Screen Innovations (SI) Introduces Zigbee 3.0 Mesh Controller and Edge Router for Motorized Shade Applications

Screen Innovations (SI) Introduces Zigbee 3.0 Mesh Controller and Edge Router for Motorized Shade Applications

New Zigbee 3.0 Smart Outlet and Link Pro Z install easily to support mesh networking and seamless integration of SI shades with best-in-class automation systems, voice assistants, and smart devices.   

AUSTIN, TX (September 1, 2020) — Screen Innovations (SI), a premier manufacturer and supplier of design-forward optical screen and shade materials, introduces two new products enabled with Zigbee 3.0 technology, the latest iteration of the Zigbee wireless communications protocol. The Zigbee 3.0 Link Pro Z Mesh Controller and Zigbee 3.0 Smart Outlet join SI’s previously introduced Zigbee 3.0 enabled line of ultra-compact Nano indoor shades and improved Smart Plug to create a complete communications ecosystem that seamlessly interoperates with a wide range of Zigbee 3.0-compliant third-party devices and systems, including automation systems from Crestron, Control4, Savant, Elan, and others. Additionally, SI’s new Zigbee 3.0 devices enable the control of Zigbee 3.0 and RTS shades (Radio Technology Somfy) via the Somfy TaHoma app on any smartphone or tablet, as well as voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and soon Josh.ai.  

Dealers and End-Users Benefit from Mesh Topology and Cloud-Based Setup and Service 

Based on a dynamic mesh topology, a Zigbee 3.0 ecosystem becomes stronger and more resilient as the number of devices on the network expands. The addition of the Link Pro Z and Smart Outlet leverages the performance of SI’s Zigbee-based platform while providing dealers with a solution that’s easy to install, configure, and manage. Along with SI’s other Zigbee 3.0 devices, these new products can be pre-programmed by SI via the cloud, saving dealers time and money. After the devices are installed, access to important information, including battery level, service indicator, and programming are accessible 24/7, and the entire system is 100% backed up and restorable. 

“We continue to evolve our Zigbee 3.0 portfolio to provide dealers with a full suite of products that can enhance the control and automation of our Zigbee 3.0 compliant shades, while deploying a network that’s robust and facilitates the seamless integration of a wide variety of third-party products,” says Michael Braithwaite, CTO at SI. “End-users benefit, too, thanks to the installation ease, scalability, and affordability of a Zigbee 3.0-based platform.” 

Zigbee 3.0 Link Pro Z Mesh Controller

As the world’s first and only professional Zigbee 3.0 mesh controller powered by PoE, the Link Pro Z affords integrators a simple way to integrate SI shades with other Zigbee 3.0 smart devices and systems. Able to be mounted to the ceiling for an inconspicuous installation with optional flush mounting kit, it controls up to 72 Zigbee 3.0 nodes and an unlimited number of SI shades that utilize the Radio Technology Somfy (RTS) control platform. Shades can be fully automated with advanced scene, grouping, and scheduling in both residential and commercial environments. For large projects, additional Link Pro Z units can be added via PoE. 

Zigbee 3.0 Smart Outlet

The Zigbee 3.0 Smart Outlet functions as an edge router and control point. Any device such as a lamp or fan that plugs joins a Zigbee 3.0 communications platform, enabling it to be controlled and automated via voice, TaHoma app, and third-party control system. At the same time, the Smart Outlet strengthens a Zigbee 3.0 mesh network by efficiently routing signals to and from other Zigbee 3.0 nodes. Because signals are transmitted more efficiently, the Smart Outlet extends the battery life of Zigbee 3.0 shades and other equipment. Its tamper-resistant, duplex design allows one device to plug in for Zigbee 3.0 connectivity and another to only derive power. A built-in on/off button permits manual control of the Zigbee device and an LED can be turned on manually to allow the outlet to serve as a nightlight.  

To learn more about SI’s Zigbee 3.0 Link Pro Z Controller and Smart Outlet, as well as other Zigbee 3.0 offerings, visit https://www.screeninnovations.com/connectivity/linkpro-z/. 

About Screen Innovations

Screen Innovations engineers and hand-builds all its screen and shade solutions at its 75,000-square-foot factory in Austin, Texas. Dedicated to developing the most unique and innovative screens and shade for the custom residential and commercial markets, the company offers a wide variety of design-forward products that suit any viewing environment. As a leading manufacturer of screen and shade solutions, Screen Innovations is focused on the implementation of new technologies into its products and providing its dealers with the services and tools they need to differentiate themselves and grow their custom installation businesses. 

