Screen Innovations (SI) has unveiled its Solo 3, a re-envisioned line of design-centred motorised projection screen cassettes that blend into its environment for use indoors and outdoors.
Designed to be visually pleasing, Solo 3 has no typical demarcations of the end caps. The units come powder-coated in white, black or painted to match the surrounding surface to help it to blend in with décor. Alternatively, the cassette can be mounted above the ceiling, making it totally invisible.
Solo 3 is available in 375, 575, and 675 cassette sizes and replaces SI’s legacy 3 and 5 series motorised projection screen lines.
System integrators will benefit from the easy installation and programming. The 575 and 675 Solo 3 models accomplish this, thanks to the inclusion of a newly designed intelligent brain known as Moab (Mother of all Boards). This advanced 485-based control board enables faster programming of setpoints, rotation, and motor reset and automates discovery and programming of keypads and remotes, as well as providing seamless, customisable integration with third-party control systems.
Designed and engineered by SI, Moab features numerous inputs and outputs to support a wide range of 485-based automation and control devices such as SI keypads. Built into the translucent housing of Moab, which may be purchased separately for programming assistance, are 485- and dry contact ports, 12-volt triggers, and IR receivers. All programming can be accomplished using Moab without a computer or software.
Although Moab is neatly secured inside the Solo 3 575 and 675 motorised projection screen cassettes, system integrators can still easily access it, as well as the internal motor, cabling and screen material through Solo 3’s unique removable fascia.
Even when the Solo 3 cassette is mounted, integrators can quickly access the internal components to programme, level the projection fabric and readjust settings.
Solo 3 is suitable for a wide range of application, as the cassette accommodates SI’s many projection screen materials, including short-throw screen material for small spaces, Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) materials for areas illuminated by an abundance of natural and artificial light, acoustically transparent screens for concealing speakers, and twin-view which presents images on both sides of the material for a 360-degree view.
The Solo 3 cassette may be preinstalled during construction (with the cassette and tube as separate pieces). This deconstructed design makes the Solo 3 lighter and easier to handle, requiring less muscle, manpower, and time to install than previous models. The Solo 375 may be powered by a rechargeable lithium battery for applications where running wires is more difficult. The lithium battery can be charged manually via SI’s revolutionary recharging wand, or energy harvested by a forthcoming integrated solar panel for outdoor applications.
“We’ve taken the best features of our most popular motorised solutions and applied them to our signature Solo 3 motorised screen assembly,” said Ryan Gustafson, CEO of SI. “Thanks to all the feedback from our dealers and customers, we hit the nail on the head with this total refresh, which gives systems integrators, designers, architects and builders an easy, effective, and revolutionary way to bring big-screen entertainment anywhere, inside or outside the home. The home entertainment trend shows no sign of slowing, and Solo 3 strives to help our dealers capitalise on this burgeoning market.”
ISE 2023
SI will return to ISE this year demonstrating its commitment to its global network of systems integrators. The company is entering this year laser-focused on several key initiatives for continued growth and advancement as a provider of projection screen for myriad applications.
Striving to make integrators’ jobs as simple and lucrative as possible, SI has refined and streamlined its procedures policies and resources across all departments, tightened up quality control, and strengthened its sales, service, and support teams to overcome ongoing global supply chain issues and shorten product lead times significantly.
Thanks to these improvements, integrators and specifiers can rely on SI to stock and ship required products when they need them. No matter what phase a job is in, integrators have quick and easy access to the right solutions to complete near- and long-term projects efficiently and profitably.
“We recognise the hardships integrators have faced and continue to wade through during questionable economic times and have revamped the way we do business to support them with the kinds of solutions and services they need for their businesses to prosper, be it a screen cassette customised for a unique application, assistance selecting the appropriate material, or an expedited shipment of products,” added Gustafson. “We listen to our dealers and pay attention to shifts in the market to evolve and align our strategies appropriately for integrators to grow their commercial and residential businesses in 2023.”
Solo 3 will be on display at ISE 2023 on SI’s stand #2K500.