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Special Report

The Value of Control
Lutron Electronics extends its expertise and services for controlling light.

D&WC: Please tell us about Lutron including its areas of expertise.

David Weinstein, director of sales, shading solutions: Lutron is the world’s leading manufacturer of lighting controls. Our founder, Joel Spira, invented the first solid-state dimmer in 1961. Today, we offer the most comprehensive line of natural and electronic lighting controls for commercial and residential applications.

We believe proper lighting is fundamental to every task or activity, and our technology gives users simple, total lighting control for every application. From single circuits or windows, to entire homes and facilities, our company delivers world-class quality, innovation and customer service.

D&WC: What areas of the company are receiving primary attention? Why?

Weinstein: We continue to focus on expanding awareness about the value of lighting control for residential and commercial spaces. Today we are focusing on the importance of controlling natural light through shade and drapery controls systems that feature our newest technology, Sivoia QED (Quiet Electronic Drive).

This technology offers users convenience at the touch of a button. In addition, Sivoia QED delivers ultra-quiet, precision shade movement that can easily integrate with Lutron’s existing offering of electronic lighting control systems. We believe that customers will appreciate the value of these products and will want to include them in their homes and buildings once they understand their ability to quietly control multiple hard-to-reach shades and draperies.

D&WC: What are the fastest growing areas of the company?

Weinstein: There is increasing interest and growth in our residential and commercial business. As it relates to shades, our Sivoia family of products has achieved significant percentage growth gains over the last year as customers recognize the value of low-voltage, precise, silent electronic drive systems for shades and draperies.

D&WC: What are the company’s goals? Where do you see the company one year from now? Five years from now?

Weinstein: There are five principles to Lutron’s basic philosophy. All of our products are designed with the following fundamentals in mind:
1. Take care of the customer
2. Take care of the company
3. Take care of the people
4. Innovate with a high standard of quality
5. Deliver value to the customer

We establish aggressive growth goals to support these principles and expect to be on track with our goals through our commitment to these five principles.

D&WC: Please provide a general description of the company’s product lines and services.

Weinstein: Our company manufactures a comprehensive line of lighting control products for commercial and residential applications. These include controllable roller shades, Roman shades and drapery track systems, shade controls, manual roller shades, single-circuit dimmers, single-room systems, wireless and hard wired whole-home or whole-building dimming and switching systems, fluorescent dimming ballasts and a complete line of fashion-colored dimmers, switches, wall plates and accessories.

D&WC: Who are your customers? What parts of the country do you service?

Weinstein: Lutron is a global company and serves customers worldwide. Our customers include homeowners, building owners and building tenants. Our products have applications in most environments including homes, hospitals, houses of worship, schools, hotels, restaurants, convention centers, museums, offices, conference rooms, auditoriums, retail spaces and more.

D&WC: What trends and cycles do you see occurring in the industry? How is your business addressing them?

Weinstein: As technology continues to become a more important design element in residential and commercial spaces, users will need simple-to-operate, reliable systems to better manage their living and working visual environment. Our products deliver convenience, comfort, energy savings and protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

In addition, we offer the ability to seamlessly integrate natural and electronic lighting controls systems in environments where such integration makes sense.

D&WC: What distinguishes you from the competition?

Weinstein: Lutron has always focused on the creation and expansion of the lighting control market. We invest heavily in research, development and growth through quality and innovation. We will continue to focus on expanding specifier and customer awareness about the value our products bring to people in residential and commercial environments.

D&WC: How do you educate your customers?

Weinstein: Lutron educates customers using a multi-tier approach. Lutron’s Lighting Control Institute offers on-going product and service training for all of the channels we serve. In addition, we consistently schedule product road shows and bring much of this training to the local level.

We also conduct training sessions for our specifiers, dealers, distributors and installers. Plus, our Web site, www.lutron.com, offers customers worldwide access to product and where-to-buy information.