In contrast to conventional door locks, whose locking elements retract and extend parallel to the door leaf surface, Maco’s new Instinct lock features a ‘horsehead’ locking mechanism that is designed to lock in the direction of the door movement and is rotated by 90°, gliding around the striker, generating high contact and sealing pressure.

Award winning design

For the first time, says Maco, a door lock is not only reduced to its closing function but also becomes a design element itself due to its high-quality appearance, winning a Red Dot Design Award and a German Innovation Award.

The development process for Instinct is said to have involved analysing market needs and target groups, as well as determining key design values such as functionality and simplicity.

Maco’s designers then implemented a variety of designs, combining materials and surfaces with durability, protective effect, and corrosion resistance in mind. The design and technology were developed together in close collaboration, with the goal of creating a product that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

How is Instinct opened?

Designed as a locking system that can be combined with any opening solution, proven access solutions such as fingerprint, keypad or transponder are said to be easy to integrate into the system and all available from Maco.

Maco has also developed its own purpose-built mobile app ‘Instinct by Maco’.

Testing & performance

Maco is said to have worked closely with the prestigious ift Rosenheim testing facility in the development of Instinct.

Head of ift Rosenheim Certification, Christian Keher, commented: “As an enthusiastic skier, I like to see the development from locking cylinder to Instinct the same as from a once long, heavy wooden ski to short, ultra-light carving or touring skis – but without decades of development between both types of skis.

“Instinct is a truly new technology that will change the design and use of doors. The pre-requisite however, is independent testing of security,”

The testing of Instinct went through an extensive programme achieving 200,000 cycles according to EN 14846 or EN 1191, with additional burglary and tightness tests also carried out. Certificates can be found on maco.eu for download.

Security beyond the door

Depending on the profile system, three locking elements can be used to deliver up to RC 2 resistance class. Altogether, up to eight locking elements can be installed in one door within multiple positions.

According to Maco, since the locking elements are concealed in the door leaf or frame and no locking cylinder is required, doors can now be ‘seamless’ in design, benefiting in no visible attack point or vulnerability.

Burglary detection

Each individual locking element is equipped with sensors, which are designed to reliably and quickly detect manipulation attempts.

With the integrated acoustic module, the locking system can independently give off an acoustic alarm – no matter at which locking point a possible manipulation attempt starts.

This is said to be unique in the industry, giving an audio warning to potential burglars before they get into the house. Instinct can also integrate into a range of existing alarm or smart home systems.

Complete access protocol

A door can be operated via the Instinct by Maco mobile app, and users also have full visibility of when the doors were opened and closed and by whom within the app, as every door opening is recorded.

The app also features one-time entry, daytime function, child lock mode. All information is stored locally so users have full control over their data ensuring maximum security.

No power, no problem

One question with a door lock which has no cylinder and is exclusively electronically operated, is what to do in the event of a power failure?

In this case, the integrated UPS module (included in the solution) acts as the emergency power bridging and guarantees, in conjunction with the Instinct app, access for at least 12 hours. According to Maco, this reliably bridges the duration of most common power outages as the average interruption time per connected mains consumer in the UK is under an hour per year.

The Maco innovation tour

To experience Instinct by Maco visit the Maco Innovation Tour, coming to the UK in May. For more details visit: www.maco.eu