Locksmith ABUS

ABUS: from the Volmarstein padlock to the cylinder in your front door

ABUS is one of the best-known security brands in Europe. Founded in 1924 by August Bremicker in a forge in Volmarstein, Germany, the family business first made its name with padlocks, then with bicycle locks — its first dating from 1931. What fewer people know is that ABUS also makes excellent door cylinders, very common in Belgium, from the consumer cylinder to the high-end patented system.

Bravus: the reversible-key range protected by patent

The top of the ABUS range is called Bravus: a system with a reversible key (no "right way up" to insert the key), entirely developed and manufactured in Germany, available in several levels (2000, 3000, 4000). The key profile is protected by the patented Intellitec system, with protection running until 2030. The Bravus MX Magnet version adds a magnetic element in the key, designed specifically to block copies made by 3D printing.

In practical terms for you: copying a Bravus key is only possible on presentation of the security card handed over at purchase. No one can have a duplicate of your key made without your knowledge — which is exactly what you expect from a front door.

EC550 and the consumer cylinders

In Belgium you very often come across the ABUS EC550 and EC660 cylinders: well-made cylinders, certified to the DIN 18252 and EN 1303 standards, but without the Bravus patent protection. That is a sensible choice for an interior door or a tight budget; for a main front door, we recommend stepping up a level — the price difference is modest compared with the gain in security.

Our work on ABUS locks

• Non-destructive opening — door slammed shut or key lost with an ABUS cylinder: in the vast majority of cases we open without damage, and the cylinder remains usable.
• Replacement and upgrade — moving from a standard cylinder to an EC550 or a Bravus, sized to your door (measured on both sides from the central screw).
• ABUS key copies — our catalogue covers the common ABUS profiles: XP2S, XP1, X PLUS, EP10, D6, RX, TOP, as well as the ABUS Pfaffenhain systems. For protected keys the security card is essential — it is your protection.
• Master key systems — ABUS offers locking systems on a master key system (one master for the building manager, one key per flat), which we install in co-ownership properties.

Certifications: how to read an ABUS spec sheet

Serious ABUS cylinders carry the DIN EN 1303 certification — the Bravus security card corresponds to a key security of class 6, the maximum under the standard. Depending on the model, SKG (Netherlands) and VdS (Germany) certifications are added. If your insurer requires a specific level of protection after a burglary, these certifications serve as proof: we help you choose the model that matches your policy.

Unsure about the ABUS cylinder in your door, or need a duplicate of a protected key? Call us: we identify the model, check the card and come out the same day in Brussels and Brabant.