Inside the large-scale commercial Matter deployment project

Based on information provided by Silicon Labs, the deployment encompassed a large-scale office environment, with Matter-over-Thread supporting the setup and installation of 200 IoT devices encompassing lighting and building automation using Bluetooth Low Energy for device commissioning.

The validation network was built using the OpenThread Border Router (OTBR) implementation, which provided the Thread network infrastructure used to commission and manage devices participating in the test.

In the initial stages of the deployment, the network tested multicast messaging, unicast communications, commissioning workflows and long-term network stability under deployment-like conditions.

Silicon Labs’s findings

During the deployment, Silicon Labs reported reliable multicast and multi-hop unicast communications with mean multicast latencies as low as 87 ms and less than 1% packet loss across most payload sizes. Consistent, sustained operation was reported throughout the testing period, and Silicon Labs reported 100% commissioning success using on-network commissioning.

“Matter is rapidly evolving from a smart home technology into a platform capable of supporting much larger deployments,” said Daniel Cooley, Chief Technology Officer at Silicon Labs.

“This work demonstrates not only that Matter-over-Thread can theoretically scale to thousands of devices, but also how Silicon Labs is helping customers deploy, manage and future-proof those networks through innovations spanning Matter, Thread, and Concurrent Multiprotocol technologies.”

Why integrators should take note

Leveraging the new 1.6 version of Matter, the deployment serves as a stress test for many of the new features introduced to Matter over the years—many of which have been aimed at improving interoperability, communication and setup—with a particular emphasis on showcasing how Matter can perform at scale.

That last part is what makes this development worth following. While the luxury residential segment does tend to approach a commercial scale already based on the number of connected devices that need to be supported by the network, what CE Pro is more interested in is seeing if Matter might one day find a niche within resimercial environments like MDUs given how those spaces tend to favor retrofit-friendly solutions with fast commissioning and setup at scale.

More information on the Matter Large Network Performance report

The complete Matter Large Network Performance report is available at: https://www.silabs.com/wireless/matter/matter-over-thread-large-network-performance-testing.

The post Matter Just Underwent a Major Stress Test for Supporting Large-Scale Deployments appeared first on CEPRO.

$412 million to be put towards technology development and strategic growth, per Nice

The transaction, structured as a Senior Facilities Agreement, was financed by a pool of 11 leading Italian and international financial institutions, led by BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank and Mediobanca as Global Coordinators.

The pool also included BNL BNP Paribas, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Crédit Agricole Italia, Deutsche Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo (IMI CIB Division), Monte dei Paschi di Siena and UniCredit, with Banco BPM acting as Agent Bank. Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank also acted as Hedge Coordinator.

According to Nice, the resources will be used to “strengthen the international presence of the Nice Group, with a particular focus on completing future strategic acquisitions and developing new technological solutions.”

Currently, Nice Group owns and operates 29 offices, 13 research and development centers and 14 production plants with over 2,000 employees in more than 100 countries

“This transaction provides us with the resources needed to support a new phase of growth and strengthen our positioning in international markets,” declared Lauro Buoro, Founder and Chairman of Nice.

Why integrators should take note

Nice has always existed as a growth-oriented company. Since its founding in 1993, Nice Group has completed more than 20 acquisitions with perhaps the most significant being the acquisition of Nortek Security & Control in 2021, which helped to significantly grow its North American presence.

In recent years, Nice has continued to consolidate its presence in key global markets through ongoing purchases and divestures, with the central ethos behind its North American strategy aimed at honing the company’s focus on a “Smart Living ecosystem.” Most recently, in August 2024, Nice sold its Numera Health and Wellness brand consolidating its portfolio further to better focus on its CI-driven brands like SpeakerCraft, Elan and Panamax.

Nice is already on record stating that it plans to use the recent investment to help fund future acquisitions as part of its planned industrial strategy, though what CE Pro is keeping an eye on is how this money might funnel into further AI development on the ELAN platform, as in 2025 alone, Nice invested roughly $27 million in Research & Development, focusing on product efficiency, alternative materials and sustainability.

