How MB Sentinel locks out theft with Southco: A case study
With an increase in home or office deliveries, the need for secure package drop-boxes are essential.
With e-commerce growing to more than 32% in the United State in 2020, the need for a secure parcel drop-box solution is higher than ever. With the rise in e-commerce is an increase in packages, which are left at buyers’ doorsteps — making them vulnerable to damage or theft.
In fact, according to a survey by C+R Research, nearly half of respondents reported receiving a delivery at home every week, with 43% reporting themselves as a victim of package theft. Using a secure parcel box ensures peace of mind for consumers who are waiting for their online purchases to safely arrive at their residences and places of business.
“Package delivery is not pizza delivery, so it just makes sense to have a safe space for this activity to take place,” said Jeff Kutas, Founder, MB Sentinel.. We believe this added home security benefit is our product’s greatest feature.”
MB Sentinel is a manufacturer of mailbox and package delivery boxes for residential and commercial buildings. The company fills a need in the marketplace for consumers to have a secure space to receive delivered packages at their homes.
When designing their patented postal boxes, MB recognized the need for a high-quality locking solution to ensure the boxes were secure and resistant to vandalism and corrosion in outdoor environments. They also needed a reliable supplier with manufacturing capabilities to scale these solutions for growth.
The solution
By partnering with Southco, a global designer and manufacturer of engineered access solutions, MB was able to fulfill all of their access hardware needs with one supplier. Southco provided mechanical locking options and electronic locking upgrades, as well as an ergonomic hinge solution that makes the parcel box door feel more substantial for the end-user.
Southco’s R4-EM Electronic Rotary Latch delivers the convenience of electronic access control with the security of a proven rotary latch design in a compact, integrated package.
Electronic access control: Southco’s R4-EM Electronic Rotary Latch is integrated into the front delivery door of all MB’s models and is connected to an electronic keypad, which actuates the latch to open the door. Depending on security and delivery requirements, the R4-EM can also be used on the rear door of the enclosure.
For example, when a model is integrated into a structure like a fence, a second keypad and latch combination is allows the homeowner or renter access from the rear of the enclosure. The electronic latch can also be installed on the rear doors of free-standing enclosures with separate letter trays and package compartments.
In this application, only a homeowner can access the compartments from the rear door by entering a unique access code into an access controller connected to that electronic latch. The front door can be equipped with a secondary lock code that allows package carriers to access to the lower parcel compartment. Postal carriers can still deliver letter mail as usual.
Southco’s electronic access solutions (EAS) — such as the R4-EM Electronic Rotary Latch — combine Southco’s proven engineered mechanical locks and latches with electronic actuation, providing enhanced security and remote-controlled and monitored access.
In the case of a power outage, the R4-EM can be installed with a mechanical override, which allows the user to open the door manually. MB Sentinel chose Southco’s E5 Cam Latch and PT Lock Plug for their exterior doors as mechanical override options.
Mechanical latching: When choosing a mechanical solution for securing the rear door on a full-cabinet, wall-insert placements, MB chose the A7 Compression Latch, which provides a weather-tight seal from the elements and keeps intruders from having access from the front door located on the outside of a home or business.
The heavy-duty, lever-style action provided by Southco’s A7 series provides door-closing leverage for heavier gasketed door applications through a combination of strength, ease of installation, and simplicity of operation.
Southco’s line of Constant Torque Position Control Hinges provide constant resistance throughout the entire range of motion, enabling users to easily position doors or other mounted components and hold them securely at any desired angle.
In addition, all of MB Sentinel’s package delivery systems are equipped with Southco’s E6 Constant Torque Position Control Hinge. The E6 series features integrated constant torque, which allows for constant resistance throughout the entire range of motion.
As a result, users can easily position parcel box doors and hold them securely at any desired angle — fully opened, fully closed, or anywhere in between.
The implementation
So far, business at MB Sentinel is growing and customers appreciate the quality of their products. MB has been awarded two patents and their mailboxes have earned recognition in the industry, winning a 2021 Star Award from The Texas Association of Builders (TAB).
With a growing demand for their secure parcel boxes, MB has recently opened distribution-to-builder segment through Acme Brick, a Berkshire Hathaway company, to now offer immediate access to homebuilders to purchase their solutions. Partnering with Southco helped MB Sentinel offer a high-quality locking solution with the ability to customize security options.
Southco’s extensive manufacturing capabilities and operational excellence, also make them the ideal partner to scale business with MB’s projections for future growth.
“People already believe that our Mailbox and Box Sentinel parcels safes are the best. Using Southco hardware gives me the confidence to agree with them,” said Kutas.
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Filed Under: Clamps • locks • latches
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