Aluminum Fastener,Aluminum Rivets,Aluminum Screws,Aluminium Rivet Taizhou TS HARDWARE Co., Ltd , https://www.shuwengroup.com
Specification lock market, mechanical door lock, fingerprint lock, joint development market
The development of the lock industry in China from 2000 to 2008 witnessed a surge in new enterprises, leading to a significant increase in both production and sales volumes. The entire market experienced rapid growth, but this expansion came with intense competition and brutal price wars, which negatively impacted the overall profitability of the industry. Among the major lock-producing regions, Guangdong and Zhejiang emerged as the most profitable, while Shanghai lagged behind. Some large companies struggled with losses or near-bankruptcy.
Lock production is geographically concentrated: handle and ball locks are mainly produced in Guangdong and Zhejiang, padlocks in Zhejiang and Shandong, mortise locks in Jiangsu and Shanghai, and door locks in Shandong and Guangdong. In terms of quality, middle- and high-grade locks are primarily represented by spherical door locks. These locks are generally categorized into three grades based on price—high, mid-range, and low. Mid-range spherical locks, due to their relatively simple manufacturing process and lower equipment investment, attract a large number of manufacturers, resulting in a wide variety of models and strong market presence.
Another popular product is the anti-theft door lock, which gained popularity alongside the rise of security doors. Fingerprint locks were introduced around 2007, 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 brands either disappeared or shifted to producing accessories. The fingerprint lock market is expected to undergo similar consolidation soon.
Despite progress in product technology and quality, the medium- and high-grade lock segment still requires collective industry effort. Over the past five years, many companies have developed innovative products like fingerprint locks and hotel smart locks, gradually reducing the market share of foreign high-end locks. The industry has reached a critical stage where quality improvements are essential. Companies should move away from low-level price wars and focus on technological innovation to develop high-tech, medium- and high-grade locks.
Standardization of the lock market is urgently needed. To create a better consumer environment, stricter enforcement against substandard and counterfeit products is required. Recent sampling shows that many products suffer from poor quality, high opening rates, and durability issues. While some formal manufacturers follow standards and conduct tests, many others lack proper procedures.
This reflects two main challenges: first, subjective issues such as some companies cutting corners for profit, which needs regulatory attention; second, objective technical problems like process and assembly flaws, which require continuous improvement by enterprises.
Business models vary: some are "porter" enterprises with no R&D capabilities, mostly imitating existing designs. These firms struggle to become big brands due to limited production capacity. Others are professional companies, but few focus on long-term product development. Only strong enterprises can afford to pursue big brand strategies, rebranding, and channel expansion.
Developing mechanical and fingerprint locks requires careful strategic choices, not just copying foreign 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 essential. Establishing strong groups capable of product renewal will help change China’s image as a low-grade hardware producer.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Set enterprise standards higher than industry requirements.
2. Ensure accurate product data, including test results.
3. Unify lock body sizes to reduce waste.
4. Establish user standards, such as environmental usage conditions.
5. Improve service quality through standardized practices.
6. Relax import restrictions on high-quality materials, and support breakthroughs in domestic material production.
7. Study advanced surface treatment techniques used abroad, like those in KABA locks.
8. Promote product knowledge and enhance consumer awareness, while encouraging self-regulation among brands to avoid misleading information that harms the industry and individual brands.