For more information about SI please visit screeninnovations.com and follow the company on Facebook @screen innovations and on Twitter @SIScreens.

Media Contact

For interviews, editorial appointments, or media tours, please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (425) 328-8640 or emailing katye@kmbcomm.com.

All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.

 

AtlasIED Appoints Two New Regional Sales Managers to Handle TOLA and Northeast Regions

Industry sales veterans Michael Yonks and Doug Malora join AtlasIED to drive growth in education and pro audio markets through U.S. sales channels, respectively.  

PHOENIX, AZ – (August 24, 2020) –  AtlasIED, a global electronics manufacturer providing comprehensive audio, communications, and security solutions for commercial markets, continues to strengthen its presence and growth in the commercial audio and education marketplace with the introduction of two new regional sales managers, Michael Yonks and Doug Malora.  

As Regional Sales Manager, TOLA, Yonks will lead and execute sales strategies in AtlasIED’s sales region of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas. Previously the Senior Director of SchoolView Sales at AMX, Yonks’ years of experience in the education marketplace will help AltasIED develop and strengthen opportunities for sales growth in this dynamic market and provide valuable perspective on product development for educational applications. 

Responsible for driving sales in AtlasIED’s Northeast region is Doug Malora. In his new role as Regional Sales Manager, he brings a wealth of sales experience in the pro audio industry, having recently served as Audio System Sales Manager for Harman International. Through this strong audio sales background, as well as extensive knowledge in system design, packaging, and pricing, Malora will help AtlasIED build new and grow existing customer relationships.

“As AtlasIED strives to strengthen its presence in several markets, including pro audio and education, the addition of Michael and Doug to our sales management team will cultivate new opportunities to ensure our continued success as we grow sales through our dealer channel and distribution partners,” says Michael Peveler, Vice President of Sales at AtlasIED. “Exciting new product introductions, combined with our continued commitment to building the strongest, most effective sales team possible, positions AltasIED as leader the commercial A/V and security industry. Michael and Doug possess all of the skills necessary to create even stronger relationships with our specifiers and dealers.” 

To learn more about AtlasIED go to www.atlasied.com and www.vimeo.com/atlasied or follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

 

About AtlasIED

A global electronics manufacturer providing comprehensive audio and security solutions for commercial, corporate, educational, healthcare, retail, transportation, and government environments, AtlasIED brings together the legacy, engineering skills, and legendary service of Atlas Sound and Innovative Electronics Design. Offering industry-leading mass notification, life safety, VoIP, background music, paging, and sound-masking systems, AtlasIED delivers product lines that span wide and deep, with more than 2,000 innovative audio solutions for businesses of every size. Combined, Atlas Sound and IED products have been installed in more than one million businesses over the past 80+ years.

With nine locations and a network of manufacturer representatives and distributors around the world to provide superior support to dealers and customers, AtlasIED’s customer service is an industry benchmark that competitors strive to match. AtlasIED is family-owned, with manufacturing operations in the United States that hold an ISO9001:2008 Quality Standards Certification to ensure consistently high-quality products, service, and support.

For more information please visit www.atlasied.com or contact us at support@atlasied.com.

All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.

 

AtlasIED Media Contacts

Gina M. Sansivero, AtlasIED, (516) 901-8542, gina.sansivero@atlasied.com

Katye (McGregor) Bennett, KMB Communications, (425) 328-8640, katye@kmbcomm.com

Screen Innovations Introduces Janus Plenum, Fire-Resistant and Low-Smoke Rated Safe for Installation in Plenum Spaces

Screen Innovations Introduces Janus Plenum, Fire-Resistant and Low-Smoke Rated Safe for Installation in Plenum Spaces

SI’s new version of Janus power and control hub meets stringent fire and smoke requirements of NEC, NFPA, and UL, offering commercial integrators a motorized shading solution that’s versatile, powerful, and easily installed. 

AUSTIN, TX (August 19, 2020) — Screen Innovations (SI), a premier US-based manufacturer of projection screens and window shades, offers a new version of its popular Janus power and control hub, expressly engineered for the needs of commercial integrators. Tested and certified by the NEC, NFPA, and UL for fire-resistance and low-smoke production, Janus Plenum meets all safety regulations for plenum installation. 

The new plenum-rated Janus includes all of the same features of the original Janus, but with a new enclosure suitable for in-wall, riser, and general plenum spaces. This new design, along with its compact size, offers commercial integrators a variety of mounting options to minimize cabling runs and simplify installation. It can easily fit where other power and control hubs can’t, utilize all wiring topologies, including Cat5 or Cat6, or most any multiconductor wire, and handle extremely large shade jobs—up to 8 shades via a single Janus unit or as many as needed by locating multiple Janus units together. 

