SuperExpo 2026: What the floor told us about the industry’s direction

SuperExpo 2026 wrapped up on the Gold Coast, and the numbers speak for themselves: close to 3,000 attendees, 109 exhibitors and three days of connection, learning and the occasional laugh. Held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach from 10 to 12 June, the event was organised by the Window Shading Association of Australia (WSAA) together with the Specialised Textiles Association. The inaugural WSAA Industry Awards, held at the gala dinner, added a new dimension to a show that already had plenty to talk about. WFA brings together reports from thirteen exhibitors here to find out what they brought and what it tells the trade.

CHALLENGER UNITED

Twenty years in, and Challenger United is still betting on the thing its competitors cannot easily copy: service and relationships. The Bayswater, Victoria-based manufacturer, established in 2006, came to SuperExpo with its in-house steel roll-form tube range front and centre. General Manager James Kirkpatrick says the 85mm tube is gaining meaningful traction, particularly in alfresco and external applications, with the company estimating it now accounts for roughly 5 to 10 per cent of its tube volume and trending upward. Kirkpatrick says Challenger United is the only Australian roller of 85mm tube. Kirkpatrick puts year-on-year growth of the Caribbean gears line at approximately 25 to 30 per cent.

Traditional auto awnings were also on show, positioned as a cost-effective option for a market that Kirkpatrick describes as increasingly price-conscious. Custom fabrication remains a differentiator: bespoke brackets, pin-and-plate, and idler stock held on behalf of customers.

“Windows are getting wider,” Kirkpatrick told WFA. “You walk around this place and it’s always who’s got the widest and who’s got the biggest drop and who can do it with the smallest.” On what sets the company apart: “A tube’s a tube and a hood end’s a hood end and a guide’s a guide. It’s our relationships and our ability to service the industry. That’s how we sort of set ourselves outside.”

CW PRODUCTS

CW Products came to SuperExpo with a product that may matter more this fire season than the last: the FireSafe, a bushfire roller shutter designed for domestic applications. Importantly, the product is not yet certified. “We are awaiting final testing with the CSIRO that’s scheduled towards the end of July,” Danny Elassaad, CW Products’ managing director, told WFA. “We’re pretty confident in the product. It’s been designed and developed to meet the toughest of Australian bushfire conditions for domestic applications.” Retailers and installers should hold off specifying it until that certification is confirmed.

Alongside FireSafe, the company showed a new high-density foam shutter positioned for coastal and high-wind environments, sitting between standard domestic and cyclone-rated product where neither is quite the right fit. The Maxim motorisation range rounds out the offer: an entry-level system aimed at bridging the gap between manual operation and premium motorisation, with smart-device control included.

Elassaad put the broader roller shutter conversation plainly: “The reasons why people buy roller shutters can change depending on circumstances. Sometimes it’s to block out light or reduce heat or reduce noise or improve privacy and sometimes it’s about security.” That breadth of application, he suggested, is exactly why a product designed for Australian conditions can justify the development investment.

ZIPTRAK

Ziptrak used its SuperExpo stand to show a run of product updates across the range, from hardware refinements to technology plays. A redesigned side spline, smaller and smoother than its predecessor, reduces pelmet depth and brings down material cost. A new installer tensioning tool is intended to ensure correct tension on the first attempt.

The interior track-guided blackout system attracted significant attention after being demonstrated in an on-stand dark room. Ziptrak claims 100 per cent blockout. “We can pretty much claim 100% blockout,” Marc de Maaijer, Ziptrak’s managing director, told WFA, adding that because the system is track-guided, “it stays with the track, so it doesn’t pop out.” The company says demand from mining and shift-worker donga accommodation is strong, and the system is motorisable.

An integrated LED head box is now in production in its outward-facing form, with an inward-facing version at prototype stage. A six-metre single-blind system, developed for high-rise and balcony applications, takes advantage of a three-metre lift limit to achieve the six-metre span. The company cited installations in Singapore, Auckland and WA apartment projects.