More details of the transaction

As part of the transaction, Legance and Gianni & Origoni (GOP) acted as legal advisors to the Company and the lending institutions, respectively.

According to Nice, the resources will be used to “strengthen the international presence of the Nice Group, with a particular focus on completing future strategic acquisitions and developing new technological solutions.”

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Related: Kanto Living Acquires Assets for Furrion Outdoor TV Product Line from Lippert

Summer’s in full swing, and that means people are looking for outdoor TVs en masse. Which mean’s it’s also a perfect time for outdoor living brands to reassess and grow out their portfolios. At least, that’s what I like to imagine was what prompted the recent purchase of Furrion’s assets by Kanto Living.

Longtime residents of the CI channel have likely heard of Kanto by this point, with the company being already tapped into the AV product sphere through manufacturing products like speakers, TV mounts and other AV accessories. Furrion, too, is likely a familiar name, as the company manufactures outdoor TVs, a product category that has seen increasing interest from the client’s side over the years.

In my opinion, it’s a purchase that makes complete and total sense, and others in the industry seem to hold that sentiment as well. As Robb Stott, Editor-in-Chief over at Connected Design noted when talking about Lippert’s original acquisition of Furrion back in 2021:

“It just didn’t seem to fit alongside the heating and cooling, kitchen, and camera/observation systems. Instead, it felt like something someone inside the company got excited about and wanted for their own RV setup, so they brought it within the fold of the larger company.”

Why integrators should take note

The fact that an AV company (especially one that is already doing business in the channel) is getting its hands on the Furrion line should be nothing but good news for integrators. I don’t intend for this to sound like Lippert was a poor partner for integrators; instead, I mean to say that, by comparison, Kanto is going to be a little bit tapped into the specific business needs and challenges of the AV industry than Lippert was.

That’s not to mention how the Furrion acquisition pairs with everything else Kanto already offers. Outdoor TVs like Furrion typically require mounts (of which Kanto already has many on offer) and discerning clients generally like to listen to their TV audio through a set of dedicated speakers (which Kanto also offers). The ecosystem is interconnected, but not siloed, a critical distinction for any manufacturer in this industry.

Kanto in this exchange gains the ability to offer a nice, complete outdoor entertainment package, while Lippert can now really start to focus on building themselves up as an outdoor lifestyle brand.

Funnily enough, I feel like Lippert being able to do that is a secret boon for integrators, as the crossover between clients able to afford a luxury home as well as a kick-ass glamping set-up must be about as frequent as those who own yachts. Maybe integrators won’t be working directly with Lippert anymore, but that added focus can only mean good things for the market.

2. SI Introduces KAOS Vinyl Product

Related: The New SI KAOS Vinyl Lets the Sun in without the Rest of the Outdoors

Being able to use an outdoor enclosure year-round (especially if you’re a resident of the North) is a particular luxury, though the one thing that I always lamented was the fact that, as things get cold and the screens come down, you still lose one of the main draws of the space: feeling as though you’re immersed in the natural environment. My guess is that Shade Innovations (SI) felt the same way.

The company revealed its new KAOS Vinyl product this week, which adds a new clear vinyl screen option to its KAOS platform, reopening the window (in a very figurative sense) to the outdoors by making its screens see-through. The vinyl itself can reportedly survive a temperature range of 120F to -10 Degrees without fogging, cracking or shrinking and comes available in sizes up to 24 feet wide.

Like the Kanto deal, it’s another move that makes an incredible amount of sense. So much so that it got me wondering: is this the first time we’ve gotten a clear vinyl offering for outdoor screens in the CI channel? After doing a bit of research, that does seem to be the case here.

Yes, residential motorized screens exist on the market with a clear vinyl option, but, from my research, it seems that SI is the first company with an emphasis on having its products integrate into control systems that has introduced this product offering (but please correct me if I’m wrong so I can give credit where it’s due).

