Present and emerging trends in the window ventilation industry

The term lighthouse is synonymous with powerful lights that pierce the darkness and are essential to safe, successful maritime navigation. Increasingly used to describe the beacons of technology, companies leading the way in their respective industries, Kintrol are one such business, creating unique automation solutions from one project to the next.

As an agile designer and provider of automation systems for window and door applications, Kintrol is regularly approached to create solutions where no conventional ‘off the shelf’ option exists. In conjunction with Architects, Builders, Electricians or end-users, the company design, model and construct entire solutions in their workshop. This enables them to provide clients with fit-for-purpose, turnkey or plug and play solutions which simply require, installation, connection and testing.

Demand patterns in Australia have in the past few years seen far greater inclusion of sensors to monitor air flow and air quality conditions, enabling window automation systems to react accordingly. This could for example mean closing a wall of windows at a University when a storm is approaching from a specific direction, or opening all windows at an exhibition centre upon detecting smoke inside the building. In-fact virtually all changes to air conditions, both internally and externally can be used as triggers to instigate the operation of any number of windows.

More recently, requests to integrate newer technologies such as wi-fi and touchscreen devices with traditional automation components like drives and switches is steadily on increase.

Said owner Ivan Kinsela “Our experience lies in creating one-off solutions that specifically meet customer requirements, rather than compromising on functionality because the available off-the-shelf products are incapable of doing the job. We take particular pride in getting each solution right, no matter the size or scale of the project.”

Kintrol’s specialist experience lies in being able to ensure security with such publicly available technology and applications. It’s great to think that you can remotely open or close the windows of your property with a smartphone app, but lesser known about wi-fi systems is the ease with which the popular Zigbee or similar wi-fi networks can be hacked. Whilst security might be less of an issue with a tablet used by your children, the consequences of such a device as the security gateway to your home or business premises is potentially far more damaging. Rest assured that we only use secure network platforms with our products.

The company is also completely flexible with its system support. As well as being able to diagnose faults or even misuse of operation remotely with IT network infrastructure, rather than forcing clients into rigid, short term service agreements they fully understand the nature of the one-off solution and provide support accordingly. Kinsela added “We appreciate that a lot of our solutions aren’t mass produced. Being more specifically designed individual solutions, this requires the reassurance that should something need our attention a few years down the line, we ensure that it is remedied as soon as possible. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, we are on the case in a shot.”

So, if you are ‘in the dark’ about a custom solution to meet specific tender or construction requirements, start by calling us to discuss your spec, and if it’s possible, we can help you to make it happen.