Figure 1. ASSA has a new SFIC, the ASSA Maximum+ SFIC. remain in place as the “core” could be removed by a special key, was revolutionary. This type of lock could employ change keys and/or master keys to operate the locking unit, similar to other traditional lock cylinders on the market. However, this small, self-contained figure-eight-shaped cylinder could be easily removed with the use of the appropriate “control key” (oſten called “core key”) so another similar locking cylinder could replace the original, as desired. Frank Best finally ap- plied for a United States patent for his unique lock in August of 1919, and two years later, he received the very first patent for the “interchangeable lock core.” In October 2002, the Best family sold BEST Access Systems to the Stanley Works Corporation. Headquartered in New Britain, CT, Stanley purchased all of the outstanding stock in BEST Access Systems through a cash deal for $310 million in November 2002. BEST later moved to a dedicated distribution model instead of selling direct to end users, as it had done for its entire history. Finally, in 2017, dormakaba acquired STANLEY Security’s mechanical division to form BEST Access Solutions, Inc., and added it into their portfolio of companies. ASSA was established in 1881 by the blacksmith August Sten- man aſter he bought a small hinge manufacturer in the town of Eskilstuna, Sweden. One day, his wife embroidered a pillowslip with his name forwards and backwards — “August Stenman, Stenman August” — so ASSA became the name of the new company. By 1939, ASSA had produced its first cylinder lock WWW.ALOA.ORG Figure 2. Frank Best was the inventor of the SFIC. and seven years later, delivered its first 5-pin cylinder master key system. In 1959, ASSA introduced its first registered key systems with key control. In 1981, ASSA celebrated its 100th anniversary as a company with the release of the ASSA Twin 6000 system, a new cylinder concept using the dual locking mechanisms of today’s ASSA cylinders. Starting in 1992, ASSA, Inc. shiſted its sales direction from independent dealer sales to institutional, industrial and govern- ment sales. Some of the customers who made this possible were World Bank, the Supreme Court of the United States, Boeing, AT&T, Baltimore Ravens Stadium, the all-too-famous World Trade Center twin towers in New York City, the University of New Hampshire, Prince George’s County School District, Al- exandria City Public Schools, Tucson Unified Schools and nu- merous other schools and federal government facilities. Today, ASSA ABLOY is a well-known global leader in door opening solutions for end-users who require security, safety and convenience. ASSA ABLOY operates in markets worldwide, with leading positions in much of Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region. The Americas division manufactures and sells mechanical and electro-mechanical locks, cylinders, secu- rity doors and doorframes. Some of Americas’ industry-leading brands include ASSA, Corbin Russwin, Medeco, Sargent and Yale. Finally, ASSA has introduced its own ASSA Maximum+ SFIC, which allows for over 117,000 bittings in a single system, and is offered to locksmiths through ASSA Technical Services, Inc. SEPTEMBER 2020 KEYNOTES 23
