Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies has filled an important void between mechanical keys and electronic locking systems with its new, improved Schlage King Cobra Series 2 Locks, SNAPT programmer and SNAP! PC. Created for small to medium sized business and facility managers, this next generation in the Schlage King Cobra lock family, the King Cobra Series 2 locks are smarter, more durable and very affordable, providing an easy to manage and intuitive offline lock solution.
An upgrade from mechanical keys, King Cobra Series 2 and SNAP! let end users secure doors, manage lists of authorized users and access an audit trail from the lock to see who went where and when. The SNAP! programmer is USB compatible and the SNAP! PC application is very simple to use. The new King Cobra 2 and SNAP! will also help locksmiths and security dealers create new and recurring revenue streams to grow their business. By upgrading their customers to electronic access control and, then, managing those openings for the customer, revenues will grow.
"Most access control solutions are designed either for the most basic user, where all programming is done at the keypad, or for high security applications, where complex software, training and experience are key," explains Chris Nieshalla, marketing manager with Schlage electronic security. "The King Cobra Series 2 (KC2) lock and SNAP! programmer create a nexus between the simplicity of a USB Thumb Drive and access control lock management. The system is specifically designed for the end user with multiple locks and employees, who finds it impractical to program each lock manually through the keypad, yet does not require the fully featured functions of higher price lock and software solutions. Examples include retail operations, small to medium sized businesses, property management firms, commercial office buildings, schools and many larger institutional facilities."
Several improvements and features have been developed for this series of KC locks. New features include the ability to be programmed using the SNAP programmer and a new lock memory capable of storing up to 1000 individual users and 1000 audit trail events. Other features include a keypad and an iButton credential reader, providing increased security over mechanical locks. The KC2 may also be used with more fully featured software programs, such as Schlage Security Management System Express, offering the ability to program time zones. It is a lock that can grow with a customer's needs. Weather-resistance has been improved on the KC2 locks by providing an elevated level of waterproofing on key electronic parts.
Several models are available. The KC5000 Series 2 is designed for cylindrical and mortise door preps. The KC2 Office Function lock provides a convenient lock/unlock button on the inside of the door, making it quick and easy to allow credential-free passage during the day and credential-only access at night. The narrow stile KC9000 Series 2 locks are designed for use with aluminum doors that rely on various latches and exit devices to secure the opening. The KCR 2 retrofit model supplies easy upgrading from a mechanical pushbutton lock by matching the existing door prep and covering the lock footprint for a clean finish.
"The SNAP Programmer and SNAP PC Application takes off-line access control management to a whole new level, a much simpler one," emphasizes Nieshalla. "Our customers have asked us to make software that manages people and doors and the handheld programmer that delivers data to the lock more intuitive. The new King Cobra 2 locks and SNAP! do not require certification or special training. More importantly, the customer will not forget how they work, even when there are weeks between uploading or downloading."
With the King Cobra 2, programming ports allow the locks to be managed using the SNAP!T handheld programmer, a unique, USB-based device that moves information from the computer to the lock. Partnered with the new, complimentary SNAP! PC application, which is available for download on the Schlage website, it is a valuable tool that is used to add and delete users, as well as download audit trails from the lock.
The SNAP! PC application is used to create a list of users and door names, which are then merged together, determining who can go where and when and is extremely simple to use. The intuitive layout, drag and drop control and functional design let administrators manage a database of users, PIN codes, iButton credentials and audit trails effortlessly. Files can be shared, emailed or transferred between PCs.
When finished working in the application, the SNAP! programmer is connected to the USB port on the PC. An "export" button is used to send all relevant information to the programmer. Once locks are installed, the SNAP! programmer is then taken to the lock and plugged in to download its instructions to the lock. At the same time, an audit trail can be retrieved.
"As needs grow and change for a facility, this new King Cobra Series 2 provides a pathway," adds Nieshalla. "For the end-user just getting into electronics as a means of key control, programming the lock using the keypad may be all that is needed. When the number of doors and employees increase, the user can begin using the SNAP! programmer, which makes programming locks easier and provides an audit trail of who went where and when. Later, the user may want the locks to automatically lock and re-lock at certain times of the day. Without buying new locks, the user can simply invest in the Schlage Security Management System Express software to increase their functionality."