What INOX does

INOX is the architectural door hardware brand of Unison Hardware, Inc., a privately held California corporation founded in 1993 and headquartered in Sacramento. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures a broad line of mechanical and electrified door hardware built primarily from AISI 304 stainless steel with 95% recycled content, including tubular and mortise locks, deadbolts, sliding and barn door locks, electrified mortise and sliding door locks (notably the PD97 series), Grade 1 exit devices, door closers, and an extensive designer lever catalog of 30+ designs named after global cities. INOX holds multiple industry-first patents, including the winged deadbolt (PD95), the patent-pending PD2000 TwistLock, the CeraMax ceramic coating system, and the MicroArmor antimicrobial coating, and its products are certified to UL, ADA, ANSI/BHMA, ISO9000, ISO14021, and LEED standards.

INOX sells exclusively through a network of select showroom dealers and distributors with no direct-to-consumer channel; pricing is not publicly disclosed and products are assembled-to-order, with deeper project discounts and freight-prepaid terms available above $2,500 net through the Unison Hardware sales team. Revenue is generated across three streams: one-time architectural hardware sales, recurring access-control subscriptions via the INOX Smart cloud platform (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/RFID smart locks with mobile app control), and custom hardware/professional services for named luxury and institutional projects. The company serves five primary verticals: residential, commercial/office, hospitality, healthcare, and multi-family/mixed-use properties, with named installations at Cartier NYC, Wynn Resorts, Four Seasons, Fairmont, Disney, Century Plaza Towers, Pier 70, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the VA, City National Bank, UC Berkeley, Pace University, and Salons by JC. The dealer-distributed model, founder-led product development (notably co-founder and VP of Product Development Qianyan Cheng, recipient of the 2021 DHI Robert G. Ryan Award of Merit), and recent product launches across mechanical, smart, and architectural categories position INOX as a niche specialist in premium specification-grade hardware rather than a volume commodity player.

Name

INOX

Legal name

Unison Hardware, Inc.

Website

https://inoxproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

INOX (Unison Hardware, Inc.) designs, engineers, and manufactures premium architectural door hardware - mechanical locks, electrified hardware, exit devices, and smart access control systems - serving residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and multi-family customers through an exclusive U.S. dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Door Hardware

NAICS

Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321)

SIC

Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Hardware & Door Controls (Hinges, Locks, Closers, Panic Devices) (IMADAIAI)

Keywords

• Architectural door hardware
• Commercial locks
• Electrified mortise locks
• Smart access control
• Stainless steel hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Door Hardware Sales: INOX generates revenue through the sale of mechanical and electrified door hardware products including locks, levers, handlesets, deadbolts, exit devices, door closers, hinges, and auxiliary hardware. Products are assembled to order with pricing varying by item.
2. Smart Lock and Access Control Systems: Revenue from smart locks and integrated access control solutions including hardware and associated cloud-based software access management.
3. Custom Hardware and Professional Services: Revenue from custom-designed hardware solutions for specific projects (such as the Century Plaza Towers custom levers and pulls) and specialty finishes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INOX (Unison Hardware, Inc.) designs, engineers, and manufactures architectural door hardware, primarily in stainless steel, including mechanical locks (mortise, cylindrical, tubular), electrified mortise locks, smart tubular handlesets, door closers, exit devices, and privacy barn door locks. The company sells assembled-to-order configurations through a dealer and distributor network serving commercial, hospitality, healthcare, multi-family, and residential projects, with proprietary technologies including MicroArmor antimicrobial coating, CeraMax ceramic coating, and the INOX Smart app-managed access platform.

Product overview

INOX (by Unison Hardware, Inc.) offers an extensive line of residential and commercial architectural door hardware and security solutions. The product portfolio spans Mechanical Locks (tubular, mortise, cylindrical, deadbolts, sliding/barn/pocket door locks, multipoint trim), Electrified Hardware (access controls, power transfers, electrified mortise and sliding door locks), Exit Devices (Grade 1 panic/fire exit devices), Door Closers (DC90, DC85, DC61), Smart Solutions (INOX Smart cloud-based access control platform with smart locks for swing and sliding doors), Designer Levers (30+ lever designs named after cities), and specialty finishes/coatings (CeraMax ceramic coating, MicroArmor antimicrobial). The company serves residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and industrial (LNG tanks) sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INOX Smart: Integrated smart lock and access control solution combining engineered door hardware with cloud-based technology for multi-family and mixed-use properties
• CeraMax

Products and services

• Mechanical Locks (Mortise, Cylindrical, and Tubular)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of scrap metal recycled through local recycling centers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hager Companies: Family-owned US manufacturer of architectural door hardware including locks, hinges, exit devices, and door closers. Comparable to INOX in commercial-grade mechanical hardware, electrified hardware, and channel-based distribution.
• Omnia Industries: Family-owned US manufacturer of high-end architectural door hardware (locks, hinges, pulls) in solid brass and stainless steel. Closely comparable to INOX in craftsmanship, custom capabilities, and specification in luxury residential and hospitality projects.
• Sugatsune America: Japanese-owned manufacturer of premium architectural and sliding door hardware with strong designer/finish range. Comparable to INOX in specialty sliding and pocket door hardware, premium finishes, and architect-driven specification.
• Baldwin Hardware: Premium residential door hardware brand (now under Spectrum Brands) focused on solid brass locks and handlesets. Directly comparable to INOX in the luxury residential entry-set category with similar emphasis on design, finish variety, and custom specifications.
• Rocky Mountain Hardware: US-based artisan manufacturer of bronze and stainless architectural hardware including door pulls, locks, and bath hardware. Comparable in premium artisan positioning, custom finishes, and architect-specified luxury residential/hospitality demand.
• Emtek Products: ASSA ABLOY-owned premium residential hardware brand focused on designer locks, handlesets, and finishes. Most directly comparable to INOX in the luxury decorative residential and custom-specification niche, with similar assembled-to-order and finish-driven positioning.

Broad incumbents

• ASSA ABLOY: World's largest lock and door hardware group (Yale, Medeco, Emtek, Corbin Russwin). Competes in the same architectural and commercial hardware categories as INOX, including premium residential and electrified access control, with massive global scale.
• Allegion: Public US-listed global leader in security and door hardware (Schlage, LCN, Von Duprin). Directly comparable as a manufacturer of mechanical locks, electrified hardware, exit devices, and door closers across commercial and residential markets, but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio than INOX.
• dormakaba: Swiss-listed global provider of access solutions including locks, door hardware, automatic doors, and access control. Overlaps directly with INOX in commercial mortise locks, electrified hardware, and integrated access systems for hospitality and commercial real estate.
• Schlage (Allegion brand): Iconic Allegion-owned residential and commercial lock brand. Comparable to INOX across both residential handlesets and commercial-grade mechanical/electrified locks, though at much higher volume and broader distribution than INOX's luxury niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/INOX.Products

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INOX