Kwikset facts for kids
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A Kwikset electronic lock with optional operation using a conventional key. This electronic deadbolt uses a Weiser keypad and is a hybrid combining features of Kwikset and Weiser brand locks.
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| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founders | Adolf Schoepe Karl Rhinehart |
| Parent | Assa Abloy |
Kwikset is an American company that makes locks and lock parts. It is currently owned by a large company called Assa Abloy. Kwikset started in California in 1946. It was founded by two friends, Adolf Schoepe and Karl Rhinehart.
The company's name, Kwikset, comes from its very first locks. These locks used a new design called a "tubular lock." This design made locks much faster to install than older types. Today, Kwikset keys are very common. You can get them made almost anywhere that cuts keys.
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Where Kwikset Locks Are Made
Kwikset has factories in a few different places. You can find them in Denison, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina in the United States. They also have a factory in Mexicali, Mexico. Kwikset also has a facility in China.
In the past, Kwikset had factories in Anaheim, California, Bristow, Oklahoma, and Waynesboro, Georgia. However, starting in 1996, these factories were closed. All the work was moved to the Mexicali factory to make things more efficient. Kwikset's main office is in Lake Forest, California.
The Story of Kwikset
How Kwikset Began
Adolf Schoepe and his friend Karl Rhinehart started their company, Gateway Manufacturing Company, in South Gate. This was just before World War II ended. They began making locks under the Kwikset brand name. In 1948, they moved their company to Anaheim.
During the Korean War, people bought fewer locks. But Kwikset took a chance. They kept making more locks than they were selling. When the war ended, demand for locks suddenly went up. Because Kwikset had so many locks ready, they became the biggest lock supplier in the United States.
Changes in Ownership
Karl Rhinehart retired from the company in 1952. Adolf Schoepe sold Kwikset in 1957 to a company called American Hardware Corporation. Later, in 1964, American Hardware joined with Emhart Manufacturing Corporation.
In 1989, a well-known company called Black & Decker bought Kwikset. This was a big step for Kwikset.
New Lock Designs
In 1992, Kwikset launched a new line of locks called Titan. These locks were designed to be of higher quality and more secure. Around 2005, the Titan line was renamed the "Signature Series."
In March 2010, Stanley Tools bought Black & Decker. Kwikset then became part of Stanley Black & Decker's Hardware and Home Improvement (HHI) Group. This group also owned other lock companies like Weiser and Baldwin. Over time, Kwikset started to use many features from Weiser locks. Weiser locks even began using Kwikset's "SmartKey" technology. This special technology lets you rekey your own lock easily.
Recent Changes
In 2012, a company called Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. decided to buy the HHI division from Stanley Black & Decker. This deal included Kwikset. The purchase was completed by the end of 2012.
Then, in 2021, Assa Abloy announced that it would buy Spectrum Brands' HHI division. This big purchase, which included Kwikset, was completed on June 20, 2023. So now, Kwikset is part of the Assa Abloy family of companies.
