Detex Corporation has its origins in a predecessor company established in 1878 by Abraham A. Newman to manufacture and sell stationary watchclocks. Thus, DETEX has observed over 140 years of involvement in the Watchclock industry.
In 1923 the Newman Clock Company was consolidated with Watchman’s Clock and Supply Company, Eco Clock Company, and the Watch Clock Division of Hardinge Brothers, Inc. and adopted the name NEWMAN WATCHCLOCK CORPORATION. A few months later the name was changed to DETEX WATCHCLOCK CORPORATION to emphasize to existing Hardinge and Eco users that the company wasn’t the old Newman Clock Company.
Through a series of product improvements over the years, the company modernized its mechanical watchclock line. There were 4 models: The GUARDSMAN tape model, with the capability of continuous registration up to 96 hours; the NEWMAN Watchclock, a 24 hour dial model; the SAF-T-CHEK, a stationary clock with a 7 day dial registration, and the NEWMAN Quartz, a 24 hour dial model with quartz movement.
Detex remained principally a manufacturer and distributor of Watchman’s Clock Systems until 1963, when it first introduced a new line of security hardware products and entered the builders hardware field. These products are designed primarily for use in the control of exits and entries in industrial, commercial, institutional and educational buildings. As a result of this broadening of interests the word ‘WATCHCLOCK’ was removed from the company name in 1964, and DETEX CORPORATION became the official corporate designation.
Detex continued to diversify when, in 1990, it responded to the growing demand in the market for electronic watchtour systems by forging a partnership with Securiton Electronics (now merged into G4S Technology) to distribute the “GCS” line of electronic guard tour systems exclusively in North America.
Detex acquired F Systems Incorporated in October 1993. This eleven year old company, located in Bastrop, Texas, offered access control alarms, annunciator panels and optically controlled turnstiles. This acquisition expanded the ability of both companies to offer integrated security solutions to the safety and security requirements in the markets we serve. On March 11, 1994, the company’s name was officially changed to Designed Security, Inc. (DSI).
1999 was an important milestone in the company’s development with the introduction of the Advantex line of architectural hardware products. These products opened new market opportunities for Detex Corporation as we entered the new millennium. Today, Advantex products have far exceeded our expectations with a full line including rim, surface vertical rod, mortise and concealed vertical rod devices. The number of electrified products offered exceed those by any major manufacturer.
In February of 2008, Detex entered into an OEM agreement with Lockman Peck, LLC to sell a Detex branded, low energy, heavy duty automatic door operator named the AO19 Series. The AO19 is a best-in-class automatic door operator that has many design, installation and service similarities to the other Detex products. In September of 2009, Detex acquired the automatic door operator product line from Lockman Peck, LLC and went into full production in February of 2010.
December 31, 2011 marked the end of an era when Detex discontinued the manufacture of the mechanical Watchclock.
In 2023, construction began on the Detex building in New Braunfels. This construction project served multiple purposes: to modernize and renovate the office space, expand the factory to increase production capacity, and unify DSI and Detex under one roof. This initiative intends to streamline operations, enhance collaboration, and support our continued growth in providing top-tier security solutions.
Today, we proudly acknowledge the contribution of enthusiastic and loyal personnel, in the research, development, engineering, manufacturing and service areas, as well as in sales and general management. It is significant that many employees have been with the company 30 years or more, thus forming a continuity of effort over the years which has elevated Detex Corporation to a position of leadership in the security industry today.
For years, Detex has built reliable, high-performance products by designing for heavy use and providing top-tier support. Through collaboration with locksmiths, architects, contractors, and other stakeholders, we’ve enhanced existing products and developed new ones to meet evolving life safety and security needs. Today, we proudly recognize our dedicated team, many with over 30 years of service, whose continuity and commitment have established Detex as a leader in the security industry.