Even though the mechanical industry of locks and door hardware has entered — along with the rest of the world — into the age of Wi-Fi and wireless, there’s still the physical need to install, repair and even retrofit existing solutions to meet end users’ evolving security needs.

“A typical wired opening consists of a number of discrete components around an opening: a locking device — whether it’s a strike, maglock or electro-mechanical lock — a wall reader, sensors for door position and request to exit, and so forth,” says Lester LaPierre, director of business development – electronic access control, ASSA ABLOY, New Haven, Conn. “All these discrete components are mounted around an opening. Often, these drops are required to be in conduit, which means involving multiple trades to install one opening.”