Black & Decker joins residential access alliance

Sept. 4, 2008
Company to offer Z-Wave residential access control solutions

DENVER – CEDIA (Booth #472) – September 4, 2008 – The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies dedicated to building products based on Z-Wave, today announced that Black & Decker has joined the Z-Wave Alliance and will soon offer new Z-Wave-enabled residential access control solutions marketed under the Baldwin, Kwikset, and Weiser Lock brands.

"Black & Decker is a recognized name in residential security products and an important addition to the Z-Wave Alliance and our growing global ecosystem," said Mark Walters, chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance. "Z-Wave certification guarantees interoperability with CEDIA brands such as Leviton, Cooper, Lagotek and Superna, along with middle market brands that will reach the retail, service provider and security markets. We have been making significant inroads into the residential access and security market, and we're confident that with Black & Decker's addition we will accelerate the global adoption of Z-Wave even further."

Black & Decker will be offering a sneak peek of its residential access control solutions at the 2008 CEDIA Expo, which starts today in Denver. The company's Z-Wave-enabled motorized locks leverage a wide range of wireless features, including RF connectivity for simplified installation and extended entry access controls via a wireless remote control, security control panel or web-enabled cell phone.

"When we decided to extend deeper into the residential access control space, it was immediately clear that Z-Wave would be a key technology platform based on its interoperability, affordability, reliability and ease-of-use," said Dave Albert, vice president of Brand Marketing and Business Development, Black & Decker Hardware and Home Improvement Group. "We are excited to be joining the Z-Wave Alliance and look forward to further building our presence in residential access control."

Black & Decker will be on site at CEDIA conducting interactive product demonstrations of its upcoming residential access control solutions in the Z-Wave Alliance Booth #472, the Black & Decker Booth #493 and at the Z-Wave Lounge on Friday, September 5 at the Westin Tabor Center Hotel.

About Z-Wave
Z-Wave is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers and security systems. Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in more than 300 products. Z-Wave is the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in the wireless category, the CNET "Best of CES Award" in the enabling technologies category, along with PC World's World Class Award. For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.

About the Z-Wave Alliance
Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, FAKRO, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, Intel, Intermatic, Leviton, Wayne-Dalton, Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) and Zensys. Its members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, safety and security. Z-Wave technology is the foundation of all products manufactured by the Alliance members. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visit www.zwavealliance.org.

About Black & Decker Hardware and Home Improvement
Black & Decker Hardware and Home Improvement (BDHHI) Group is a division of Black & Decker, the world's largest producer of power tools, power tool accessories and security hardware. Today, the BDHHI Group includes some of the most recognizable hardware and home improvement brands in the world including Kwikset, Weiser Lock, Baldwin, Price Pfister and K2â„¢ Commercial Hardware by Black & Decker. Visit www.bdhhi.com/accesscontrol for more information.