Brands
The lock brands I fit and repair
Yale, ERA, Ultion, Avocet ABS, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA and Brisant. What each one is, what it costs, and when it's the right fit for your door.
I keep these on the van and fit them across south Staffordshire and the West Midlands, same-day from Brewood.
- Standard DBS Checked
- £1M Insured
- 12 months Guarantee
- No Call-Out Fee
Brands at a glance
Tap a brand to jump to the detail.
-
Yale
The household name in UK door locks, with kitemarked products across mortice locks, nightlatches and Euro cylinders.
-
ERA
British-owned lock maker known for the Fortress range, a workhorse on UK uPVC and timber doors.
-
Ultion
High-security Euro cylinder made by Brisant in South Wales, designed around an 11-pin core and a hidden Lockdown mode.
-
Avocet ABS
Anti-snap Euro cylinder built around a patented locking cam that blocks the lock case if the cylinder is attacked.
-
Mul-T-Lock
Israeli high-security manufacturer (part of Assa Abloy) best known for restricted, card-controlled key systems and the MT5+ platform.
-
ASSA
Swedish high-security cylinder maker (part of Assa Abloy) common on Scandinavian-style oval profiles and master key systems.
-
Brisant
South Wales manufacturer behind the Ultion cylinder and the Sweet matching door furniture range.
-
Not sure which brand?
Tell me what door you've got and what you're trying to achieve. I'll talk you through it on the phone, no obligation.
Yale
The household name in UK door locks, with kitemarked products across mortice locks, nightlatches and Euro cylinders.
Yale has been making locks since 1840 and is the brand most British homeowners recognise on sight. You will find Yale on timber front doors with a 5 lever mortice deadlock, on nightlatches above a Yale rim cylinder, and on countless uPVC and composite doors fitted with their Euro cylinder range.
What I fit from them
- Superior Series TS007 1 Star Euro cylinder
- Platinum 3 Star TS007 anti-snap Euro cylinder
- PM562 5 lever BS3621 mortice deadlock
- PM550 5 lever BS3621 mortice sashlock
- PBS1 BS3621 high security nightlatch
Security credentials
Platinum 3 Star Euro cylinder is TS007 3 Star and Sold Secure SS312 Diamond. Superior Series Euro cylinder is TS007 1 Star and BS EN 1303 kitemarked. PM562 deadlock and PM550 sashlock are BS3621:2007 kitemarked. PBS1 nightlatch is BS3621 kitemarked.
When it's the right fit
A traditional timber front door with a 5 lever Yale mortice deadlock and a Yale nightlatch above. Also the default replacement Euro cylinder for most uPVC and composite doors across the UK.
Need a Yale lock fitted?
ERA
British-owned lock maker known for the Fortress range, a workhorse on UK uPVC and timber doors.
ERA has been making locks in the UK since 1838 and is one of the few remaining British-owned brands in the sector. Their Fortress range covers both Euro cylinders for uPVC and composite doors and 5 lever BS3621 mortice locks for timber doors, so you see ERA on a lot of mid-market new build estates.
What I fit from them
- Fortress 3 Star TS007 anti-snap Euro cylinder
- Fortress BS3621 5 lever mortice deadlock
- Fortress BS3621 5 lever mortice sashlock
- BS3621 high security nightlatch (1830 / 1930)
- Vectis night latch range
Security credentials
Fortress Euro cylinder holds BSI Kitemark KM553031 to TS007 3 Star, Sold Secure SS312 Diamond and Secured by Design. Fortress mortice locks are BS3621:2007 kitemarked. The 1830 and 1930 nightlatches conform to BS3621:2007.
When it's the right fit
A first choice on uPVC and composite doors where you want a true 3 Star anti-snap cylinder without paying premium money, and a sensible mid-market option for BS3621 timber door upgrades.
Need an ERA lock fitted?
Ultion
High-security Euro cylinder made by Brisant in South Wales, designed around an 11-pin core and a hidden Lockdown mode.
Ultion is the cylinder that took the high-security uPVC market by storm in the 2010s. Built by Brisant Secure in Wales, every Ultion has 11 pins (rather than the usual 5 or 6) and a molybdenum core. If snapping is detected, a hidden second lock kicks in and refuses to turn, which is the famous Lockdown feature. I fit Ultion cylinders across Wolverhampton, Stafford, Cannock, Walsall, Dudley and West Bromwich, usually as a same-day TS007 3-star upgrade.
