Vision

Automation

TODAY | The present requests for modern buildings in public or private areas are various: comfort, flexibility, energy-saving, security. A connection of as many functionalities of the building techniques is the aim. Next to sun protection products, lightings, electronic appliances, air conditions, heating’s, doors and gates as well as security systems (e. g. alarm systems and smoke detectors) can be connected and operated comfortably already by today. The erfal sun protection products can be connected through the motor operation to a KNX-control. The delivery range includes not only di­ erent actuators but also complete central controls. The such called Shade Centre is an universally applicable solution with up to eight sectors, automatic sun tracking and an unlimited number of groups, which you can control. The combination possibilities are hereby endless: The KNX certification process ensures that the di­ erent products of various manufacturers are working and communicating together in di­ erent applications. This guarantees a high grade of flexibility relating to expansion and change.

VISION | The future promises self-learning systems that recognize and logically process recurring algorithms thanks to artificial intelligence.

Save Energy

TODAY | Saving energy and creating a decorative room design at the same time has become an additional selling point during the development of honeycomb or room pleated blinds. Heat cost savings of around 10 % are possible with the optimum use of suitable sun protection products. Special sun protection products will help you to save your rooms from overheating during summer. Thus, the use of air conditioning can be decreased. Suitable sun protection products will have a doubled savings e­ ect during winter. Anti-glare protection during the day while the incoming sun can be used as an additional heat source. On the other hand, the heat is better kept inside the building at night because honeycomb pleated blinds are having an insulating e­ ect. Intelligent motor and driving technologies move the sun protection according to the insolation. As a result, the light and heat will be optimal embedded or kept in the room. Thus, much less heat is lost and the heating or cooling energy costs are reduced.

VISION | Modern and motorized sun protection installations will be exactly adjusted to the solar attitude and the temperature during the comprehensive planning and integration. This intelligent use of daylight reduces the energy requirement for artificial light and reduces the CO2 emissions at any time or season. The energetic consumption of buildings will be reduced through a simultaneous connection and integration of temperature sensor and home control (for lighting and heating). Energy will be even gained in the near future through the closed sun protection fabric at the window. The energy, which is needed by the motor of the sun protection product could be directly obtained from solar radiation through innovative developments of fabrics with integrated solar cells.

Smart Home

TODAY | In the past, roller blinds, venetian blinds etc. were hardly operated by hand. Today, this strength work is taken over by powerful motors. Automatic controls ensure a reliable functionality of sun protection systems. The automatic reacts on weather e­ ects such as light, wind, temperature and rainfall. Thus, damages on buildings and blinds are avoided. Independent to the user’s presence, the sun protection systems are target-oriented moved, to prevent for example a heat loss during the winter. Even today, modern motorized sun protection systems, which are time and local-independent, can be operated via smartphone or tablet. Smart Home guarantees a comfortable control of all units in a building with one system. The highest user comfort is provided by product controls of Alexa, Apple Home Kit and Google Home. The motor software, developed by erfal, works bidirectionally. The software includes among others maintenance and error reports as well as a user cycle display. The current fabric position of the sun protection is always smart available and changeable.

VISION | The future promises an comprehensive monitoring of sun protection systems to improve the planning of maintenance cycles and to calculate the remaining economic life. Further, it promises to optimize sceneries user-friendly and to initiate new sceneries during the increment.

Sustainability

TODAY | Sustainable sun protection fabrics can make a positive contribution to the following building certification systems:

DGNB, BREEAM und LEED.

Sustainable materials are used responsibly by erfal. The central point are hereby fabrics, which are made of PET. Up to 6 PET bottles are used per m² fabric. Thus, new petroleum sources are saved. The fabric collection of the new erfal roller blind catalogue will also include a fabric card with sustainable fabrics made of plastic waste. The card comprises four fabric qualities in di­fferent colours, in total 20 fabrics. These fabrics were checked through the certification system Cradle to Cradle and have received the “Bronze-status”. The speciality of these fabrics is that they include at least 65 % of recycled materials. Further, they are recyclable by 100 %. The low flammability according to DIN 4102 B1 is ensured at the same time, which accelerates the use of these fabrics for projects.

VISION | A rethinking during the fabric selection in the field of interior view and sun protection has begun. Soon, erfal has set itself the goal of increasing the influence of its suppliers on the production of sustainable textile. It also aims to raise the awareness amongst architects and decision-makers to use more recycled materials, to handle resources responsibly and to reduce the crude oil consumption. A green-minded thinking and acting have to become a standard in the sun protection sector.

Acoustics

TODAY | The topic „Acoustics“ gets more and more important during the development of sun protection textiles. Acoustic textiles in the room decoration sector, especially for windows, are an important part of the interior architecture and modern furnishing concepts. The erfal sun protection collections are o­ffering more than 10 fabrics with verifiable soundproofing properties. They are offering up to 60% sound absorption through special woven structures and surfaces. Thus, a sound insulation class C is reached. In addition, honeycomb pleated blinds are also having a positive e­ ect on the room acoustics due to their special comb structure. A good room acoustics as well as an acoustic insulation benefit the well-being and a good sleep.

VISION | erfal could become a supplier of integral acoustic solutions in the future. Wall coverings, textile absorbers and ceiling canvas could become part of the acoustic product range next to an extended range of acoustic fabrics for sun production installations. The first step is the development of an acoustical fabric collection for roller, panel, vertical and pleated blinds.