BREL MOTORS: 'Smart control of indoor and outdoor blinds for everyone!'

BREL MOTORS is known as an innovative company focusing on smart solutions for electrically driving indoor and outdoor blinds. In addition to a very complete program of motors for window decoration, outdoor blinds and shutters, BREL MOTORS also offers intelligent solutions for control under the name BREL HOME.

BREL's delivery program includes bi-directional motors, which not only receive up and down commands wirelessly, but also provide feedback regarding operation. "With the compact but highly versatile BREL HOME USB Hub DD-1554, the connection between the bi-directional motors present in and around the house and the existing Wi-Fi network can be made quickly and easily," says Erik Budding. "Setup is done easily and quickly via the BREL HOME App, which is downloadable for both Android and Apple mobile devices. Thus, up to as many as 30 motors can be controlled via smartphone or tablet and the status for each motor can be viewed. Even more functionality is provided by the BREL HOME Wifi Hub DD-7002B, which recognizes and can control mono-directional motors in addition to bi-directional motors." 

"Do not underestimate consumer demand for App solutions"

According to Erik Budding and Reinoud Arts, the demand from consumers cannot be kept up. "When I see how many questions we get from the end user, I can't help but draw the conclusion that the consumer is more than ready," Budding said. "The BREL HOME concept is fully compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google Home. This puts voice control of window decoration, curtains, outdoor blinds and shutters within everyone's reach." 

"It makes sense, too," Arts adds. "People used to wait to introduce new technology until the developer thought the market was ready. Nowadays, consumers are already 'pulling' technology out of your hands before it's even launched properly. We have the smartphone era in which we live to thank for that. The commercial digitization battle is way ahead of the industrial one. Our advice to the trade is therefore not to underestimate the demand for App solutions from consumers, but to get to work with them as actively as possible. Simply put: not only can you make more sales with smart control, it can also cost you sales if you cannot deliver it. The customer still determines what the market looks like." 

If wireless really has to be wireless

According to Budding and Arts, BREL MOTORS is considered the founder of the very latest trend in motors in the Netherlands: the battery motor. "What characterizes BREL battery motors, whether they are used indoors or outdoors, is that the battery is located in the motor tube itself," Budding said. This greatly increases the applicability of the battery technology." 

For the battery motors used in outdoor screens and shutters, BREL has developed a solar panel that is attached to the body of the awning or shutter. The battery is charged by daylight; there is no longer a power cable involved. This saves drilling inside and also eliminates the need to neatly hide the wiring. "Also, it becomes completely possible to mount electrically operated products in places where no power cable can be laid. Think, for example, of mounting screens on French garden doors, or installing roll-down shutters on dormers," Budding outlines. 

"Our message to all shading professionals who have not yet made the move to smart controls and battery motors is to just try it," Arts concludes. "Start with a first screen with battery motor. Install the BREL HOME App once and amaze yourself at how user-friendly everything works. You will automatically become a fan and thereby effortlessly sell a product that is totally contemporary."