ATES

What ATES does

ATES SAS is a French custom-made solar and visual protection company founded in 1980 in Saint-Pierre-Lès-Nemours, south of Paris, operating as a subsidiary of the German family-owned MHZ Group since 1993. It designs, manufactures, and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of interior and exterior window treatments — pleated blinds, honeycomb DUETTE cellular blinds, roller and double-roller blinds, roman shades, Venetian (aluminum and wood) blinds, vertical blinds, Japanese panels, curtains and curtain rails, exterior cassette blinds, retractable arm awnings (including the art_02 with integrated VERTIMA), ZIP vertical screens (zip 2.0 and zip 6), veranda blinds, Solix retrofit exterior rollers, external venetian blinds (BSO), lateral and folding-arm screens, and insect screens including pollen-protection meshes — together with smart-home integration modules for Somfy TaHoma, Hunter Douglas PowerView (Generation 3 with Bluetooth 5.0), and Loxone systems.

Core products are built on proprietary technologies including the DUETTE honeycomb alveolar structure (providing up to 45% acoustic noise reduction and near-50% winter heat-loss reduction per Fraunhofer IBP studies) and an integrated compensation device that stabilizes wide-span installations up to 4 meters for honeycomb and 6 meters for ZIP 6 vertical screens. Manufacturing is vertically integrated across six European production sites in Germany, France, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland, with in-house plastics transformation at Niederstetten since 1958.

ATES sells exclusively through an authorized network of specialized window-treatment distributors and resellers across France, Germany, Austria, Benelux, Spain, Switzerland, and North America; the company does not sell direct-to-consumer, instead routing prospects via a distributor finder tool on the website. End customers are predominantly residential homeowners seeking custom-made interior shading, supplemented by commercial/tertiary (offices, conference rooms, medical practices) and architect/specifier channels for new construction and renovation. Revenue is generated through one-time sales of custom-manufactured products with no public pricing and no recurring subscription component; the wider MHZ Group employs approximately 1,600 people globally, of whom roughly 1,200 are based in Germany.

Name

ATES

Legal name

ATES SAS – Groupe MHZ

Website

https://ates-mhz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ATES is a French custom-made solar and visual protection company, founded in 1980 and part of Germany's MHZ Group since 1993. It manufactures made-to-measure window treatments, exterior shading systems, insect screens, and smart-home-integrated motorized blinds, selling exclusively through a network of specialized European distributors serving residential, commercial, and architectural-specifier customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom window treatments and solar shading products

NAICS

Blind and Shade Manufacturing (337920), Blind and Shade Manufacturing (33792), Curtain and Linen Mills (31412), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590)

akta.pro primary industry

Window Treatments & Shading Systems (Blinds, Shades, Awnings) (IMADAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Window Coverings Manufacturing (Curtains/Drapes/Sheers/Valances) (IMAOAKAC), Motorized Shades, Blinds & Curtain Automation (HSAHADAD), Screens, Storm Doors/Windows & Insect Protection Systems (IMADAIAK)

Keywords

• Custom window treatments
• Solar shading systems
• Interior blinds
• Insect screens
• Motorized blinds

Headquarters

HQ city

Entzheim

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Window Treatment Sales: ATES generates revenue through the sale of custom-made window treatments including pleated blinds, honeycomb DUETTE blinds, roller shades, Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, exterior shading systems, and insect screens. All products are manufactured to individual customer specifications through the distributor network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ATES manufactures and sells custom-made solar and visual protection products, including pleated blinds, honeycomb DUETTE cellular blinds, roller shades, roman shades, venetian blinds, vertical blinds, exterior cassette blinds, retractable awnings, vertical ZIP screens, insect screens, curtains, and curtain rails. Each product is manufactured to individual customer specifications across European production sites and distributed through an authorized network of specialized resellers providing consultation, measurement, and installation services.

