OpenTech Alliance Inc., a Phoenix-based provider of self-storage kiosks, call-center services and other technology, has partnered with Storage Door Curtains (SDC), the manufacturer of Weatherized Door Curtains for self-storage roll-up doors, to create a new energy-management tool accessible through a storage facility’s management software. The companies will securely integrate SDC’s door-curtain monitoring software with OpenTech’s INSOMNIAC Self Storage Network, allowing self-storage operators to access real-time data about energy lost through individual storage units.
The door curtains create an eight-layer, airtight, waterproof barrier at the unit-door opening, according to a press release. The integration of the door-curtain monitoring software, which reads built-in sensors in the curtains to measure energy loss, with OpenTech’s open application program interface, or OpenAPI, will allow self-storage operators to monitor daily energy loss when tenants leave door curtains open on climate-controlled units.
Company officials believe the monitoring capability will enable operators to assess daily energy-loss fees on tenants who fail to properly close their door curtains. "There are a vast number of operators who want to better control the temperature on exterior units,” said James Ciaciuch, CEO of SDC. “We needed a way to configure our software with individual self-storage units to monitor proper door-curtain closings to save energy and assess energy-loss fees. The partnership with OpenTech will allow us to simultaneously reduce the amount of energy lost or wasted and give self-storage owners a substantial source of new monthly income."
"We are excited to be working with such an innovative company. James and his team are forward thinkers, and the investment they have made in developing this new and valuable product is impressive,” added Robert Chiti, president and CEO at OpenTech. “We have a real soft spot for entrepreneurs like James and are happy to be partnering with him to bring a new revenue stream to self-storage operators."
Based in Port Angeles, Wash., SDC is a division of Temperature Retention Systems Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of temperature-retention systems for several industries, including self-storage. The company’s products include weather curtains, storage blankets and monitoring software.
OpenTech provides several models of INSOMNIAC self-serve kiosks as well as a range of self-storage rental solutions including the INSOMNIAC Live! Call Center, INSOMNIAC Online Web and mobile applications, LiveAgent! software products, and the INSOMNIAC ILock Security System, all available through the company's Self-Storage Cloud.
