TROX Auranor
Smartphone app and sensors optimize the installation of ventilation systems
May 24, 2019
Company
TROX Auranor , part of the TROX GROUP, is a Scandinavian leader in indoor climate and ventilation systems for offices, hotels, and industrial buildings. Known for precision and quality, TROX Auranor is committed to developing effective, energy-efficient systems that improve air quality and control temperature, particularly for the Scandinavian market.
Challenge
With increasing demand for precise and efficient ventilation system installations, TROX Auranor identified a need to improve its calibration process.
Previously, technicians had to climb ladders and use handheld devices to adjust air quality settings in each room, which made the installation process labor-intensive and time-consuming.
The goal was to find a solution that would simplify this process without compromising quality or safety, and which would seamlessly integrate with TROX Auranor’s existing product range.
Pressure sensor for fine-tuning
According to Jette Freiberg, the project manager at EKTOS, the ventilation system is composed of a controller integrated into the ceiling-mounted ventilation panel. The controller features an air pressure sensor that provides measurement data for the final adjustment of the two motors that control the valve inside the ventilation panel.
In addition to the controller, a smartphone app has been designed for the installer’s use in fine-tuning the system. The smartphone and the controller communicate via Bluetooth technology.
Solution
Partnering with EKTOS, TROX Auranor co-developed an advanced smartphone-based system to allow seamless calibration of ventilation panels.
The new system uses a Bluetooth-enabled controller integrated within each ceiling-mounted ventilation panel. The controller, equipped with a pressure sensor, provides real-time airflow and temperature data to an app on the installer’s smartphone. The app allows technicians to make precise adjustments from ground level, eliminating the need for ladders and manual calibration tools.
Collaboration between TROX Auranor and EKTOS on this project has been a success. EKTOS managed the project from idea to development, including wireless connectivity and antenna optimization for reliable indoor use.
Together, TROX and EKTOS designed an intuitive interface for the app that ensures seamless interaction between the smartphone and controller, making adjustments as easy as possible. EKTOS also leveraged its in-house prototyping and testing facilities to ensure a smooth process under a tight deadline, delivering a ready-to-launch solution in time for a major trade fair.
Results
The new system reduced installation time and improved accuracy, enabling technicians to complete setups more quickly and with greater ease. It also helped TROX Auranor meet tight deadlines, including the successful rollout of the system at a major trade fair.
Tore Stenbråten, Head of Nordic R&D at TROX Auranor, noted, “EKTOS came up with a solution on a high technical level. Furthermore, the project and the final product have kept well within the framework we agreed upon, both regarding time schedule and cost.”
