This collaboration leverages the combined expertise of both companies in lighting, building automation, and electrification. By integrating Zumtobel Group’s advanced lighting management systems with ABB’s robust building automation solutions, the partnership aims to create more efficient, sustainable, and user-friendly smart building environments. Together, they will drive the adoption of sensor-based lighting solutions, empowering businesses to optimize energy efficiency, enhance occupant comfort, and maximize the effectiveness of HVAC control systems.
Both companies are committed to driving innovation by leveraging DC technology in full-scale industrial applications. This technology supports a resource-efficient society by offering benefits such as efficient integration of renewable energy sources, reduced resource consumption, minimized feed-in power, grid stability, and an open system for users. They are active participants in the Open Direct Current Alliance (ODCA), a Working Party of ZVEI e.V., furthering advancements in DC technology.
Lucy Han, Executive Vice President for Building and Home Automation Solutions at ABB said, “our partnership approach enables us to better address innovation, standardization, and sustainability and continue to pioneer new technologies,” and added: “standardization, through KNX, Matter and Thread is particularly important in assuring ease of use for customers, because alongside the rapid growth of the sector, we must drive simplicity. Technologies in commercial buildings need to talk to each other and by combining our strengths with partners like the Zumtobel Group, we can offer customers more comprehensive and innovative solutions for smart buildings and industrial applications.”
Key aspects of the partnership include the joint development of integrated smart building solutions, particularly focusing on Zumtobel’s LITECOM lighting system and the continuous-row TECTON DC luminaire. This collaboration will also encompass ABB’s DC protection devices, along with its ABB i-bus® KNX and ABB i-bus® DALI systems.
Oliver Vogler, SVP Corporate Strategy and M&A of the Zumtobel Group, underlines, “Collaborating with ABB allows us to expand our building management offering around sensor-based lighting, especially in DALI and KNX applications. Together, we can drive innovation in the rapidly evolving fields of smart buildings and smart energy solutions.”
The companies will also seek additional collaboration opportunities in prefabricated building solutions and emerging technology standards, including the cross-manufacturer connection standard Matter and the network protocol Thread.