SIMU
SIMU is a French B2B manufacturer of tubular motors and control systems for roller shutters, awnings, garage doors, and commercial / industrial closures, serving professional installers and distributors across Europe and North America as a subsidiary of the Somfy Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersArc-lès-gray, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SIMU does
SIMU SAS is a French designer and manufacturer of tubular motors and control systems for building closures, founded in 1952 in Arc-lès-Gray and operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Somfy Group. The company specializes in motorization for roller shutters, terrace and window awnings, garage doors, and commercial / industrial closures (CENTRIS central motors, SIMUBOX external motors, GM-series garage door operators). Its product portfolio spans motor series T3.5 through T9 across tube diameters Ø40-Ø80mm, offered with AC, DC, radio (Hz at 433.42 MHz and BHz bidirectional at 868 MHz), wired, and solar (AUTOSUN 2, SOLISHADE) configurations; SIMU is widely credited as the inventor of the tubular motor. Control-side offerings include wall-mounted and mobile radio transmitters/receivers/timers, wired inverters and group-control boxes (SIMUDRIVE SD series), and compatibility with Somfy's TaHoma switch hub for app and voice control via Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home.
The company manufactures at its headquarters facility with a 1,400+ m² in-house testing laboratory and 100% unit-level testing, and holds ISO 9001:2015 plus international product certifications (CE, NF, VDE, TUV, UL, SASO, RCM) enabling market access in Europe, North America, Saudi Arabia, and Australia/New Zealand. SIMU distributes exclusively through B2B professional channels — manufacturers, installers, distributors, and specifiers — supported by dedicated commercial contacts, training, technical documentation, installation tutorials, and a PROShop 24/7 online ordering platform for registered professional clients. Customer segments center on the roller-shutter industry (residential and commercial), awning installers, commercial/industrial closure operators, and solar/energy-efficient building projects; warranty terms are 5 years on standard products and 7 years on AUTOSUN solar solutions. SIMU operates regional subsidiaries and sales offices across France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Baltic states, Poland, Ukraine, the USA, and Canada, with worldwide export service.
SIMU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SIMU
- Legal name
- SIMU SAS
- Website
- https://simu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- SIMU is a French B2B manufacturer of tubular motors and control systems for roller shutters, awnings, garage doors, and commercial / industrial closures, serving professional installers and distributors across Europe and North America as a subsidiary of the Somfy Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SIMU industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Building Closure Motorization
- NAICS
- Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)
- SIC
- Motors & Generators (3621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Motor Drive & Motion Control Electronics Manufacturing Services (VFDs, servo drives, controllers) (IMAGAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)
Keywords
Where SIMU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arc-lès-gray
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices16 records
Markets served
SIMU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Motor and Control System Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling tubular motors, radio/wired control systems, solar solutions, and accessories for roller shutters, awnings, and commercial/industrial closures. Products sold exclusively through B2B professional distribution channels.
- Professional Services: Technical support, after-sales service, training, and custom solution development services for professional partners and direct B2B customers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
SIMU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SIMU designs and manufactures tubular motors and control systems for roller shutters, awnings, garage doors, and commercial/industrial closures. Founded in 1952 as the inventor of the tubular motor, the company offers a complete product ecosystem including T-series motors (T3.5, T5, T6, T8, T9), solar-powered solutions (AUTOSUN 2, SOLISHADE), radio/wired control systems, and TaHoma smart home integration. All products are sold exclusively through professional B2B channels including manufacturers, installers, distributors, and specifiers.
Product overview
SIMU is a French manufacturer of tubular motors and control systems for window treatments and building closures, founded in 1952. The product portfolio centers on five main categories: (1) Roller shutter motors and controls (T3.5/T5/T6/T8/T9 series in wired and radio variants including Hz bidirectional and BHz protocols), (2) Awning motors and controls for terrace and window applications, (3) Solar-powered solutions including AUTOSUN 2 BHz/Hz and SOLISHADE for cable-free installations, (4) Commercial and industrial closure motors including CENTRIS central motors, SIMUBOX external motors, and GM garage door motors, and (5) Control systems spanning wired inverters/key switches, radio transmitters/receivers/timers, and the connected TaHoma switch smart hub for home automation integration with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AUTOSUN 2 BHz Solar Solution Solar-powered radio motor solution for roller shutters with bidirectional (BHz) communication, combining motor, rechargeable battery, and solar panel in one self-contained system.
- AUTOSUN 2 Hz Solar Solution Solar-powered radio motor solution for roller shutters with unidirectional (Hz) radio communication, including motor, battery and solar panel.
- SOLISHADE Solar Solution Solar-powered motor solution for awnings, enabling cable-free installation of terrace awnings using integrated battery and solar panel.
- TaHoma Switch Smart Hub Smart home hub box that centralizes and connects SIMU motorized equipment, supporting BHz, Hz, io, RTS, Zigbee and RTS radio protocols for app control, voice control via Alexa/HomeKit/Google Home, and remote monitoring.
- T5S Star-Head Motor Series Tubular motors with star-head design for Ø50mm roller shutter tubes, offering robust and reliable performance for professional installations.
