In 1987 Ken and Mary Blanchard opened Ken's Key and Lock Service in a one hundred square foot building on Highway 99W in Portland, OR.  Ken had spent the last 10 years working as a locksmith in Portland and was ready to branch out on his own.  Mary owned a resale bookstore and was ready for a bigger challenge.  Together they opened the doors on Independence day, 1987.  Ken was in charge of all locksmithing duties and Mary handled the bookkeeping.  Business picked up rapidly and they soon had 2 additional employees working for them.

Ken's locksmith continued to grow and add additional services to the locksmithing services offered.  In 1995 they hired their son Bill Blanchard as an apprentice locksmith.  Bill had already started to learn locksmithing from his dad when he was only 6 years old.  Bill was a welcome addition to our company.

In 1998, Ken's Key and Lock Service incorporated as A-MAX Security Solutions. A-MAX Security was chosen as a name that encompassed more of what our company has grown to do.  We stopped using the name Ken's Key and Lock Service, however we continue to keep Ken's Locksmith as an assumed business name as hundreds of our customers have known us as Ken's for years.   Bill Blanchard realized that the Metro area truly lacked a full service locksmith company.  A-MAX added specialty safe opening and automotive chip keys to our existing lock and door services.

In 2000 A-MAX Security opened a new showroom located adjacent to their existing store.  The new showroom featured a large selection of safes and security products.   It also featured a computerized dispatching and invoicing program that allows them to track calls and send invoices using email to eliminate paper records.  They have also upgraded their equipment to include computerized key machines that cut keys to manufacturer specifications reducing the number of keys that need to be re-cut.   A-MAX has also added the latest in Transponder programming equipment to help customers with new cars that have immobilizer systems installed.

A-MAX Security Solutions staff of 5 full service locksmiths includes 2 nationally accredited locksmiths with a designation from ALOA .  Ken Blanchard,CRL has earned a Certified Registered Locksmith designation. Bill Blanchard,CML,CPS,CMS, CAL, has earned both the Certified Master Locksmith designation and the Certified Automotive Locksmith designation. .  

In addition to ALOA Certified locksmiths, A-MAX is proud to have one of Oregon's only twice certified safe tech's Bill Blanchard has received both SAVTA  and NSO designations of Certified Professional SafeTech and Certified Master Safecracker, respectively.

Bill Blanchard, CML,CPS,CMS,CAL is Oregon's only locksmith to carry 4 designations including 3 top level certifications in locksmithing and safe opening and repair.

Beyond national certification, every Technician gets manufacturer certification to make sure that they stay up to date on all of the latest electronic and mechanical security products A-MAX offers.

In July 2007, A-Max moved to an expanded showroom at the intersection of 30th and Barbur Blvd.  This new showroom offers an expanded offering of lock and safes including one of the largest selection of security products in Portland.