ASSA’s Recent History ASSA, Inc. was originally opened in Naper- ville, Ill., as a marketing arm of ASSA AB in Sweden. Incorporated in 1984, ASSA, Inc. was a full-line manufacturer of mor- tise locks, padlocks, auxiliary locks and high security key systems. Under the di- rection of Wayne Wilkerson, who became president and CEO in 1989, ASSA, Inc. was transformed into the largest high-security cylinder manufacturer in the United States. Starting in 1992, ASSA, Inc. shiſted its sales direction from independent dealer sales to institutional, industrial and government sales. With the introduction of the compa- ny’s new large master keying capabilities, ASSA became the logical choice for insti- tutions around the country. In 1996 alone, sales rose from less than $500 thousand to more than $8 million (Figure 2). Some of the customers who made this possible are Baltimore Ravens Stadium, The Evergreen State College, Desert Samaritan Hospital, and numerous other school dis- tricts, colleges and universities, hospitals, federal government and detention facilities. With the introduction of the V-10 system in 1996, ASSA ushered in the next genera- tion of patented key control with the func- tional patent design of a milled undercut behind the side pin shelf. Technology offer- ing patent-protected, unique geographically exclusive keyways for all of North America, ASSA authorized locksmith dealers, ASSA authorized security centers and end users. The innovative V-10 key design and cylinder helped to eliminate unauthorized duplicate keys and to maintain a key control system that is unmatched in the industry. New Keys for the New Millennium In 2000, ASSA introduced the Twin Ex- clusive and Twin Pro, a patent-protected upgrade to the highly successful Twin 6000 series. Utilizing the same dual-locking mechanism, the Twin Exclusive built on WWW.ALOA.ORG the original design and allowed one key to work both cylinders. That same year, ASSA, Inc. opened its doors to a new 5,000-square- foot facility in New Haven, CT, increasing its production capabilities with state-of-the- art machinery and assembly equipment. In 2003, ASSA introduced the Twin Pro, one of the more sophisticated key systems offered on the North American market to- day. Geographically controlled keyways can be obtained through a written agreement with ASSA for guaranteed exclusivity. Since ASSA’s traditional distribution outlets do not stock the Twin Pro, this eliminates the possibility of a compromised key system b drop shipping to the end user. ASSA introduced the Twin Maximum in 2006. Twin Maximum is the mechanica platform to be integrated by ASSA’s Con cept 4 (C-4) electromechanical keys an cylinders. The ASSA CLIQ provides the user wit a high level of access control accountabi ity and key control. A full audit trail wit date and time stamp ensures the securit of all or selected openings within the sys- tem, while the keys can be used to oper- ate standard mechanical cylinders as well. The innovative ASSA CLIQ is yet another example of why ASSA continues to be a world leader in high security and patented key-control solutions. In 2013, ASSA introduced the Maximum+ product series, yet the next generation of patented key control with patent protec- tion until 2029 on the keys. Maximum+ is backward compatible to Twin Maximum and is integrated by ASSA C-4 CLIQ and ASSA CLIQ Remote. Patent Expiration Dates for ASSA Products Expired in December 1999: ASSA Twin 6000 product series Expired June 14, 2014: ASSA Twin Exclu- sive, ASSA Twin V-10, ASSA Twin Pro, ASSA Twin Maximum Figure 3. ASSA introduced a newer ver- sion of the large-format interchangeable core 1996. There are some mechanical differences from the previous IC product; however, both can be mounted in the same ASSA figure-8 housing as the old product. NOVEMBER 2014 KEYNOTES 29 Figure 1. Swedish blacksmith August Stenman launched ASSA in the late 19th century. Figure 2. With the introduction of ASSA’s new large master keying capabilities, the company became the logical choice for institutions around the country. The New Style ASSA LFIC is pictured here.
