Interlock plans move to house increased hiring

A New Zealand company began developing its U.S.

manufacturing operations in modest quarters last week, but bigger things are in store for Interlock.

Currently housed in about 7,000 square feet at 895 E.

Patriot in Reno, the manufacturer of door and window hardware expects to move early next year into a 45,000-squarefoot building developed by Trammell Crow Co.

Interlock will occupy about 30,000 square feet of the building planned at Rock and Longley, said Axel Husen, president and chief executive officer of the U.S.

operations.

The company will employ 10-12 people by the end of this year, and the number is expected to grow to 50 within 18 to 24 months, Husen said.

Many of those positions will be design and engineering positions, he said.

Interlock works with door and window manufacturers, often custom-designing hardware for individual customers.

"We are very engineering heavy,"Husen said.

Along with Nevada's business-friendly tax and regulatory climate, Reno's location played a key role in Interlock's decision.

"The majority of our business is all over the West Coast, Geographically and strategically, it is a good location,"Husen said.

The company was drawn to Reno, too, because a sister company Securitron Magnalock Corp. is located in Sparks.

Both Securitron and Interlock are owned by ASSA ABLOY Group, a Swedish company that specializes in locks.