A Lock with an Eye

August 14, 2012

Mul-T-Lock, which makes heavy-duty locks and doors for the international market, and Starcom Systems, which makes GPS tracking devices, partnered up to develop Starcom’s idea for a lock system coupled with a chip and GPS. This would let people monitor possessions—especially mobile ones or those in remote locations—by cell phone, smartphone or computer.

Maxim Prilutsky, managing director of the WatchLock Division at Starcom, tells ISRAEL21c: “Basically we manufacture for many different monitoring solutions. We had the idea that two units [the lock and the GPS] could protect one asset. If we are talking about the trucking industry, it can protect the truck itself, and even the driver,” he says. “We approached Mul-T-Lock [because] we knew their reputation for making very high-quality locks, and when they heard the idea, they offered to be a partner. Starcom is responsible for the electronic parts and the application that manages it and Mul-T-Lock for the physical parts,” Prilutsky adds.

This includes the actual lock and key, plus modifications like weather resistance so the electronic parts are protected. WatchLock will cost about $380 per lock, along with a $7-a-month maintenance fee for alerts and monitoring.

Starcom smart security products also include a GPS-based container tracking solution that monitors the whereabouts of high-risk transportable goods such as volatile chemicals. It’s so effective that Lloyd’s of London reduces insurance premiums for security companies that use it. This product can also monitor temperature inside the container so as to avoid spoilage or dangerous chemical reactions. For more information: http://www.starcomsystems.com

Source: Excerpts of an article by Karin Kloosterman, www.israel21c.org