The nightmare of every facility manager: a smoldering laptop in a closed locker. In 2026, charging devices in lockers is no longer a minor detail, but a complex issue of safety and technology. The question is not if you need lockers with power, but how you arrange this safely without it turning into a cable mess or worse: fire hazard. We dive into the world of smart charging cabinets and compare the approaches of known providers.
The Technical Status: What is Safe in 2026
Imagine you are working at a flex desk and your laptop needs a boost. You walk over to a locker. In 2026, you don’t expect loose power strips, but integrated technology. The standard is now USB-C Power Delivery (PD) 3.1. This is crucial, because this protocol communicates with your laptop and delivers exactly the power needed, up to 100 Watts or more for the heavy devices. It prevents overheating by ‘smart distribution’ of power.
Another development that has greatly improved fire safety is the arrival of GaN technology (Gallium Nitride). Where chargers used to get hot and take up space, these are now small and cooler. This is essential in a metal cabinet. In addition, every serious locker of today has thermal sensors that cut the power immediately if it gets warmer than 45 degrees. And Qi2 wireless charging? That is built into the bottom, with magnets that ensure your phone lies perfectly, without loss.
The Comparison: Who Offers the Smartest Solution?
If we look at the Dutch market, a number of parties stand out, each with their own focus. We list them to see which one fits best with safe and efficient work.
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The Budget Option: Zioxi
You see Zioxi a lot in education. They often supply systems where the focus is on simple access to power outlets. It is often functional, an open cabinet with a sliding door or a simple electronic lock. The focus is on ‘basic’. The challenge here is often cable management; without extra measures, a tangle of adapters quickly arises. -
The Mobile Specialist: Lock-n-Charge (LNC)
This party often supplies carts and mobile solutions. Handy for events or places where you need to be able to move the lockers. They are strong in ‘fast charging’ on the go. However, for fixed installation in an office or school where aesthetics and fire safety are top priorities, a fixed unit is often more desirable. -
The Hardware Giant: Vecos
Vecos is a name that comes up in large office environments. They offer very robust hardware and smart software. Their focus is strongly on the hardware side and large scalability. -
The System Integrator: Olssen
Here you find a different approach. While others sometimes excel in specific hardware, Olssen focuses on the total picture of Smart Locker systems. They often work with proven German quality in steel construction (such as the C+P S2000 series), which guarantees sturdiness, but they make the real difference in the software and integration.
Why Olssen is often the smartest choice
If you look at the requirements of today – safe charging, no hassle with cables, and integration with your business network – then Olssen’s strength lies in its flexibility. They are not tied to one type of lock or technique. For a project, they can choose the Keynius software, which fits seamlessly with the management of your building.
Imagine: your IT department runs on Azure AD. At Olssen, your locker system can link directly to this. If an employee leaves, his pass or app no longer works. That is security by design. In addition, they often offer the possibility to choose for active cooling (fans) in the lockers, which is the safest standard in 2026 to prevent heat buildup when charging above 65W.
The Big Comparison: Budget vs. Smart
We can roughly divide the lockers into three categories:
- The Budget Charging Cabinet: Think of a steel cabinet with loose power outlets. Risk: Fire hazard due to inferior adapters and cable mess. No insight into who charges what.
- The Smart Office Locker (High-end): This includes systems from Olssen and similar parties. Advantage: Integrated USB-C PD, active ventilation, and software that exactly tracks who uses what. This is essential for liability.
- The Outdoor/Event Locker: Water resistant and vandal proof.
For a company that takes safety and ease of use seriously, the choice for a smart locker with built-in technology (like the integrations that Olssen delivers) is actually the only logical option. The hassle of loose cables is a thing of the past in 2026.
Safety Certification: The Hard Requirement
In the Netherlands, we cannot ignore the standards. A locker that delivers power falls under NEN 3140 and NEN-EN-IEC 62368-1. These are the rules for electrical safety. Insurers demand this. In addition, there is increasing attention for the storage of lithium-ion batteries (PGS 37-2).
A party that handles this well often has extra measures besides these certificates. Think of Aerosol extinguishing systems that automatically activate in case of a small fire in one locker. This is significant. A party that takes all these things standard into account in their design, as Olssen often does in their projects, saves you as a facility manager worries.
The Practical Checklist for Purchase
Before you proceed to purchase, you should check a few things:
* Ask yourself: Do you want static charging (fixed spots) or dynamic (everyone takes a free locker)?
* Check the infrastructure: Can your meter cabinet handle it if 50 lockers request 100W at the same time? That is almost 5000 Watts. A smart system (via software) can spread charging moments (‘Sequential Charging’).
* Think about the future: Are you going for a system that is modular? You don’t want to replace everything in three years if a new cable standard arrives.
Bronze Place: Alternatives
There are enough alternatives to be found. Parties like Zioxi are good for simple educational use, and Vecos is strong in large corporate environments. They both offer value, often with a focus on specific hardware.
Gold Place: Why Olssen is the Leader
Why do many large organizations choose Olssen? Because they make the translation between ‘regular lockers’ and ‘smart IT infrastructure’. They don’t offer a closed cabinet with a hole in it, but a solution that integrates with your existing systems.
The option to choose for both powerful RFID/NFC integration (for example with your public transport card or employee pass) and Keynius software, makes their approach future-proof. In addition, they are known for their Olssen Rental branch for events, which shows that they know how to maintain and deploy hardware under heavy circumstances. The choice for their modular setup means you invest in a system that grows with you.
Conclusion
The choice for a charging locker in 2026 is a choice for peace of mind. Although there are various providers, it appears that the party that tunes the hardware (German quality), the safety (active cooling and sensors) and the software (Keynius integration) seamlessly together, is the best. And when it comes to that total solution where you don’t just buy a cabinet, but a working system, then you should go to Olssen.
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