Innovative SELVE Solutions for R+T: A New Generation of Drives for Sun Protection and Much More

Insight into the development departments: from autonomous Zip motors to Matter

The R+T trade show has traditionally been a top priority for SELVE: the event is already on everyone’s mind—and since the spring of 2026, the development teams in Lüdenscheid have been working with great dedication on innovative product developments. The goal is to create customized solutions for various installation scenarios and applications, particularly in the field of sun protection drives. SELVE’s two development managers, Jörg Tebbe (mechanical design) and Dr. Jost Weiper (electronics), provide an initial insight and overview of what’s on the agenda for new products: smart ideas born of decades of development expertise.

SELVE's development departments have a total of 13 employees. What factors play a role in the development processes?

Jörg Tebbe: It’s always a team effort. We focus on market conditions, new trends, and the needs of customers and the sales team. During regular innovation sessions, we work with the product managers and senior management to identify key topics and set priorities. For us, the R+T is without a doubt a ‘milestone.’.

Dr. Jost Weiper: At SELVE, new developments and further refinements are an ongoing process. They result in new solutions, which are then presented at trade shows. In both development departments, we have specialists with years of experience and in-depth knowledge. As a result, our team covers both hardware and software development.

What are the key topics your teams are currently working on?

Jörg Tebbe: Solar-powered sunshades are currently the dominant trend in the market. That is why we have set clear priorities in this area and are developing the next generation of drives at SELVE with Solar 2.0. Based on the principle of a modular design, we’re using tried-and-true, common components—such as the motor head and gearbox from the AC segment—for the new types of solar drives as well. This allows us to replicate proven premium features from our 230-volt lineup for the DC solar energy range, thereby ensuring full system compatibility. At R+T, we’re presenting the new SEZ Solar-com for zip screens and the SE Pro Solar-com for roller shutters, both featuring a swiveling motor head.

Dr. Jost Weiper: We are currently developing the corresponding electronics for these DC motors and have already created the first prototypes. Compared to current solar-powered drives, the SE Pro Solar-com offers the major advantage of extensive features, such as automatic adjustment and sensitive obstacle detection during closing. Until now, only universally applicable motors have been available for Zip-Screens. That is why, for the R+T trade show, we are launching the first solar drive specifically designed for Zip-Screens and the unique characteristics of this type of fabric.

Solar-powered sun protection is a rapidly growing segment and is therefore shaping SELVE’s new developments—what else is in the works here?

Dr. Jost Weiper and Jörg Tebbe: As part of the Solar 2.0 project, we are currently developing drive types with 10 to 30 Newton-meters—as part of our standard product package, which includes the drive, panel, and battery. We are also already considering a solar-powered drive with an integrated battery. However, for prioritization reasons, the final decision on this will not be made until after the R+T trade show.

DC drives consume less energy and can be used without a power connection. Does SELVE also leverage these advantages for other applications?

Dr. Jost Weiper: DC technology opens up new possibilities and is ideal for solar power and battery systems. That’s why we’re also developing a new solution for the secondary escape and evacuation route for the R+T. We are working on a special DC drive with a battery as a backup, which can still be operated normally via a switch even in the event of a power outage. What’s unique is that we will be implementing an escape route drive with electronic limit switches, as SELVE has received specific customer requests for such a product.

The right drive for every application: What other innovations are there?

Jörg Tebbe: We are also working on optimizing our proven NHK drives. For our escape route solution with a crank rod, we are developing a new gear design that, thanks to a gear ratio of 6.5:1, clears the path to the outside significantly faster. We are currently still in the testing phase, but we will definitely be presenting this new version—which requires significantly fewer crank rotations—at R+T.

Dr. Jost Weiper: A new SEZ 2.0 is also on our agenda. We will be expanding our special Zip-Screen drive with several interesting features to simplify installation. Following prior consultation with major customers and garment manufacturers, we are optimizing the adjustment method, which will significantly simplify their production processes as well as on-site installation. For example, the motor can now also be adjusted using a universal adjustment cable.

Convenient control systems and smart home technology are among the major trends in the market: what does SELVE have to offer?

Dr. Jost Weiper: At R+T, we’ll be showcasing our new developments from the past two years, and these products put us in an excellent position. Our intelligent Smart Home system—the SELVE Home Server 3—is compatible with Matter and stands out, among other things, for its even more intuitive operation and initial setup. With our commeo 2.0 wireless system, we offer modern handheld and wall-mounted transmitters with an attractive appearance and elegant design.

Jörg Tebbe: We will also be optimizing our timers in time for the trade show. The Selvetimer is currently being updated to reflect the latest technological advancements, featuring smaller power supplies, lower energy consumption, and improvements to its appearance.

The keyword is Matter—are there any further developments planned in this area?

Dr. Jost Weiper: Matter is certainly an interesting wireless system that will see increasingly widespread adoption. Due to the expected high development and certification costs, SELVE is utilizing external support to further develop Matter-based actuators. Internally, however, we have already created the capability to integrate various wireless modules onto a drive circuit board that we developed in-house. This gives us flexibility and allows us to combine Matter or other wireless protocols with our drives and implement them accordingly. In this way, we remain forward-looking and can quickly adapt to new requirements.

As a supplier of complete systems, SELVE offers an extensive line of roller shutter components—what’s new for R+T?

Jörg Tebbe: We are continuously advancing our solutions in the field of roller shutter technology. Telescopic roller shutter covers are our answer to spring-loaded roller shutter covers, which have been appearing on the market with increasing frequency lately. In comparison, our completely newly developed SELVE product offers even better installation properties thanks to an innovative locking mechanism and has also proven to be significantly more robust during subsequent use. At R+T, for example, we’re also presenting our rigid shaft connectors „SecuFix Push & Go,“ which can be installed without tools thanks to innovative locking technology. New mounting springs also stand out for their ease of installation: they can be easily inserted and securely locked in place by turning them.