Codelocks Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

Codelocks launches its KitLockNano, a redefined compact lock, engineered with a stronger build and smarter design. The upgraded lock delivers improved performance and functionality in the same ultra-small footprint as the original, while including a key override for complete control in any situation. Ideal for lockers, cabinets, and drawers, the KitLockNano addresses the growing demand for modern, reliable access control in environments like workplaces, sports facilities, and hotels. Reengineered to meet modern demands “The KitLockNano has been completely reengineered to meet modern demands. While it stays true to its compact form, everything else has been improved, from usability to durability,” said Jo Milne-Rowe, Managing Director at Codelocks. “On top of this, it provides the perfect balance between style and substance. We've created a lock that not only looks contemporary and sophisticated but also provides the flexibility end-user customers need for a range of different storage scenarios, thanks to its dual-function capability.” The KitLockNano’s Private Function allows repeated use of the same code for dedicated users, while the Public Function enables temporary four-digit codes that automatically erase after use. A red/blue LED indicator provides an at-a-glance locked/unlocked status. Dual functionality “Dual functionality means organizations using the KitLockNano in applications such as hot-desking offices, sports clubs, or events and conference spaces get more out of their locker and cabinetry solutions. The same lockers can be used as private storage or for short-term, multiple occupancy without having the hassle and costs associated with keys,” said Jo Milne-Rowe. Installing the KitLockNano is simple, as the lock easily retrofits into existing cam lock placements using just two additional fixings. New installations require only three small holes, allowing locksmiths and installers to fit the lock in minutes. It can be surface-mounted or fitted flush, maintaining a clean aesthetic while ensuring easy battery access. The key override remains accessible, making it simple for facilities managers to regain access if needed. It is also available in vertical or right-hand horizontal orientations. Makes maintenance and management easier The KitLockNano makes maintenance and management easier. Powered by two AAA batteries, it can perform up to 15,000 operations per battery cycle, includes a low battery indicator function, and has comprehensive code management with Master, Sub-Master and Technician. It is IP54 rated and equipped with a key override that is protected by a dust cover over the key cylinder. Part of the KitLock by Codelocks range, the KitLockNano is a convenient and stylish alternative to traditional key-operated locker locks.

In the eyes of some, locks are simply used for keeping people out, and for keeping the contents of a building, cabinet or locker safe. But as they know at Codelocks, access control is about so much more than that. It’s about managing spaces and giving people convenient access in ways that can transform how a building or space works and feels. That’s one of the reasons they rarely talk about ‘security’, if at all. If they focus on access control as being simply about protection, then they’re likely to see locks and other access control solutions as just a cost – an expense line on a balance sheet. They’d also overlook one of the biggest changes impacting the industry, and the first of several trends shaping access control in 2026: the change from a cost center to a revenue generator. Entrepreneurs and access – from cost to profit center “There’s been an explosion in short-term rental applications over several years, and I mean much more than just BnBs or holiday homes,” said Jo Milne-Rowe, Managing Director at Codelocks UK. “We’re reaching a point where almost anything that has the potential to be shared and rented out is being. Entrepreneurs are seeing new opportunities, and using access control to turn them into profit-generating realities.” Festival lockers are a booming example. They are simple storage units rented to attendees at music festivals and events. People book online, select the rental duration, and receive a time-sensitive access code instantly. The coded locks allow customers to store belongings without keys, while operators remotely manage thousands of lockers, changing codes automatically between rentals without swapping keys and with minimal staff input. New revenue-making products and services This use of locks to create new revenue-making products and services also changes what customers want. It alters their ‘buying equation’. In applications that focus on short-term product rental to drive revenue, customers are seeking locks that help to improve business fundamentals, like utilization and booking rates. Likewise, they’re looking for