Why integrators should take note

If clear vinyl shades don’t already exist as offerings within the channel, I wouldn’t be surprised if this release triggered some new entrants from SI competitors as a result. The availability of clear vinyl as a screen option strikes me as one that will be universally desired by clients with outdoor enclosures once they’re aware of its existence.

One major reason is that its main drawback (that being its potential to create a greenhouse effect when in use) is a huge benefit during the season it might see the most use: the winter. The other reason is that if you give someone the option between sunlight and great views and no sunlight and no views, they’re going to pick the former every time.

There’s another interesting parallel, though, and that’s how, technically, you could consider this another commercial crossover into luxury residential (akin to the current video wall craze). Fine dining establishments utilize clear vinyl shading all the time to extend eating spaces into the outdoors without adding unwanted elements to the mix. And with how many luxury residential projects are focused on adding commercial hospitality elements for hosting, I think that’s an important parallel to recognize.

In larger, luxury spaces, the line between residence and resort gets thin, but even before you hit the estate level, there are plenty of projects that look to inject a bit of hospitality experience into their home. Is it reaching to say clear vinyl shading is part of that experience? Maybe. But I’m willing to put a stake on this one.

The Week in Playback is CE Pro’s weekly recap segment providing extra opinions and analysis on major news stories from across the custom integration (CI) and smart home industries, focusing on recent and breaking stories ranked on importance and interest to the professional install channel. Any opinions expressed here do not reflect the opinions of other editors or that of CE Pro as a whole.

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• Origin Acoustics has introduced a Built-to-Order Soundbar program that enables dealers to specify custom-length soundbars for residential installations.
• The soundbars can be configured for indoor or outdoor use with customizable channel layouts, mounting options, IR spacing and audio technologies.
• The offering is designed to help integrators match audio systems to larger displays and architecturally driven residential projects without relying on standard-sized soundbars.

Origin Acoustics has introduced a new Built-to-Order Soundbar program that allows custom integrators to specify soundbars tailored to the requirements of individual residential projects, including custom lengths, channel configurations and mounting options.

Manufactured at the company’s Las Vegas facility, the soundbars are designed to accommodate a range of display sizes and installation environments, including both indoor and outdoor applications. According to Origin Acoustics, integrators can specify custom lengths, IR spacing, multiple channel configurations and flexible mounting options to better match project requirements.

The soundbars are also available with either the company’s Ambisonic or DPSD technologies, allowing dealers to select an audio solution based on the performance needs of each installation.

The introduction comes as larger displays, custom millwork and architecturally integrated technology continue to shape luxury residential projects, where standard-sized soundbars may not align with the proportions or design of a space.

“Luxury clients expect technology to be as intentional as every other design decision in the home,” said Nick Berry, CEO of Origin Acoustics, in the announcement. “Our dealers are collaborating with architects, interior designers, and builders earlier in the design process than ever before. As those projects become more customized, manufacturers have to deliver solutions that adapt to the project – not ask the project to adapt to the product.”

Origin Acoustics says the offering is intended to help integrators specify audio solutions that complement both the architectural design and performance goals of a project, whether for media rooms, great rooms or outdoor entertainment spaces.

“The best technology disappears into the design,” said Robyn Travaglia, in-house architectural designer at Origin Acoustics. “When we work alongside architects, designers, and integrators, the goal is to preserve the integrity of the space while ensuring the listening experience lives up to the expectations of a luxury home.”

The Built-to-Order Soundbar program is available exclusively through authorized Origin Acoustics dealers.

Catch Origin Acoustics at CEDIA Expo 2026 at Booth #2523.

The post Origin Acoustics Launches Built-to-Order Soundbars for Custom Residential Projects appeared first on CEPRO.

