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Cylinders were once mostly a commodity product, with price and ease of availability the main factors driving selection.
Now though, installers are increasingly using cylinders as a way of differentiating their product offering and are winning additional business in both replacement and new build as a result. Both these markets have been transformed over recent years with the advent of cylinder snapping and bumping, growing consumer awareness of the dangers and the ongoing tightening of the PAS24 test.
Mila’s response has been to expand the number of cylinder options it offers, adding both TS007 1* and 3* cylinders to its range, so that customers can choose from three clearly defined levels of certified cylinder security, depending on the application and price point.
At the top of the range, there is the Mila ProSecure 3* anti-snap cylinder, which meets the Master Locksmith’s Association coveted Sold Secure Diamond Standard, in the middle is a new enhanced security ProSecure 1* cylinder with anti-bump technology, and, at entry level, there is Mila’s ProLinea BreakSafe™ cylinder, complete with a sacrificial cut line and 6-pin security protection. Crucially, all are available from stock.
The ProSecure 3* BSI Kitemark brass and hardened carbon steel cylinder represents arguably the ultimate in cylinder security and can be fitted in either an escutcheon or a security handle. It has all the anti-drill, anti-bump and anti-pick features you would expect, such as hardened steel anti-drill pins in the barrel, low and high driver pins to prevent cylinder bumping and anti-pick pins, and also features a clever, high specification, high strength, carbon steel cam protection block which prevents snapping and plug extraction.
This snap secure sacrificial point breaks if it is tampered with from the outside, ensuring that the internal parts of the cylinder can’t be damaged, and the lock can still be safely operated from the inside. The cylinder also comes as standard with three restricted profile dimple keys and a unique warranty card number which means that only the card holder can order additional keys.
Maximum 3* TS007 compliance can also be achieved though by combining Mila’s new ProSecure 1* enhanced security cylinder with its 2* ProSecure security handle. This 1* cylinder also features 6 anti-manipulation pins to prevent cylinder picking, drilling and bumping, and a similar sacrificial snap line which detaches the external section if it is tampered with. This is a popular option for public sector projects because residents can get additional keys from a high street locksmith.
For customers who don’t need a TS007 security option, Mila also offers a Breaksafe™ version of its standard cylinder which still has a sacrificial section which will break off if forced. Even at entry level, this provides a good degree of protection against cylinder snapping and is offered by Mila at no extra cost.
Mila’s Managing Director Richard Gyde commented: “We still supply thousands of standard non-security cylinders every month to more than 400 different customers. While they are undoubtedly getting good value from us, what they are missing out on is the opportunity to differentiate their offering, win new business and potentially increase their margins by offering a higher spec security alternative.
“For us, it’s all about providing optimum choice. There is definitely no ‘one size fits all’ cylinder solution anymore. Customers fitting into new build obviously need something different to customers fitting into replacement or local authority. Similarly, customers fitting contemporary composites with escutcheons and pull bars need something different to those fitting PVC-U doors with traditional handle opening.”
Because of the breadth of its range, Mila’s team can give expert technical advice on the best cylinder option for customers’ individual door, handle or escutcheon choices. More details are online.
