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Top 3 global mechanical lock trends

IHS has recently released its first industry report on the mechanical and peripheral locking devices market. IHS estimates the world market to be valued at $5.2 billion in 2013, which includes products such as electromagnetic locks, electric strikes, mechanical locks, exit devices, and accessories.

Mechanical locks accounted for the largest portion of global revenues, 43.2% in 2013. The following are the top three trends in the global mechanical lock market.

Interconnected locks

Interconnected locks, also referred to as multi-point locks, are projected to be the strongest growing mechanical lock type globally with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% from 2013 to 2017 according to a new study by IHS.

Interconnected locks combine a primary locking device and a deadbolt that are controlled by a single internal mechanism when the inside knob or lever is turned to open the door. These locks are mostly used in multi-family applications and are growing in popularity due to their convenience and robust security. IHS anticipates that the increasing adoption of interconnected locks will have a negative impact on the sales of traditional deadbolts which are most common in Western European and North American markets.

Rising material cost

In 2014 the average sales price (ASP) for mechanical locks is expected to see an increase of 1.0% and 0.5% in the Americas and EMEA regions respectively. Although low-cost Asian suppliers have been increasing their presence in these regions over the last few years, IHS expects the rise of material costs to offset the decline in ASP from price competition, with the price trending upwards.

Mechanical locks can have many different finishes and designs depending on applications and regional preference; however IHS assumes that zinc, copper, and steel are the three most commonly used components in mechanical lock production. The rising cost of these three materials suggests a strong cost increase in 2014 which is assumed to ultimately trickle down to the consumer.

The Asian market is the only region projected to see a decline in the ASP for mechanical locks year-over-year due to stable material cost prices and strong price competition.

Grade level 2 locks

IHS projects that grade level 2 mechanical locks (based on ANSI grade level standards) will experience the strongest growth globally with a CAGR of 4.3% from 2013 to 2017. This is due to an optimistic outlook for commercial construction in the United States and Europe as well as the increasing use of grade level 2 locks in emerging regions. Grade level 2 locks are best defined as a standard lock commonly used in commercial settings. These locks are forecast to represent a third of all mechanical locks sold globally by 2017.

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