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INDUSTRY
NEWS
OCTOBER DECLARED FIFTH NATIONAL WINDOW COVERING SAFETY MONTH
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) will partner once again this October to observe National Window Covering Safety Month. This year’s campaign will mark the fifth annual observance.
To invoke industry-wide participation, the “Kids, Cords, Caution” safety slogan will again be the theme for the promotional campaign. In addition, the official National Window Covering Safety Month campaign logo, depicting a child’s hand grabbing the cords of a window blind, will be used.
The WCSC will direct public awareness initiatives and National Window Covering Safety Month marketing activities on behalf of the industry. Planned initiatives include issuing news releases and feature stories for the print and broadcast media, a special National Window Covering Safety Month page on the WCSC Web site, and cooperative promotional efforts with nationally recognized safety, health and housing groups.
In addition, the WCSC will provide artwork, ad templates and cord-safety information for reproduction and use by industry members and retailers in promoting National Window Covering Safety Month. Materials can be downloaded free of charge at www.windowcoverings.org/industry. Access requires a user name and password: the user name is October; the password is safety.
HUNTER DOUGLAS ACQUIRES ESI, 3FORM
Hunter Douglas, Upper Saddle River, NJ, in March announced two acquisitions: ESI, a developer of motor controls, and 3form, a leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly resin panels for architectural applications.
Headquartered in Broomfield, CO, ESI has pioneered controls that incorporate highly intelligent software and are able to operate any window coverings motor with unmatched functionality, the company states.
“The acquisition of ESI will accelerate our expansion in the rapidly growing market for motorized window coverings and enhance our product offerings to our customers. ESI will continue to operate as a separate and distinct company, and management will remain unchanged,” said Marv Hopkins, president and CEO of Hunter Douglas Inc.
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, 3form had sales of $48 million in 2006 and employs 310 people, according to a statement from Hunter Douglas. Management will remain unchanged.
“The acquisition of 3form strengthens our position in architectural products worldwide. The company will continue to operate independently, under its own brand name,” said Hopkins.
3form panels have rapidly gained popularity in commercial and hospitality markets as a versatile, design-driven architectural product, according to the statement. Additionally, 3form has developed a reputation for environmental leadership, hands-on customer service and client driven innovation.
MAXXMAR WINDOW FASHIONS OPEN
Maxxmar Window Fashions, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is open for business. It’s a new company founded by the Marocco family and Emilio Carinci. These same collaborators have brought to market products such as cut down machines, polysatin shutters featuring operable horizontal specialty shapes, one piece multi section/angle track and equal vertical vane spacing, according to a statement released in late March.
The over 60 patents granted has demonstrated that the Marocco family has been an innovator for more than 25 years, the statement continues. Its knowledge of the marketplace combined with an inventive spirit means Maxxmar Window Fashions is aimed at meeting the needs of consumers with different lifestyles from traditional to modern.
ZMC RELEASES SPRING ASSIST ROLLER SHADE SYSTEM,
DUO SHADE FASCIA BRACKET NEXT
ZMC, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, released its Spring Assist Roller Shade System at the International Window Coverings Expo in Washington, DC, in April. The system is made with a heavy-duty torsion spring that can lift 12- by 12-foot shades, the company states.
Glass fiber reinforced polyresin is used for quiet and smooth operation, and a universal drive adaptor allows for factory install with no tools required. The Spring Assist is designed to fit a variety of clutches and tubes, the company says.
ZMC also announced plans to release the Duo Shade Fascia Bracket this year. Square and curved fascia affords greater end-user appeal for both commercial and residential applications, it states.
Duo Shade allows installation of a sun control fabric shade and a blackout fabric shade on a single mounting bracket providing both light filtering and room darkening. Its compact size permits two shades to fit in a smaller room projection than two individually installed shades on the same window, the company states. Instead of many different duo shade brackets for different sizes of clutches and controls, the ZMC Duo Shade Fascia Bracket will be offered as the only main bracket needed. With interchangeable insert plate, they are designed to fit a variety of clutches and idle ends to reduce inventory. It can be changed from right control to left control by removing a screw, the company states.
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