Also on show: a tool the company describes as an AI add-on, which identifies windows in an uploaded photo of a home, inserts blind visualisations and routes leads to the retailer. Three new national support staff have been added.

OZROLL

Ozroll’s Slidetrack has been through a significant redevelopment. Redesigned bottom bar end caps and top stops give the system a squarer profile, and the bottom bar now tucks into the box to conceal welds and plastics. According to the company, install time has dropped to around 40 minutes, compared with a previous range of one to one-and-a-half hours.

The bigger news for many installers will be the new E-Port battery drive, developed in collaboration with Somfy. The updated unit features USB-C charging, improved battery life, and compatibility with Somfy remotes, protocols and hubs. Jack McDonald, Ozroll’s national sales and marketing manager, pointed to the product’s track record as context for the update. “The E-Port, we’ll sell somewhere between 40 to 50 thousand of them per year, and that product probably hasn’t developed a lot in the last 10 years,” he told WFA. “And now it’s here, so that’s exciting.”

Ozroll also unveiled a new imported range spanning aluminium, timber and PVC options, designed to capture price-sensitive and commercial work without compromising the company’s Australian-made positioning. “A good portion of our customer base would use us as their primary supplier but then go and use Chinese product for price point or large jobs,” McDonald said. “We thought, we’re just not going to tap into that sector unless we have something to offer, so we did.”

COULISSE

Coulisse arrived at SuperExpo with a WSAA Industry Awards nomination already in hand for its Absolute Silence motor, and the product drew consistent interest on the floor. The motor operates via Bluetooth without requiring a remote or bridge. Rogier Krabbe, Coulisse’s managing director for Asia-Pacific, framed it in practical terms for installers: “You don’t need a remote, you don’t need a bridge to set up your blinds. That is not just saving time and complication, but also saving money.” In battery mode, Krabbe says the motor runs up to 15 decibels quieter than conventional options.

A new low-voltage motor was also on display, accepting dry contact, Matter-over-Thread, remote and power-plug input. The company positions it for high-end residential and project work involving up to 300 blinds. Fabric widths start at a minimum of 280cm, with metallised and recycled-yarn options available.

Motion Blinds, Coulisse’s own brand, continues to grow its presence in Australia and across Asia. The company’s Australian warehouse has been operating for approximately 18 months. “We focus on having strong partnerships, not just one-off deals,” Krabbe told WFA. “And if you look at Motion Blinds, the visibility of the brand is just going bigger and bigger.”

CW SYSTEMS

CW Systems brought roughly 20 staff to the show, including logistics, IT, marketing and purchasing personnel, and Daniel O’Brien, CW Systems’ marketing operations manager, was clear this was as much about internal alignment as customer-facing display. “It’s not just about us showing our wares to the market,” he told WFA. “It’s about ensuring our team are up to date with all the latest technology we’re using or could use.”

The Cora online ordering platform has new visualisation capability for plantation shutters and roofing, rendering the product for client sign-off before manufacture. “In many respects, we view ourselves as a logistics company,” O’Brien said. “We view our ordering platform as logistical as well. It’s very visual, very intuitive, and ensures reduced errors and reduced reworks.”

The Aura fabric range has expanded to 31 options. The Velare curtain track now includes a recess option, and the P33 track is available in six colours including gold and brass. The Shift brand now covers three blind motors, three outdoor motors and four curtain motors, with Matter compatibility, bidirectional operation and no hub required, according to the company. The Lumex louvre roof anchored the physical stand.

DALEKIT

Dalekit’s LVR60 provoked genuine curiosity on the floor, and for good reason: it is a hybrid that sits between a roller shutter and a plantation shutter, retracting when not in use and closing for weather, while allowing airflow when partially open. “It retracts, it closes and it allows for a lot of airflow while still stopping the sun coming through your house,” Joe Pajeska, Dalekit’s managing director, told WFA. Maximum dimensions sit at 2.5 metres by 2.5 metres, according to the company, and four textured colours are available: white, Surfmist, Monument and black.

