Motorisation moves on

BLINDWARE

Blindware has announced the launch of its next generation 28mm wireless DC rechargeable tubular motor, Grant Norton, Managing Director, Blindware, tells WFA.

“This powerful 1.8Nm motor now has a universal USB-C charging port and no visible cables, making it even more compatible with everyday living. Fully compatible with our ‘UFO’ Hub, this motor can be linked quickly and easily to Google Home, Alexa or Siri voice control.

The new 28mm wireless DC tubular motor will replace the previous 28mm motor, effective immediately. 

Blindware’s Motolux brand is renowned for high-quality, long-lasting motors that are quiet and seamless in operation.

Our new 28mm DC Rechargeable USB-C motor offers customers a motorised blind solution without the need for an expensive electrician to install connection.

“It adds value to the sales channel of manufactures and retail outlets, by offering their customers a premium motorised blind solution that is easy to install and cost effective – a fantastic upsell for customers upgrading the blinds in their home.

“Universal USB-C charging port for versatility makes this product functional in every home, with long times between charge.

“DC motor products work well when an AC power connection is not easily available,” says Norton. “They are great at motorising blinds in already established homes, without interfering with finished plaster and paint while installing the electrical connection. There’s no mess, no fuss and no extra installation cost.” 

“Traditionally, motorised blinds have been a luxury option, a premium upsell in new home builds or major renovation projects. Now, with wireless DC motors being more cost effective and easier to install, the market for motorised blinds is expanding to include people who are simply upgrading the window furnishings in their homes. With demand increasing, the market for motorised window furnishings will continue to grow.”

“Google Home and Alexa have changed the game in this area. Inexpensive to buy and intuitive to use, home automation is now extremely accessible to the public. Everything from music, lighting, security and yes, window furnishing able to be operated at the touch of a button. The wave of smart home technology has increased demand, making automated window furnishings even more appealing to the public in the last few years. I don’t think we have seen the peak of the trend yet.”

Norton tells WFA most industries in the home improvements sector have seen a boom over the first few years of Covid, adding; “The motorised blind market is no different. People working from home are more aware of the function and comfort of their home environment, and how that impacts their work productivity. Less travel and entertainment expense has allowed surplus money to be used to make home improvements. Access to superannuation enabled larger scale renovations and home upgrades for many.” 

SOMFY 

Somfy’s connected solution, Connexoon Window RTS, is said to allow users to stay connected to their home and effortlessly automate daily tasks. Opening and closing the blinds is made easy, with the simple touch of a button via their smartphone device or voice control through a smart speaker. 

“Somfy customers can experience a connected home through a multitude of options,” Somfy Oceania’s Product Marketing Executive, Nicki Beggs, tells WFA. 

“Users want the ability to communicate with their home and we are constantly looking for ways to provide these solutions and enhance our products, whilst improving our overall customer experience”. 

Connexoon Window RTS is an intuitive, smart and playful app that allows users to stay connected to their home – providing them with the ultimate peace of mind whilst they’re away from home or overseas on a holiday.  

“As an entry level connected solution, Connexoon Window RTS is designed to simplify life by effortlessly automating Somfy RTS motorised solutions within their home. Featuring scenario scheduling and timers, customers can create their own ambiances and routines. By creating a ‘Bed Time’ scenario, a user is able to dim the lights and close the window coverings at the touch of a button.”

“As the smart home market continues to evolve beyond controlling lighting, security and entertainment systems; so does the capability to control all your devices through centralised apps such as IFTTT (If This, Then That) and Home Assist.”

Somfy customers have the ability to expand their use of the Connexoon Window RTS by integrating it with a third party app called IFTTT. IFTTT is a powerful tool for connecting all smart home products and services. Using ‘applets’ to trigger desired actions or commands, the platform works as a bridging system between ‘services’.

“For example, users are able to setup an applet in IFTTT which connects to Connexoon Window RTS. This then allows Android and IOS users to create a widget on their smartphone lock screen, making it faster and easier to control their Somfy RTS motors via a touch of a button, from anywhere in the world.” 

“For the more advanced users, integrating Connexoon Window RTS with the Home Assist app is also possible. The Home Assist app is a cloud based, centralised control system that allows users to connect their smart lighting, smart plugs and other smart home appliances.”

“As we move into spring and the weather begins to change, customers have the ability to setup automated commands to react based on the predicted weather forecast. Through the integration of Home Assist, users are also able to connect to a suite of apps or data sources including the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). 

“Users can create a rule in the app, for example, if the weather is predicted to reach above 32 degrees, Home Assist will trigger a command to Connexoon Window RTS to automatically close the motorised internal blinds and curtains, retaining the home’s coolness and improving energy savings.