Where the data comes from

The findings stem from a recent report by ESW, an enterprise e-commerce platform, looking at the spending behaviors of roughly 24,000 U.S. consumers. While the report itself focuses mainly on the digital spending habits of its consumers, there are some behavioral findings that potentially tie back to the custom integration (CI) channel.

Discretionary spending among U.S. consumers continues to be split

The survey found that 39% of U.S. consumers say discretionary spending (the spending typically tied to home renovations) has decreased over the past year. However, keeping in line with the K-shaped economy that has taken root, 31% say it has increased with the remainder reporting no change.

Of course, that doesn’t mean consumers are still going with the luxury option. When breaking down respondent buying patterns in terms of “financial confidence,” the study found that 50% of those who feel unconfident about their household finances said they were trading down to cheaper options when considering purchases. For comparison, 14% of financially confident buyers still said they were looking for more value buys than before.

This varies across regions, though. Consumers in the West were less likely to trade down to a cheaper option (19%) while those in the Midwest and South were more likely to be bargain hunting on new purchases (26%).

Consumers favor AI for price comparisons and deal-finding

While more information is needed regarding how many people are finding their integrators through AI, there is an interesting wrinkle when it comes to AI and consumer buying behavior.

Most respondents (76%) say they’re still uneasy about AI-powered payments. AI-powered price comparisons, however, are gaining traction. As per survey results, 47% of consumers are open to AI-led price comparisons while 44% favor it for finding deals.

Unfortunately, one metric that might better apply to how consumers might evaluate integrators on the web is absent here, and that’s AI-powered business assessments using available online reviews and discussion.

Still, one can assume that if consumers are more willing to use AI for price comparisons, then business assessments based on available services, testimonials and reported expenses are not off the table, especially among younger generations who are more willing to use AI as part of the buying process.

Digging deeper: recommerce on the rise?

An interesting wrinkle within the data set is on the topic of second-hand items (which in the case of home electronics would be better classified as refurbished). Out of all generations, it’s the younger crowd pursuing these options, with 25% of Gen-Z consumers favoring second-hand products, not for the sustainability of it all, but for the affordability.

Another interesting data point comes in the form of payment methods. Cards are still king with PayPal consistently ranking second among consumers. However, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services are on the rise in the U.S. One in five consumers have used such a service in the last year, rising to a 31% usage rate among Millennials.

Integrator takeaways

Does this mean integrators may need to start accepting BNPL payments one day in the not-so-distant-future? Unlikely given the clientele. Though we would be interested in seeing if there’s any potential in selling refurbished, high-end AV gear to clients who are avid video/audiophiles but lack the budget to shell out for some equipment fresh out the box.

Really, the data reveals more of the same when it comes to the haves and the have-nots. There seems to be just as many consumers scaling back spending as there are those ramping up purchases. For the editors at CE Pro, we see three things worth keeping in mind as an integrator:

1. Buyers out West seem less concerned with bargain hunting than those in the Midwest and South.
2. Potential buyers are more open to using AI for comparisons and assessments that ultimately inform purchasing decisions (more relevant for comparing and assessing different integration firms).
3. Even for more affluent, financially secure clients, the availability of “budget” options in the form of a Good, Better, Best lineup holds value.

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The challenge with including decorative lighting in custom integration projects

Imagine this: you crafted a fantastic architectural lighting design, the client is excited about tunable white recessed downlights and full dynamic color linear lighting and then you find out that the decorative fixtures they want included are set to a static color that cannot be changed by the control system you have in place.

Now it seems like your showstopper of a house going to hit a sour note every time your client keys in a particular lighting scene.

Smart bulbs can solve a few of the problems, but the decorative fixture that can successfully hide an ugly light bulb is increasingly rare. It seems that most of the design trends these days focus on built-in LEDs in countless configurations from twisted knots to glowing surfaces, without a screw-in base in sight.

So, what are you to do as an integrator?

How to better balance decorative fixtures within a home’s lighting control system

First of all, make sure the fixture is dimmed one way or the other. It can take effort to track down driver specifics for decorative fixtures, but getting the right dimming tech is key to most of the following solutions.

