The Lighting Controls Association’s Craig DiLouie recently talked with Ben Hahn, President, SENSORWORX, about the company’s history, distinct value proposition in the lighting controls category, and new products.
DiLouie: Please introduce our audience of lighting controls practitioners to your company.
Hahn: SENSORWORX embodies MADE IN THE USA by designing and manufacturing its lighting controls in the United States. With expertise in occupancy sensors and electronics manufacturing, the SENSORWORX brand is the new standard in lighting controls technology, simplicity, and quality. Founded in 2017 by engineers with decades of industry experience, the team behind SENSORWORX has an unmatched resumé of bringing high quality and innovative products to the commercial lighting and building control marketplace. Our office is Wallingford, Connecticut and is co-located with our state-of-the art production facility.
DiLouie: How would you describe your lighting controls product line?
Hahn: From PIR and Acoustic occupancy sensors to easy-to-install Wireless and Wired room based systems… SENSORWORX has raised the benchmark for great lighting controls.
DiLouie: What notable new product introductions did your company offer this year?
Hahn: Our recently released Advanced Wireless Load Controller enhances the capabilities of rooms being controlled by SENSORWORX wireless devices by enabling scene control, time and astronomical based schedules, and room configurability via a mobile device application. These advanced features are in addition to a SENSORWORX load controller’s regular switching, dimming, and wireless capabilities.
DiLouie: What is your company’s philosophy regarding product development and customer service?
Hahn: With regards to product development, the below SENSORWORX mission statement summarizes our philosophy.
MISSION
To engineer innovative lighting controls that are:
• Easy to Sell & Support by our Partners
• Simple to Install by Contractors
• Intuitive to Operate by End Users
• Profitably Manufactured in the United States
With regards to customer service, our philosophy is that we strive to be the company that our customers PREFER to do business with. To achieve that goal our teams are personable, available, responsive, accurate, flexible, etc.… qualities many large companies struggle to maintain as they grow.
DiLouie: Where does your company and its products fit into the overall market for lighting controls? What differentiates your brand(s)?
Hahn: First conceived in 2015, the idea for SENSORWORX stemmed from a few key observations about the commercial lighting control marketplace at that time.
1. Stand-alone and sensor-based lighting controls were quite dated, especially in their usage of the most current electronics.
2. Many aspects of controls installation could be improved through better and more contractor-focused mechanical design.
3. Sensor-based lighting controls were no longer being manufactured in the United States.
Delivering products that addressed these opportunities for differentiation has been the focus of SENSORWORX and has been the reason for our rapid growth as an independent manufacturer. Going forward, our goal is to bring new, simpler solutions to the digital room and networked lighting systems space.
DiLouie: What services does your company offer to support design, application, installation, and operation of your products?
Hahn: SENSORWORX can provide building and application layouts utilizing its custom BlueBeam software toolset of device symbols. Additionally, we can create full room wiring typicals and detailed wiring diagrams. We also have an experienced technical support team that is available to assist installers in the field with urgent questions.
DiLouie: What resources does your company offer on its website to educate and support lighting control practitioners?
Hahn: SENSORWORX recently opened a new training center at its facility in Wallingford, CT and has started hosting seminars for its agents and customers. The standard two-day curriculum includes learning modules on Controls Basics, Controls Technology, Wired Systems, Wireless Systems, Emergency Controls, Layout & Design Strategies, and Codes & Regulations. Additionally, attendees are given an in-depth factory tour where they observe electronic manufacturing firsthand.
DiLouie: What overall trends are shaping demand for lighting control, and how do you see your company influencing and supporting these trends?
Hahn: Overhyped trends like IOT have resulted in products and systems in the digital room control and building network space becoming over complicated. So much so that installing contractors can not complete even simple lighting controls jobs without wiring headaches and a high degree of commissioning support. This has led to a renewed demand for simple to install systems that are focused on delivering lighting control functionality that customers actually need and want. Leveraging our team’s combined product and market experience, SENSORWORX is uniquely qualified to deliver these more focused systems that are simpler to wire, configure, and operate.
DiLouie: Where do you see your company in five years?
Hahn: In a larger facility!
DiLouie: Is there anything else you’d like to add about your company and the value it offers to lighting control?
Hahn: SENSORWORX proudly demonstrates that designing and manufacturing lighting controls in the United States is both a strategic advantage and profitable. This commitment not only helps our employees, but also supports our growing list of suppliers, tradesmen, and local businesses that we utilize.
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