What I fit from them
- Ultion 3 Star Euro cylinder (standard)
- Ultion WXM (extra molybdenum, two-part plug)
- Ultion Polished
- Ultion Smart (motorised cylinder)
- Ultion Nuki (Nuki-integrated smart cylinder)
Security credentials
Ultion 3 Star Euro cylinder holds TS007 3 Star, Sold Secure SS312 Diamond and Secured by Design. Brisant backs the Ultion against snap attack with a published break-in guarantee (£2,000 as standard, rising to £5,000 when the owner activates KeyControl registration; current figures should be checked on the Ultion site on the day).
When it's the right fit
When a homeowner has had a break-in attempt or wants the strongest mainstream cylinder available for a uPVC or composite door without going to a master-key system. The Smart and Nuki variants suit anyone who wants keyless and app control on the same door.
Need an Ultion lock fitted?
Avocet ABS
Anti-snap Euro cylinder built around a patented locking cam that blocks the lock case if the cylinder is attacked.
Avocet is a West Yorkshire hardware manufacturer (Huddersfield) and the ABS cylinder is its flagship product. The patented design uses a sacrificial section that snaps in a controlled way, then drops a hardened cam into the lock case so the lock case stays blocked. It rates well in real-world locksmith testing.
What I fit from them
- Avocet ABS High Security Euro cylinder
- Avocet ABS MK3 Ultimate Euro cylinder
- Avocet ABS High Security Half Euro cylinder
- Avocet ABS keyed-alike Euro cylinder pairs
Security credentials
Avocet ABS High Security Euro cylinder is TS007 3 Star and Sold Secure SS312 Diamond. The cylinder is independently tested to BS EN 1303 and is approved under Secured by Design.
When it's the right fit
A go-to upgrade for uPVC and composite doors where the customer wants a 3 Star anti-snap cylinder that is compliant on its own, without needing TS007 2-star security handles or extra cylinder guards.
Need an Avocet ABS lock fitted?
Mul-T-Lock
Israeli high-security manufacturer (part of Assa Abloy) best known for restricted, card-controlled key systems and the MT5+ platform.
Mul-T-Lock makes the kind of cylinder you choose when key control matters as much as physical security. Every Mul-T-Lock key system uses a card-protected duplication system, so blanks cannot be cut by anyone other than an authorised dealer presenting the customer's key card. The MT5+ platform is the current flagship.
What I fit from them
- MT5+ high security Euro cylinder
- Interactive+ high security Euro cylinder
- ClassicPro Euro cylinder
- Integrator Euro cylinder
- Break Secure 3DS sacrificial Euro cylinder
Security credentials
Mul-T-Lock Break Secure 3DS holds TS007 3 Star and Sold Secure SS312 Diamond and is endorsed by Secured by Design. The MTL300 B-S 3XP is Sold Secure SS312 Diamond approved. MT5+ is supplied with a magnetic key authorisation card; no extra keys can be cut without it.
When it's the right fit
Households or small businesses that want strict key control across multiple doors on one master, where the priority is preventing unauthorised key copies as much as resisting forced attack.
Need a Mul-T-Lock lock fitted?
ASSA
Swedish high-security cylinder maker (part of Assa Abloy) common on Scandinavian-style oval profiles and master key systems.
ASSA is the Swedish half of Assa Abloy and one of the most respected high-security cylinder names worldwide. Its products turn up most often in the UK on commercial premises, oval-profile installations and large master-keyed sites where a long-life mechanical platform with strict key control is the brief.
What I fit from them
- ASSA dp4400 high security cylinder
- ASSA P600 cylinder
- ASSA Twin Combi cylinder
- ASSA 4800 Series cylinder
- Ruko 5-pin and Flexcore cylinders
Security credentials
ASSA dp4400 is a patented, card-protected high security cylinder rated to BS EN 1303 Security Grade 6, with hardened drill-resistant inserts and a patented sidebar mechanism. Note: SS312 Sold Secure Diamond currently only applies to Euro profile cylinders, so the dp4400 (Scandinavian oval) is not eligible for that specific rating.
When it's the right fit
Commercial buildings, communal entrances and any site running a Scandinavian oval cylinder profile or a long-term ASSA master key suite, where pick resistance and controlled key duplication are the priorities.
