ELF Update July 31st 2008.


Membership

The Russian and Ukranian locksmith associations are in the process of applying to ELF for membership.
The President “Dave O’Toole” will travel to the next Israeli Locksmith association meeting to prepare for their entry into ELF and to discuss ELF convention 2011.

Patented Keys

A list of patented key systems has been prepared. This was based on information from manufacturers and distributors in The UK. There was a delay in the compilation of the list due to possible legal action against a manufacturer but this has been resolved. The list will be sent to all associations and the list can be updated in each country and returned so that a comprehensive European list can be compiled.


Assaabloy
Following the board meeting in Athens, Mogens Jensen promised to get their lawyer in Iceland to investigate the problems and to get them resolved. This has not happened yet and our member in Iceland is still experiencing difficulties with the Assa supplier who has produced another unacceptable contract for signing.
Mul-T-Lock in Israel have laid down terms and pricing conditions for the locksmiths in Israel as to how much they should charge customers for servicing MT5 products. The Israeli locksmith association are in dispute with Mul-T-Lock over these practises and want to get it resolved
Interkey have made a complaint to the German Trade Commission re AAs purchase of Simons Voss as they believe it will seriously affect the German locksmith market.
The President of ELF has been in contact with Mr Johan Molin and Ake Sund of AA with a view to resolve issues affecting locksmiths and an agreement was made to survey all the locksmiths in Europe to establish exactly the difficulties locksmiths have with AA. Ake Sund requested that provision be made to include any positive aspects of the AA relationship with locksmiths. Mr Molin has assured ELF that he wants to resolve all difficulties as he values the locksmith market.
The survey form was sent to all ELF associations as well as ALOA, Australian and South African which will be returned very soon by all so that there can be a follow up meeting in Stockholm to discuss all relevant matters and to improve the relationship with AA and locksmiths.



Auto Locksmithing

The VSDG working group has commenced trials with the pin codes in The UK. This started on June 1st with the Mazda group and accredited auto locksmiths. A further meeting took place in Brussels with the EU commission in July to look at the legalities of extending this to ELF locksmiths.
Tim Hart will have an update on this project at the fall meeting in Warsaw.
The planned auto locksmith convention planned for Barcelona has been deferred due to difficulties in sourcing a suitable hotel to host the convention.


ARGE

ELF have contacted Mr Alfred Scheurer the secretary of ARGE again about the cooperation between ELF and European Lock manufacturers.
He has assured ELF that it will be debated at their annual conference in Vienna in September.


New Locksmith Products

A new page on the ELF website is being developed for manufacturers to promote new products to our members.
This will be of benefit to our members looking for new products and services to increase their business and also attract more visitors to our website.

ELF Conventions

2009 - Poland

ELF is making every effort to help our Polish friends in organising the convention next May.
Booking information etc. will be sent send it out to all associations to forward it to all members as early as possible. Final arrangements will be made at our board meeting in Warsaw in November.

2010 – Istanbul

2011 – Tel Aviv

Insight

Preparations are being made for next years “Insight” magazine.
Any articles and advertisements should be sent to the secretary Ona Luomala as soon as possible.

Dave O’Toole
(President ELF)