Lutron Electronics is once again staying ahead of the curve in the motorized shades market with its new Lutron Palladiom Wire-Free Shading System, which leverages the major growth trends of exposed roller shades and battery-powered shades.
According to the recent CE Pro 2021 Lighting & Shade Deep Dive Study, 19% of all motorized shades installed by integrators are battery-powered, while 28% of all projects this year will include at least one exposed roller shade. Both trends are on the upswing.
The new Lutron Palladiom Wire‐Free Shading System is a beautiful, exposed roller shade with a minimal profile that is completely wire‐free, giving integrators the ability to bring a sleek industrial design product that offers them installation flexibility.
Lutron first introduced quiet motorized shades suitable for interior windows to the custom installation market back in the 1990s with its Sivoia line. In 2017, the Coopersburg, Pa.-based company debuted its Palladiom exposed shade aesthetic as a wired solution.
How Lutron Palladiom Wire-Free Expands the Market
Eliminating the need for pre‐wiring allows this versatile shade to be installed at any point in a project’s lifecycle—even after construction is complete, explains Margaret Block, product manager for motorized shades at Lutron. She notes that with the wireless, exposed roller shade option, integrators will no longer necessarily be shut out from adding shades to a project because there are no soffits or pockets built into the design of the home to hide the shades, and because the walls have already been drywalled or plastered without prewiring in place.
“Our goal is to provide our customers with flexible shading solutions that combine superior technology with the reliable performance that integrators have come to expect from Lutron,” says Sam Chambers, senior director‐Residential Systems. “The Palladiom Wire‐Free Shading System combines that design‐centric aesthetic with the simplicity of wire‐free operation making it easier than ever to bring beautiful daylight control to any home at any time.”
The Palladiom Wire‐Free Shading System runs on Active Energy Optimization, Lutron’s new patent‐pending battery management architecture designed to optimize the delicate balance of efficiency and power density in traditional alkaline batteries to extend battery lifetime. This shading system uses no more than six D‐cell batteries – 60% fewer batteries than other Lutron battery shades – while still maintaining a battery life of three to five years.
“Maintaining the simple design of Palladiom shades with battery‐powered architecture required many electronic and mechanical breakthroughs,” says Block. “Our goal was simplicity in both design and function. This includes replaceable batteries that are completely concealed within the shade, but accessible when needed, an integrated RF antenna for wireless communication, and a remarkably efficient drive that can run longer on fewer batteries. These features minimize challenges for installers and designers alike.”
Design Elements, 12-foot Windows
The solution’s clean, minimal profile is designed to flex to match any décor, occupies no more than 3 ¼ inches of vertical space and covers windows up to 12 feet wide by 12 feet tall. Shade brackets are offered in seven hand‐finished materials to complement a range of interiors, and were selected to coordinate with Palladiom wired shade hardware, keypads and thermostats for a unified aesthetic throughout the home.
The shade also offers the exclusive Palladiom Bottom Rail, a streamlined hembar style designed to geometrically align with the shape of the bracket, and available in matching finishes. Additional Features of the Palladiom Wire‐Free Shading System include:
- Seamless integration with Lutron HomeWorks
- App alerts notify users when shade batteries are low, and a simple bracket mechanism allows
- for quick battery changes without needing to remove the shade
- Whisper quiet movement down to 35dBA
- Precise alignment maintained to 1/8-inch using Lutron’s patented Intelligent Hembar
- Alignment feature
Flexible mounting options accommodate new or existing windows, with brackets designed specifically for wall, ceiling and jamb mount applications To make specification effortless for dealers and specifiers, Lutron has developed installation training, product presentations and videos, fabric, finish and hembar samples, as well as a portable demonstration tool, all available this fall. The Palladiom Wire‐Free Shading System will be available to quote and order late Fall 2021.
