Mark Brookes, Global Product & Standards Director at Chubbsafes, discusses the evolution of one of the world’s most enduring security brands, the role of materials science, and how a 190-year legacy informs future strategy
Mark Brookes: I lead the development of Chubbsafes, a 190-year-old brand known for high-security, certified safes. My work focuses on ensuring our products meet the latest global standards, including upgrades aligned with the T2 burglary rating. It is my responsibility to maintain the balance between a deeply respected heritage and today’s expectations for security innovation.
Chubbsafes has reached an extraordinary milestone of 190 years. What has enabled the brand to maintain trust and relevance for nearly two centuries?
Chubbsafes has remained trusted for 190 years by focusing on protection and innovation. The brand has consistently adapted its solutions to match the security challenges of each era and respond to real-world risks. That willingness to evolve has kept us aligned with the needs of customers.
Our long technical heritage has created a culture built on rigorous testing, solid engineering, and continuous refinement. Each generation of product builds on the knowledge of the last, strengthening materials, improving construction, and advancing performance standards. That sense of accumulated expertise is a major reason people continue to rely on the brand.
Our values – To Care, Be Fair, and Dare – sit at the centre of this approach. They guide decisions about how products are designed, how we respond to new threats, and how we work with customers and partners. Caring ensures attention to detail and genuine protection. Being fair promotes accountability and transparency. Daring encourages the exploration of new ideas and technologies.
Chubbsafes has stayed relevant by combining these values with consistent technical progress. Trust has grown naturally because customers have repeatedly seen that the brand adapts without losing its principles. This continuity of purpose is something customers regularly point to when choosing Chubbsafes over newer entrants to the market.
The brand has evolved through major industrial and technological shifts since 1835. How has innovation shaped Chubbsafes’ identity, and how does it continue to do so today?
Innovation has defined Chubbsafes from the moment we introduced our first patented safe. Each era brought new industrial tools, new criminal techniques, and new expectations, and we stayed ahead by anticipating how those shifts would reshape security.
Historically, that was visible through new barrier materials, improved resistance to cutting and drilling, lighter constructions that retained strength, and evolving certification standards. These developments were direct answers to the pressures of the time and reinforced the idea that a safe must always outperform the threats it is designed to withstand.
Today, the landscape is more complex. Security involves advanced testing methods, more sophisticated attack tools, and a greater emphasis on both physical performance and user expectations. It also includes digital considerations – connected features, smart integrations, and the ability for a safe to interact with wider building-management systems.
Chubbsafes continues to adapt by investing in research, refining materials, and reassessing how products are built and certified. Innovation is not an abstract concept for us; it is a practical, ongoing process that ensures our solutions remain credible and robust in a fast-moving world.
As expectations grow, innovation becomes not just desirable but essential to maintain the level of assurance the brand promises.
