Vehicle security specialist Van Guard is set to launch its new patent pending Lock Fitting Template system in early June, introducing a dedicated installation aid designed specifically for professional auto locksmiths and van security installers.
Developed to support faster, cleaner and more consistent lock installations, the new templates aim to remove much of the measuring, marking and rechecking traditionally associated with van lock fitting.
Taking the Error Out of Lock Fitting
Designed around real-world installer requirements, the templates wrap securely around the vehicle door, allowing fitters to quickly mark out the aperture location for the lock. According to Van Guard’s R&D team, the system has been engineered specifically to remove uncertainty from the fitting process.
“If the jig doesn’t fit, you immediately know something isn’t right,” explained Jasmin Lawrence from the company’s R&D department. “The idea was to create a quicker, more reliable fitting process aimed directly at professional lockfitters working on vans every day.”
Jasmin also explained that the templates were developed to simplify installations across multiple vehicle applications by providing consistent measurements every time.
“We wanted to give installers a straightforward way to take the measurements across all the vans without constantly rechecking and remarking,” she said.
The templates are intended to reduce installation time while helping installers maintain a cleaner, more professional finish. By minimising repeated measuring and manual marking, fitters can complete more installations per day with greater confidence and consistency.
Van Guard says the system is particularly beneficial for busy workshops and large fleet installers managing multiple lock fits daily, where speed and repeatability are essential.
Colour-Coded for Cleaner Fitting, Greater Confidence
The launch range will initially cover six popular van applications, including the Ford Transit Custom, with additional vehicle templates already in development. For the Transit Custom alone, three separate template configurations are being introduced to support different fitting positions.
To simplify identification during installation, each template is colour-coded by application.
Manufactured using durable PETG-HF material, the templates have been designed for repeated professional use while remaining lightweight and easy to handle in workshop and mobile fitting environments.
Each template is also supplied with clear placement and measuring guidance, helping ensure straightforward installation regardless of operator experience.
Jasmin said the project has always been focused on improving efficiency for professional installers.
“The whole aim was to speed up the process for lockfitters,” she added. “These are designed specifically for people fitting locks day in, day out.”
Real-World Testing Delivers Positive Results
Ahead of the official launch, Van Guard supplied pre-production samples of the new template system to a select group of high-volume customers and experienced lock installers, allowing the company to gather practical, real-world feedback before bringing the product fully to market. According to Van Guard, the response from early users has been overwhelmingly positive.
Installers reported that the templates significantly reduce fitting time while improving consistency across installations, particularly beneficial for professionals carrying out multiple lock fits each day. Acting on feedback from the trial period, Van Guard has also refined the system by adding clear identification labels to every template, showing vehicle compatibility, door type and position, the correct lock code, and the key alignment measurements required during fitting. Each template additionally features a QR code linking directly to installation instructions for quicker on-site reference.
The updated template system reflects Van Guard’s wider commitment to installer-focused product development, with ongoing refinements shaped by feedback from the field. By combining practical usability improvements with enhanced fitting guidance, the company aims to deliver solutions that not only strengthen vehicle security but also make the installation process faster, simpler, and more reliable for trade professionals.
More Vehicle Applications on the Way
The initial launch will focus on six vehicle applications, including the Ford Transit Custom, with more models already in development following launch.
“We’re already looking at templates for additional vehicles,” said Jasmin. “This is only the start.”
With demand for van security continuing to grow across the UK fleet and trades sectors, solutions that improve installation efficiency while maintaining precision are likely to be welcomed by the automotive locksmith and vehicle security industry alike.
The Van Guard Lock Fitting Templates launched in early June, with further vehicle applications expected to follow later in the year.