ASSA ABLOY becomes a new member of io-homecontrol®

As the leading manufacturer and supplier of locking solutions, holding 10% of the world market, ASSA ABLOY brings the advantage of its product range to io-homecontrol®. With more than 150 companies operating in 40 countries, the ASSA ABLOY Group offers a large range of products from automatic doors, security doors, padlocks, door closers, door automatics to electromechanical products and mechanical locks. The ASSA ABLOY Group includes such well-known brands as Fichet, Laperche and Vachette in France, Yale and Chubb in the United Kingdom, and IKON and effeff in Germany.
With this extra member, io-homecontrol® will build on its integrated "smart home" offer and enlarge its scope. Through wireless radio technology operated by a simple control device, io-homecontrol® will make possible the interaction between various products such as VELUX roof windows, HONEYWELL room temperature controls, rolling shutters motorized by SOMFY, HÖRMANN automatic garage doors and ASSA ABLOY electronic locks. This revolutionary seamless technology system allowing communication between products of different brands will bring endless advantages to consumers and home owners in particular enhanced comfort, indoor climate control, security and energy savings.

io-homecontrol®: a growing intelligent home initiative
Following the entrance of HÖRMANN, the European leading supplier for residential and industrial doors and operators in April, ASSA ABLOY is the second international group to join the founding members, HONEYWELL, VELUX and SOMFY since the launch of io-homecontrol® in Paris in May 2005. Jean-Luc Guillaume, Managing Director of io-homecontrol® is delighted with the entrance of ASSA ABLOY joining the ever-growing initiative: "Bringing its own expertise on the home building market, ASSA ABLOY will greatly extend the offer from io-homecontrol® with its knowledge and products on the lock systems market. The group's entry into the initiative highlights the growing interest in integrated and intelligent home control."
Through io-homecontrol® ASSA ABLOY will be part of an association that offers consumers a complete integrated home automation solution. Åsa Christiander from ASSA ABLOY: "It is with great pleasure that we are announcing our entrance into the io-homecontrol alliance. We are joining a team of some of the world's most reputable companies in residential control which is extensively developing. It is a privilege to join an association which offers consumers cutting-edge technology to simplify their lives. This initiative is sure to grow even further with future members, extending the scope and added-value of the solution to end-users. The simplicity of io-homecontrol® is that while the functions are highly sophisticated, the technology is very easy to use and no special infrastructure or system integrator is needed for installation."

io-homecontrol®: an association open to all manufacturers
io-homecontrol® is the result of an industry ambition that is in touch with real market expectations. The alliance offers building product manufacturers the opportunity to participate in a joint project with the aim of ultimate home control. io-homecontrol® technology answers a real industry demand and brings veritable added-value to customers. Jean-Luc Guillaume adds: "We are open to all industry groups within the building components sector. We have strong contacts with other leading manufacturers and hope to announce the integration of other new members in 2007".
io-homecontrol® products are suited to all types of buildings, from new to existing constructions, from single products (for example, a roof window) to complete systems. io-homecontrol® solutions are marketed via the usual manufacturing sales channels and their installation is simple, not requiring any new skills for installers. VELUX was the first company to introduce io-homecontrol® technology products, which were launched in July 2005. SOMFY and HONEYWELL, and now also HÖRMANN will have io-homecontrol® branded products on the market in 2007. The first interactive solutions will thus be available from next year onwards. io-homecontrol® is a registered trademark in over 40 countries.

About io-homecontrol®
The io-homecontrol® association has been launched by some of the world's leading firms in home comfort technology including HONEYWELL, the global leader for solutions of residential and commercial building controls ; SOMFY, the international specialist in automatic control of openings and closures in homes and buildings and VELUX, the world leader in roof windows. io-homecontrol members today include HONEYWELL, HÖRMANN, SOMFY , VELUX and ASSA ABLOY.
io-homecontrol® is a wireless communication protocol enabling interaction among products from different manufacturers. It brings new solutions for improved home comfort, energy savings, security and indoor climate control. It allows new benefits for professionals and end-users with no additional infrastructure or installation costs. io-homecontrol® is a registered trademark in over 40 countries. The first products integrating io-homecontrol® technology were launched mid-2005, and the first multi-brand io-homecontrol® solutions will be available in 2007.

About ASSA ABLOY
ASSA ABLOY is the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of locking solutions, meeting tough end-user demands for safety, security and user friendliness. The Group has some 30,000 employees and annual sales of about EUR 3 billion.
Additional information can be attained from the following websites:
io-homecontrol: www.io-homecontrol.com
HONEYWELL: www.honeywell.com
HÖRMANN : www.hoermann.com
SOMFY: www.somfy.com
VELUX: www.VELUX.com
ASSA-ABLOY : www.assaabloy.com