Company Overview

For over 40 years, Essex Electronics, Inc. has researched, developed and manufactured superior quality access control products for the security industry. Founded in 1977 in Carpinteria California, Essex was initially a joint venture with Essex International, a producer to the OEM automotive industry. Later Essex became a part of United Technologies Corporation until it’s acquisition in 1982, by the current ownership. One of the first products developed by Essex was the original Keypad Keyless Entry^® system for Ford Motor Company.

Essex heavy duty, vandal-resistant Keypads, Card Readers, Door Access Switches and Keyless Entry Access Control Systems have become the choice of security professionals worldwide. Unlike traditional mechanical, membrane or conductive rubber keypads, Essex keypads and touch switches feature an advanced piezoelectric switching technology with no moving parts. Tested more than a Billion cycles, Essex switches are built to last, unsurpassed in their ability to tolerate any environment. IP66 rated and designed to operate in even the most extreme climate conditions and vandal prone areas.

Post 9/11, Essex Electronics was appointed to manufacture the Keypad component of an FAA/JAA certified cockpit door locking control system. Utilizing Essex Piezoelectric Switch Technology, over 8,000 keypads have been manufactured and installed on commercial aircraft fleets around the world.

Essex has developed a complete line of access control readers, Keyless Entry systems, touch, and no touch switches and accessories.

• Rugged Access Control Readers – Essex KTP Series Keypads, RoxProx^™ Series 125kHz Proximity Card Readers and new iRox^™ 13.56MHz Smart Card Readers are Industry Standard Readers designed to interface with most OEM access control panels. Essex PiezoProx^®, iSMART^™ and new T-Prox^™ combination Keypad/Card readers are designed for airports and other areas requiring a dual method of identification for a higher level of security.
• Door Access Switches – Essex PEB Series and Hand-E-Tap^® Programmable ADA Compliant Access Switches are rugged piezoelectric touch switches designed to operate in various high use, harsh and vandal prone environments. The new Hand-E-Wave^™ hands-free Stainless Steel Switch utilizes advanced microwave technology. Ideal for use in sterile environments such as hospitals, clean rooms, and food processing plants, Hand-E-Wave is designed to help reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria.
• Keyless Entry^® Systems – From smaller residential to larger commercial applications, Essex offers a complete line of keypad, card and combination access control systems. The SKE Series are self-contained keypad programmable systems suitable for basic single door access control requirements.
• Customization – Essex has implemented a quick turn customization program which includes laser marking of company logos on various products.

In addition to fully integrated in house electronics manufacturing and rapid product development capabilities, Essex provides exceptional customer service and technical support. Essex has established a worldwide reputation for innovative, superior quality, Professional Grade access control products proudly designed and manufactured in the USA.

Essex has gained a reputation for manufacturing superior quality products. This reputation has been achieved by continually improving our production process and by utilizing highly trained, motivated employees whose attention to detail and pride in workmanship support our primary objective…

When asked why Essex Keypads are superior to those offered by other Keypad manufacturers, our customers cite the following distinctive qualities:

• Extremely Reliable Performance ~ Switch technology tested over 1 Billion Cycles
• All-Weather Design ~ IP66 Rated, 100% Relative Humidity
• No Moving Parts ~ Nothing to replace or wear out
• Virtually Indestructible ~ Vandal Resistant Design
• Various Industry Standard & Custom Outputs Available
• Superior Quality Product ~ Proudly Designed and Manufactured in the USA

Essex has fully integrated electronics manufacturing capabilities including through-hole assembly and automated surface mount assembly. One of the primary advantages of in house assembly is the flexibility in scheduling shorter production runs thereby reducing lead times of standard and special order product.

During one of the final stages of production, Essex performs an encapsulation process on each Keypad. This process seals the Keypad’s circuit assembly protecting the integrity of the circuit against the elements in even the most demanding environments.

Laser Marked Keypad Graphics – Essex Electronics continues its dedication to manufacturing superior quality products. New laser marked graphics on stainless steel withstands wear from high use and harsh environments (JA Jetfuel, bleach, etc..). Currently utilized on all Essex 12 Pad 3×4 Keypads, this state of the art technology will be added to additional products for enhanced durability and custom marking solutions.

In addition to manufacturing highly reliable Keypads with various Industry Standard Outputs, Essex has developed a number of versatile Keyless Entry systems designed to provide various access control solutions for a variety of home and business, elevator, industrial, and vehicle applications.

With millions of products in operation, Essex has established a worldwide standard in reliable, solid state, industry standard Keypads, Key Switches and Keyless Entry^® Access Control systems. For more information contact Essex at 1-800-KEYLESS.