“A ‘connected home’ with Somfy gives consumers the freedom and flexibility to live well and lead a simpler way of life – providing them with the ability to automate devices in their home environment, whilst reducing their energy consumption.”

BECKER

Anthony Wallace, Managing Director of Becker, tells WFA the company continues to see growth in demand for products supporting the Connected Home. 

“Thanks to the recent upgrade of our Home Hub, it is now possible to configure the new central control unit using the free Becker Central Control App. The CC41 Becker Central Control gives both the installers and the consumer a more intuitive way to install, connect and then use the Becker App.”

“It allows users to conveniently control the unit using a smart phone or Tablet. Previous models used a web based interface which was an area Becker wanted to upgrade on the new system.”

“Replacing the previous CC31 & CC51 generations of control unit, this version will act as the “one for all control system” in future. We developed the CC41 in house and were therefore able to precisely tailor it to meet the markets requirements. It can directly control all of the current wireless products in the Becker range using USB wireless sticks. This includes the current generations of radio controlled products, Centronic, as well as the new wireless generation of Becker Bi-Directional Radio Systems, Centronic Plus, which will be launched in 2023.”

The system offers numerous benefits, from allowing the installer to setup the hub in an easy, efficient manner to the simplicity of allowing the end user to arrange groups and sub groups as they so wish, he says. 

“The consumer also has the added flexibility of setting up timers at Sunrise/Sunset or at the specific time as required – also allowing consumers to change the times from one day to the next.”

Users also have the option of accessing the system remotely via a secure cloud connection. The CC41 can also be operated using smart speakers equipped with Amazon Alexa.

“It is clear that consumers are very aware of their home environment and what they can now do; adding total automation to their window shades is just another expectation the consumer has in their homes. The CC41 clearly meets these needs.”

He says that Becker continues to see a lot of challenges in the supply chain in Europe, “from shortages in all types of raw materials to major delays in logistics, which makes maintaining a constant supply of products extremely challenging.” 

“For us in Australia, it basically means we need to forecast well in advance of where we had previously. We need to consider all the various logistical challenges that Becker have sourcing product in Europe to our own challenges of merely securing space on vessels in a timely manner to get the finished products into our warehouse. Nothing goes smoothly anymore, so you need to assume the worst case scenario if you want to give yourself the best chance of avoiding supply shortages. So far we seem to have managed these challenges pretty well, but the challenges are on-going and with what is going on in Europe at the moment there is no sign of these challenges easing.”

DALEKIT

“The rise in awning motorisation has been a massive shift in the way customers utilise their sun protection products,” says Dalekit Managing Director Joe Pajeska.

“Long gone are the days where a motorised awning meant a folding arm awning overlooking the harbour; the trend is now shifted truly to motorisation becoming the norm and it is only getting bigger.

“The options available to the customer of today are no longer limited to a hardwired switch to a wall plate and an on/off button, but extend to solar powered motors, integrated smart home automation/Cbus systems as well as every major player in the market selling their own smart home hub to allow the customer to control both their internal and external blinds from the comfort of their lounge.

“This is where the future is truly going to make a difference. With customers concerned over climate change it is now possible to actively cool your home with automated blinds that will come down in the morning and go back up at night using timer functions. Integrations to sun sensors allow for awnings to come down/out on sunny days and retract when the sun is no longer shining. Wind sensors allow the systems to retract automatically when registering wind loads the products should not be left out in.

“All of these changes have been gradually creeping into the industry over many years but are now truly accessible to the average customer. The cost of all of these new products has come down with volume sales and this has helped create a new level of customer pride in their home as well as satisfaction. 

“The smart home movement/connectivity has seen climate aware consumers making smart home decisions to do their part in the climate change movement around the world. Actively cooling the home with shades and reducing the need for air conditioning is a major step to limiting our carbon footprint and having customers able to do these changes from their office desk across the city is an amazing thing to be a part of.

“Dalekit has a number of motor partners we represent in the industry and are always available to talk to our customers to assist in getting their clients connected to modern technology.”

COULISSE

At the CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the consumer electronics show, Coulisse launched Eve MotionBlinds, a series of battery powered motors with Apple HomeKit technology, created in collaboration with smart home specialist Eve Systems from Munich (Germany). 

“Eve MotionBlinds is the smartest way to operate window coverings using all the latest technologies including Bluetooth, Thread and soon even Matter. Simple, easy and connective, these smart USB-C rechargeable battery powered motors with Apple HomeKit technology are easy to set up and use to make life easier, safer and more convenient. Eve MotionBlinds is available now for roller blinds. Motors for venetian blinds, cellular shades and curtains will follow later this year. 

The Eve MotionBlinds system works with Apple HomeKit directly from the iPhone, without the need for a proprietary bridge, registration, or any cloud dependency. 