The commercial pitch was pointed at cafes and hospitality venues. “If you were running a cafe and needed to let some breeze through but stop the sun hitting your patrons, if the weather turns you can just close it. It has that dual purpose,” Pajeska said.

The RS20 Altura zip system, the company’s own design, is currently in development. It features a six-metre span, a zero-deflection top tube with European engineering, leaf springs and lay-flat side tape. Launch is anticipated within the next year. A twin-drive system, combining a spring with a motor so the blind continues to raise during a power failure, is already selling into the zip-screen range. Dalekit’s Hamptons range drew additional traffic to the stand.

PACIFIC

Pacific Wholesale Distributors’ stand centred on innovation across the full range, led by the launch of Luvre, a plantation shutter the company describes as a world-first patented design engineered to perform and look better than traditional shutters. Luvre, which Pacific brands “the art of shutters”, pairs an internal soft seal with a curved blade for tighter closure and reduced light bleed.

“It’s a patented shape and what that does is it completes the light closure so you get a lot less light bleed when the blade is closed, while the design itself is softening the entire look of the product,” Gavin Taylor, of Pacific Wholesale Distributors, told WFA.

The range takes a 114mm blade option, and the Corner Core system, which reinforces panel corners with a curved rail finish, featured alongside it.

“Our lead times for all our ranges are highly consistent 4-6 weeks including this brand new patented luvre shutter which is market leading, allowing businesses to trust their shutters arrive on time and gives them improved cash flow,” Taylor said.

Pacific also brought its Luvre Thermé coating, a non-scratch paint finish the company says is first to market and lowers the temperature inside the home for added comfort. Taylor said an independent test the company conducted found a standard shutter reached 80 degrees Celsius after two minutes of heat exposure, while the Thermé-coated Luvre reached 76 degrees, a four-degree difference.

“This makes Luvre the highest performing shutter on the market delivered in 4 weeks,” said Taylor.

On fabrics, Pacific has launched Veri Textiles, a family that brings the Veri Shades range together: Veri Shades, the original 3-in-1 product; Veri Sheers, an all-new patented woven sheer roughly six months on market; and Veri Curtains, which the company says carry 27 per cent recycled content and are the softest fabrics on the market.

“It is great to have the WSAA show so that people can touch and feel the quality of these soft, curtain-like fabrics,” said Taylor.

The family now extends to a patented Veri Roman, a no-sew system that uses patented pre-woven battens to let fabricators achieve a soft Roman with the tools they already have.

“Anyone with a roller table can achieve a soft Roman finish using the tools they already have,” he said. “The patented battens are woven in.”

Pacific also showed its OPC Custom Blinds range and launched an external aluminium venetian

“We are excited to showcase innovation across our entire range, from shutters to blinds to Veri Shades,” said Taylor.

SOMFY

Somfy unveiled a broad range of innovations at SuperExpo 2026, with four key highlights drawing particular attention: the Sonesse 30 Ultra WireFree RTS with USB-C charging, enhanced Zigbee commissioning through the TaHoma pro app, the new Sonesse 40 WTe motor, and an outdoor zone demonstrating how its products and partner solutions work together to motorise outdoor living spaces. Product specialists from Italy and France joined the stand.

“Our new and enhanced solutions deliver meaningful value across every customer segment and application, with a strong focus on improving both product performance and the installation experience,” said Nicki Beggs, Product Marketing Executive at Somfy Oceania. Beggs said visitors consistently praised how the new products would elevate the installer and end-user experience and create tangible value for their businesses.

