Umbra’s New Motorised Roman Headrail Cascade is Here!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our first motorised roman headrail system, Cascade!
Many of our customers have been asking us for this for a while now. In fact, over 65% of customers in our annual survey said that motorised roman headrails were the product they most wanted to see from us.
However, we knew that if we wanted to launch a roman headrail, it had to be flexible, adaptable, and suitable for a variety of projects. That means better value, better quality, and more control options than comparable systems.
What is a roman blind?
Roman blinds are a popular choice of window dressing, with good reason. They combine the benefits of curtains and blinds into one beautiful and functional product.
A roman blind is made from soft, draping fabric that is designed to fold when raised. The fabric is connected to the headrail using cords that pull the fabric up.
As the name suggests, roman blinds originated over 2000 years ago during the peak of the Roman Empire. It’s theorised that they were invented to keep homes dust-free, as Ancient Roman roads were known to create vast amounts of dust due to a combination of hot weather and horse-drawn carriages.
Roman blinds were originally simple pieces of damp cloth hung in the window, which evolved into more elaborate home decorations over time. The Romans were also responsible for adding the drawstring operating mechanism that we still base modern roman blind designs on.
What makes roman blinds so popular?
Roman blinds are one of the most versatile systems when it comes to choosing a fabric. As roman blinds are a soft shade, meaning the fabric is folded loosely, there aren’t many limitations on which fabrics you can use.
Roman blinds are popular in homes as an alternative to curtains where space is more limited. A roman blind can be fitted into a window recess to save space, whilst still maintaining the aesthetic appeal of a soft shade.
Alternatively, they can be used in conjunction with curtains for additional shading benefits. Because roman blinds are a soft shade, you have the benefit of being able to coordinate your blinds with any soft furnishings e.g., upholstery, cushions, bedding etc.
Roman blinds can be made with a variety of different fabrics, each with its own benefits. Blackout fabrics provide the most light exclusion which is ideal for rooms where total darkness is required, like a bedroom.
Sheer cotton or polyester can also be used which cut glare but still allow light through to the room. Many roman blind manufacturers also offer ‘thermal’ fabrics which are designed to offer additional heat insulation which can save on heating costs.
What makes Cascade unique?
The Cascade™ system comprises a powder-coated aluminium headrail, containing a motorised tubular steel drive with nylon cord spools. The headrail itself is smaller than other comparable systems. At just 59mm x 66mm, it offers a discreet motorised roman blind solution.
The result is a strong and robust headrail which can lift even the largest roman blinds effortlessly and quietly. Cascade is capable of blinds up to 26kg, or 4m x 4m in size.
Universal steel snap-in brackets offer top-fix or face-fix options, ensuring that installation is always simple and secure.
Cascade blinds can be powered using 240V, 24V or battery motors. Hardwired or wireless controls can be stand-alone or fully integrated with home automation or building management systems (BMS).
Intelligent digital motors are IP addressable and can be integrated with many control systems such as Control4, Crestron, Lutron, etc; and with protocols such as KNX, LON, BACNet, Modbus, Z-Wave, etc.
Here’s everything you need to know about Cascade: