Universal Electronics Introduces a New Climate Control Thermostat for the US Market

Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (NASDAQ: UEIC), the global leader in wireless universal control solutions for home entertainment and smart home devices, announces its launch of a new thermostat designed for the US market. This thermostat has been developed with input from Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC (METUS), a leading supplier of Ductless and Ducted Mini-split and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump and air-conditioning systems.

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UEI announces its launch of a new thermostat designed for the US market based on UEI’s Comfort Line of Climate Control solutions. Universal Electronics worked to implement METUS’ IT protocol and other requirements into the new Simple Ductless Wired (SDW) controller. The controller’s adapter conveniently plugs into indoor unit control boards. The SDW controller, which will be sold exclusively through METUS distributors, features a small form factor, a backlit 2.8" color display, and boasts an intuitively-designed and familiar dial knob for temperature control and direct function keys for Mode and Fan control. (Photo: Business Wire)

The product, which has been in development for nearly two years, is the first to utilize UEI’s Tide Dial thermostat architecture, based on UEI’s Comfort Line of Climate Control solutions. Universal Electronics worked to implement METUS’ IT protocol and other requirements into the new Simple Ductless Wired (SDW) controller. The controller’s adapter conveniently plugs into indoor unit control boards.

The SDW controller, which will be sold exclusively through METUS distributors, features a small form factor, a backlit 2.8" color display, and boasts an intuitively-designed and familiar dial knob for temperature control and direct function keys for Mode and Fan control.

“We are honored that METUS has selected our UEI TIDE platform to launch its newest thermostat. We are excited to begin this journey with METUS to bring to market a thermostat that meets the product’s technical requirements and delivers state-of-the-art features and ease-of-use to the company’s end users,” said David Chong, UEI Executive Vice President of Sales.

The new thermostat works with METUS’ existing line of ductless systems and brings new, advanced features including:

• Enhanced humidity control.
• Built-in presence detection for automatic screen wake-up mode.
• Setpoints designed to permit users to reduce temperature at scheduled times for reduced energy usage.

“There is a growing demand for energy efficiency with today’s consumers wanting more control of their energy consumption,” said Charles Miltiades, Director of Controls Experience and Integration, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US. “Working with Universal Electronics allows us to sell a thermostat solution designed to satisfy those needs.”

UEI Smart Comfort Line Summary

Announced in early 2023 at AHR Expo, the UEI Comfort Line is designed for HVAC OEMs as well as hospitality-branded applications. An integral part of the design is ease-of-use and connectivity with UEI’s QuickSet® Widget, which offers native Cloud connectivity, featuring UEI’s latest device management and lifecycle support services for simplified setup and control, and allows interoperability with a variety of smart home devices and ecosystems. The UEI Comfort Line includes all the necessary connectivity technologies to address the evolving smart home, including seamless connection to the cloud over Wi-Fi plus local device connectivity via Bluetooth Smart, Zigbee and Infrared and supports Matter, the industry’s latest smart home connectivity standard.

With built-in HVAC control and sensing capabilities for occupancy, temperature, humidity, and CO2 as well as interoperability with external Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensors, the UEI Comfort line offers the best of what to expect from an advanced thermostat. The product features an adaptive user interface that provides intuitive feedback on the status of users’ home climate via the large color display, which users can easily navigate through its advanced features with confidence and ease.

UEI has been at the forefront of developing entertainment and smart home control technologies for over three decades and continues to drive innovation around universal control, wireless connectivity, sustainability, energy efficiency and ultimate ease of use.

For more information about Smart Thermostats visit us at HVAC Controllers | Technology solutions focused on connection and control (uei.com).

About Universal Electronics Inc.

Universal Electronics Inc. (NASDAQ: UEIC), the global leader in wireless universal control solutions for home entertainment and smart home devices, designs, develops, manufactures, ships and supports hardware and software control and sensor technology solutions. UEI partners with many Fortune 500 customers, including Comcast, Vivint Smart Home, Samsung, LG, Sony, and Daikin to serve video, telecommunications, security service providers, television, smart home, and HVAC system manufacturers. For over 37 years, UEI has been pioneering breakthrough innovations such as voice control and QuickSet cloud, the world’s leading platform for automated set-up and control of devices in the home. For more information visit www.uei.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development, delivery and market acceptance of products and technologies identified in this release; the purchasing by UEI customers including METUS of the UEI Comfort line and UEI Tide home control products identified in this release in the quantities anticipated by management; the adoption of the cloud-based and advanced control technologies and features identified in this release by UEI customers, the continued penetration and growth of UEI smart thermostat technology and other products and consumer technologies identified in this release; and other factors described in UEI’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results that UEI achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. UEI undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

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