Somfy - Innovation, Partnership and a Vision for the Future

As a market leader, backed by over 2,000 patents filed through its global Research and Development Centre, Somfy has built a reputation for efficient, long-lasting solutions that stand the test of time.

But it’s not just the products that have endured. Somfy’s relationships with its customers have too, with many partners having been with the company since the very beginning.

“What sets Somfy apart isn’t just the innovative products we make, it’s the long-term relationship we build and the investment we make in the industry and businesses we work with,” said Mary Ladu, Marketing Manager for Somfy Oceania.

“We don’t just supply products, we are a business maker,” Ladu added.

SUPEREXPO 2026: SHOW TO REMEMBER

Somfy enjoyed another successful show at SuperExpo 2026, capped off by taking home the inaugural Best Stand (Large) award at the WSAA Gala Dinner & Awards.

“The stand was a constant hive of activity, with visitors eager to get hands-on with our latest innovations,” continued Ladu.

A standout moment of the Expo was Somfy’s exclusive customer event held on Thursday morning, which welcomed over 120 attendees for mimosas, coffee and brunch.

Beyond the networking, guests were treated to a special address from Yann Barou, Somfy’s Executive Vice President of Sales Expansion Markets, who shared the company’s bold 2030 vision and strategy, giving partners and customers a compelling look at where Somfy is headed.

“SuperExpo is always a highlight in our calendar, but this year felt particularly special,” said General Manager for Somfy Oceania, Henri Laniece.

“Between the energy on the stand, the customer event and being recognised with the Best Stand award, it was a real affirmation of the work our team put in and the strength of our relationships with the industry.”

PRODUCTS & INNOVATION: THE FUTURE OF SMART SHADING

Innovation sits at the heart of everything Somfy does, and SuperExpo 2026 gave the industry a preview of what’s to come.

The TaHoma switch smart home hub remains Somfy’s flagship product, the true heart of the home.

“By connecting all Somfy products to a wide range of third-party partners, the TaHoma switch enables seamless control through a single point: the hub itself, via voice control or through the TaHoma by Somfy app, essentially becoming the foundation of a complete, connected home ecosystem,” stated Somfy Oceania’s Product Marketing Executive, Nicki Beggs.

Among the most talked-about unveilings at the show was the Sonesse 30 Ultra WireFree motor with USB-C charging, a direct response to customer pain points.

“The new motor not only resolves the charging experience, but it is also enhanced with ultra-silent acoustic performance and a streamlined motor head,” continued Beggs.

The motor is available from October with pre-orders open now.

Also launching later in 2026 is the Sonesse 40 WTe, Somfy’s first WT electronic head motor for interiors. The motor features electronic limit switches on the motor head, quiet and smooth operation, and parallel wiring capability (where two motors can be wired to a single shutter relay).

Looking further ahead to January 2027, Somfy will be ushering in the future of smart shading.

The roadmap includes improved firmware, quieter motors, a streamlined AC motor range (moving to white), and a fully digital commissioning experience powered by the TaHoma pro app: faster, clearer, simpler and more reliable than ever before.

Additionally, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) app control of Zigbee motors will allow in-home app control without the need for a hub.

“We are always asking ourselves how we can develop products that meet both the needs of our manufacturers and installers, and end users, and the Sonesse 30 Ultra WireFree RTS is a great example of that,” said Beggs.

“We listened to feedback and delivered not only a solution, but an enhanced, premium product and what we have on the horizon is going to be a real leap forward for the industry.”

PARTNERSHIPS & SERVICES: GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

Somfy believes that great products are only part of the picture, and that the services and partnerships it offers are what truly transform business.

“This year marks a significant milestone for us: 25 years of the Somfy Expert Retail Partnership Program,” announced Jordan Smith, Installer Channel Manager for Somfy Oceania.

“We have spent a quarter of a century investing in the market through retailer support, digital marketing and lead generation.

“It is a testament to Somfy’s long-held commitment to growing alongside its partners.”

Building on that legacy, Somfy announced the launch of Somfy Partner+ at SuperExpo 2026.

“Partner+ is an exclusive network of industrial partners designed to help members strengthen their market position sustainably, with access to unique services built to accelerate business growth,” revealed Somfy Oceania’s Industrial Channel Manager, Mohamed Ourdjini.

For end-to-end business support, Somfy Pro Services delivers a complete solution, built around four pillars: greater efficiency through Pro Digital Tools; expertise through sales and technical training; business growth through marketing support and lead generation; and tailored customer and after-sales support.

Somfy also offers a trusted network of Somfy-trained electricians specialising in the electrical connection and programming of remote control and automated solutions.

Joel Gray, Projects & Services Manager for Somfy Oceania, shared that Somfy Services is currently available in the Sydney metropolitan area, Newcastle, NSW Central Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide, with plans for continued expansion.

EXPANDING THE OFFERING WITH BFT AND TELECO

Since 2024, BFT Australia and New Zealand has been part of the Somfy Oceania family, extending the product offering to include gates, garage doors and access automation. The recently launched BFT B-EBA Wi-Fi module can be installed in select BFT gate motors, enabling control directly through the TaHoma switch hub.