“Simply scan the HomeKit setup code with your iPhone and the blind will join the HomeKit ecosystem, ready to work with other devices in the home, such as smart lighting, thermostats and cameras. That is what we call ‘smart in a minute’. Data is stored locally on the motor, not in a cloud, safeguarding user privacy. The motor is wirelessly installed and USB-C rechargeable.”  

“One of the reasons people stay away from installing smart home technology is that they find installation, setup and use complex. Motorised window coverings have never really made it to the masses for this reason. Solutions were expensive, and difficult to integrate into smart homes. Eve MotionBlinds is changing all that. Thanks to Thread, these smart motors will work with Matter. This industry-unifying standard promises reliable and secure connectivity, so all smart devices will work seamlessly together regardless of the smart home system being used. This means Eve MotionBlinds will not only support Apple HomeKit, but also Alexa, Google, SmartThings, and many others.” 

“At Coulisse, we are experiencing a strong increase in the global demand for motorisation, which is among our fastest growing product groups. A smart home without smart blinds is not perfectly smart. Blinds regulate the incoming natural daylight and sunlight, no other device in the home can do this. As a result, smart blinds contribute to energy savings, safety, and comfort, which are the major growth segments in the smart home market and for consumers.” 

“The heart of modern society is formed by smart technologies that are making meaningful impact to our daily lives. Connected devices, applications and technologies are part of our world both inside and outside the home. The increasing take-up of these, driven by technological advancements, certainly is contributing to the accelerating adoption of smart window coverings. We see the smart home trend reshaping the blinds industry. The global smart home market is expected to triple towards 2025. Nearly one-third of all households will be smart to some extent within a few years. This offers enormous potential for our industry.”

NORMAN

Norman has several updates to our motorisation range for blinds and shades scheduled for early 2023, including Portrait SmartRise Honeycomb, Portrait TDBU/Day&Night Honeycomb, Soluna Roller Shades, PerfectSheer Shades 

“Motorisation has been available in our honeycomb range,” Peter Boyle, Product Development Manager, tells WFA. “However, this latest update will see consumers enjoy many of the sophistications found in the G4 motor used unique to our PerfectTilt Shutter Motorisation program, in their honeycomb shades and roller blinds. The motors have been designed with convenience in mind. This extends not only to their operation but right down to how they are recharged.”

“Having a rechargeable option that is easy in terms of its usability is important. Typically, these motors require the homeowner to climb a ladder when those hard-to-reach blinds need to be recharged. The new system from Norman addresses this issue. 

“Historically this category fulfilled the needs of consumers with hard-to-reach windows, however, over recent years with the trend to automate we have seen a significant rise in motorisation for its convenience and safety. This is an area of the market that will only continue to grow in the future.”

LOUVOLITE

“It’s difficult for most of us involved in the internal shading industry to imagine a world without motorisation,” says David Kennedy, Technical Sales Manager at Louvolite, “as little as less than a decade ago, motorisation was seen to be an area restricted for those very special  and costly installations seen in high end buildings or designer  influenced mansions.

“But of course all that has changed with an ever increasing number of consumers choosing to add the convenience of motorisation when specifying their shades. Many of these motors are now activated either automatically to a timing schedule designed around the family’s lifestyle or to voice activated systems to operate to the whim of the householder.

“The Louvolite  family of One Touch motors has expanded to incorporate the needs and wants of this demanding market whilst maintaining a pricing level which allows their customers  to  maximise the number of motorised shading products sold . 

“The lithium rechargeable motors have fast become the motor of choice by the consumer. This is likely largely due in part to the fact that with the mobile phone explosion, the majority of consumers are now totally familiar with the simple task of recharging a battery. With a phone, the consumer  typically charges  them daily , with a One Touch motor it’s more likely to be more than six months or more between charges.”

Kennedy says that in Australia fixed pane narrow windows are fast becoming an architectural  theme, particularly in a vertical orientation. “Hitherto these have been a challenge for the installation of motors. As lithium battery motors carry the battery within the tube, this requires the tube to be long enough to accommodate both elements. The negative attached to this is that the resultant tubular motor is too long to fit the much narrower windows found in the majority of fixed pane installations. Louvolite has reviewed this situation and as a result created a new “Short” motor within the One Touch programme.” 

The reduction in the motor length is achieved by housing the battery unit outside the tubular motor itself. When installed the battery is connected to the motor by a neat, unobtrusive cable with the battery housing itself, fixed to either the cassette housing the blind or the superstructure to which the blind is fitted. Powered by the same quiet 1.2 n motor as Louvolite’s 1200 series with all the associated benefits and features, the One Touch Short motor will solve those narrow window installations.