Source: Carving Machine Network http://www.gravograph.cn/
In 2003, after our company cooperated with Zhongshan Jixin to develop the CNC tooth machine project, we successively collaborated with similar manufacturers to develop a series of CNC special-purpose machines such as lock shell processing machine tools, lock core drilling machine tools, and computer key processing machine tools. Through these collaborations, we gained a certain understanding of the lock hardware industry:
The vast majority of lock manufacturing plants and their component factories in mainland China are basically labor-intensive enterprises. They mainly rely on one-person-one-machine bench lathes, bench drills or manual dedicated machines, lacking highly automated dedicated lock-making equipment. Due to reasons like outdated technology and shortage of talents, major old-established lock equipment factories in China, such as Yantai Lock Equipment Factory, have failed to develop highly automated lock-making equipment. This has resulted in generally backward production equipment in domestic lock enterprises, high labor intensity for workers, low machining accuracy, poor appearance and quality stability of products; some emerging lock equipment manufacturers like Rock Machinery & Electronics, Beijing Jingdiao, and Heyu Technology focus on computer key carving machines, which can only process one side at a time, requiring frequent manual clamping, leading to lower work efficiency. Moreover, in order to achieve device versatility, they often use common three-coordinate engraving machine types, resulting in relatively low product grades and using low price as a competitive advantage. At the same time, this sacrifices the economic competitiveness of dedicated machines. Some companies install multiple spindle heads simultaneously according to spatial needs to complete the same process for multiple parts at once, improving work efficiency to a certain extent, but with significant limitations. In recent years, new entrants like Hangzhou Zhiyuan have developed key tooth punching equipment based on general-purpose punch presses, equipped with single-chip microcomputer controllers displaying digital tubes, stepping cross-worktables, and cold punching molds. These have very high production efficiency, especially suitable for large-scale production of iron material keys. Due to their extremely low cost (less than 30,000 yuan), they occupy a certain market share. However, their machining accuracy is relatively low, burrs are larger, and program functions are limited. Yantai Sanxin Lock Manufacturing and Zhongshan Kang'er have strong mechanical capabilities, with specialized and targeted products. Since they have received support from Shenzhen Zhongweixing CNC, their development and upgrades are faster, posing a certain threat to our future market expansion.
At the same time, some small CNC machine tool factories have also started making low-cost lock-making equipment. For example, Yongsheng Machinery Factory in Shunde is producing dedicated machine tools for lock shells and lock cores, which have already begun mass production. The unit price is over 40,000 yuan, affordable. It uses Guangtai's system and stepping motors, suitable for lock shells, lock cores, etc. A Hong Kong-based company produces ordinary key processing dedicated machines in Dongguan, priced around 80,000 yuan, better and more functional than the machines we made for Jixin. For instance, while processing, it can also print the key number.
On the CNC manufacturer side, currently, Shenzhen Zhongweixing CNC has also developed a dedicated CNC system specifically for keys. Compared to ours, its system price is relatively low, and the system operation is also simpler. It already occupies a certain market in Xiaolan, Zhongshan.
Nanjing Huaxing, Renhe, and Chengdu Guangtai use their low-priced stepping lathe systems (around 6000 yuan per set) to massively cooperate with machinery factories, producing lock shell, lock core, and other equipment.