At SuperExpo, Somfy announced the integration of Teleco into its portfolio, bolstering its outdoor solutions offering. Somfy RTS is directly embedded into Teleco’s hardware, creating a single streamlined solution for outdoor lighting and automation, also controllable via the TaHoma switch hub, bringing the entire home into one cohesive system.

“The additions of BFT and now Teleco are game changers for what we can offer,” said Laniece.

“We are building towards a truly complete ecosystem (indoors, outdoors, access, shading, lighting, heating), all connected and controllable in one place.”

LOOKING AHEAD: 40 YEARS AND BEYOND

In 2027, Somfy celebrates a landmark 40 years in Oceania, a milestone it looks forward to marking with its customers, partners and friends.

Products unveiled at SuperExpo will continue to roll out, and the industry can look forward to Somfy’s next appearance on the world stage at R+T Stuttgart, with a group visit planned to Somfy’s Head Office, manufacturing facility and R&D Centre in Cluses, France.

“Forty years is something to be incredibly proud of, but what excites us most is what comes next,” said Laniece.

“We have a strong pipeline of products, a growing ecosystem of partners and a team that is deeply passionate about what they do.

“We can’t wait to share what’s ahead.”

SOMFY CROWNED BEST LARGE STAND AT INAUGURAL WSAA AWARDS

Somfy claimed Best Stand (Large) at the WSAA Gala Dinner & Awards night on the Gold Coast last month, with judges praising a guest experience that set a new benchmark for trade exhibition design.

Judged across design, interaction, engagement, flow, product presentation, and branding, the win recognised what many at SuperExpo were already talking about: a stand that felt less like an exhibition booth and more like a home.

The judging panel commended Somfy for the “seamless guest journey from entry to exit, making it very easy for guests to enjoy the space while offering brilliant product and brand placement, premium design and build finishes.”

“We are so proud that our hard work has been recognised, and honoured to win with so many other incredible booths in the running,” said Mary Ladu, Marketing Manager for Somfy Oceania.

“Every year, the calibre of stands gets better, so it was an incredibly competitive field.”

The planning process began twelve months prior to the show, when exhibitor bookings first opened.

“The concept started with one key message we wanted to send: that the TaHoma switch is the central element in creating an entire smart home ecosystem,” revealed Ladu.

“From there, we mapped out the key products we were launching which gave us a picture of the end product we needed on the stand.

“This made it clear that we had a few distinct zones both indoor and outdoor that we wanted visitors to experience.”

From that foundation, the creative brief to stand builder Expo Centric was straightforward.

“We wanted it to truly look like a modern home, not an exhibition stand.

“We wanted visitors to step into the shoes of an end-user and be taken through the journey of a fully integrated smart home, with TaHoma switch as the beating heart of it all.”

Positioned at the front of the exhibition hall, visitors were greeted by an inviting archway, the entry to the Somfy smart home.

Visitors arrived first into the kitchen where they could order a coffee (a Somfy stand tradition) and snack on branded cookies, while getting hands-on with one of the show’s headline product announcements: the Sonesse 30 Ultra WireFree RTS with USB-C charging.

Guests then naturally gravitated to the ‘hallway’, featuring a pod demonstrating Somfy’s CBS motors and controls, along with a motor wall displaying the new motors on hooks.

“The motor wall allowed visitors to actually pick up, feel, and inspect our new motors because they’re typically hidden inside the blinds.

“We wanted to make the invisible visible.”

The hallway then opened into a fully dressed living room, complete with couch, coffee table, shelving, television, and rug, and integrated with a curated selection of third-party smart home products including Philips Hue lights and bulbs, a Sonos speaker, Google voice control, and a Wiser sensor, all connected to the TaHoma switch.

The final zone took visitors outdoors, onto grass and a ‘deck’ beneath a Somfy-powered awning and pergola, both integrated with Teleco lighting.

The pergola also featured two motorised external screens, alongside a BFT-powered gate motor, again all controlled via the TaHoma switch.

“We didn’t want to just attach end products to walls; we wanted to create an immersive experience from start to finish”.

Beyond the physical build, the Somfy team placed special focus on animating the stand to keep people coming back throughout the three days of the show.

Live demonstrations on the new TaHoma Pro user experience ran throughout the day, led in part by colleagues from Somfy’s global Product Line team, who travelled from France specifically for the event.

“It was important for us to have our French colleagues join us to show how much Somfy globally looks to invest in the industry and local market.”

To drive visitors through every zone of the stand, Somfy ran a giveaway where entrants needed to collect a sticker from each section of the stand to complete their entry.

The activation extended beyond the Somfy stand, with the brand partnering with eight other exhibitors: Classic Blinds, Dalekit, Hunter Douglas, Meyer Blinds, Ozroll, Pinz, Shadelab, and Verosol, to offer bonus entries by collecting cards from their stands.

This drew foot traffic to partner stands across the floor.

A private customer event on the Thursday morning rounded out the schedule, allowing existing customers and partners to network over mimosas and brunch.