Nortek announced today that Linear has been renamed as Nortek Security & Control, LLC. According to a statement Linear, 2GIG and GoControl will be the subsidiary's cornerstone brands with each targeting key markets.
"Nortek's Linear business has been transformed during the past few years, as we have become a market leader not only in the security industry but the broader home control and automation sector, as well," said Nortek President and CEO Michael J. Clarke. "Linear's legacy includes 50 years as a pioneer in the wireless access control market and industry-leading capabilities in the design, engineering and manufacturing of sensors and connected devices. Our 2013 acquisition of 2GIG Technologies accentuated these strengths by bringing us more brands and capabilities, as well as complete solutions for the broader home automation space."
"We also recently transitioned the development and sales of certain Linear branded products, such as garage door operators, to one of its sister companies, GTO Access Systems," added Clarke said. "This sharpens the focus of each business and positions GTO to expand its presence in the perimeter access market. Coinciding with these changes, we are not only renaming the Linear business but also repositioning its brands and allocating greater resources to accelerate its growth in the exciting home control market."
Mike O'Neal, President of Nortek Security & Control, said: "Our success is now being driven by factors that are bigger and different from our historical Linear business. Nortek Security & Control is a tangible reflection of Nortek's leadership in the market and its commitment to charting a strategic course in what may be one of the hottest technology categories in the past 20 years - smart home control."
According to the Z-Wave Alliance, Nortek Security & Control is the number one manufacturer of Z-Wave products worldwide.
"2GIG has been a leading home control platform in the security industry, the primary channel for smart home controls, for a number of years," said Tom Kerber, director, research, home controls & energy at Parks Associates. "It is no surprise that the 2GIG installed base is the largest of any smart home platform."
O'Neal added: "Nortek Security & Control is the pre-eminent smart home platform provider and is a strategic OEM/ODM partner to leading players in the smart home industry. We are experts at building and delivering connected devices for a range of communication protocols and nimble enough to react to market demands. We already control more smart homes than any other home control solutions company, so this alignment is really about bringing the Nortek Security & Control brands into focus and asserting our leadership in the category."
In addition, the company said that its GoControl brand will extend to an expansive new line of stand-alone smart home wireless products (such as light switches, smart light bulbs, thermostats and other retail oriented connected devices) that will be available during the second quarter of 2015 in order to meet the burgeoning demands of DIY homeowners. The GoControl smart products line will not require professional installation or managed services.
Nortek Security & Control will continue to OEM private label solutions for the industry's largest providers of monitored health and wellness services in North America.
"By clearly defining each brand under the Nortek Security & Control umbrella, Nortek will better serve the needs of its diverse and evolving customer base as the market for home control technology and connected products continues to grow," O’Neal concluded.