Somfy announced the launch of its Partner+ program for manufacturing partners alongside a new partnership with Teleco to strengthen its outdoor offering. The outdoor display featured a Somfy-motorised pergola and awning integrated with Teleco lighting, a BFT-powered gate and a Teleco-controlled heater, all connected to a TaHoma switch hub, with the full setup controlled through the TaHoma by Somfy app. “The highlight of the show was being crowned Best Stand (Large) at the WSAA Gala Dinner and Awards,” said Mary Ladu, Marketing Manager for Somfy Oceania.

More than 120 customers attended a Thursday morning brunch, where Yann Barou, Executive Vice President of Sales Expansion Markets, briefed guests on the Somfy 2030 vision and strategy. Barou said Somfy had listened to customer feedback and resolved pain points across the range. “I was very excited about Somfy joining SuperExpo, we had so many product and service updates to bring,” said Henri Laniece, Somfy Oceania’s General Manager, for whom it was a first SuperExpo. Laniece said he was impressed by the show’s quality of organisation, and praised the effort that went into taking out the stand award.

MEYER BLINDS

Meyer Blinds brought a substantial slate of new product launches to Stand L4, alongside a notable milestone: the recent election of Simon Meyer to the WSAA Board. “It was a privilege to attend this year’s SuperExpo as a newly elected Board member,” Meyer told WFA. “The event continues to play an important role in bringing our industry together, sharing ideas and showcasing innovation.”

The product roster was substantial. New launches included the PureGlyde Recessed Motorised Curtain Track, the Silent Gliss SG6870 Recessed Hand-Operated Track, and Signature X, the largest refresh of the Signature Collection in more than six years, drawing on fabrics from what the company describes as some of the world’s most respected mills. The updated Simply Cell collection gave visitors an early look at new fabrics and display concepts.

Pierre Naturals, a tribute collection created in honour of the late Peter Meyer, was among the most significant launches on the stand. Featuring 30 natural weaves, the range reconnects the Meyer Blinds brand with its natural woven heritage and celebrates Peter Meyer’s legacy within the business and the wider industry.

SuperExpo also marked the first major Australian showcase of the exclusive Griesser External Venetian Blind range. All three Swiss-engineered systems available in Australia were on display: Lamisol III, Solomatic II and Aluflex. Benjamin Tschopp from Griesser Switzerland was present on stand throughout the exhibition. Also drawing visitor attention was Weinor Vision, a mixed reality sales tool that allows customers to visualise products at true scale within their own space and compare colours, fabrics and configurations on the spot.

The event carried added significance for the Silent Gliss partnership. Long-time Silent Gliss representative Geoff Woodhead attended what will be his final SuperExpo before retiring this year, joined by his successor Josh Phipp. The show also coincided with team milestones: Colin Quigley marking 25 years with the business and Chris Harridge his tenth anniversary, with his wife Michelle, also part of the Meyer Blinds team, reaching her own 10-year mark the following week.

The company reported that show-floor feedback was strongly positive, particularly on its new Meyer Blinds branding and the breadth of its product development. Meyer Blinds received a Special Commendation for Best Large Stand, and the week’s Gala Dinner saw several industry colleagues recognised with WSAA Life Membership Awards. Simon and Damien Meyer also acknowledged Ainslie from EHI Batemans Bay, a Meyer Blinds customer of 10 years who has become part of the company’s SuperExpo team, helping install products and build displays at the show. Damien Meyer reflected on the broader value of the event: “What makes events like SuperExpo special isn’t just the products on display. It’s the relationships, partnerships and shared passion across the industry. We’re grateful to everyone who visited our stand and helped make the week such a success.”

MYT SHUTTERS

MYT Shutters arrived at SuperExpo 2026 with two new finishes making their public debut, and a 20-year anniversary to mark. The Velvet paint finish, described by the company as a soft demi-matte that adds depth and warmth, and the TimberSoul stain, a low-sheen option designed to enhance the natural character of timber, drew consistent interest on the stand throughout the three days. Both are available to order through MYT’s online ordering portal.

