REAL Story

Locks You Trust, A Legacy We Keep

Rooted in the Land, Committed to Security

Mr. I-Hui Ho, the founding president of the Association of Locks & Hardware Taiwan and the founder of Real Locks & Security Co., Ltd., grew up tending orange orchards in Yangmingshan, Taiwan. Growing up close to the land taught him grit and honesty—qualities that stayed with him and drove his lifelong support for Taiwan's local industries.

A Small Frustration Sparked a Big Idea

The Real story started with something small—but incredibly frustrating.
One day, Mr. Ho had a terrible stomachache and rushed home, hoping to use the restroom. His wife had given him three different keys, but none of them could open the front door. Desperate, he ended up asking a neighbor if he could use theirs instead.

  He stayed in that bathroom for nearly an hour. Not because of discomfort, but because once he sat down,
  his mind locked in on one thing: Why couldn't a lock just work when you needed it most?

  Even when the neighbor came knocking to check on him, he didn't hear it—he was completely absorbed,
  already sketching out the idea in his head for what would become a reliable, user-friendly, high-security lock.

  That moment of discomfort, inconvenience, and unexpected inspiration sparked his mission to rethink lock design—
  and to create something people could truly count on.

  That whole experience stuck with him.

 

Right after that day, Mr. Ho didn't just brush it off—he went all in.
He took whatever savings he had and started digging into the world of locks. He wasn't from the industry, and had no formal training—but he was curious, determined, and honestly, a little obsessed. He wanted to know: Why do locks fail? What makes a good one? Why hasn't anyone fixed this yet?

What started as a stomachache and a locked door turned into something bigger—a mission to make locks that work when people need them most.

 

The $5,000 Challenge in Chicago
(In the early days of Real Locks, founder Mr. Ho traveled to Chicago to prove the unpickable strength of his design...)

 

Turning Adversity Into Opportunity

Determined to improve lock security, Mr. Ho poured everything he had—his time, his savings, even selling off family land—into creating a lock people could truly trust.
But building a better product wasn't enough. He knew he had to prove it.

So he flew to the United States and personally hosted a three-day lock-picking challenge in Chicago. On the table sat $5,000 in cash, with just one rule: if you can pick my lock, the money is yours.

What happened next was beyond his imagination. On the first day alone, several hundred people showed up—some carrying toolkits, others with arms like bodybuilders.
Mr. Ho barely got a moment to breathe. He hadn't set a time limit, so people took their time. He stood there for hours, drenched in sweat, watching one challenger after another go at his lock.

Things got so intense that by day two, his lawyer suggested setting a ten-minute limit per person—just to keep things under control.

One group even got creative. While one person worked on the lock, they sent two others back home to grab more tools. When they returned, they started digging into the lock from all angles—drilling, prying, poking, even leaving deep gouges in the casing.

But the lock held firm.
Three days. Hundreds of challengers. Not a single person cracked it. And that changed everything.

Among the crowd was the owner of a private club, who had been quietly observing the challenge. Impressed by the lock's strength, he approached Mr. Ho with a request: “Can you make something like this for our lockers?”
That one conversation led to Real's first major overseas order, worth over $100,000.

It was the breakthrough Mr. Ho needed. The gamble had paid off, and Real's journey as a trusted Taiwanese lock manufacturer had officially begun.

 

 

Building Trust Worldwide

For over 50 years, Real has been more than just a lock manufacturer—we've been a trusted partner in security. From Europe's residential complexes to large-scale infrastructure projects in the United States, our locks protect what matters most.

Every product we make meets—or exceeds—international standards for strength, durability, and precision. That's why industry leaders across the globe continue to choose Real: because we don't just meet expectations—we lock them in.

A Lock at the Edge of the World

Around 1982, Real's products began reaching international customers, including one in South Africa. That client invited Mr. Ho on a trip, and during their visit, something unexpected happened.

While exploring the iconic Cape Point Lighthouse—perched near the southernmost tip of the continent—Mr. Ho stopped in his tracks. There, on the lighthouse door, was one of his padlocks. It was unmistakable: the word “REAL” was engraved right on the lock.

He stood quietly for a long time, overwhelmed. From Taiwan to the tip of Africa—how did we get here?
At that moment, something clicked.
It wasn't just about making good locks anymore.
It was about building a brand people trusted, no matter where in the world they were.

That one lock on a windswept lighthouse gave Mr. Ho something priceless: a renewed sense of purpose and the belief that the name “REAL” could one day stand tall across the globe.

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advocating for Taiwan's Lock Industry

Despite this success, Mr. Ho always emphasized the need for Taiwan to have its own lock standards. This passion led him to establish the Taiwan Lock and Hardware Development Association, promoting licensing and product standards to strengthen the domestic industry and ensure Taiwan-made locks stand strong both locally and globally.

 

 

Safeguarding Trusted Partners

Our locks protect major clients and infrastructure, including Taiwan High-Speed Rail, Taipei Metro, CSBC Corporation, and Evergreen Marine. Our smart locks for U-BIKE, co-developed with Giant Manufacturing, use contactless unlocking technology—a highlight of Taiwan's smart city solutions.

 

Innovating for a Smarter Future

Under Chairman Ho Hsi-Hao, Real embraces digital transformation and cross-industry collaboration. We partner with leading technology firms to integrate RFID, AI, IoT, and image recognition into our products, delivering customized smart lock solutions that meet modern security needs.

Our flagship products today are keyless combination locks—a perfect blend of mechanical durability and modern convenience.
At the core of these locks is our proprietary Disk Detainer cylinder, a patented barrel lock mechanism with global protection. This unique design offers superior resistance against picking, drilling, and other forms of forced entry.

Built on over 50 years of engineering experience, our keyless systems are not only secure and reliable but also designed for long-term durability in both industrial and consumer applications.

From lockers and cabinets to smart mobility infrastructure, Real’s lock technology is trusted wherever performance and protection truly matter.

      

More Than Just a Lock

For nearly half a century, we have believed that a good lock is not just about security—protecting lives and property and upholding trust. We will continue to build on our core values of integrity and innovation, shaping a professional, standardized, and competitive industry, and ensuring Taiwan's lock brands earn global trust and recognition.