Harrison, N.Y. – URC has expanded its regional distributor base to 18 to sell its ccGEN2 IP-based whole-house home automation system, launched early this year.
The Complete Control Generation Two (ccGEN2) system is targeted to distributors serving custom installers and complements the company’s premium Total Control two-way home-control system, which is sold direct to installers.
Both URC systems are IP-based and connect to CAT-5 wiring preinstalled in existing homes to enable control of products sitting on the IP network and to distribute audio. The systems also feature wireless Z-Wave for wireless control of lighting, door locks, thermostats, shades, and the like.
The company rolled out the new system with a “phased approach to assure sufficient inventory and resources to properly certify and service our customers,” said URC senior VP/GM Doug Cole. Each distributor gets training and employs a resident “brand champion” who received special training and is a certified ccGEN2 expert, he said.
The 18 distributors are Allnet, Custom Plus, ECD, MRI, Profit Line Distributing, The Aurora Group, Capitol Sales of Minnesota, dB South, Electronic Source, Online AV, Sierra Select, 21st Century, Custom Partners, Electronic Lane, Mountain West, Pioneer Music, Specialty Marketing, and Volutone.
The newest ones are Electronic Lane in Texas, Profit Line Distributing in California, Capitol Sales in Minnesota, and Custom Plus Distributing in Oregon.
URC started with one distributor, California’s Volutone, in February, said marketing director Cat Toomey.
As for additional distributors, Toomey said, “We have interviewed all our other distributors who sell our Complete Control line and have for years. Some are under consideration for the line at this time.” She said URC wants “to be certain the distributors we select will have the best chance for success, and one at a time has worked. The demand is increasing, so we also have to keep our eyes on that, now that the line has been in the market for just over six months.
The ccGEN2 system consists of 14 products, including two wand-style remotes, two in-wall keypads (one with touchscreen), mobile apps, and main and subordinate network system controllers. Dealers who sell the products pass a certification process and receive approved training.