locks that improve the customer experience and create an attractive, easy-to-use product. As manufacturers and product innovators, this changes what they need to offer customers in 2026 and beyond. The balancing act–new tech and simple solutions There is a lot of hype around AI at the moment. And understandably, so if using ChatGPT or similar. The UK government is looking for the country to become an ‘AI superpower’, while also using the new technology to do things like free up NHS hospital beds. With all this attention on bleeding-edge technology, however, people can be led to think that access control must follow the same path: that because everyone’s talking about tech, it’s what customers will be demanding in 2026. However, despite the attention lavished on breakthroughs like AI, many customers are still looking for simplicity of operation and maintenance in their access control solutions – even the entrepreneurs. Demanding AI in access control solutions  “With any new tech, there’s hype and there’s practical application. European customers aren’t demanding AI in their access control solutions right now,” said Steve Newman, Regional Director for Codelocks Europe. “That’s probably for several reasons, not least because simplicity is something they prioritize.” The demand for simplicity is especially strong in the locker market, where most facility and building managers are responsible for looking after thousands of different lockers that require regular maintenance. In large sites such as student accommodation or government offices, small issues quickly add up to be a large drain on resources. “For lockers – which make up the majority of our business – most customers are choosing either mechanical locks or hard-wired solutions because they want to avoid battery maintenance,” said Mark Samuelson, Director for Codelocks Australia. Hard-wired solutions Mechanical lockers are ideal for short-term, multiple occupancy applications requiring simplicity and minimal maintenance to keep costs low. Hard-wired solutions don’t tick all these boxes, though. The cost of installing new wiring can outweigh the cost of avoiding batteries, leaving mechanical locks as the simplest and best choice. Still, with an eye on the future, they don’t think customers will have to make these kind of choices for much longer. Battery harvesting will soon become popular, using the power in people’s mobile phones to temporarily power a cabinet, door or locker lock. Despite all of this, the real winners in 2026 will be those organizations that listen to their customers. Those companies that focus on solving fundamental customer challenges without over-egging the latest trends. Understanding the real customer “Protection concerns have driven people to effectively over-specify the locks they need, which is neither cost-effective nor necessary,” said Matt Welty, Vice President at Codelocks Americas. “For us, this has been an opportunity. We’ve guided many companies toward the right-fit product, rather than the over-the-top product. It’s about understanding the real customer need and meeting it.” Sustainability in the supply chain The urgency around climate targets and sustainability is growing as 2050 net-zero targets and interim milestones, such as 68% emissions cut by 2030, get closer. Customers everywhere are also more focused on the environmental impacts of their purchases, while supply chain scrutiny is increasing. In access control, sustainability is a consideration on two levels. Practically, people are demanding products that last longer. They need products that can be repaired rather than replaced, and they’re looking to minimize waste. On a procedural level, customers need their products to be certified so they can satisfy procurement requirements. Success in 2026 requires addressing both of these customer needs, building genuinely more sustainable products that are supported by the right certifications and accreditations. Almost all Codelocks products are repairable, which massively reduces waste and promotes a more circular economy. In 2025, as part of the sustainability efforts, Codelocks UK achieved ISO 14001 (environmental management) to help the UK customers with their supply chain requirements; 2026 will be the first year they report the emissions too, giving transparency to the customers for their own emissions reporting. Moving forward with awareness What’s become clear from conversations with Codelocks senior pioneers is that listening to customers has never been more important. Access control in 2026 comes down to understanding what customers actually need, versus what the industry thinks they should want. Whether working with entrepreneurs applying rental models to new spaces, helping facilities managers balance innovation with operational simplicity, or providing repairable locks backed by ISO certifications, success lies in responding to real needs with the right solutions.

