Stainless Steel Fasteners,Stainless Steel Screws,Stainless Steel Bolts,Stainless Steel Wood Screws Taizhou TS HARDWARE Co., Ltd , https://www.shuwengroup.com
Specification lock market, mechanical door lock, fingerprint lock, joint development market
The development of door locks in China from 2000 to 2008 saw a surge in new companies entering the industry, leading to a significant increase in production and sales. The market was booming, but with this growth came intense competition and brutal price wars, which gradually eroded the overall profitability of the sector. Among the five major lock manufacturing regions, Guangdong and Zhejiang stood out as the most profitable, while the Shanghai area lagged behind. Some large companies found themselves struggling or even on the brink of collapse.
Locks are generally categorized into different types, with handle and ball locks mainly produced in Guangdong and Zhejiang, padlocks concentrated in Zhejiang and Shandong, mortise locks primarily in Jiangsu and Shanghai, and door locks mainly in Shandong and Guangdong. High and mid-range locks are mostly spherical door locks, which can be divided into three tiers based on price: high-end, mid-range, and low-end. Mid-range spherical door locks, due to their relatively simple technology and lower equipment costs, have attracted many manufacturers, resulting in a wide variety of models and strong sales performance in the Chinese market.
Another popular product is the anti-theft door lock, which gained traction alongside the rise of security doors. In 2007, fingerprint locks began to emerge, though many were still in testing phases. After 2008, mechanical and smart door locks became more prominent, with established brands dominating the market. Many small players were either eliminated or shifted to producing accessories. It’s likely that the fingerprint lock segment will also undergo similar consolidation in the near future.
Despite the progress, medium and high-grade locks still require collective efforts from the industry. Over the past few years, there has been an improvement in both technology and quality of new products, such as fingerprint locks and hotel smart locks. As a result, the high-end market share previously dominated by foreign brands has been gradually shrinking. The industry has reached a stage where quality improvements are essential, and it should focus on developing medium- to high-end, high-tech locks. Some enterprises need to move away from price wars and instead engage in technical innovation and competition.
Standardization of the lock market is urgently needed. A better consumption environment must be created, and stricter measures should be taken to combat substandard and counterfeit products. Recent market sampling has shown that many locks suffer from poor quality, high opening rates, and short lifespans. Assembly issues are also common, with only a few formal manufacturers following proper standards and providing reliable test data.
These problems stem from both subjective and objective factors. On the subjective side, some companies prioritize profit over quality, cutting corners and misleading consumers. This needs attention from regulatory authorities. Objectively, technical challenges like process and assembly issues persist, and companies must continuously improve their production methods.
Business models vary widely. Many small enterprises lack R&D capabilities and rely heavily on imitation, making it difficult for them to grow into major brands. Professional companies, though rare, tend to focus on product development, which is not commonly prioritized. Only larger enterprises can afford long-term strategies like brand building and channel expansion.
Developing mechanical and fingerprint locks requires careful planning and should not simply follow others' success stories. With the hardware industry facing a development bottleneck, it's time to rethink strategies. Accelerating technological innovation, increasing investment in transformation, and encouraging enterprise restructuring are crucial. Establishing strong industry groups capable of driving product renewal is necessary to change China’s image as a producer of low-grade hardware.
To achieve this, several steps should be taken:
1. Enterprises should set standards higher than industry requirements.
2. Product data must be accurate, including all test results.
3. Lock body sizes should be standardized to avoid unnecessary waste.
4. User standards, such as temperature, humidity, and strength, should be established to ensure safe usage.
5. Service standards must be improved to enhance customer experience.
6. Import policies for high-quality materials should be relaxed, especially for materials like zinc alloy and galvanized sheets where domestic alternatives fall short.
7. Surface treatment processes should be upgraded, learning from international leaders like KABA.
8. Consumer education on product knowledge is essential, along with self-regulation among brands to prevent misleading claims that harm both the industry and brand reputation.
With these efforts, the Chinese lock industry can move toward higher quality, greater innovation, and stronger competitiveness on the global stage.