Keep an eye out for 0-10v control, which requires a separate pair of wires to the fixture and likely specific modules added to the controls. 0-10v is ubiquitous in the commercial and hospitality market, so they will be around for a long time. You can even make the decorative fixtures part of a digital solution by installing in-ceiling DMX dimmers, so long as you took the time to run control signals.

Whatever you do, just make sure the fixtures can dim reasonably low. Don’t expect terrific dimming, however, and map out when the fixture starts to flicker or drop out so you keep away from those parts of the dimming curve.

Layer architectural lighting in ways that allow it to ‘replace’ the decorative fixture

Next, make sure you have plenty of reinforcement utilizing architectural fixtures. A beautiful pendant over a dining room table is a great start, but start with the idea that the table should be well-lit even when the pendant is turned off.

That often means adding layers of light to replace the decorative fixtures, which can seem excessive to a customer. “Why do I need downlights over the table? I have a chandelier!” Study the chandelier and you are likely to discover that it does not put much light down on the table and let the client know.

There is a reason we call them decorative fixtures – they are more decoration than functional light sources. A pair of recessed downlights – with your preferred color technology built in – will almost always deliver more light to the table than a chandelier.

Build scenes with controllable lights first, then add in decoratives

The final key is to build strong scenes first with the lights you can control, then add in the decorative fixtures towards the end.

The scenes need to be easy to access (engraved keypads, for example) and reflect the way the client will live in the space. Stay away from load-based keypads (buttons for chandelier, sconce, downlight, etc.), which will almost inevitably ensure the lighting looks not-so-great every night.

Focus on the most critical areas in a room, perhaps the dining table, kitchen counters, or fireplace, and get the light just right using your high-tech fixtures that feature color tuning, dynamic color, or warm-dimming LEDs. I like to start with lower intensities and then build as necessary–our eyes adjust to ambient brightness and if we start bright everything else will look dark.

Next, light up the secondary features like art and cabinet faces (which might be just about as important and therefore just about as bright), again relying solely on the lights you can control best.

Once you have the light in the room near perfect, only then is it time to start easing in the decorative fixtures. Start very low in intensity, then gradually ease them up until they look good without glare.

Decorative lighting fixtures can still work in the connected home

We used 3000K decorative fixtures in the Prosource showroom in Golden, Colorado, despite utilizing dynamic color, warm-dim, and tunable white fixtures everywhere else. The result is less discordant than you might think; when decorative fixtures are dimmed low, their light is overpowered by the other lights but still give off a pleasing glow.

We have successfully implemented full dynamic day and night scenes–and party scenes–in multiple spaces using this approach. Often the decorative fixtures are in the bottom 25% of their brightness, which is only possible when all the other lighting in the room fills in.

Yes, I would be thrilled if manufacturers started offering their decorative fixtures with smarter lighting built in. A chandelier that features tunable white from 1800K to 4000K? I would be in heaven. But I am not waiting around for that to happen.

In the meantime, we get great results – despite “dumb” decorative fixtures – by balancing decorative intent with architectural performance.

David Warfel is Chief Evangelist of Light at design firm Light Can Help You (lightcanhelpyou.com).

The post Coordinating Decorative Lighting in the Connected Home (without Ruining Your Design) appeared first on CEPRO.

In a statement regarding the acquisition, Bill Petters, President of Sound Components cited Audio Advice’s extensive resources and access to additional product lines as two of the main draws for his decision to join businesses.

“I’ve known the Audio Advice team for decades. Their national reputation, customer service, software systems and worldwide YouTube, social media, and website following are best in class,” said Petters.

In a separate statement, Scott Newnam, CEO, of Audio Advice welcomed Sound Components to the Audio Advice team, expressing what he saw as a bright future for the company post-acquisition.

