Nortek Security and Control Group Charts Strategic Course for Smart Home Leadership

  • Dec 15, 2014

Nortek Inc. announced that its Linear LLC subsidiary has been renamed Nortek Security & Control, LLC. Linear, 2GIG and GoControl will be the subsidiary’s cornerstone brands, each targeting key markets. Strongly positioned with product portfolio synergies and the ability to cross-pollinate technology across the broader Nortek family, Nortek Security & Control provides a broad range of smart home solutions to OEMs, telecoms, major retailers, managed service providers, security dealers, custom installers and DIY consumers.

“Nortek’s Linear business has been transformed during the past few years, as we have become a market leader not only in the security industry but the broader home control and automation sector, as well,” said Nortek President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Clarke. “Linear’s legacy includes 50 years as a pioneer in the wireless access control market and industry-leading capabilities in the design, engineering and manufacturing of sensors and connected devices. Our 2013 acquisition of 2GIG Technologies accentuated these strengths by bringing us more brands and capabilities, as well as complete solutions for the broader home automation space.

“We also recently transitioned the development and sales of certain Linear branded products, such as garage door operators, to one of its sister companies, GTO Access Systems.“This sharpens the focus of each business and positions GTO to expand its presence in the perimeter access market. Coinciding with these changes, we are not only renaming the Linear business but also repositioning its brands and allocating greater resources to accelerate its growth in the exciting home control market.”

Mike O’Neal, President of Nortek Security & Control, said, “Our success is now being driven by factors that are bigger and different from our historical Linear business. Nortek Security & Control is a tangible reflection of Nortek’s leadership in the market and its commitment to charting a strategic course in what may be one of the hottest technology categories in the past 20 years – smart home control.”

Today, Nortek Security & Control holds leadership positions in strategic, high-growth channels and market sectors. According to the Z-Wave Alliance, Nortek Security & Control is the number one manufacturer of Z-Wave products worldwide. Through a broad range of Z-Wave hubs and systems, this attachment penetration, combined with Nortek Security & Control’s market share, gives the company a leadership position not shared by other companies in the space.

“2GIG has been a leading home control platform in the security industry, the primary channel for smart home controls, for a number of years,” said Tom Kerber, director, research, home controls & energy at Parks Associates. “It is no surprise that the 2GIG installed base is the largest of any smart home platform.”

O’Neal added, “Nortek Security & Control is the pre-eminent smart home platform provider and is a strategic OEM/ODM partner to leading players in the smart home industry. We are experts at building and delivering connected devices for a range of communication protocols and nimble enough to react to market demands. We already control more smarthomes than any other home control solutions company, so this alignment is really about bringing the Nortek Security & Control brands into focus and asserting our leadership in the category.”

Nortek Security & Control: OEM, Service Provider, Branded and a new DIY offering

Linear products continue its long-standing vertical market legacy of innovation in the commercial access control and integrated systems sector. Linear works with dealers and OEM partners across vertical markets that include: security, video surveillance, intercoms, garage door operators, and numerous other complementary RF technology applications.

2GIG solutions include OEM security and control products for telecommunications providers, cable companies, security dealers and others selling home control systems under their own unique brands. 2GIG is also the Nortek Security & Control Group’s channel-facing brand, and is sold and professionally installed by security dealers under a managed services model.

GoControl will extend to an expansive new line of stand-alone smart home wireless products (such as light switches, smart light bulbs, thermostats and other retail oriented connected devices) that will be available during the second quarter of 2015 in order to meet the burgeoning demands of DIY homeowners. The GoControl smart products line will not require professional installation or managed services.

Nortek Security & Control will continue to OEM private label solutions for the industry’s largest providers of monitored health and wellness services in North America.

O’Neal concluded, “By clearly defining each brand under the Nortek Security & Control umbrella, Nortek will better serve the needs of its diverse and evolving customer base as the market for home control technology and connected products continues to grow.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.