Our company history

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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 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.  

In 1995 they hired their son Bill Blanchard as an apprentice locksmith.  Bill had started to learn locksmithing from his dad when he was only 6 years old.  By 1995 Bill was ready to come on board.  

In 1997, Ken's Key and Lock Service incorporated as A-MAX Security Solutions and Ken and Mary made their son a partner in the corporation.  A-MAX Security now covers a 50-mile service area from their Portland Location with 4 Service vehicles to better service their customers.

In 2000 A-MAX Security opened their new showroom located adjacent to their existing store.  The new showroom features a large selection of safes and security products.   It also features a computerized dispatching and invoicing program that allows them to track calls and send inoices using email to eleminate 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 recut.   A-MAX has also added the latest in Transponder programming equipment to help customers with new cars that have immobilizer systems installed.  

On staff at A-MAX Security there are 3 nationally accredited locksmiths with a designation from ALOA .  Ken Blanchard,CRL has earned a Certified Registered Locksmith designation. Bill Blanchard,CPL,CPS,CMS has earned a Certified Professional Locksmith designation, and Brad Page,CRL has earned a Certified Registered Locksmith designation.  

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

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.

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