“I’ve admired Bill and the team at Sound Components since I met them nearly two decades ago,” said Newnam. “Our shared value of excellence and passion for delivering happiness make this a natural partnership. Together, we will continue to raise the bar for what customers can expect from an audio, video, and automation company.”

What’s happening to Sound Components

The same statement said that Sound Components will continue operating from its South Miami location, with its current team providing the same level of service and expertise. Customers of Sound Components will gain access to Audio Advice’s nationwide team, award-winning online resources, design tools and expanded product lines.

Why integrators should take note

Audio Advice, founded in 1978, has been on a tear recently, buying up multiple retail and integrator locations as it continues to expand its national network. Within the past two years, the company has acquired three separate firms in the form of Sound Components, The Sound Room and The Audio Lab.

That’s no surprise in the custom integration (CI) channel as M&A has been the name of the game, picking up speed in 2024, and continuing on through the present day as national integration firms like Daisy have turned up the heat, adopting a very bullish stance on the economic prospects of a nation-spanning integration service.

One concern that lingers in the back of mind for everyone post-merger, however, is how service can change with the expectation being that the bigger a company gets, the less personal the service can be: a big issue when it comes to CI.

Audio Advice has seemingly taken this into consideration with each acquisition. Each addition to the Audio Advice team follows a similar pattern: businesses that have experience in retail and integration, a multidecade-proven business model (Sound Components was founded back in 1974) and are allowed to run independently post-acquisition.

In speaking on its Sound Components acquisition, Audio Advice states it wants to allow both it and Sound Components to “leverage their combined strengths to bring the latest innovations in home entertainment, smart home automation, and commercial AV solutions to an even broader audience.”

The post Audio Advice Adds Sound Components to Growing Family of National Locations appeared first on CEPRO.

As a Savant Recommended Partner, integrators can now source Airzone solutions as part of Savant’s streamlined procurement and support ecosystem. This aims to simplify specification, ordering and deployment, while ensuring compatibility with Savant’s smart home and power solutions and bolstering integrators’ ability to deliver sophisticated, energy-efficient climate control as a core component of the modern smart home.

As of today, the Savant Store will carry Airzone Aidoo Pro

Why integrators should take note

Inverter HVAC units, such as mini splits and heat pumps, have traditionally been difficult to integrate into third-party control platforms. The Airzone Aidoo Pro, however, works as an interface module that bridges the communication gap between inverter HVAC systems and smart home automation platforms with Airzone’s proprietary library of manufacturer communication protocols allowing precise control of key system parameters such as mode, setpoint temperature, and fan speed, ensuring accurate system operation and preserving the performance of the HVAC unit.

The post Airzone Named Savant Recommended Partner appeared first on CEPRO.

After attending the event for decades, the Lutron president and vice chairman says the memories tend to blur together: celebrating the retirement of longtime colleagues, reconnecting with customers he’s known for years and watching the custom integration industry evolve alongside the show itself.

“There’s so many memories,” Blair said during a recent interview with CE Pro, but one stands out.

In the wake of the supply chain disruptions that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, Lutron found itself facing challenges unlike any in its history. Like many manufacturers, the company struggled to secure parts and fulfill orders, leaving customers frustrated and projects delayed.

Ed Blair, Lutron president and vice chairman

Rather than avoid the issue, Blair used a CEDIA Expo keynote to address it head-on.

“Without any notes, I had the chance to stand up there and tell our customers the truth, tell them what we were doing about it, and be very honest with them,” he said.

The positive response from dealers reinforced something Blair says has always made CEDIA Expo valuable: the relationships that exist between manufacturers and the integration community.

“It really taught me a lot about the commitment we get from our customers, what they think about us and how it’s important to be really open and transparent with them,” Blair said.

That relationship is one reason Lutron is increasing its investment in CEDIA Expo 2026, expanding its training opportunities, bringing nearly 100 employees to the show and encouraging the industry to continue supporting what Blair sees as a critical gathering point for manufacturers, integrators and design professionals alike. 

