Santa Clarita padlock manufacturer Pacific Lock Co., also known as Paclock, has been officially approved to provide high-security padlocks to the U.S. military.
High-security padlocks are used to secure nuclear weapons systems, arms rooms and government labs, according to a Paclock news release, and come in a commercial version and two versions only available to certain government personnel.
Paclock Marketing Manager Brittany Waugh said that while the company already holds contracts with the federal government to provide medium-duty and low-security padlocks, Paclock became its second high-security padlock supplier in October, shipping 2,000 high-security locks on Oct. 28.
Before being approved, the locks were reviewed for compliance with the U.S. military’s specifications for high-security padlock design.
“This isn’t a lock you’re going to see at Home Depot,” Waugh said. “This is when you need a padlock that’s validated (for) … long-term endurance.”
Waugh said the padlocks – designed to withstand extreme high and low temperatures, brute force and even acid – are manufactured with parts “85-90%” sourced within the U.S., with the remaining components shipped internationally.
When Paclock opened in the late 1990s, Waugh said the goal was to compete with other low-cost, commercially available padlocks. In the early 2000s, the company switched gears to prioritize more high-end designs, raising prices and centering manufacturing in the U.S.
The padlocks are currently assembled at Paclock’s Valencia manufacturing facility. Waugh said that Paclock moved to the location in March as the company was expanding.
“Especially with the military … this is a lock that’s definitely in high demand,” Waugh said. “(The commercial version) has gotten a lot more traction than we initially realized.”
Waugh said Paclock’s commercial version of the high-security padlock, which according to the Paclock release sells for about $3,000, has garnered interest for securing gun ranges, firework storage and other sensitive facilities.
