DAYTON, NJ (October 1st, 2024) – Somfy, the world’s largest manufacturer of motors for interior window coverings and exterior solar protections, announced today the launch of its Sonesse® 40 PoE motors. One year after launching its Sonesse 30 PoE motor, the smallest PoE motor on the market, Somfy now complements the product line with this ultra-quiet yet powerful motor. 

The Sonesse 40 PoE is powered by Power over Ethernet (PoE), a networking feature that lets network cables carry electrical DC power & Internet Protocol (IP) data connectivity over an existing data connection with a single Cat-5e/Cat-6 ethernet cable. Essentially, one cable delivers power, data, and control.

The Sonesse 40 PoE provides a full range of motors, including 2, 4 & 6Nm, to operate even the largest of motorized applications. Somfy’s Synergy™ API allows for simple direct integration to users’ favorite third-party control systems, eliminating the need for additional hardware. Somfy currently has the following integration partners: Control4, Crestron, Crestron Home, URC, ELAN, and RTI. With Somfy’s PoE Motor Configuration Software, users can easily configure multiple motors over IP from a single interface.

“At Somfy, we prioritize flexibility, safety, and scalability for our motorized window treatment users,” said Dan Niemirka, Senior Product Manager of Motors and Accessories at Somfy. “The Sonesse 40 PoE motor is our strongest and latest innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers by providing them the unique advantages of Power over Ethernet with incredible lifting capacity, as well as third-party integrations and control.”

There are numerous benefits to PoE-powered motors. PoE is widely used for Voice over IP (VoIP) Phones, as well as in surveillance cameras, and WiFi access points. The adoption of the new IEEE 802.3 bt standard in 2018 PoE switches enables the protocol to now deliver 90W, a much higher power than the original 15W af standard. As a result, powered devices have a wider range on the network, including 6Nm motors for shades. 

The new PoE motor enables a convergence of Internet Protocol digital building systems by expanding the possibilities of different devices requiring higher power to live on the same IP backbone. Additionally, PoE motors offer flexibility to office and living spaces by not requiring the use of an electrical AC outlet, enabling the installer to place the device wherever needed.

Niemirka added, “We are changing the landscape of the lighting and shading industry by adopting the new 90-Watt PoE bt standard. PoE implementation is going to help jumpstart the future of the power distribution industry, which has not innovated in over a century. Most devices in buildings use DC, but standard practice has been to use an AC grid 120 or 240V AC and transformers to convert to local DC power. This is not only a waste of energy, but a costly endeavor. DC solar and battery costs are much more affordable and PoE is enabling that affordability and scalability to manufacturers.”

PoE also reduces the time and expense of having line voltage cabling installed and can transmit power and data using low voltage wiring (Cat-5e/Cat-6) up to 328 ft. There are additional benefits to using Cat-5e/Cat-6 wiring. Its connections provide maintenance-free, convenient, and reliable communication as an alternative to traditional radio wireless solutions which are powered by batteries. With Cat-5e/Cat-6 wiring, there is no need for charging or eventual replacement of batteries. The network cables also do not require a licensed electrician to install them, providing a convenient and reliable wired connection over traditional RF solutions.

PoE is a scalable and sustainable choice for manufacturers. Since only the necessary negotiated power is available on the network, installation and distribution networks become simple and effective without energy waste. Through PoE data collection, manufacturers can offer enhanced customer experiences to scale their operations.

Somfy PoE motors are powered by a reliably secure protocol that employs modern security and encryption standards. With intelligent power delivery, PoE is designed to protect network equipment from power overloads as well as underpowering, and even incorrect installations. IEEE standards ensure the Power Source Equipment senses and delivers the correct negotiated power to Powered Devices.

For more information on the Sonesse 40 PoE motor, please visit: https://www.somfysystems.com/en-us/products/1241426/sonesse-40-poe-at-2-25-type-2-30w 

About Somfy Systems, Inc.

For over 50 years, Somfy has been pioneering innovative motorization and automated solutions for window coverings and exterior shading products. With comfort, ease of use, security, and sustainability in mind, our seamless and connected solutions are designed to help people make the move to living spaces impactful for humans and with a reduced impact on nature. For more information, visit https://www.somfysystems.com.