Register for CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 here!

A 35-Year Commitment

When Lutron returns to Denver in September, it will be the company’s 35th year exhibiting at the industry’s largest U.S. tradeshow as CEDIA members. That consistency reflects the company’s long-term view of both the custom integration channel, and the role industry events play in supporting it.

“For Lutron, the custom integrator channel is super strategic,” Blair explains. “The ability of that channel to take the products and technology Lutron makes and bring them to life for our end customers is very important to our future.”

According to Blair, CEDIA Expo provides a combination of education, networking and product experiences that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

“CEDIA Expo is the one place that brings together the right people and the right environments — the show floor, the educational sessions, the events — all the spaces that make real connections possible,” he says.

More Than a Trade Show

For Lutron, those connections extend well beyond sales conversations. Blair says the company views the event as an opportunity for employees across departments to engage directly with customers and better understand the challenges integrators face in the field.

Those interactions are one reason the company plans to increase the number of employees it brings to Denver this year, including trainers, engineers, sales personnel and marketing staff. The company is also expanding its educational efforts at the event with more training sessions.

“We’re doubling our number of training sessions,” Blair says, adding that Lutron will continue offering its hands-on Lutron Lab, which allows attendees to interact with new products and technologies and the engineers who develop them.

Education, Product Launches and Connections

For Blair, the value of Expo goes beyond product launches.

“It’s the combination of education, launching new products, and connecting with people,” Blair says.

Lutron also sees the show as a way for integrators to strengthen relationships throughout the organization.

“Those kinds of connections you just don’t get on a Teams call,” Blair says.

The company expects its expanded presence to create more opportunities for dealers to interact directly with Lutron trainers, engineers and executives.

Why Lutron Is Investing More This Year

Lutron’s increased commitment comes as some manufacturers have reduced their presence at trade shows or shifted resources to regional events and proprietary dealer gatherings. Blair acknowledged that companies face difficult decisions as event calendars become increasingly crowded.

“The calendar is getting more and more crowded,” he says. “People do have to make decisions.”

Still, Blair believes the industry benefits from maintaining a strong central gathering place.

“We decided to increase our spend, increase our presence, increase our commitment with people, and really try to make sure that the industry understands that Lutron is committed to CEDIA Expo. Period,” Blair says. “

A Bigger Presence on the Show Floor

Image: CEDIA Expo/Emerald

Lutron’s expanded commitment to CEDIA Expo 2026 will extend beyond education and networking opportunities. Blair said the company is planning a significantly enhanced presence on the show floor, including a new booth experience designed to give attendees a more immersive look at how lighting, shading and control technologies work together throughout the home.

The booth will build on Lutron’s longstanding emphasis on experiential demonstrations, allowing attendees to see firsthand how natural and electric light can be coordinated to create different moods and environments throughout the day. According to Blair, those types of demonstrations often create the most memorable moments for integrators exploring new categories and technologies.

Lutron also plans to highlight its latest lighting, shading and outdoor solutions at the show, including products within its Coastal Source Via lineup. Blair noted that the company has spent the past year refining those offerings to ensure they meet the performance and reliability standards dealers have come to expect from the brand.

Beyond its main booth, Lutron will also participate in partnership with Coastal Source in Destination Outdoors, CEDIA Expo’s dedicated outdoor technology showcase. The company sees the outdoor category as a growing opportunity for integrators as homeowners continue to invest in exterior living spaces that incorporate lighting, shading, audio and control technologies.

For Blair, those demonstrations reinforce one of the core reasons Lutron continues to support the event: providing integrators with opportunities to experience products in person rather than through brochures, videos or virtual presentations.

“There’s just no comparing that in-person experience,” Blair said.

Supporting the Industry Ecosystem

Blair says the decision to increase CEDIA Expo investment was driven in part by concerns about attendance trends and what could happen if the industry loses a major annual gathering point.