Codelocks, an access control specialist, has received two ISO certifications that help its customers to meet supply chain requirements, while also signaling the organization’s widening commitment to people, the planet, and processes. The recognized standards certifications – environmental management (ISO 14001), and occupational health and safety management (ISO 45001) – provide Codelocks’ customers peace of mind they are working with a supplier that is committed to responsible business practices, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. Quality access control products Codelocks’ customers can now specify a broad range of quality access control products, while also meeting the increasing number of compliance and regulatory demands in their supply chains.  Together, the certifications help Codelocks’ customers prove their due diligence in supplier selection, and make it easier for architectural ironmongers, specifiers, and industrial and equipment suppliers to meet their own clients' demands by showing they work with certified and ethical suppliers.  Consistency and quality Commenting on the certifications, Colin Campbell, CEO at Codelocks International, said: “Around the world customers are looking for more when they buy from their supply chain partners.” “By taking on the challenging process of analyzing, documenting, and continually improving so many of our processes, our customers will find it easier to meet these needs and potentially win work. More than that, these certifications are acknowledgement of something our customers have long recognized: they can trust in the consistency and quality of our products and services.” Pillars of sustainability Paul Campbell, Technical, Quality and Sustainability Manager at Codelocks, said: “The central pillars of sustainability are economic, environmental, and social. We have been working to demonstrate our commitment to these pillars, which have become a major requirement for tenders or contracts within the door hardware sector.” “By taking on this responsibility, we’re demonstrating that Codelocks’ duty of care extends to every business we come into contact with, alongside the people who work in them and the planet we all share.”  ISO certifications ISO certifications, of all types, require compliance with a range of local legislations and regulations, alongside process monitoring, analysis, improvements, and change management and communication. Each certification requires continual improvements and regular reporting, while business leaders must also demonstrate their commitment to the various ISO systems in place. Codelocks’ certifications follow several rigorous audits, focusing on a wide spectrum of factors ranging from the business’s supply chains, recycling capabilities, and even mental health support for its team. Strategic direction Colin Campbell added: “These ISO certifications are a signal of our strategic direction as a global organization, and a recognition of the amazing workplace and culture that our employees benefit from. With family and sustainability as our core values, we continue to lead by example when it comes to people, planet and processes.” Codelocks also has ISO 9001 (quality management) and CE markings for a range of its locks and latches.

As the vaccine roll-out proceeds, people across the UK are counting the days until we can get back to some kind of ‘new normal’. Just as we’ve seen in education and healthcare, the return to the workplace and other public spaces will be accompanied by enhanced sanitization and social distancing measures. To make the return as swift and safe as possible, those of us involved with managing, building and constructing buildings should consider how we can help facilitate and support those measures. Regardless of how rigorously we impose social distancing measures, there will always be some areas where we can’t help coming into contact with each other. Sanitizing door handles Doors, for example – and door locks and handles in particular – are shared by nearly everyone in a building. Even in large, open spaces, we all need to pass through a single entrance. We all use the same door handles and locks – and they provide ideal surfaces for bacteria to breed and transfer. Another solution is for staff to regularly sanitize door handles and locks One solution to this problem is to provide hand-sanitizer dispensers at each door and insist on their use. But this can be difficult to manage in larger buildings where there may be multiple doors and entrances used by both staff and visitors. People could ignore the sanitization rules too. Another solution is for staff to regularly sanitize door handles and locks – but this is a resource intensive option and, again, is dependent on everyone maintaining good practice. Potentially harmful chemicals A longer-lasting way to deal with the risk of locks and door handles spreading disease is to treat them with an anti-viral coating. These coatings come in various forms. Some, for example, slowly release anti-bacterial chemicals, while others have antiviral properties actually built into the material or the coating. Those coatings with built-in antiviral properties tend to be longer-lasting and more effective, and also avoid the issue of releasing potentially harmful chemicals into the environment. A number of different solutions with built-in protection are currently in development, and some already available. Northumbria University, for example (as reported in last Month’s PSB Magazine), is working on a ‘super-hydrophobic’ coating for use on high-contact areas such as handrails and trolleys. Optional antiviral coating Codelocks is working on a coating that attaches biocides to nanoparticles Another British company, Smart Separations, is working on a coating that attaches biocides to nanoparticles, and can be applied to a wide variety of surfaces. While these anti-viral coatings are either still in development or only available to large corporate clients, others are already readily available. Access control solutions provider Codelocks, for example is currently offering an optional antiviral coating with all of its products. Clean by Codelocks is clear coating that uses nanotechnology that can kill bacteria in a matter of minutes. Clean by Codelocks utilizes a process called photocatalytic oxidation. The surface of the coating reacts with light and converts harmful bacteria and germs into a non-toxic compound, resulting in a clean and hygienic surface. Chemical cleaning products The coating has been proven to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) from surfaces within minutes and is resistant to chemical cleaning products, humidity, and UV exposure – all issues that can cause problems for traditional slow-release type coatings. It’s been said that COVID-19 has been a great technology accelerator. This has been proven true, not only in the areas of vaccine research and development, or in cloud and digital technology but even in everyday objects that we take for granted such as locks and door handles. By building anti-bacterial protection into access control solutions, we can make schools, surgeries, workplaces, leisure centers and other public spaces safer for all.