Founded in Sydney in 2006, MYT has grown from a small local manufacturer into a wholesale operation with reach across Australia, Europe and Asia. Mei Dong, founder and CEO, said the finishes had been in development for some time before the show. “We have invested a great deal of time into developing these finishes, refining every aspect until they felt exactly right,” Dong told WFA. “Seeing people’s reactions in person was fantastic. The enthusiasm was genuine and it was clear that this finish is something to watch out for in interior trends next season.”

The SuperExpo appearance coincided with the company’s anniversary year. “Our twentieth anniversary has given us a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come,” Dong said. “What stands out most is the support we’ve received from customers and industry friends over the years. Those relationships have been central to our growth and we would never be where we are today without them.”

MYT was also a finalist in the WSAA Product Sustainability Award category. “We were genuinely honoured to be recognised as finalists,” Dong said. “There is some incredible work happening throughout our industry and we are proud to be part of that conversation. Congratulations to Louvolite on a well-deserved win.”

ALPHA TUBULAR MOTORS

Alpha Tubular Motors came to SuperExpo 2026 as Gold Sponsor, bringing the launch of its new T-Motor range to the Gold Coast from 10 to 12 June. The range sits within the company’s broader “Going Green” initiative and drew consistent interest from installers and retailers across the three days.

The core engineering change is an internal transformer that converts AC to DC current. Alpha Tubular Motors says this makes the T-Motors between 25 and 35 per cent more energy efficient than standard AC motors. As DC motors, they run quieter and cooler than conventional AC equivalents. The company also reports substantially longer thermal overload times: according to Alpha Tubular Motors, installers can run the motors continuously for 12 minutes, pause, and run for another 12 minutes, compared with the standard industry run-time of 4 minutes before thermal overload.

Three selectable speeds are available, with a top speed of 40 rpm. The company positions the T-Motor as a step up for internal blinds applications, and reports that on the floor installers responded to the smooth, quiet operation while retailers focused on the efficiency story.

Backed by fifteen years of motorisation experience, Alpha Tubular Motors reports the show produced some of its strongest quality leads at any SuperExpo.

LUXSOL

Luxsol used SuperExpo 2026 on the Gold Coast to position itself as a challenger in the Australian shutter market, arguing that the rapid growth of PVC shutters has delivered affordability and broad adoption but also a crowded, commoditised market where the conversation too often comes back to price. The company’s pitch to retailers was differentiation: products that let a business tell a better story and offer customers genuine choice rather than competing on cost alone.

Three new product categories anchored that message. Nexus50, which Luxsol describes as a new generation of hybrid shutter, pairs lightweight Paulownia timber louvres with an advanced polymer surface. The company says the construction uses up to 70 per cent less PVC than a traditional solid PVC shutter and is around 30 per cent lighter, which it links to easier installation alongside performance and sustainability gains. Altura100, a premium internal aluminium shutter system aimed at modern living environments, is positioned for a category Luxsol says is gaining momentum, with the company citing dimensional stability, moisture resistance and contemporary styling.

The third launch, Poly100AU, is a premium polymer shutter that Luxsol manufactures in Australia. The company says local production supports a three-week turnaround, reduced lead times and more dependable supply, giving retailers an onshore polymer shutter option.

Luxsol framed its wider offer around agility, personal service and close collaboration with partners, describing itself as combining the reliability of a global manufacturer with the flexibility of a boutique brand, supported by advanced manufacturing and a growing international presence. The company says the response on the floor reinforced that retailers are looking for a supplier willing to innovate alongside them, and that its message from the show was that the future of the sector lies in better solutions and added value rather than the cheapest product.

CLOSING

The inaugural WSAA Industry Awards at the gala dinner added a new milestone to the event’s history. Somfy took Best Stand (Large), Coulisse’s Absolute Silence motor was among the nominations, and companies including Meyer Blinds and MYT Shutters featured among the commendations and finalists. If this year’s floor traffic and exhibitor investment are any guide, the appetite for the next edition is already building.