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.

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