What is a hybrid roller blind?
Waverley announced this week that it is partnering with QMotion UK to bring patented wireless hybrid roller blinds to the commercial market. But what are they?
Ground-breaking hybrid technology
Battery-powered blinds have traditionally been seen as something to be avoided. The battery life is short-lived, they possess unsightly battery packs, and the motor performance deteriorates rapidly. QMotion hybrid technology also uses battery power to function wirelessly. But it approaches battery power differently, and it approaches it effectively.
The difference is in the counter-balanced springs. QMotion has developed a heavily patented system that employs a series of counter-balanced springs that carry much of the weight of the fabric when operated, significantly lightening the load on the motor.
This means batteries last up to 3 years, compared to a maximum of 6 months with a traditional battery blind (this is often less). Furthermore, in many traditional battery blind systems, the lithium-ion batteries are only rechargeable, and their performance deteriorates over time – so rather than replacing the battery, you must replace the whole unit. QMotion is powered by alkaline D-Cell batteries that can be fully recycled. These are significantly more sustainable than the lithium-ion batteries found in traditional battery-powered systems.
So where does ‘hybrid’ come from?
Hybrid refers to the operation. The QMotion motor is the first roller blind motor that can be operated manually. Simply operate your blinds via wireless remote or by pulling the bottom of the blind. This feature is more than just simple convenience, it reduces accidental damage too.
Intermediate stop positions, as standard
In recent times, we’ve seen the manual ‘3 stop’ position roller blind increasingly specified. It claims that the mechanism inside the system only allows the blind to stop in the predetermined positions, therefore ‘ensuring building uniformity’. Whilst this seems a great concept, in practice, it does not achieve the desired effect. Having to manually adjust each blind separately to the same level is simply not achievable in an office environment.
With QMotion, groups of blinds can be controlled simultaneously, ensuring uniformity throughout the building, whilst the manual operation gives individual occupants the option of adjusting the blinds themselves. The manual operation also works in conjunction with the pre-set intermediate stop positions. A slight tug will send the blind to its next available stop position.
More and more specifiers have found that QMotion offers the best of both worlds, and a range of recent projects have shown that the upgrade to QMotion, from manual 3-stop blinds, has been cost-neutral.
Closing thoughts
It is not often in the solar shading industry that a new roller blind disrupts the market, but with a motor as versatile and innovative as QMotion at such a competitive price, it’s hard to claim ShadeTech RBL-QM is anything but a market disruptor.
With a renewed push for more sustainable, convenient solutions, ShadeTech RBL-QM offers a solar shading solution that’s unlike any other. Wireless, motorised and virtually silent, it positions itself as a serious contender across all sectors.
Contact Waverley if you would like to discuss your project or request a no-obligation demonstration at your facility.