“At Screen Innovations, we continue to innovate and refine our products to provide solutions for every shading and screen application. The introduction of Janus Plenum marks the debut of the motorized shading industry’s first commercial power supply that’s plenum rated and of solid-state construction,” says SI CTO Michael Braithwaite. “Adding Janus Plenum to our lineup offers new opportunities for integrators to handle large commercial shading jobs and integrate easily with all of our shading options including Nano, Zen, Solo 2, Solo Pro 2, and Veil draperies.” 

Janus Plenum offers a host of additional features including redundant power supply options, infinitely scalable infrastructure, and more than 100 mounting configurations. 

To learn more about the new Janus Plenum, please visit www.screeninnovations.com/connectivity/janus/ and for more information about SI’s entire product  lineup go to www.screeninnovations.com/

About Screen Innovations

Screen Innovations engineers and hand-builds all screen and shade solutions at its 75,000-square-foot factory in Austin, Texas. Dedicated to developing the most unique and innovative screens and shades for the custom residential and commercial markets, the company offers a wide variety of design-forward products that suit any environment. As a leading manufacturer of screen and shade solutions, Screen Innovations is focused on the implementation of new technologies into its products and providing its dealers with the services and tools they need to differentiate themselves and grow their custom installation businesses. 

 

For more information about SI, please visit screeninnovations.com, on Facebook @screen innovations, and Twitter @SIScreens. 

 

Media Contact

For interviews, reviews, or more information, please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (425) 328-8640 or emailing katye@kmbcomm.com.

 

All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.

OneVision Resources Webinar Helps Home Technology Professionals Execute Meaningful Changes in their Organizations

OneVision Resources Webinar Helps Home Technology Professionals Execute Meaningful Changes in their Organizations

Informative webinar on August 27 offers proven tips and techniques on how to successfully implement new procedures, product introductions, and organizational changes seamlessly and efficiently. 

BOSTON, MA (August 18, 2020) In times like this, change is inevitable. Businesses, including home systems integration firms, need to quickly realign and adjust to thrive. To help home systems professionals effectively develop and implement lasting and meaningful change in their organizations, OneVision Resources, a leading provider of client service and support solutions for technology professionals, will host an informative webinar on Aug. 27, 11 a.m. EDT called “Creating Lasting Change.” 

“Creating Lasting Change” will cover how to apply principles of behavioral science to form better decisions, introduce change, and develop and execute a plan that sticks with and prepares an organization and its employees for a smooth, purposeful transformation. Through the tips shared during the online webinar, home technology professionals will learn how to reduce stress and improve the results of a change initiative, whether it involves moving into new product categories, implementing a new piece of business software, or shifting organizational or design processes. 

“We recognize that home technology professionals are facing unprecedented challenges these days; from the way they communicate with clients to how they manage their day-to-day business operations and product lines. Our primary objective at OneVision Resources has always been to provide the guidance, assistance, and tools home systems professionals need to succeed, and this workshop was created to do just that,” says OneVision Resources Director of Product Jason Griffing. “After attending the webinar, home systems professionals be able to develop a solid action plan to encourage and maintain lasting change in their organization.”  

OneVision Resources will walk attendees through proven methods of adopting change, from focusing on the positive rather than the negative, communicating ideas effectively, removing friction from the team, shaping new behaviors, and celebrating small victories during the transition.  

Committed to providing actionable strategies that forward-thinking integrators can use to modernize their businesses, OneVision Resources’ “Creating Lasting Change” webinar, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. EDT, is open for registration. Visit https://www.onevisionresources.com/create-lasting-change to sign up for the event.

 

About OneVision Resources

OneVision Resources’ comprehensive platform empowers home technology professionals, giving them the services, processes, and technologies they need to provide round-the-clock support, avoid burnout, and build a more sustainable and profitable business. OneVision’s comprehensive service delivery model combines the latest in service technology with a world-class remote support team, allowing them to not only monitor, manage, and secure their clients’ home environments in a seamless manner, but scale rapidly and profitably. OneVision and its growing network of partners support more than 25,000 connected homes across North America. For more information, visit www.onevisionresources.com and follow us LinkedIn.

 

Media Contact

For interviews please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (425) 328-8640 or emailing katye@kmbcomm.com.

 

All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.

Major New Release of D-Tools System Integrator (SI) Software Now Available

Major New Release of D-Tools System Integrator (SI) Software Now Available

The latest award-winning release, SI version 14, greatly expands project planning and execution capabilities to enable more effective project delivery for system integrators and technology managers.

