If you’re the manufacture of smart curtain products or planning to enter this market, i want to speak that how well your smart curtain moves that depend entirely on this heart which is the motor which you should really take it seriously.
Let start from a little big picture
· What’s happening in the automatic curtain market
· Why brushless DC(Planetary DC Gear Motor) motors are superior
· How to help your customers avoid expensive mistakes
· How to make your curtains move nicely with TVs and other devices
1. Currant market situation: this sector is taking off
A few data (Let China market be an example and the trend of global is same to China)
· The size of China’s electric curtain market is projected to reach RMB 15 billion in 2025, and is expected to grow to RMB 45.9 billion by 2030.
· The single-motor market segment alone is set to exceed RMB 6 billion in 2025.
· With a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15%–20%, the market is poised for sustained high growth over the next five years.
Why it grow so fast?
1. The fast development of Whole-Home Intelligence that consumers want “interconnectivity,” not just remote control of individual devices.
2. Consumption Upgrading that quiet operation, comfort, and durability of what an increasing number of people are willing to pay a premium for these qualities.
3. Technological Maturity that the cost of brushless DC motors has become cheaper, while their performance has become better.
And you are advised to select Brushless DC as the old AC motors or brushed DC motors has problem of noise and short lifespan.
- Brushless DC vs. other motors
Motor Type, Noise, Lifespan , Energy Use, Best for
AC motor, 35-50 dB, 3-5 years High Low end, noise-tolerant projects
Brushed DC, Higher, 3 years , high after-sale trouble
Brushless DC, 20-30 dB, 10+ years, 40% less than brushed , experience-focused brands
From above data,you can understand how to choose the motor and a brushless motor can avoid too much after sale service because many curtains are installed on the ceiling which is difficult to replace.
The Key parameters you should pay more attention.
·Noise Level: The residential market typically requires below 30 dB (library-quiet). Hotels and high-end residences demand an even lower threshold below25 dB.
· Torque: This should be matched to the weight of the curtains. Standard residential applications typically require 1–2 N·m, whereas heavy fabrics or oversized curtains need higher torque. Insufficient torque will happen that the motor is unable to move the curtains or cause jerky, stall the movement when lifting.
· Voltage: Low-voltage DC (12V/24V) is safer and easier for system integration.
· Power: which is generally kept below 50 W and if the higher efficiency is always preferable.
Additionally, brushless motors usually work with planetary gearboxes which can give high torque at low speeds, low backlash, and smooth start/stop. If your clients are working with traverse curtains, roller blinds, or Venetian blinds,they should pay close attention to matching the gear reduction ratio with the required output speed.
3. How to integrate with TVs and other devices
True smartness is cross-device integration. The classic scenario is movie mode.
When the user say “I want to watch a movie” – and the system detects that the TV is on and the room is too bright so it should automatically:
· Close curtains
· Dim lights
· Turn on TV and switch to the correct input
To achieve this, your motor needs:
1. Open communication protocols – Wi-Fi, Zigbee, BLE Mesh, Z-Wave, or at least an interface for customers to integrate is available.
2. Compatibility with major ecosystems- Google Home, Alexa, Huawei HarmonyOS, etc and the motor should flexibly fit different ecosystems.
3. Position feedback & state sync -The motor must tell the system “I’m now 50% open” or “fully closed” that enable precise coordination with other devices.
Today, you need a motor that acts as an obedient actuator which is ready to follow command from smart speakers, sensors, or scene panels.
4. A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls in Product Selection
I’ve seen many smart home brands cry over after-sales costs because they chose the wrong motor.
Pitfall #1: Only looking at torque, ignoring the noise curve
Some motors claim high torque but produce electromagnetic noise (a buzzing sound) at low speed. It is fine at day time, but very noticeable at night.
Suggestion: Ask suppliers for noise test reports at different speed.
Pitfall #2: Ignoring inrush current
Some brushless motors draw 3–5x rated current at startup. If multiple motors are connected to the same smart panel, it may trip the protection.
Suggestion: Choose motors with soft-start and well-controlled current.
Pitfall #3: Not caring about gearbox lifespan
The motor itself lasts long, but if the gearbox uses ordinary plastic gears, they’ll wear out in a few years.
Suggestion: Require metal gears or engineering plastic with proper lubrication.
Pitfall #4: Thinking “it just needs to spin”-ignoring position accuracy
If you want percentage opening (e.g., open to 30%), the motor needs hall sensors or an encoder for position feedback.
Suggestion: Prefer closed-loop brushless motor solutions.
Pitfall #5: No diagnostic interface
Once a curtain motor is installed inside the rail, it’s hard to remove for troubleshooting.
Suggestion: Design the motor with diagnostic capability -e.g., view run count, error codes via an app -for remote problem diagnosis.
5. In final
In the end , it’s about helping your customers avoid pitfalls and increase profits. The automatic curtain market is growing fast, but competition is fierce. Whoever makes end users feel “quiet, smooth, never stuck, and match all other devices ” will win the market.