Copper anniversary for the cradle of the accumulator motor

BREL HOME celebrates twelve and a half years of motorization

When people think of battery motors today, they primarily think of the brand BREL HOME. In the history of motorization in our industry, no motor has become commonplace as quickly as the battery motor. The fact that most screens and shutters leave the factories with a battery motor and solar panel is thanks to two pioneers, Reinoud Arts and Erik Budding of BREL HOME. With a solid background in battery motors for window decoration, both men - both with roots in outdoor sun protection - saw potential in introducing battery motors for outdoor applications. The development of this was a challenge, but BREL succeeded in making the technology reliable and introducing it. BREL HOME is now celebrating its 12.5-year anniversary, a reason for SUN PROTECTION MAGAZINE to dive into history with them.

With a pocket knife across the fair

Twelve and a half years ago, Reinoud Arts was still the owner and director of sun protection company AZON, and Erik Budding was co-owner of a parts wholesale business. When Arts proposed the plan to start purchasing motors in China for AZON, it piqued Budding's interest. He saw opportunities for the wholesale business. Budding recalls that Arts, armed with a magnet and pocket knife, scoured the fair in China and subjected offered motors to thorough examination. “With his pocket knife, he opened motors at the stand to inspect the parts. Saying that stainless steel was used in the motor wasn't enough; he tested it himself with a magnet. That's how Reinoud became convinced of the quality of one of the producers, who is still our supplier. The decisive factor for him was that this producer used Western European microswitches for the end adjustment.”

Arts initially imported the motors for personal use. Budding was convinced of the quality, and thus a partnership was formed: AZON served its own customers with these motors, while Budding handled the exclusive distribution for the Benelux through the wholesale business.

 

The name BREL was conceived

Undoubtedly, there are people who have wondered where the name ‘BREL’ comes from. Arts is willing to reveal: “It's a name composed of my children's first names, Bram and Eline.” In the first year, BREL introduced four-wire motors with strengths of 20 Nm and 40 Nm. This covered a large part of the needs in screens, shutters, and awnings. Budding: “Already in the second year of our collaboration, we introduced the BREL radio motors, which was around 2005. Also in the strengths of 20 Nm and 40 Nm.”

 

Started in the garage

In 2007, Budding left the aforementioned wholesale business, and around that time, Arts sold his company AZON. “We each went our separate ways until 2010. Then came the moment when we decided to intensively work with motors again and definitively join forces. BREL Nederland BV was founded, and we truly started from scratch. It was extremely hard work in the startup phase (and still is, by the way), but with pleasure. We knew we had a good product and decided to offer a broader program,” Budding summarizes. As befits any successful startup, the start was made from the garage. Arts: “That was a double garage where we stored our inventory. Because that space quickly became too cramped, we moved to an empty pigsty. Not chic perhaps, but with the necessary space.”

In search of a larger, representative space, BREL ended up at the current building in Doetinchem. Initially, the company settled in the smaller part, later expanding to more space. Today, BREL HOME at the same location has offices, workspaces, a showroom, and about 1,200 m2 of warehouse.

 

‘You know you're on the right track when the market demand becomes so great that other motor suppliers also start searching for battery solutions’

 

Introduction of the battery motor in chronological order

In 2013, BREL HOME introduced the first battery motor for indoor sun protection, specifically for roller blinds. Arts: “An important step. We were the first to bring this motor affordably to the market, and success followed. To offer maximum service, we purchased a 3D printer to provide an adapter and driver for every type of roller tube. We were ahead of our time and handled serious volumes. The motors could even be electronically adjusted.”

In 2017, the plan emerged to introduce battery motors for outdoor applications. Budding: “Thanks to Reinoud's technical background, we knew exactly what we wanted, but we still had to convince our supplier. They worked on it in collaboration with BREL HOME. The plan to also add solar panels emerged almost simultaneously, and work was done on that too. In 2018, we had the first battery motor for outdoor application in hand, including the solar panel. That solar panel came from our own factory because we realized this addition needed a completely unique development.”

Long live evolution!

Initially, the market was skeptical of this new technology, but thanks to ‘early adopters’ and the enormous confidence that BREL HOME expressed in these brand-new motors, a wave began. “You know you're on the right track when the market demand becomes so great that other motor suppliers also start searching for battery solutions. That has never bothered us; you need competition, and together we've brought the sector to where it is now: everyone wants battery motors,” Budding outlines. “It's truly ‘long live evolution,’ developments followed - and continue to follow - each other rapidly. We've introduced bi-directional motors, there's a generous lineup of strengths in each motor type, and we enjoy smart solutions when it comes to connectivity. Think of the wifi motor and the bluetooth hub, for example, but also the app that keeps getting better. The introduction of the BREL Solar app is also a nice and useful addition to that list. All products are now brought by us under the name BREL HOME.”

 

BREL HOME started as a two-man company and today has ten permanent employees. When asked what we can expect in the near future, Budding answers: “First, we will celebrate our anniversary with the market with a fun event in the fall. At that event, we will introduce a new line of motors and a new concept.”