Product overview

ATES/MHZ offers a comprehensive range of custom-made solar and visual protection products for interior and exterior applications, plus insect screens. The interior portfolio includes pleated blinds (Stores plissés), honeycomb/cellular DUETTE® blinds, roller blinds (single and double), roman shades, venetian blinds (aluminum and wood), vertical blinds, japanese panels, curtains, and curtain rails. Exterior products encompass cassette blinds, retractable awnings (Stores banne) including art_02 with VERTIMA vertical protection, vertical ZIP screens (zip 2.0 and zip 6), veranda blinds, Solix exterior roller blinds, external venetian blinds (BSO) and metal slat systems, lateral screens, and folding arm screens. The insect screen range covers pleated, retractable, hinged, and sliding models plus light well covers. Smart home integration is available through PowerView® (Hunter Douglas), Somfy TaHoma®, and Loxone systems. All products are manufactured to order in MHZ's German and European factories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stores plissés (Pleated blinds) Custom-made pleated blinds for interior solar and visual protection; available on window frame, wall/ceiling, roof window, and non-standard shapes for windows up to 1.80m wide. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores plissés nid d'abeilles DUETTE® (Honeycomb/cellular pleated blinds) Honeycomb/cellular pleated blinds with insulating cell structure providing thermal regulation, up to 45% acoustic noise reduction (Fraunhofer IBP), blackout options, and over 40 patterns with 200 solid fabrics. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores enrouleurs (Roller blinds) Roller blinds for interior use, available in various sizes and styles including blackout options for optimal light blocking. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores enrouleurs doubles (Double roller blinds) Double roller blinds combining two different fabrics in one system for versatile light filtering and pattern effects. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores bateau (Roman shades) Roman shades offering decorative visual and light protection, freely positionable for flexible interior styling. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Rideaux (Curtains) Curtains in various fabrics including Dimout for light blocking and solar protection, mounted on curtain rails. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores vénitiens (Venetian blinds) Venetian blinds with horizontal slats for adjustable light filtering; freestanding Twinline model and wall/ceiling or window-frame mounted versions. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores vénitiens bois (Wooden venetian blinds) Wooden venetian blinds combining natural wood aesthetics with adjustable light control for interior spaces. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores à bandes verticales (Vertical blinds) Vertical blinds with lamella strips for light control and visual protection, including special shapes for sloped windows. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Parois japonaises (Japanese panel systems) Japanese panel systems (Flächenvorhang) with fabric panels for decorative light filtering and visual protection, available in patterns like ARTAK and Yuki. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Rails & tringles à rideaux (Curtain rails and rods) Curtain rails and rods including Futur Mare 3401 with wave-fold tape and ceiling-mounted options. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores coffre intérieurs (Interior cassette blinds) Cassette blinds for interior installation, concealing the roller mechanism for a clean aesthetic. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores coffre extérieurs (Exterior cassette blinds) Exterior cassette blinds providing solar and visual protection with weather-resistant housing. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Moustiquaires (Insect screens) Insect screens including pleated, retractable, hinged, sliding, and specialty models for windows, doors, skylights, and terraces; Polltec and Transpatec meshes offer up to 99% pollen protection. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores banne (Retractable arm awnings) Retractable arm awnings for terraces and balconies, including art_02 model with integrated VERTIMA vertical solar protection; coupled widths up to 14m; LED lighting options. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores verticaux ZIP (ZIP vertical screen systems) Vertical ZIP screen systems (zip 2.0 and zip 6) for solar protection on large glazed surfaces and pergolas. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores de véranda (Veranda and conservatory blinds) Veranda and conservatory blinds for glass roof installations, providing interior solar protection. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Stores enrouleurs extérieurs Solix (Exterior retrofit roller blinds) Exterior roller blinds for retrofit installation without scaffolding; installs from inside through window frame without damage to facade. For homeowners and specifiers.
• BSO & Tabliers métalliques (External venetian blinds and metal slat systems) External venetian blinds (BSO - Brise Soleil Orientable) and metal slat systems (Sonro, Senn) for adjustable solar control. For commercial/tertiary buildings and specifiers.
• Protection latérale (Retractable lateral/side screens) Retractable lateral/side screens for terrace and balcony privacy and solar protection. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Éventail pour balcons et terrasses (Folding arm/fan screens) Folding arm/fan screens for balcony and terrace protection, including TERRAZZO model with weather-resistant fabric and flexible positioning. For homeowners and specifiers.
• Recouvrements de puits de lumière (Light well covers) Light well/cellar window covers (LISA, ELSA, TERRESA, RESI models) protecting against leaves, insects, and debris; made from V2A stainless steel and aluminum profiles. For homeowners and specifiers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 45% acoustic noise reduction with DUETTE honeycomb blinds (Fraunhofer IBP study)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SomfycoreTechnology or IntegrationMHZ products integrate Somfy io-homecontrol radio motors enabling bidirectional communication for flexible home automation. Compatible with TaHoma box for smartphone control, voice control via Google Home/Amazon Echo, and automated scenarios. Protocol already integrated into motors for plug-and-play smart home capability.
• LoxonecoreTechnology or IntegrationLoxone smart building automation integrates with MHZ window treatments through PowerView central control unit. Enables automatic solar protection based on energy optimization, privacy scenes, and building intelligence. Free Loxone app provides smartphone control.
• PowerView (Hunter Douglas)coreTechnology or IntegrationPowerView Generation 3 provides Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for direct smartphone control of MHZ Venetian, vertical, roller, and pleated blinds without additional hub. Features RemoteConnect for remote operation, automated scheduling based on time/weather, and Pebble remote control.
• ES-SO (European Solar Shading Organisation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerATES participates in the Global Shading Day initiative organized by ES-SO, promoting solar shading for climate resilience and sustainable buildings. ES-SO advocates for solar shading standards in legislation based on scientific studies showing potential 100 million ton CO2 reduction.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IKEA: Global mass-market home furnishings retailer offering standardized, ready-made blinds, curtains, and cellular shades. Competes with ATES at the lower end and serves as a benchmark for off-the-shelf window treatments against ATES's custom-made premium positioning.
• Lutron: Premium US-based manufacturer of shading systems (roller, Roman, drapery, skylight) with strong integration into luxury residential and commercial smart-building projects. Comparable to ATES at the high end of motorized, architect-specified shading and a competitor for premium specification projects.