Need an ASSA lock fitted?
Brisant
South Wales manufacturer behind the Ultion cylinder and the Sweet matching door furniture range.
Brisant Secure is the Welsh business that designs and makes Ultion. The company also produces Sweet, a matching range of door handles and letter plates designed to work alongside Ultion on uPVC and composite doors so the security upgrade does not stop at the cylinder. I fit Brisant's Ultion cylinders and matching Sweet door furniture across the West Midlands and south Staffordshire, from Wolverhampton and Stafford out to Cannock, Walsall, Dudley and West Bromwich.
What I fit from them
- Ultion 3 Star Euro cylinder
- Ultion WXM Euro cylinder
- Ultion Smart and Ultion Nuki smart cylinders
- Sweet door handles (PAS24 graded)
- Sweet letter plates (TS008 rated)
Security credentials
Ultion 3 Star Euro cylinder is TS007 3 Star, Sold Secure SS312 Diamond and Secured by Design, backed by Brisant's published break-in guarantee (currently £2,000 as standard, rising to £5,000 when the owner activates KeyControl registration). The Sweet handle and letter plate ranges are independently tested to PAS24 and TS008 respectively.
When it's the right fit
When a customer wants a complete Ultion plus Sweet upgrade on a uPVC or composite front door, so the cylinder, handle and letter plate are all certified and visually matched rather than mixed and matched.
Need a Brisant lock fitted?
Brand questions
Honest answers about which brand suits which door.
Which lock brand is best for a uPVC front door?
Yale, Ultion, and Avocet ABS are the heavy hitters. For a front door I'd go Ultion or Avocet - both are TS007 3 Star and Sold Secure Diamond, so you're getting top-tier security. Yale works well too, especially their Platinum range. It really depends on your budget and whether you want smart features. I'll recommend the right one after I've seen the door.
Are Ultion locks really unbreakable?
Nothing is unbreakable, but Ultion comes as close as a cylinder can. They're TS007 3 Star certified, which means they've been tested to resist snapping, picking, drilling and bumping. Brisant backs that up with a £1,000, 10-year guarantee - if a lock is broken into illegally, they'll replace it and cover claims. The guarantee itself tells you they're confident. That said, a lock is only as secure as the door frame and hinges around it.
What's the difference between Avocet ABS and Ultion?
Both are TS007 3 Star and Sold Secure Diamond - they're equally secure on paper. Avocet is made by Avocet, Ultion by Brisant. Ultion comes with Brisant's published break-in payout (currently £2,000 as standard, rising to £5,000 with KeyControl registration), which is a big selling point. Avocet tends to be a touch cheaper and is still brilliant quality. For most people the choice comes down to cost and availability. I stock both and can fit either the same day.
Do you fit insurance-approved British Standard locks?
Yes. BS3621 is the British Standard for mortice locks and night latches, and most home insurers will ask for them on external doors. I can fit BS3621 locks, and I also fit TS007 3 Star cylinders which satisfy stricter insurers. Before you book, check your policy wording - it'll say what grade you need. I can advise on the phone.
Can I get keyed-alike locks across all my doors?
Absolutely. Most decent manufacturers like Yale, Ultion, Avocet and Mul-T-Lock will key-alike cylinders when you order them together. That means one key opens every external door. It's really convenient and doesn't cost much extra. I'll order the matching pin sets from the factory, then fit them all at once.
Are smart locks like Yale Conexis worth fitting?
Yale Conexis is a clever product - you get Bluetooth entry, a mobile app, and a key fob all built into the handle. No more fumbling for your keys in the dark, and you can let guests in remotely. The catch is you're shifting the weak point from a lost key to a lost phone or a stolen app. The tech is solid, but it's not for everyone. I've fitted a few and they work well if you're the type who likes gadgets.
What's a TS007 3-star rating and why does it matter?
TS007 is the UK Kitemark security standard for door cylinders. It has three star levels - 3 star is the highest. To get 3 stars, a cylinder has to pass independent tests for snapping, picking, drilling and bumping attacks. Most insurers and home security guidelines recommend 3 star as the minimum for external doors. If you see a cylinder labeled TS007 3 Star, you know it's been properly tested and certified, not just marketing noise.
Pick the right brand for your door
Not sure which brand suits your door?
Tell me what door you've got and what you're trying to achieve. I'll talk you through the options on the phone, no obligation.