CONCORD, CA (August 14, 2020) — D-Tools, Inc., the worldwide leader in data-driven software for system integrators, today announced the availability of System Integrator version 14, which includes powerful new capabilities for its end-to-end estimation, design, project, and service management software solution. 

“Executives, sales teams, and project managers alike will appreciate the enhancements found in the latest release of System Integrator,” states Randy Stearns, D-Tools’ CEO. “Always looking to streamline workflows through a data-driven approach, SI v.14 starts with enabling users to create customized checklists. While some may use these checklists for one-off applications like project punch lists, others will use them for establishing standardized lists of tasks associated with completing specific project types. These lists of tasks and subtasks can then be used to auto-populate the all-new Gantt charts. In turn, the Gantt chart tasks can be pushed to install tasks for technicians in Mobile Install, creating a workflow process that is highly efficient and reduces the risk of oversights in the project management process. On the sales side, SI v.14 has added more CRM-like functionality, including the ability to track lead source and assign close probability to sales statuses, enabling sales forecasts and pipeline projections. Executives will relish the enhanced business intelligence (BI) engine that provides deeper analysis and more meaningful KPI reporting.”

D-Tools System Integrator (SI) is an end-to-end software solution that substantially improves operating efficiencies by streamlining the entire project workflow – from estimating, through system design and documentation, procurement, project management, installation, and on-going service, all through a data-driven process that leverages an extensive, integrated product library.

The latest release, SI version 14, provides new performance-enhancing features that include:

 

  • Gantt Charts
    A Gantt chart is the optimal tool for project planning and implementation. Create and view tasks and milestones by phase, system and/or location, assign responsible parties, set start and end dates, and identify dependencies. As a data-driven solution, Gantt chart tasks can be virtually instantaneously assigned to the appropriate resource and scheduled for completion.
  • Customizable Checklists

 

Create customized and reusable checklists that can be attached to projects, tasks, and service orders. Common use cases might include project punch lists, or creating a list of tasks and subtasks associated with the completion of specific project types. To expedite Gantt chart development, these templates comprised of tasks and subtasks may serve as inputs to a project Gantt chart. 

  • New Business Intelligence Reporting

New and expanded capabilities enable SI users to build queries across projects, clients, purchase orders, tasks, service orders, and service plans. Results, displayed in either list view or graphical form, enable deeper analysis and reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs).

  • Bulk Purchase Order Creation
    To save time, SI users have the ability to create purchase orders for multiple vendors and multiple projects in batch. Common use cases will include ordering items by phase, location and/or system.
  • Updated UI

New icons and re-designed ribbons improve the user experience throughout the application.

D-Tools will host a free, “What’s New in System Integrator v14” webinar taking place Thursday, August 20, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Pacific. Those interested and seeing live demonstrations of the latest enhancements and capabilities to SI, followed by a Q&A session, can register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1649156799537490190.

After seeing a preview of SI v14 during InfoComm 2020 Connected last month, the solution was named a Sound & Video Contractor 2020 Best of InfoComm Winner, judged by a panel of CTS-certified judges, and won a Commercial Integrator 2020 BEST Award in the Project Management & Design Software category. Winners of the CI Awards were chosen by a panel of industry experts, integrators, and the editors of the publication based on criteria that included innovation, functionality, competitive advantages, and benefits to integrators and installers.

To see how D-Tools System Integrator can deliver profound visibility and results, sign up now for a free, personal online tour by visiting http://d-tools.com/live-demo-webinar/. A free 30-day trial of D-Tools can also be downloaded anytime at http://d-tools.com/hosted-free-trial-signup/.

 

About D-Tools, Inc.

D-Tools is a worldwide leader in accessible, highly accurate business software that caters to the unique and diverse needs of systems design and installation firms. The company’s on-premises software, System Integrator™ (SI), and cloud-based platform, D-Tools Cloud, are robust solutions that help manage all aspects of an integrator’s business, including sales, comprehensive system design, project documentation, procurement, and project management. Today, nearly 7,000 companies in over 90 countries use D-Tools’ award-winning software to streamline business processes, leading to improved operational efficiencies and increased profitability.

Find product updates and related information by following D-Tools on TwitterFacebook, and LinkedIn.

 

Media Contacts

Tim Bigoness, D-Tools, (925) 270-4102, timb@d-tools.com 

Katye (McGregor) Bennett, KMB Communications, (425) 328-8640, katye@kmbcomm.com 

All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.