Direct peers

• Hunter Douglas: Global market leader in custom-made window coverings (blinds, shades, shutters) with the Luxaflex brand in Europe. Highly comparable as both a manufacturer and brand-driven competitor in made-to-measure interior and exterior shading, and the originator of the PowerView platform that ATES integrates.
• Roma: German manufacturer specializing in solar and visual protection (roller shutters, external venetian blinds, insect screens, awnings). Directly comparable to ATES in European shading; notably, Marc Horn (ATES's new Technical & Production Director) previously served as Roma's Head of Production.
• WAREMA: Germany's largest sun-shading systems specialist, offering interior and exterior blinds, awnings, ZIP screens, and external venetian blinds (BSO). Directly competes with ATES/MHZ across both residential and commercial shading in the German-speaking and broader European markets.
• Luxaflex: Hunter Douglas's premium retail brand in Europe for custom-made blinds, shades, and shutters sold through authorized dealers. Closely mirrors ATES's distributor-led, custom-made go-to-market model across pleated, Venetian, roller, and cellular categories.
• Brustor: Belgian manufacturer of retractable awnings, ZIP screens, veranda blinds, and terrace covers. Directly comparable to ATES's exterior-shading range (Stores banne, ZIP 2.0/6, veranda blinds) in the European residential and commercial markets.
• Velux: World leader in roof windows and associated interior/exterior shading (pleated, blackout, awnings). Overlaps with ATES on solar protection for skylights, conservatories, and roof windows — an explicit product category in ATES's portfolio.
• Coulisse: Dutch manufacturer of made-to-measure window coverings (roller, Venetian, Roman, cellular, panel systems) with a strong European wholesale and project-specification presence. Comparable to ATES as a multi-category custom blind manufacturer serving residential and contract markets.

Others

• Somfy: World leader in motorized solutions for window coverings; technology partner of MHZ via io-homecontrol/TaHoma, but also competes indirectly by offering bundled motor + shade ecosystems. Relevant as a strategic partner/competitor in the motorized shading stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLivS9ooe-nlGx3UZ-998wbwKRIBCpmY0P
• Facebookfacebook.com/mhz.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ates-groupe-mhz
• Instagraminstagram.com/ates_groupe_mhz/#

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ATES