100 years of tradition: IKON celebrates its anniversary
The heritage brand IKON celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. Assa Abloy is thus honouring a century of security technology that began in 1926 with the founding of Zeiss Ikon AG. From modest beginnings in Berlin precision engineering, one of Germany's best-known brands for locking and security technology emerged. To this day, the Berlin site remains a symbol of technological development and dependable quality.
The beginnings: from optics to locking technology
The foundation for IKON's success was laid in Berlin precision engineering. AG Hahn für Optik und Feinmechanik, part of Berliner Goerz AG since 1910, had decades of experience with tight tolerances and precision components from the production of optical instruments. Following the merger to form Zeiss Ikon AG, this specialised expertise fed into the development of cylinder cores, key profiles and locking mechanisms.
The result of this expertise was a revolutionary profile cylinder, developed in the 1920s and filed for patent in 1924. This innovation set new standards in Europe and established IKON's reputation as a quality manufacturer. The exceptional durability of the products of that era is still evident today: keys can still be reordered even for original IKON locking systems dating from the company's founding year of 1926.
Transformation after historical upheavals
Following the upheavals of the 20th century, the company reinvented itself completely. The former camera manufacturer gradually transformed into a modern security provider. With the arrival of electronic systems and mechatronic technologies, the brand consistently drove technological progress forward and adapted to changing market requirements.
Modern CLIQ technology for complex requirements
At the heart of IKON's product world today are the advanced CLIQ technology and the purely electronic eCLIQ system. These flexible locking solutions are particularly suitable for complex locking systems in a range of settings:
- Residential complexes with multi-layered access authorisations
- The public sector with high security requirements
- Industrial and infrastructure companies
The portfolio is continuously supplemented by innovative further developments, including CLIQ Connect and the completely battery-free eCLIQ key "Spark". These solutions combine proven mechanical security with the advantages of modern electronic access control.
Proven in practice: major projects as references
The combination of durable components and future-proof technology has proven itself in significant major projects:
Messe Berlin: Since 2003, CLIQ technology with around 11,500 cylinders, 3,700 keys and 29 wall programming devices has provided flexible access management for the extensive exhibition grounds.
University of Tübingen: The university has used an electronic Verso CLIQ locking system with around 11,000 cylinders since 2008. At the end of 2025, the new Cyber Valley I research building was also equipped with the proven technology from Berlin.
The future of security technology: connected and sustainable
In its anniversary year 2026, IKON is looking firmly ahead. As security becomes increasingly connected, digital and sustainable, Assa Abloy combines a century of locking technology experience under the IKON brand with the requirements of the modern buildings of tomorrow.
The ambition to "rethink security without losing the foundation of trust" shapes the development strategy. Innovation paired with reliability have been the defining brand characteristics of IKON solutions from the outset. This philosophy is evident, for example, in the fact that keys can still be reordered today for the security lock with locking cylinder patented in 1928.
Outlook: shaping complex organisational worlds
Through the targeted expansion of their solution portfolio, Assa Abloy and IKON are actively helping to shape the complex organisational worlds of tomorrow. The challenge lies in combining proven mechanical security with the possibilities of digitalisation without jeopardising the reliability that has distinguished IKON for a century.
The 100th anniversary therefore marks not only a historic milestone, but also the starting point for the next phase of technological development. With the expertise gained from a century of locking technology, IKON is ideally positioned to meet the security requirements of the future while maintaining the proven quality standards that have earned the trust of countless customers.
