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KWIKSET TO SHOWCASE “GAME-CHANGING” OBSIDIAN™ DEADBOLT AT CES 2018 (Integrator News)

Striking Design, Keywayless Protection Highlight Most Modern Aesthetic Available

LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2018 Kwikset® brand of Spectrum Brands, Inc. – Hardware & Home Improvement Division, the leader in residential security, will display Obsidian, a visually striking, low-profile touchscreen electronic deadbolt featuring “game changing” design, at CES 2018.

Obsidian deadbolts exemplify Kwikset’s commitment to combining modern design with a high level of security.  Named after a dark, glasslike volcanic rock, Obsidian merges a sleek and modern exterior; a class-leading, minimal, all-metal interior; and advanced mechanical and electronic security features.  Eliminating the keyway also removes the threat of “lock picking” and “lock bumping,” attacks using specially cut keys to defeat conventional pin and tumbler locks.

“Obsidian’s unique, low-profile design will be extremely attractive to consumers as well as dealers,” said Keith Brandon, divisional Vice President of Residential Access Solutions, Spectrum Brands, Inc. – Hardware & Home Improvement Division.  “We wanted to create a one-of-a-kind aesthetic, and we’re confident that we succeeded.  We also made sure that we incorporated all of the features that make Kwikset locks the most secure locks available.  From both a design and functionality perspective, we believe Obsidian is going to be a home run.”

Kwikset’s first keywayless deadbolt, Obsidian features a very responsive, capacitive touchscreen for keyless entry.  The cool white LED display delivers crisp, high-definition LED illumination, and a dedicated lock button provides the user with convenient and fast one-touch locking.

An important feature of Obsidian is the incorporation of the new Z-Wave™ 500 Series chip.  The new chip provides a number of enhancements, including extended wireless range and wireless security features that reduce the vulnerability of the network during enrollment, as well as increased battery life.

Obsidian also includes Kwikset’s patented SecureScreen™, an important feature that can help mask "smudge" attacks, in which passcodes can potentially be jeopardized by detecting frequently used numbers from the oily residues on the touchscreen surface.  In the unlikely event the four AA batteries run out of power, backup power can be supplied via a 9V battery by touching terminals that are concealed so as not to detract from the contemporary appearance.

MSRP for the new Obsidian Z-Wave deadbolt is $229.

About Kwikset

Kwikset is the leading residential lock manufacturer, making homeowners feel safe since 1946. Kwikset works hard to understand the world you live in, so that we can do everything we can to protect it.  The company’s unwavering commitment to meeting homeowners’ needs has inspired its innovative lock portfolio that includes patented SmartKey Security™ deadbolts, keyless entry combination locks, connected home technology, first-to-market electronic lock, Kevo™, door hardware with Microban® antimicrobial product protection and a wide variety of styles and finishes.

Our interior and exterior door products provide customers with the quality, technology, durability and style they want while guaranteeing the highest level of security.  Headquartered in Orange County, Calif., Kwikset is part of the Hardware & Home Improvement (HHI) division of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPB).  Kwikset products are sold online and through retailers and distributors throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australia.  Visit us at www.kwikset.com and https://kwiksetpresskit.com.

Kwikset Media Contacts

Media Press Inquiries
Email: KwiksetPress@spectrumbrands.com

Kwikset RAS Contacts

Art Sesnnovich, Bulldog Communications
Call: (508) 485-0776
Email: art@bulldog-communications.com