.S. occupied 45 percent and mainland about 8.4 percent. There are over 1,500 locksmith in Taipei and 2,500 in other parts of Taiwan, leading to cut-throat competition and thin profits. So I-hui Ho, chairman of Real Locks & Security Co., Ltd. formed the Locks Association of Taiwan to promote locksmith certification system and intellectual property regulation. He also emphasizes on applying self-owned patents and lock grading and safety standards.

Taiwan's lock products must comply to the foreign standards such as the followings:

1. The title of BS EN 12209 is building hardware, locks and latches, mechanically operated locks, latches and locking plates and requirements and test methods. Its products will be rated into three grades of performance and five grades of security.

2. The title of BS EN 179 is building hardware - emergency exit devices operated by a lever handle or push pad. It classifies emergency exit devices using a 9-digit coding system.

3. DIN (Deutsches Institut fur Norm ung) describes locks for general doors. DIN 18251-3 is locks for multilock systems. DIN 18252 is profile cyclinders for door locks. DIN 18250 locks for smokeproof and fireproof doors are subject to a special approval as well as testing, and are always marked with the (U) conformity mark.

4. There are many BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association, Inc.) standards such as BHMA 501 and ANSI A156.11.

And the U.S. government had passed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards that the lock sector must meet. And Strong Chung Co., Ltd. has obtained the certification of ANSI Grade 1 which meets ADA requirement and UL3-hour Fire Rating #A-F5000S/P. Taiwan Baton Lock Co., Ltd. has obtained BS EN12209: 2003 and BS EN179 certification. Baton has branches in the U.S.,Spain, the UK and mainland China.

The MIRDC revealed that lock imports grew slowly from NT$0.95 billion in 2003 to NT$1.59 billion in 2007 which were largely from mainland China and Japan. Vehicle locks accounted for 32 percent and components and parts accounted for 45 percent. TaiwanDongmaw Co. has imported the most precision keys machine T. Giuliani of Italy. Titanco International Taiwan Ltd. has imported Italy's CISA top anti-theft locks such as model 57986.

Another speaker, Lin Chih-jieh, a manager of the Metal Industry Research and Development Council, delivered a speech on "Financial Assistance of the Government." Both presentations gained favorable responses from the LAT members.

A lucky draw was held during the dinner party with Miss Chan, executive secretary of the association, as the master of ceremony. A great many valuable souvenirs were drawn by LAT members who returned home happily after the party came to an end.

From the imports, we should share the experience and exchange ideas to create our own OBM, not the OEM/ODM in Taiwan. In Taiwan, Sun Castle's excellence has been recognized by the certification of ISO 9001:2000, CE, RoHS2002/95/EC, EMC TUV Rheinland, BHMA. Gladaid Enterprise Co. has its own "GLADAID" brand for key duplicating machine in general key store to professional application for lock manufacturers. To promote the brand awareness, the government, especially the Ministry of Economic Affairs, must help LAT to join or hold trade fairs as Taiwan will be the 2nd largest supplier country in the "locks and fittings" segment after Italy in the four-day International Hardware Fair Cologne, Germany and The 8th Taiwan Hardware Show (THS) will be held at the Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1, in October 2010, organized by Kaigo Co., Ltd.

Finally, from ancient wooden lock to metal lock, the metal prices have soared significantly. Then there are new contactless locking system for hotels and resorts and electronic locking system such as RFID. German Eff-eff Co. also has electronic lock with number pad. This is the new development trend of locks.