Mechatronic locking system for critical infrastructure: SimonsVoss presents the Fortlox Series
The security of critical infrastructure facilities is increasingly in the spotlight. With the German KRITIS umbrella act, the NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Resilience Act, legislators have significantly tightened the requirements for the physical protection of installations. Against this background, SimonsVoss has expanded its portfolio with the Fortlox Series – a mechatronic locking system designed specifically for the security requirements of critical infrastructure.
What is the Fortlox Series and which applications is it suited to?
The Fortlox Series is a modular mechatronic locking system consisting of several components: a cylinder, a multifunctional key, corresponding software and a mobile app. The system addresses a broad range of infrastructure facilities – including electricity, wind and water supply installations, IT and telecommunications centres, transport and logistics facilities, transformer stations, fibre optic networks as well as educational, research and healthcare facilities. Large company complexes and municipal facilities are also part of the target spectrum.
The market launch of the Fortlox Series began in 2025 in Germany. Following a successful pilot phase, several projects have already been implemented across various sectors. This year will see the system expanded and rolled out to other European countries.
Technical characteristics: battery-free and robust
At the heart of the Fortlox Series is the knobless, flush-mounted cylinder. One decisive feature: it requires no battery and is therefore maintenance-free. The necessary power is supplied by the key, which considerably simplifies servicing. The cylinder is protected against vandalism and damage and is suitable for confined installation situations.
The cylinder's protection rating varies depending on the version:
- Standard version: IP protection rating 54 with an operating temperature range of –25 °C to +65 °C
- Optional: IP protection rating 67 – the highest category for dust-tight and water-protected versions
- Extreme Protection (EP): Additional protection against insects and foreign particles
The cylinder's form is identical to that of conventional mechanical locking cylinders. This allows a one-to-one replacement of existing systems without the need for extensive conversion work. Available options include the euro profile double cylinder, the euro profile half cylinder and the Scandinavian oval profile variant. The range is complemented by a cam lock and a padlock for a wide variety of requirements in technical infrastructure, public buildings and large company complexes.
The Fortlox Key: a multifunctional key system
The Fortlox Key is the connecting element of the system. Its multifunctionality is remarkable: it acts simultaneously as a physical key, active transponder, BLE synchronisation interface, optional RFID medium and power source. The key works like a reversible key – including when turned 180 degrees – and enables a delay-free, continuous locking movement.
Access rights can be assigned quickly and easily via the software and can also be time-limited. A key advantage: access rights are stored entirely on the key itself. There is therefore no need to physically visit each individual cylinder for programming. The key is synchronised via SmartStick, SmartRelais 3 or the SYNC2Go mobile app on iOS or Android smartphones. This makes it possible to enable access rights precisely for specific assignments, limit them in time and restrict them to individual locking devices – without staff having to travel to central rights assignment stations.
Digital management and documentation
The Fortlox Series offers centralised or decentralised management via the established LSM software or the new AXM software. The system fully documents which access rights have been assigned and logs all access events as well as access attempts. This is particularly relevant for the compliance requirements arising from the regulatory framework for critical infrastructure.
A practical advantage for organisations with frequently changing access rights – for example due to shift and deployment schedules or cooperation with external service providers: the system enables flexible and secure management without additional administrative burden.
Integration into existing system landscapes
The Fortlox Series can be fully integrated into the SimonsVoss System 3060. The Fortlox Key can be used not only for Fortlox components, but also as a transponder for other SimonsVoss components such as the Digital Cylinder AX, the SmartHandle AX Advanced and the SmartRelais 3. This enables a step-by-step migration of existing locking systems towards mechatronic systems without requiring complete reinstallation.
Why is the system relevant?
The tightened legal requirements for the protection of critical infrastructure – especially following the power blackout in Berlin – have made the importance of reliable security systems clear. The KRITIS umbrella act explicitly requires measures for physical protection against natural disasters, sabotage and terrorism.
Many facilities in the affected sectors are still equipped with purely mechanical locking systems. While these offer reliability, they cannot be managed and documented digitally. The Fortlox Series closes this gap: it combines the robust reliability of mechanical systems with the modern requirements of digital access management and compliance.
The system offers a practicable solution particularly for geographically distributed installations with infrequently used entry and access points. Access rights can be assigned remotely and in a controlled manner without a central network infrastructure or extensive cabling – a decisive advantage for operators of infrastructure in area-wide sectors.
Practical implications for operators
For security managers in companies and public authorities with critical infrastructure, the availability of such systems opens up a course of action that was previously not available in this form:
- Replacement of mechanical locking devices without reinstalling complete locking systems
- Digital documentation of all access events and access attempts for compliance requirements
- Flexible management of temporary access rights for external service providers and changing deployment schedules
- Maintenance-free operation thanks to power supply via the key
- Robustness and weather resistance for outdoor installations and environments with extreme conditions
Outlook and future availability
The Fortlox Series will be presented live at SicherheitsExpo 2026 in Munich in July. The expansion of the system and the European rollout are planned for 2026. Operators of critical infrastructure should keep an eye on this development, particularly if they want to modernise their existing locking systems without having to reckon with major investments in building technology.
With the Fortlox Series, SimonsVoss addresses a growing market and a real need: the secure, documentable and flexible digital management of access rights at critical infrastructure sites, without having to sacrifice reliability and freedom from maintenance.