- CENTRIS Central Motors Central shaft motors for commercial and industrial roller shutters and grilles, available in various sizes for tube diameters 60mm and 76mm, with manual override and safety brake features.
- SIMUBOX Exterior Motors External drive motors for industrial and commercial roller shutters, available in single-phase and three-phase variants including EI fire-rated versions.
- GM Garage Door Motors (GM600, GM800, GM1000) Motors specifically designed for garage doors, with different power and torque ratings for sectional, tilting, and rolling garage doors.
- Roller Shutter Motors (T3.5, T5, T6, T8, T9 series) Tubular motors for roller shutters available in multiple diameters (Ø40mm, Ø50mm, Ø60mm, Ø80mm) and various radio and wired technologies including T3.5, T5, T6, T8, T9 series with different protocols (AC, DC, Hz, BHz, EHz, AUTO).
- Awning Motors Tubular motors designed for terrace awnings and screens, available in various sizes and technologies including wired and radio-controlled options.
- Commercial & Industrial Motor Systems Complete motorization solutions for commercial and industrial closures including CENTRIS central motors, SIMUBOX external motors, tubular motors (T8, T9 series), and garage door motors (GM series) with corresponding control and automation systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- 7-year warranty on AUTOSUN solar solutions (motor, battery, panel)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SIMU
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SIMU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature7 records
SIMU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Somfy Groupparent companySIMU is a subsidiary brand of Somfy Group, part of the international Somfy group specializing in smart home and building automation solutions. This relationship provides SIMU with global manufacturing scale, R&D resources, and access to Somfy's smart home ecosystem including TaHoma connectivity.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SIMU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Somfy: Parent company and direct competitor in tubular motors for roller shutters, awnings and smart-home closures. Somfy-branded motors overlap with SIMU's product portfolio and channel network, and the TaHoma ecosystem serves as both an enabler and a competing brand.
- Nice S.p.A. Italian home automation group producing motors and control systems for gates, garage doors, awnings and shutters. Overlaps with SIMU's roller shutter and garage door (GM) lines and competes for the same professional installer channel across Europe.
Direct peers
- Cherubini Group: Italian manufacturer of tubular motors and control systems for roller shutters, awnings and venetian blinds. Closely comparable to SIMU in product range (residential and light-commercial tubular motors), B2B channel model, and European geographic focus.
- Elero GmbH: German manufacturer of tubular motors, drives and control systems for roller shutters, awnings and blinds. Direct competitor to SIMU in DACH region with similar B2B professional distribution model and comparable radio/wired product portfolio.
- Selve GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of motors and controls for roller shutters, awnings and venetian blinds. Closely comparable product line (tubular motors, radio control systems) and channel structure (professional installers and OEM partners in Germany and adjacent markets).
- Becker Antriebe GmbH: German specialist in tubular drives and control systems for roller shutters, sun protection and venetian blinds. Direct competitor with similar B2B professional channel and comparable European OEM customer base.
- Geiger Antriebstechnik: German manufacturer of tubular motors and electronic drives for roller shutters, awnings and textile sun protection. Direct peer in residential and light-commercial closures with similar product breadth and European professional channel.
Regional players
- Rollease Acmeda: Manufacturer of motorized window covering solutions (tubular motors, controls, automation) primarily serving North American and Australian markets. Comparable product category and OEM/channel model, though with weaker European presence versus SIMU.
Emerging players
- Vestamatic GmbH: German maker of roller shutter motors, timers and sun protection controls. Smaller specialist with overlapping product category but narrower geographic footprint than SIMU, useful as a focused niche comparable.
- Coulisse B.V. Dutch manufacturer of motorised blinds and motion-blinds solutions combining tubular motors with smart home integration. Adjacent category player with comparable focus on connected shading and professional/B2B channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SIMU social profiles
Digital presenceSIMU compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
SIMU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SIMU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SIMU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SIMU M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SIMU
What does SIMU do?
SIMU designs and manufactures tubular motors and control systems for roller shutters, awnings, garage doors, and commercial/industrial closures. Founded in 1952 as the inventor of the tubular motor, the company offers a complete product ecosystem including T-series motors (T3.5, T5, T6, T8, T9), solar-powered solutions (AUTOSUN 2, SOLISHADE), radio/wired control systems, and TaHoma smart home integration. All products are sold exclusively through professional B2B channels including manufacturers, installers, distributors, and specifiers.
Is SIMU a public or private company?
SIMU is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SIMU founded?
SIMU was founded in 1952. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is SIMU based?
SIMU is headquartered in Arc-lès-gray, France, in the Europe region.
How does SIMU make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Motor and Control System Sales are the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are SIMU's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Somfy and Nice S.p.A.. Direct peers are Cherubini Group, Elero GmbH, Selve GmbH & Co. KG, Becker Antriebe GmbH and Geiger Antriebstechnik. Rollease Acmeda is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Vestamatic GmbH and Coulisse B.V..
Does SIMU have an API?
No public API is recorded for SIMU.
What industry is SIMU in?
SIMU's product category is Building Closure Motorization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAJ, Motor Drive & Motion Control Electronics Manufacturing Services (VFDs, servo drives, controllers), with a secondary code of IMAHAGAM, Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings). Its NAICS code is 333613 and its SIC code is 3621.