ZAPF GmbH, manufacturer of prefabricated concrete garages, is once again venturing a forecast of the major trends in the garage sector for 2018: smart homes will increasingly conquer the garage, a charging station for electric vehicles will make private parking garages fit for a mobility concept of the future and sectional doors will become the standard, according to predictions.
Smart homes have long since found their way into private homes and devices and functions can be controlled centrally, from heating and lighting to music and refrigerators. “The networking of technical components is of course also possible in the garage and smart home systems such as our ZAPF Connect are increasingly in demand from consumers,” says Emmanuel Thomas, Managing Director of ZAPF GmbH. The reason for this is obvious: more convenience, even when parking. With the appropriate smart home technology in the garage, it is possible, for example, to check via cell phone whether the lights are on or off, what the temperature is and, before parking or pulling out, a tap of the finger is enough to open and close the door automatically.
In view of air pollution and noise from road traffic, electromobility will play an increasingly important role in the long term. “For many consumers who are considering buying an electric car now or in the near future, it is very important that they can charge it at home,” says Thomas. The garage is of course an excellent place for a wallbox where e-cars or e-bikes can be ‘charged’ with electricity. “With the integrated e-charging station or at least with the necessary basis for a later retrofit, building owners want to make their garage future-proof, which we can also see from the response to our e-garage with integrated charging station,” explains the Managing Director. ZAPF is therefore certain that the No. 2 trend for 2018 is the electric charging station in the garage.
Sectional doors are by no means new and they have been popular for a long time, but until now there have still been builders who have opted for other types of door – mainly due to the price differences. “I believe that this will change significantly this year and private garage buyers will almost exclusively choose sectional doors, because no other door gives the garage such a modern and timeless look,” says Thomas. What’s more, the other advantages are now also convincing consumers. Unlike up-and-over doors or swing doors, sectional doors require hardly any space when opening and closing due to their special design, so the space in and in front of the garage can be better utilized. And thanks to their design, the doors are also suitable for particularly wide garage models. Another argument in favor of the modern door type: some sectional doors have a special tilting mechanism in the upper section. This makes it possible to ventilate the garage without having to open the door. And equipped with an electric door drive and hand-held transmitter or with smart home technology, the doors can also be conveniently opened and closed remotely and the ventilation position can also be controlled.
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The Premium sectional door from ZAPF also has a tilting mechanism in the upper section. This makes it possible to ventilate the garage without having to open the door.
