Locksmithing is changing at a rapid rate. It’s important, then, for locksmiths to be up to date with the changes that occur – and that’s where the yearly Lock Expo comes in. The 2015 expo was hosted last month, and provided locksmiths with the opportunity to stay ahead of the game.
The Lock Expo launched in 2010 and has since grown to an impressive size: there were 900 people there at the height of Saturday on the weekend it was hosted. Much of that success is surely owed to the event’s founder, Mick Friend. Friend is the editor of Locks and Security Magazine but also a key figure in its forums, and many of the members of the forums turned up to the event.
Being a sizeable event means that many of the industry’s big players attended and, as such, locksmiths could get a sense of industry trends. The big question that is surely on the lips of many locksmiths whether digital door locks will ever become the dominant choice for consumers.
There were numerous products on display. However, there was a particular emphasis on the not so hi-tech realm of cylinders. Cylinders are a big topic of discussion nowadays considering the awareness of lock snapping and the importance of having quality locks as a defence.
The most interesting aspect of the event, though, is the training on offer. This allows locksmiths to learn the skills that allow them to keep up with what’s happening in the industry. It also provides them the opportunity to not only do that but broaden their skillset, and therefore give themselves more opportunities for work.
Several of our locksmiths turned up the event, one of them being our Holywell locksmith. He had nothing but praise for it: “I really enjoyed the expo. There were lots of high quality locks and tools, and it was great to see plenty of familiar faces.”
All in all, it sounds like the event was a success. It will be interesting to see whether the event moves to even greater heights next year, and what happens to the industry as we go forward.
