Craig DiLouie recently talked to Stephen Zhou, Executive Vice President, mwConnect about the company, its history and products, and its vision for the lighting controls industry.
DiLouie: Please introduce our audience of lighting controls practitioners to your company.
Zhou: mwConnect is an American, woman- and minority-owned company based in Sacramento. We recently celebrated our 40th anniversary in business, earlier in 2024, as well as undertaking a rebrand.
Formerly McWong International, the company recognized it had evolved far beyond its original identity and undertook this rebrand to better identify who we are today and going forward into the future. Our central value is ‘connection’ expressed through:
• Connecting our past with our present and our future
• Connecting our resources globally: North America, Asia, Europe
• Connecting different technology solutions via our commitment to interoperability
• Connecting people—our team, our strategic partners, our clients and customers
DiLouie: How would you describe your lighting controls product line?
Zhou: Our flagship offering is wireless mesh lighting control solutions. We are proud to offer two options to the marketplace. One is the Bluetooth SIG-qualified mesh/NLC system, TruBlu, which we offer with our technology partner Silvair. The other is a wireless mesh system that is Casambi-enabled.
In addition, we offer point-to-point and stand-alone controls. We also offer a comprehensive range of LED drivers, power supplies and accessories, and emergency devices.
DiLouie: What notable new product introductions did your company offer this year?
Zhou: We were very proud to introduce three products that gained recognition from the IES Progress Report this year:
Extreme Range Outdoor Bluetooth SIG Compliant Mesh Controller: The controller is the first Bluetooth NLC certified long-range device, engineered for optimal performance over long distances (>1000 ft) to create a more robust mesh network. The device is also DALI D4i-certified and Zhaga Book 18 compliant to maximize plug-and-play interoperability across lighting systems.
Indoor Bluetooth NLC ZBD Sensor-Controller: Bluetooth NLC-certified, this sensor controller supports multiple standards for interoperability (DALI D4i-certified, Zhaga Book 20 compliant) in a form factor designed for luminaire level lighting control (LLLC). It offers occupancy detection, daylight harvesting, and grouping for flexibility in interior application layouts.
Dual Tech ceiling=mounted wireless mesh sensor: An industry-first, this dual tech occupancy sensor is also Bluetooth NLC certified for wireless mesh applications. By combining PIR and ultrasonic detection with wireless connectivity, this workhorse device provides a solid foundation for successful wireless mesh control in many interior applications.
DiLouie: What is your company’s philosophy regarding product development and customer service?
Zhou: mwConnect is committed to continuing its long tradition of innovation and excellence, particularly in achieving interoperable solutions that advance customer choice. We are active members of several industry product development consortia, including Bluetooth SIG, DALI Alliance, and Zhaga Consortium. In addition, our products are DLC-listed.
We have a full development team in the US that is close to our customers. We emphasis innovation as well as a fast pace of product development and deployment to the marketplace.
We also have a seasoned, US-based customer service team that is very responsive and customer-focused.
DiLouie: Where does your company and its products fit into the overall market for lighting controls? What differentiates your brand(s)?
Zhou: mwConnect is one of the industry leaders for interoperable wireless mesh control solutions. Our brand is differentiated by:
• the length of time the company has been in business (40 years)
• the richness of its offering (DLC-qualified indoor and outdoor solutions)
• the breadth of awards for product innovation (recognized by US Department of Energy (L Prize Prototype Phase); Lightfair Technical Innovation Award, IES Progress Report 6 times in past 8 years; Sapphire/BrightStar Award for product innovation 3 times in past 4 years)
• the breadth of awards for project design excellence (Integrated Lighting Campaign 4 times in past 3 years; Sapphire Award for Design Excellence in Networked Lighting Controls in 2021; LightSPEC Design Excellence Award in 2022
• the extent of its interoperable solutions (qualified to DALI D4i, Zhaga Book 18 & Book 20, Bluetooth mesh and NLC qualified)
DiLouie: What services does your company offer to support design, application, installation, and operation of your products?
Zhou: mwConnect offers a North American-based team with decades of combined lighting control experience that provides full pre- and post-sales services and support. Our design services can engineer, document, and provide custom Bill of Material for new construction or retrofit projects in partnership with project design authorities and building owners. Channel documentation such as submittals and O&M manuals are included as part of the design scope. Turnkey services include on-site pre-wire training for installers, factory certified technicians for onsite commissioning, and owner training. Factory remote technical support is available to owners of commissioned systems 8AM – 5PM PST, or onsite technical support is also available.
DiLouie: What resources does your company offer on its website to educate and support lighting control practitioners?
Zhou: We continually develop and add resources, including application guides by market segment, case studies, white papers, energy code compliance guides for ASHRAE 90.1, Title 24, and IECC, and an extensive video library devoted to our TruBlu system. In addition, we provide extensive product documentation such as data sheets, wiring diagrams and more.
DLouie: What overall trends are shaping demand for lighting control, and how do you see your company influencing and supporting these trends?
Zhou: We are seeing trends toward interoperable control solutions, through such activities as the DOE’s L Prize as well as marketplace events such as the recent DALI Summit and DLC Summit. Of course, with interoperability, there is greater opportunity for scalability as well.
There is growing interest in utilizing the types of data advanced controls can capture, such as energy and occupancy data, information about component and network performance. These enable administrators to make adjustments both to network performance as well as the spaces they control. Likewise, improved data provides a greater ability to streamline maintenance and repair activities.
HVAC integration continues to be of great interest as heating and cooling loads offer great potential for energy savings.
mwConnect is a leader in the interoperability community, as one of the pioneers in truly open standard solutions. We continue to remain active in industry consortia like DALI Alliance, Zhaga Consortium and Bluetooth SIG, that are committed to advancing interoperability.
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