by Brianna Crandall — July 7, 2017 — MechoSystems, a worldwide provider of window management solutions, announced its new low-voltage WhisperShade DC Electronic Drive Unit for motorized shades and its new Shadecloth Features Selector at NeoCon 2017, the 49th edition of the international commercial interiors show. The WhisperShade DC motor was recognized with an Innovation award in the Window Treatments category of the Best of NeoCon Competition (see FMLink article).
WhisperShade DC Electronic Drive Unit
The Innovation award-winning WhisperShade DC Electronic Drive Unit is a powerful and very quiet low-voltage motor for shades that is compatible with the MechoNet operating system used in roller shade automation. The WhisperShade DC motor is inherently quiet and is paired with special sound-dampening brackets for a virtually silent operating motor, says MechoSystems. It is a member of the venerable ElectroShade family of motorized shades.
The WhisperShade DC motor is inherently quiet and is paired with special sound-dampening brackets for a virtually silent operating motor. It is a member of the ElectroShade family of motorized shades.
The motor features customizable preset shade positions (16 preset stopping positions), programmable addressing, and wired or wireless control capability. The motor features built-in networking capability and can be used with other MechoSystems motors (line-voltage) in a building to provide harmonious shade motorization control no matter which motor is needed for a particular window or shade system, adds the company.
The new low-voltage motor will also offer superior lifting capability ― 40 pounds, capable of powering shades at a maximum height of 24 feet. The DC motor will enable many more installations of automated or motorized shades due to easier installation and less stringent codes/regulations for the installation of DC-powered motors (than conventional line-voltage motors). The motors have a 10-year warranty, non-depreciating, which MechoSystems says is the longest in the industry.
Shade automation utilizing motors (DC or line-voltage or both) fosters daylight integration, which saves energy, points out the company. The use of daylight also promotes circadian rhythm and combats seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In addition, promoting daylight and maintaining views to the outside are often an earned LEED point, and other sustainability-oriented building rating standards recognize the value and importance of utilizing daylight within the built environment.
Shadecloth Features Selector
The Shadecloth Features Selector is an interactive, free, Web-based tool that allows a designer or specifier to search for a specific shadecloth via commonly used/needed criteria for a specific project. This is done by selecting desired attributes through the multi-level search criteria/filters. Environmental certifications and technical specification criteria can be selected for sorting by the Features Selector.
The Shadecloth Features Selector is an interactive, free, Web-based tool that allows a designer or specifier to search for a specific shadecloth via commonly used/needed criteria for a specific project.
The list of selections can then be viewed or saved as a CSV, or the search results can be printed. Other noteworthy features in the selector guide are links to the actual certification, links to technical data such as solar transmission characteristics, photos and lists of colors offered within a series, and a quick-reference definition that is gained by hovering the mouse over the certification name within the chart.
Now a designer or specifier can perform a search for a shadecloth series based on official environmental certifications and/or technical parameters in an objective manner to meet owners’ criteria or for compliance with various rating standards such as LEED, Well Building Challenge or Healthier Hospitals Initiative.
The Shadecloth Features Selector is particularly focused on the environmental certifications that many textiles have, as a way of highlighting the unique shadecloth appropriate for a specific project. Search criteria can include contributing to LEED v4, Health Product Declaration, Declare Label, Cradle to Cradle Certified, GREENGUARD, and PVC Free.
For more information, visit the MechoSystems Web site.
