What is the point of installing a security lock on a van or truck when they are already fitted with standard locks? They are needed because standard locks have two great drawbacks: they are readily vulnerable to attack from a potential thief and they have to be opened with keys in possession of the driver.
For these reasons there are at least 3 occupational categories for which installing a security lock is a very smart choice. Continue reading
There are special cases where it may be better to choose something else, like a marine padlock or one with a long shackle. There are cases where the level of security required cannot justify the cost. But if there are special needs and you can afford the price of a one-piece hardened, case-hardened and anti-corrosion treated steel padlock, this is definitely the most technologically advanced product in the field of mechanical padlocks.
One-piece steel padlocks, such as the Viro Monolith, represent an development of the armoured padlocks. In this case we are not dealing with steel armour which protects a brass body, but the entire body made of special high-strength steel. Continue reading
We have always been taught that certain compromises are impossible. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Apparently you can’t have both. Yet sometimes it is possible to achieve compromises which can successfully bring together opposing needs. This is the case with armoured padlocks. Continue reading
When you have to buy a padlock in a shop, or worse still in a department store, where it is harder to get advice, it is often difficult to assess the difference between one lock and another. When they are of the same type and dimensions they all seem alike at first glance. The price makes a difference, but even in this respect the difference between a good padlock and a poor one is not so great. So there is a high risk of buying an unreliable padlock. An unreliable padlock doesn’t just mean one that is easy to open, but also one that may soon be blocked or jammed, especially when used outdoors. This means it is a padlock which instead of being useful and avoiding problems actually creates new ones.
Let’s look at a comparison of the differences between two 50 mm rectangular padlocks: a Viro one, made in Italy, and one imported from the Far East. Continue reading
A good quality padlock is a small, high precision machine which, despite its small size, consists of many different components. Here we can see the different parts that make up a traditional rectangular Viro padlock (click the image for a larger view):
Besides the rectangular padlock there are also padlocks for chains and for roller shutters, which instead of a shackle use one or more rods:
But there are in fact many different types of padlocks: marine, armoured, monoblock, etc. We have already seen how to recognise a good quality padlock in general terms, in future blogs we will study in detail the characteristics of the various types.
Watch how Viro padlocks are made
You can see the catalogue of Viro padlocks here.
There are locks of all types, shapes, sizes and prices. How does one differentiate a good quality product from a poor one?
Apart from the trust we place in the manufacturer and retailer, there are some important features which can be checked. Continue reading