A defibrillator can save the life of a person suffering from cardiac arrest – but it is most effective when used in the first few minutes of the patient collapsing. Studies have shown that a shock given within the first three minutes provides the best chance of survival and even one minute of further delay can substantially lower the chances of recovering. Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) were created to allow untrained members of the public to deliver life-saving treatment in those precious minutes before an ambulance arrives. There are currently over 10,000 in the UK, located in parks, offices, high streets and sporting venues, and they are especially popular in rural communities, where ambulance response times are longer. Every second counts Over the years there has been a long-running debate as to whether PADs should be kept openly accessible or locked. Leaving them open could lead to theft, vandalism or misuse. Leaving them locked could mean that precious moments are lost waiting for a local guardian to arrive – and could even cost a life. To save as many lives as possible, it’s clear that PADs need to be available 24/7, fully operational and easily accessible to users and local guardians. But there is a solution that can meet all these conditions – a lock that can protect against vandalism while providing convenient instant access when required. Life-saving solutions Over the years there has been a long-running debate as to whether PADs should be kept openly accessible or lockedDigital locks are ideal for securing PADs because they don’t require a key, and anyone can be given access over the phone. In the case of a cardiac arrest, the user calls 999 and the ambulance controller provides them with a simple, easy-to-remember code. The ambulance controller can then advise them, step by step, what to do. Local guardians, who have responsibility for the PAD, can be provided with an override key to enable them to monitor and maintain the defibrillator. The PAD cabinets built by Duchy Defibrillators show exactly how this works in practice. Based in rural Cornwall, Duchy Defibrillators manufactures, supplies and installs monitored PAD cabinets. To provide public access to the defibrillators, it needed a lock that could keep its cabinets secure, make them easily accessible and withstand the stormy Cornish weather. Codelocks recommended a digital electronic lock that could operate on a standalone battery, making it especially suitable for remote areas. As well as offering flexible access, digital locks come with a range of varying options and functions to suit different applications. As Duchy Defibrillator cabinets are installed in a wide variety of locations and sometimes need to withstand outdoor exposure, it opted for a robust electronic digital lock that is both affordable and easy to set up. A digital-access revolution Using smart locks in combination with a dedicated app or portal allows operators to send time-sensitive codes to end-users The example of Duchy Defibrillators shows how digital locks can be used to keep defibrillator cabinets secure while affording instant access to users when they are needed. But the flexibility of digital locks also makes them suitable for securing property and equipment in a wide variety of situations, especially for shared and public facilities. This is why you’ll increasingly see digital locks used to secure restricted areas in hospitals, schools and offices, as well as shared facilities like hotel and gym lockers, public restrooms and more. Digital locks are available for a number of specific applications, including doors, lockers and cabinets. They can range from simple mechanical locks through to more sophisticated electronic locks and state-of-the-art smart locks. Using smart locks in combination with a dedicated app or portal allows operators to send time-sensitive codes to end users – making them very popular for contactless entry and with facilities managers that need to manage access to buildings and campuses. One thing is certain – whatever your access control requirements are, there’s a keyless lock solution to suit. The digital access revolution is here.