Somfy
Behind virtually every motorised roller shutter, screen, awning or curtain in Europe lies the same name: Somfy. As the global market leader in motorisation and automatic control of window and door openings, Somfy has set the standard for comfort, energy savings and security in residential construction for more than five decades.
At Integration At Home we integrate Somfy motors and the TaHoma gateway into Control4 smart home systems, so that your awnings, roller shutters and curtains become part of an intelligent, fully automated living comfort.
From Watchmakers to Global Leader
The story begins in the Arve valley in Haute-Savoie, at the foot of Mont Blanc — a region with centuries of tradition in precision mechanics. In 1851, watchmaker Louis Carpano established himself in Cluses. The company Carpano & Pons expanded with inventions from electric shavers to the famous Mitchell 300 fishing reel. Between 1960 and 1967, a new activity took shape: motorisation of roller shutters.
In 1963, SOMFY — Societe d’Outillage et de Mecanique du Faucigny — was registered. In 1969, the first tubular motor for roller shutters: the end of the hand crank. In 1981, the first weather station for automatic sun protection. In 1993, RTS radio technology. In 2006, io-homecontrol bidirectional. In 2010, TaHoma. In 2016, expansion into security cameras and smart locks.
Today: active in 59 countries, approximately 5,800 employees, 8 production facilities. Revenue of EUR 1.5 billion in 2024. More than 500 engineers and 2,000+ patents. Still a family business in Cluses. Member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (Matter) and integrated with all major smart home platforms.
The Communication Protocols
RTS
The proven one-way protocol since 1993. Motors receive commands (up, stop, down, favourite position “My”) but do not send position feedback. Robust, reliable and available in the broadest range. Ideal for straightforward installations.
Zigbee
The newest protocol, primarily for interior blinds. Open mesh protocol, bidirectional. Directly compatible with Apple Home, Google Home and Amazon Alexa via TaHoma. The foundation for Somfy’s future Matter support.
Exterior Motors: From Roller Shutter to Pergola
S&SO RS100 io — Flagship
The first intelligent plug-and-play roller shutter motor with io-homecontrol, integrated antenna and exclusive ControlSpeed technology for variable speed. Soft Start and Soft Stop for gradual acceleration and deceleration. Frost detection automatically disables operation when shutters are frozen. Obstacle detection stops on resistance. Extremely quiet. Fully configurable via the io Setting Tool.
The Oximo io offers the same technology in a wide range of torques for every roller shutter size. The RS100 Solar io: solar-powered, no wiring — ideal for renovation.
Awnings, Screens and Louvres
Terrace awnings: Sunea io and Maestria io — powerful motors with io-homecontrol for all terrace awnings.
Screen blinds: Sunilus io and Sunilus Screen io — motorisation for exterior screens.
External louvre blinds: J4 io and J4 io Protect — designed for exterior venetian blinds with tiltable louvres.
All exterior motors available in multiple torque ratings for every application, from lightweight screens to heavy roller shutters.
Interior Motors: Sonesse, Glydea and Roll Up
Sonesse
Whisper-quiet motors for interior roller blinds. Available in RTS, io-homecontrol and Zigbee. The Sonesse 30/40 for light to medium-weight applications, the 50 for heavier systems. The Zigbee models offer direct Apple Home compatibility.
Glydea
Motorisation for curtain tracks. The Glydea 35 for lightweight and 60 for heavier fabrics. Whisper-quiet with touch-motion: gently pull the curtain and the motor automatically completes the movement. RTS control with TaHoma integration.
Roll Up WireFree
Cordless motorisation of existing roller blinds with rechargeable battery. RTS control. Ideal for retrofit without any wiring — perfect when adding a motor without structural work is desired.
TaHoma: The Brain Behind the Installation
TaHoma Switch
The central gateway that brings together io-homecontrol, RTS and Zigbee. Up to 60 Zigbee devices and 40 RTS channels. TaHoma app for configuration, control and scenes. WiFi as standard, optional Ethernet adapter. The Somfy Synergy API opens TaHoma to Control4, Crestron, Savant and other platforms. Voice control via Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home.
Weather Sensors
Sunis io: Sun sensor automatically adjusts louvre blinds and screens based on sun intensity.
Eolis io: Wind sensor automatically retracts awnings in high wind speeds — essential for protection.
Thermis io: Temperature sensor activates sun protection based on temperature thresholds.
In a Control4 environment, sensor values via TaHoma are combined with time schedules, occupancy and season for intelligent automation.
Somfy and Control4: Three Integration Paths
TaHoma + Control4 driver: The most versatile option. The official driver communicates via the Synergy API with TaHoma as a bridge to io, RTS and Zigbee. Up to 200 devices. SDDP detection. io motors with position feedback.
UAI Plus + SDN: For wired installations with Somfy’s Serial Digital Network. IP integration with Control4.
myLink RTS: Simplest option for smaller RTS installations. Up to 16 channels.
The Movie Night Scene
At Integration At Home, we choose the integration path based on your installation. A typical cinema scene: the Control4 “Movie Night” closes the Somfy io-homecontrol screens and curtains via TaHoma. The Delta Light spots dim. The Integratech LED strips switch to cinema ambiance. The NAD T 778 activates Dolby Atmos. The JVC projector starts. The Multivision Screens projection screen descends. All with one press on a Basalte touchscreen or Niko switch.
During the day, the automation reverses: the Sunis io sun sensor detects the sun, the Somfy screens lower automatically, the Eolis io monitors wind speed, and Control4 combines everything with your occupancy status and seasonal schedule.
Why Somfy at Integration At Home
Somfy is the global standard in motorisation — more than five decades of experience, 2,000+ patents and the broadest range of motors on the market. The choice between RTS, io-homecontrol and Zigbee provides a solution for every situation. TaHoma connects everything with Control4 for intelligent automation that goes beyond simple control.
At Integration At Home, we advise on the right protocol and motor type, configure the TaHoma gateway and integrate Somfy seamlessly into your Control4 smart home with weather sensors and scene control.
One point of contact for motorisation that transforms your comfort, energy savings and security.
Frequently Asked Questions about Somfy Sun Protection
RTS is a one-way protocol: the remote control sends commands, but the motor does not send position feedback back. io-homecontrol is bidirectional and encrypted (128-bit AES): the motor reports its exact position. io-homecontrol is essential for professional smart home integration where position feedback is desired.
Yes, via three paths. The most commonly used method is the TaHoma switch as a bridge with the official Control4 driver, which controls io-homecontrol, RTS and Zigbee motors via the Somfy Synergy API. Integration At Home configures the optimal integration based on your installation.
The TaHoma switch is Somfy‘s central smart home gateway that controls up to 60 Zigbee devices and 40 RTS channels. Via the TaHoma app, you can operate motors, programme scenes and set schedules. The Synergy API enables integration with Control4, Crestron and other platforms.
Yes. Niko Home Control supports Somfy io-homecontrol motors, allowing Somfy sun protection to be operated from Niko switches and the Niko Home app. At Integration At Home, we combine Niko for the basic electrical installation with Somfy for the sun protection and Control4 as the overarching smart home platform.
Somfy motors are designed for a long lifespan. Somfy offers a 5-year warranty on all tubular motors. The RS100 io motors with Soft Start and Soft Stop technology extend lifespan through gradual acceleration and deceleration, minimising mechanical wear.
Contact us by phone at 0487/59.46.38 or email cedric@iahome.be. We advise on the right protocol (RTS, io-homecontrol or Zigbee), motor type and TaHoma configuration, and integrate everything seamlessly into your Control4 smart home. One point of contact for motorisation and automation.
