Cylinders OLLÉ
Information about OLLÉ
OLLE: safes and locks for physical security
Who OLLE is and its origin
OLLE, commercially known as Arcas Ollé, is a Spanish company dedicated to physical security, safes and locking systems. Its documented origins date back to 1845, when Pablo Corcelles Vallés opened a locksmithing workshop in Vallbona d’Anoia, Barcelona, where he made key locks by hand.
The Ollé family later took on the development of the business and, from 1929, drove the manufacture of safes and mechanical combinations. With approximately 181 years of history, Arcas Ollé is a historic reference in the Spanish sector of safes, armoured cabinets and protection solutions for homes, businesses, jewellers, security companies and organisations that safeguard valuable goods.
OLLE products: beyond the door cylinder
OLLE's speciality is not the usual euro-profile cylinder of a home door, but the comprehensive protection of goods by means of safes and specific locking mechanisms. This changes the way its products are assessed: a safe lock, an electronic combination and a relocking system perform a different function from a door cylinder.
- Surface-mounted, built-in and professional safes in various security grades.
- Armoured cabinets, enclosures for the custody of weapons, interior compartments and solutions for cash.
- Key locks, lever locks, mechanical combinations and electronic combinations.
- Systems with delayed opening, locking, double lock and control options for professional uses.
- Bolts, handles, reinforced hinges, anchors, anti-fishing letterboxes and configurable interior accessories.
In the interior compartments of certain safes, OLLE uses numbered locks and a reversible flat key, with the possibility of master-keying. However, this use should not be confused with a residential security cylinder or with an escutcheon for an entry door.
Security technologies and applicable standards
The protection of an OLLE safe is based on the armouring, the anchoring and the locking mechanisms. Several of its series feature characteristics such as anti-drill armouring, relocking systems that are triggered by attacks, rotating bolts, anti-crowbar hinges and intumescent seals for passive protection against fire. These elements work together and should not be assessed in isolation.
The relevant standard for these safes is UNE EN-1143-1, which classifies secure storage units by grades of resistance. For example, the AT and AF series have models certified in grade I, the AM series in grade II and the AK series in grade V. In some configurations, locks certified to EN 1300 and complementary approvals are also indicated.
The terms anti-bumping, anti-pick, anti-extraction or dimple key are associated above all with cylinders for doors. In an OLLE safe, security depends on the chosen lock, the structure and the anchoring. For an opening or repair of this type of product, it is essential to identify the model and not force the system.
Recommended OLLE series according to use
The AF Built-in Series is an option for those looking to integrate a safe into a wall, with UNE EN-1143-1 grade I certification and different locking combinations. It can suit homes, offices and shops that want discretion and approved protection. The AT Series, also grade I, is geared towards the home or business and accepts configurations with a key lock, mechanical combination or electronic combination.
When the contents demand more protection, the AM Series offers grade II and, in one of its versions, fire resistance certification to UNE EN-15659 LFS 30P. For jewellers, significant cash or security companies, the AK Series reaches grade V to UNE EN-1143-1:2019. The Ilux Design lines make it possible to choose sizes, accessories and grades III or IV to adapt to more personalised security projects.
Real advantages and limitations of OLLE
The main advantage of OLLE is its specialised approach: it is not limited to a lock, but integrates structure, armouring, locking systems and the possibility of anchoring. The electronic combination options with delayed opening can provide control in businesses, while the different grades of certification help to choose a solution aligned with the value of the goods or the requirements of an insurance policy.
As a trade-off, a high-grade safe requires an appropriate investment, location and professional installation. It does not always pay off to place a large safe in a home where a more compact, well-anchored certified model would suffice. In addition, a safe does not replace the security of the entry door: to protect a home you must separately assess the cylinder, the lock, the escutcheon and the condition of the frame.
Installation and maintenance of OLLE locks
The location and the anchoring matter as much as the model. Surface-mounted safes must be fixed to the floor or wall by means of the points provided by the manufacturer; on built-in ones, the work must respect the installation guidance. A safe without adequate anchoring can lose much of its usefulness, even if it has a quality lock.
It is worth keeping the keys, codes and documentation of the safe in separate, secure places. It is not advisable to lubricate a lever or electronic lock with generic products without consulting its manual. Failures when entering codes, play in the handle, difficulty moving bolts or a loss of keys are signs to request a check. After a house move, a change of those responsible or a security incident, it may be necessary to reprogram the combination or update the locking system.
Installing and changing OLLE cylinders in Torrevieja
For door issues, we offer 24-hour locksmiths, emergency locksmiths and on-call locksmiths for door openings, emergency door openings, cylinder changes, lock changes, lock repairs and door repairs. We work 365 days a year, including on public holidays and in the early hours. Before any work we provide a fixed quote, and every service is delivered with an invoice and a guarantee, as well as assistance in several languages.
We serve Torrevieja, La Mata, Aguas Nuevas, Los Balcones, La Siesta, San Luis, El Chaparral, Los Altos, La Veleta, Mar Azul and Cabo Cervera, together with Orihuela Costa, Rojales, Ciudad Quesada, Guardamar del Segura and the rest of the Vega Baja. For owners of second homes, this service makes it possible to resolve an access emergency even when they are away. If the enquiry concerns an OLLE safe, it is advisable to state the series and type of lock in order to assess the appropriate technical assistance.