“It’s important not to lose the one space that brings the whole industry together,” he says. “Once you lose it, it’s really hard to get that central show back. And until it’s gone, you don’t realize all the value it had to the industry.”

Drawing from his experience in the commercial lighting market, Blair says he has seen how fragmentation among events can weaken participation and reduce opportunities for collaboration.

The result, he says, can be an industry that lacks a central destination for education, networking and business development.

Creating “Aha” Moments

Another key reason Lutron continues to invest heavily in Expo is the experiential nature of many of the technologies showcased there.

Lighting and shading systems, Blair says, are difficult to fully appreciate through videos, webinars or product brochures.

“For us, it’s that feeling you get when you experience beautiful light, when you experience daylight control, and when you have this harmonization and experience that make people feel great,” he says.

Blair recalled his first experience with Ketra technology before Lutron acquired the company.

“When I felt it, I went, wow. Our customers are going to love that,” he says.

The company hopes to recreate similar moments for attendees visiting its booth in Denver.

“I’ve seen people have what I’d like to call these aha moments,” Blair says. “Until you’re in the middle of that, you really can’t get a full appreciation for what you’re going to experience.”

Helping Integrators Grow Their Businesses

Beyond product demonstrations, Blair sees CEDIA Expo as a catalyst for business growth and education, particularly as lighting becomes a larger part of many integration firms’ businesses.

“Education is one of the most important things,” he says. “Where else can you go and get some of your key people into four, five, six critical training sessions in one visit?”

He also pointed to lighting as an example of how CEDIA Expo can expose integrators to new business opportunities and revenue streams.

“And then these inspirational moments when you see something new and it triggers something. You say to yourself, ‘You know what? I could be in that business,’” Blair says. “I could really transform what I maybe thought my business was six, nine, 12 months ago.’”

According to Blair, many of the integrators finding success with lighting today first encountered those opportunities through industry education and hands-on experiences like what is available at CEDIA Expo every year.

An Investment in the Future

For dealers still weighing whether to attend CEDIA Expo 2026, Blair acknowledged that this year’s schedule may create challenges. However, he believes the long-term benefits outweigh the inconvenience.

“It’s a critical moment once a year to invest in your business, and to invest in the development of your people,” he says.

And even for attendees who arrive with a specific agenda, Blair believes the show’s greatest value often comes from unexpected discoveries and conversations.

“People I’ve known for a long time say, ‘I didn’t anticipate seeing this’ or ‘I didn’t anticipate learning that,'” he says. “Even if you’re not sure what you’re going to see, you’re going to see something that will trigger inspiration.”

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More information about the new KAOS VINYL

According to SI the KAOS VINYL shades are available in sizes up to 24 feet wide with installation options coming in ceiling, wall or pocket mounts. For control options, dealers have the SI Ecosystem and Bond Bridge Pro to choose from.

The vinyl itself can reportedly survive a temperature range of 120F to -10 Degrees without fogging, cracking or shrinking. Using the included Vinyl Protective Cleaner, SI also touts it as being easy to clean and maintain. SI also notes that the VINYL should resist yellowing, hazing and clouding over time.

Why integrators should take note

KAOS (otherwise referred to as Kick Ass Outdoor Shades) is a shading platform developed by Shade Innovations designed to withstand environmental extremes from wind, rain, heat and cold, with the new VINYL product adding a figurative window to the system, without compromising its performance.

The immediate benefit here are the views, but the fact that this allows for more naturally lit enclosures that might want to use these during the colder months is also a nice addition. While CE Pro readers may be more prone to introducing onto residential projects featuring outdoor patios or verandas, its hard not to see it as a solution fit for restaurants, bars and hospitality venues that want to have full-season outdoor spaces.

While this does mirror the offerings of other manufacturers like Phantom Shades and Universal screens, the fact that this is built on the KAOS platform adds a heightened level of durability to the product that sits above the usual motorized shade offering while also coming from a prominent manufacturer within the custom integration (CI) channel.

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