Door Industry Journal - Winter 2019

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 20 THE door industry journal winter 2019 Industry News Somfy Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation Leading smart management solutions provider celebrates 50 years of innovative technology. Leading smart home management solutions provider Somfy, is celebrating 50 years of creating innovative technology for homes and buildings around the globe. From the launch of the first roller shutter motor in 1969, which heralded the end of manual winding, to the launch of the first home-automation box, TaHoma, in 2010, Somfy has been making the everyday lives of millions of users worldwide easier for half a century. Over the past 50 years, Somfy has significantly expanded its product range to include blinds and curtains, doors and gates, shutters and screens, smart home and controls, security systems and lighting. Somfy’s range of solutions includes: • Somfy’s smart access range, enabling consumers to control gates, doors and garages with remotes and sensors • Somfy Protect, enabling customers to feel safe in their own homes with alarms and cameras • Somfy’s smart ambience range, including motorised blinds and more recently, smart lighting, to help people manage artificial lighting to complement the amount of natural light entering their homes • Somfy’s smart climate products, such as its connected thermostat Somfy’s solutions provide homes all over the world with convenient and innovative smart technology, from automated and connected rolling shutters, curtains and blinds that you can control remotely, to motorised gates and garage doors you can control from your smart phone, all developed with comfort, ease of use and security in mind. Somfy milestones: Since 1969, Somfy has registered more than 2,000 patents, from smart motors to connected home and building management solutions. • 1969: 1st automated blind mechanism • 1996: 1st home wireless protocol • 2006: 1st multi-brand wireless protocol developed in partnership with Velux • 2010: Launch of TaHoma, the 1st home-automation box • 2019: The world’s first ever range of Zigbee 3.0-certified blind and curtain motors and remote controls will be launched on the North-American market in the second quarter of 2019 and in Asia by the end of the year, consolidating Somfy’s position as the world leader in automated interior sun-protection systems. Speaking on the 50th anniversary, Jean Guillaume Despature, CEO of Somfy, said: “With our 50 years’ experience in improving our living environment, Somfy is a pioneer in this move to digitise buildings. We have one goal: to make smart living accessible to all through popular product ranges and a strategy based around openness and partnerships that ensures its products are compatible with others used within out living environments. At Somfy, we aim to accelerate this digital transformation of our homes.” Today, Somfy has shipped over 3 million smart devices, has 9000 employees and operates in 57 countries, representing the global success of the business. More information on the full range of Somfy’s products can be found on their website: www.somfy.co.uk