Classic coverage

ROLLEASE ACMEDA

Rollease Acmeda’s SS38 Roman shade solution, which boasts a contemporary, slimline profile, is now available in ready made kits.  The prefabricated kits consist of aluminum headrail with tilt rod, CTS spools, brackets, Planetary Chain control with chain and end covers, and a safety tag.

“Benefits of the kits include reduced aluminium wastage as well as a tighter assembly program, with CTS spools, tilt rod and chain control all assembled into the aluminium headrail, reducing assembly time and ensuring a quick blind production turn-around. And with kits 90% pre-assembled they’re designed to simply cut down and go. Kits range in size from as little as 0.9m up to 3.9m, increasing in 300mm intervals and if a motorised solution is required, a quick and simple changeover to the Automate Cord Lift Motor has been designed into this leading edge solution.”

“Meanwhile Rollease Acmeda’s Automate CL 0.8 Cord Lift Motor is compatible with the SS38 Roman Shade system, for a smarter shade solution. Designed to drive roman shades up to four metres  in width and drop, the CL0.8 motor features dual output shafts, allowing cord spools to be evenly positioned on either end of the head rail, resulting in an ideal leveled lifting operation. The system also offers effortless shade control using our modern Automate Push 5 remote controls. Featuring proprietary ARC (Automate Radio Communication) technology, the patented protocol features bi-directional communication, which when used in conjunction with the free Automate App, offers users live animated feedback when controlling their shades.”

“Users can also upgrade to the Pulse 2 HUB offering shade control via a smartphone using the Automate Pulse 2 App, with additional scene, timer and room settings for a truly customised experience. Compatible with IoT integration, the solution integrates with the latest smart home devices including Google Home, Alexa and now Apple Home kit and Siri, using natural voice commands to deliver completely hands-free roman blind control. It’s also compatible with third party smart home systems such as Control 4, Savant and more. A child safe solution, the system’s smooth and quiet operation makes it an all round winner in this category.”

BLINDWARE

“With more time than ever spent in the home, consumers’ attention will undoubtedly be drawn to their furnishings and plans put in place to replace, upgrade and explore completely new territory,” says Grant Norton, Blindware’s Managing Director. 

“Blindware’s Motorised Roman Track system has been developed from the ground up in a way blind manufacturers will find unique and compelling, with the end user experiencing a high quality blind system that is a pleasure to use. As with all Blindware innovation, the Motorised Roman Track was designed for ease of manufacture, while delivering a superior performance. The heavy duty extruded track comes pre-assembled in 500mm length increments, from one metre wide to 5.5 metres wide and ready for quick cut-down to finished length. Lift spools and cords are already attached, providing for a maximum four metre drop and driven by a heavy duty octagonal tube. For full flexibility and versatility, inside the tube the design allows the user to install almost any brand of 40mm tubular motor.”

“Of paramount importance to the end user, the Motorised Roman Track system has been designed for quieter operation, and the unique traversing spools ensure that the lift cords are always held in constant position, without side to side wander or tangling. Installation is achieved using standard (fully concealed) top mount or face mount spring-brackets. Fabric is fitted to the front face with double side tape and a cover plate that is quickly screwed into place. The track is also designed for easy creation of a fabric valance.”

“We always focus on providing enhanced performance and flexibility with every product we design,” says Norton. “For Motorised Roman Tracks, one of the key challenges are the lift cords. When just wrapped around the tube, they can tangle and make roman blinds appear out of level. Our new Motorised Roman Track has been designed using threaded spools that keep the cords positively controlled, traversing slightly along the octagonal tube with each rotation.”

Manufacturing of Blindware’s Motorised Roman Track is simple. The track can be quickly cut to length, 40mm tubular motor inserted and the end caps fixed back into position. Blindware is also offering a cut-down service to give customers complete versatility. The motorised Roman track is fully compatible with controls used for Blindware’s range of roller blind motors and motorised curtain tracks, including the new APP controlled hub.” Norton confirmed that the Motorised Roman Track is available now, with orders placed being delivered to normal timelines at the time WFA went to press. 

BLINDS BY PETER MEYER

“Roman blinds are certainly nothing new but we are seeing one of our fabric styles becoming more and more popular,” says Blinds by Peter Meyer Managing Director Simon Meyer. “The Simply Naturals range has been on the market since we started in 1987. The French Woven timber range has been added to with the Chinois Eclectics woven Bamboo range in the late ‘90s and early 2000s and more recently with products like Urban Weave and Silk Road. Of most notable mention are the three new on trend colours in our Simply Naturals range: Soho, Tribeca and Greenwich.”

“Another trend we are starting to see come back is timber batten roman blinds similar to the old ‘Beach’ style blind that was made by Blinds by Peter Meyer in NSW for Designed Blinds going back about 20 years. We offer a range of standard batten colours but also offer colour coordinated custom painted battens or contracting battens for a truly striking effect.”

“There is certainly nothing more beautiful than the filtered light that you get from a natural window covering. Blinds by Peter Meyer natural weaves have a variety of lining options and privacy weaves that truly mean there is something for every home. Add to this the custom painting and staining we offer in house and there is no end to what can be designed.”

“Roman blinds are another growth area for us and we certainly love to see more homes opting for our Simply Natural weaves.”

TOSO AUSTRALIA

“One of the great benefits of Roman blinds is that they are stylistically versatile enough to work with almost any interior design,” says Malcolm Young, Managing Director of Toso Australia. “They are still one of the best choices for window furnishings, and have become very popular again over the last several years. The ability to match up with a wide variety of designs means they virtually never go out of fashion. Whether the client is looking for something minimalist or decadent, there is a type of roman blind that will fit perfectly in a bedroom, kitchen or living room or even an office.”

He adds that roman blinds can also coordinate very well with curtains. “If you want to incorporate two types of fabric for the window furnishings in the living room, you can do this by using one fabric for the roman blinds and then another for the curtains enveloping them. This allows even more light control in the room.”

Romans are now more likely to be chain operated rather than the old conventional way of being cord operated, and this is a result of child safety concerns, he says. 

“Toso offers three chain operated systems: Creaty Drum Single, Creaty Drum Twin and the recently launched Creaty Drum Geared.”

“With the Toso Creaty Drum Single, operating a Roman blind is as easy as ever,” says Young. “With its innovative ‘Relay’ clutch system, Creaty offers one-handed operation, and pulling the chain 1.4m raises the blind by 1m, which is two or more times quicker than other chain operated systems in the market. To raise 1kg, pull the chain with a force of only 0.7kg. It also has a speed controller, so when you want to close the blind, you pull the chain 2cm, and the blind will come down at a constant speed regardless of the load. Maximum width and drop is 4000mm and 3000mm, with a weight of 5kg.”

The same applies with the Toso Creaty Drum Twin, which is on a compact and slim headrail that can take two blinds. “With this system you can have one chain, and this chain will operate each of the blinds individually. To raise the front blind, you pull down on the front side of the chain. To pull up the rear blind, you pull down on the back side of the chain. Maximum width and drop is 4000mm and 3000mm, with a combined weight of 8kg.”

“Creaty Drum Geared with a maximum weight of 8kg, has a one to one ratio, and lowering is simple, and when the hand lowers the chain, the blind lowers by the same distance. Maximum width and drop is 4000mm and 3000mm.”

“We’re finding that both the Creaty Drum Single and Creaty Drum Geared are equal in popularity depending on end users’ needs. Toso can supply made to measure headrails that can be delivered directly to customers’ workrooms.”