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Smart home integration is taking off
There was one clear message at the MACO Benelux booth during Fensterbau Frontale: solutions must be simpler, smarter and widely applicable. This vision is emphatically expressed in the latest generation of hardware solutions. Dirk Zwaan, Product Manager Protect at MACO Benelux, explained the most important innovations.
“For double doors, we have developed a completely new globe lock that is suitable for wood, plastic and aluminum,” explains Dirk Zwaan. “The core of the innovation is the newly developed contra-espagnolette with optimized operation. In the plastic market the systems were already functioning well, but in the wood market we ran into differences in profiling and construction.”
With a redesign, the solution now better matches the specific characteristics of wooden doors. “In the wood market, you have to deal with a visible seam at the location of the bellhousing. We have adapted the technology to that. With this, we are finally providing an answer to a clear market demand.” The introduction is phased toward the end of the year. “We expect a lot from this, precisely because it fills a concrete need.”
Modularity is a key principle within the development. “Everything fits together seamlessly,” Zwaan said. “The entire lock program is compatible. Whichever lock you choose, it fits within the same system and at the same heights.” That greatly simplifies the work for processors. “You have to take less account of dimensions and combinations. That saves time, prevents errors and makes the system scalable.”
In addition to mechanical innovations, digitalization plays a central role. With Sense by MACO, the company is betting heavily on smart home integration. “Sense is a sensor that registers whether a window or door is open, closed or locked,” explains Zwaan. “The added value is in interfacing with smart home systems.”
Through the Matter protocol, the sensors communicate with different ecosystems, such as Apple, Google and Samsung. “You're not stuck with one platform anymore. Everything works together within one standard.”
That opens up new possibilities for comfort, energy management and safety. “Think of a tilt-and-turn window that is open while the heating is on; the system can turn it off automatically. Or lights that come on when the front door is opened at night. You can also receive notifications if a door is unlocked.’
According to Swan, Matter represents a major step forward. “This standard is going to revolutionize smart home. Where systems used to work alongside each other, they now speak the same language.” For the window frame industry, this will have a major impact. “Hardware will become part of the digital ecosystem of the home. That makes our products even more relevant and future-proof.”
Another important development is the expansion of MACO's Protect locks program to include solutions for panic doors. “That segment is becoming increasingly important,” states Zwaan.
The solutions presented at the fair are based on the EN 179 standard, intended for emergency exits in non-panic situations. “Users know the building and should be able to get out with one action, for example via a door handle or push pad.”
In addition, MACO also has certified solutions for escape doors according to the relevant standards, making the program more widely applicable within a variety of safety applications.
The basis for these solutions is the A-TS multi-point lock, which is also available with motor control. “That makes it a robust and reliable solution.” Combined with Sense, notifications are also possible as soon as a door is opened, providing additional control and security.
The common thread in all the innovations is the integration of mechanics and digitalization. “Fittings were traditionally passive,” Zwaan concludes. “Now it is becoming active and communicating, as part of a larger system.”
According to him, this is just the beginning. “The ‘if this, then that’ logic goes further and further. Think of links to shading, ventilation and security. Everything is getting smarter.”
Fensterbau Frontale thus showed not only new products, but above all a clear direction. “We don't just develop fittings,” Zwaan concludes. “We also help build the intelligent home.”
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MACO: Innovative solutions for windows, doors and sliding systemsMACO, founded in 1947, is a leading global player in window, door and lift-slide hardware, providing innovative system and security solutions. In addition to traditional mechanical building hardware, such as the widely used turn-tilt system, networking with electronic components plays an increasingly important role. As a driver of innovation, MACO distinguishes itself with future-oriented technological [...]
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