Smart-home ready without detours

In the April/May issue of the trade magazine Z&R, an extensive article appeared about the latest innovations from BREL MOTORS. You can read the article here! 

Smart, sustainable, and ready for the future

BREL MOTORS has been known for years for its innovative approach to sunshade motors. The company from Doetinchem continues to innovate with smart technology that not only increases comfort but also saves energy and takes work off installers' hands. With the introduction of Matter-integrated motors and the BREL SMART BUILDING system, BREL MOTORS takes another big step in the world of smart sunshades.

One of the most notable innovations is the introduction of Matter technology in the bi-directional motors for indoor sunshades. These motors can be directly connected to popular Smart Home platforms like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings without additional hardware. This makes installation easier, and users can control their sunshades directly via an app, voice commands, or scenarios.

The first Matter motors available
"Thanks to Matter, the threshold for including sunshades in a Smart Home is significantly lowered," says Michelle Termaat of BREL MOTORS. "The motors are directly compatible with various ecosystems, providing a flexible and future-proof solution." The first Matter motors are now available, including whisper-quiet 230V motors and compact battery motors. Since these motors work directly within existing Smart Home systems, extra gateways or Home Boxes are unnecessary, significantly simplifying the installation process. 

Sustainable technology for modern buildings
With the BREL SMART BUILDING system, the company introduces a complete solution for project sunshades, developed in collaboration with Vodafone Smart Building. The heart of this system is the advanced PENTA motor, which features an integrated SIM card and operates independently of the local network. This makes the motor not only secure (unhackable) but also always online and easy to manage.

The PENTA motor communicates via five different protocols, including Bluetooth, RF, and via the 4G mobile network of Vodafone Smart Building, allowing the motor to be controlled at all times. Through smart sensors, the sunshades automatically respond to external conditions such as light incidence, temperature, and weather conditions. Think of features like wind and frost protection, a window cleaner mode, and installer protection. Additionally, preventive maintenance is integrated: malfunctions are detected early and often resolved before the user notices anything.

"This system not only ensures energy savings but also more efficient management and less maintenance."

Sustainability as a spearhead
Sustainability plays an increasingly important role in the construction and installation sector, and BREL MOTORS responds to this with innovative solutions such as the solar version of the PENTA motor. This motor operates completely wirelessly thanks to an integrated battery and solar panel, allowing it to function even in winter without a network connection. Moreover, BREL contributes to a more sustainable world by planting a tree for each installed solar solution in collaboration with unFootprint.

According to Termaat, this technology offers benefits not only for the user but also for installers and building owners. "With BREL SMART BUILDING, sunshades become a full-fledged player in energy management. This not only ensures energy savings but also more efficient management and less maintenance."

Future-proof solutions for installers and end-users
"With the Matter-integrated motors and the BREL SMART BUILDING system, we offer both consumers and the business market innovative, sustainable, and user-friendly solutions," concludes Termaat, "Where the private user benefits from easy Smart Home integration, installers and building owners gain a powerful tool with BREL SMART BUILDING to smartly deploy sunshades within sustainable energy management."

Read the article online here via Z&R.