Vimar
Italian KNX switches in Eikon, Arke and Plana design families — the premium choice for Italian and Mediterranean market projects.
Vimar (Marostica, Vicenza, Italy — founded 1945) is Italy's leading manufacturer of electrical installation materials, with a 20% market share in the Italian residential and commercial sector. In smart building automation, Vimar operates at two levels: (1) By-me: their proprietary Italian home automation bus system (separate from KNX, uses a 2-wire proprietary bus), found in millions of Italian homes; (2) KNX: a full range of KNX-certified devices under the By-me Plus/KNX brand, designed to integrate aesthetically with Eikon, Arke, Plana and EVO frame systems while providing full IEC 14543-3 KNX compliance. Vimar KNX is specified in Italian premium residential and hospitality projects where Italian-designed aesthetics are a key requirement.
Role in our panels
How we use Vimar
Vimar's KNX product ecosystem covers the full range of room-level devices: pushbutton sensors (2-8 gang), presence detectors, room controllers with display, thermostats, and scene activators — all available in Eikon (classic), Arke (rounded), Plana (ultra-flat, most modern), and Eikon Evo (premium glass) design families. Vimar KNX devices are fully ETS6 compatible and interoperable with all other KNX manufacturers. For Italian projects, Vimar is often specified as the switch brand while MDT, Hager or ABB provide the DIN-rail actuators and routers. Vimar View Color (4.3" colour touchscreen) serves as a premium room controller with KNX group address visualisation, scene control and HVAC setpoint display — a direct competitor to Gira G1 in Italian market projects.
In KNX panels for Italian market projects, Vimar KNX devices appear as room-level components only — Vimar does not manufacture KNX DIN-rail actuators or IP routers. Panel design includes MDT or Hager actuators, Weinzierl or MDT IP router, and a Vimar KNX power supply (if specified). Vimar By-me systems (non-KNX) can be interfaced to KNX via the By-me/KNX gateway (Vimar 01415) — mapping By-me commands to KNX group addresses for integration with a KNX infrastructure. For renovation projects in Italy where By-me was the original system, this gateway allows KNX expansion without replacing all By-me devices.
Used in these project types
Vimar products
Key components we install
Vimar KNX Pushbutton 4-gang (Eikon)
4-gang KNX pushbutton sensor with LED indicators. Eikon frame system. ETS6 compatible. Available in Plana, Arke and Evo frame versions. Temperature sensor option. Scene activation, dim/blind control. Standard specification for Italian KNX residential and hotel projects.
Vimar KNX Thermostat (Plana)
KNX room thermostat with LCD display and setpoint wheel. Plana flat frame. PI control DPT. Fan coil output option (2-speed/3-speed fan). Integrated temperature sensor. For Italian apartment projects with fan coil HVAC — Vimar thermostat + Zennio KLIC-DD fan coil controller combination is common.
Vimar VIEW Color 4.3"
4.3-inch colour touchscreen for wall mounting. KNX direct connection. Scene activation, lighting control, blind control, HVAC setpoint. Custom background images. Alternative to Gira G1 for Vimar-specified Italian projects. Portrait and landscape mount. Eikon/Arke/Plana frame compatibility.
Vimar By-me/KNX Gateway
Bridges Vimar By-me bus (proprietary) to KNX TP. For renovation projects where By-me was the original system and a KNX expansion is being added. Maps By-me switches and sensors to KNX group addresses. Limited integration — basic on/off and scene commands only.
Vimar KNX Presence Detector
360° ceiling PIR presence detector. KNX bus-powered. Lux sensor for daylight compensation. Configurable hold time and sensitivity. Arke/Plana compatible ceiling version. For office and hotel room occupancy control with KNX lighting and HVAC.
Vimar FAQ
Is Vimar By-me the same as Vimar KNX?
No — they are completely different systems. By-me is Vimar's proprietary Italian home automation protocol (2-wire bus, ~200mA, Vimar devices only). Vimar KNX is a separate product line using standard KNX TP (IEC 14543-3, interoperable with all brands, programmed in ETS6). By-me devices do NOT work on a KNX bus. The By-me/KNX gateway (01415) bridges commands between the two systems but with limited functionality.
How does Vimar compare to BTicino for Italian projects?
Both are major Italian switch brands. Vimar is stronger in the Veneto/Triveneto region; BTicino (Legrand) dominates in Lombardia and the west. Aesthetically: Plana (Vimar) and Plana (BTicino) are directly competing flat-frame products. KNX ecosystem: BTicino Valena Life KNX and Vimar KNX both have comparable device ranges. Choice often comes down to local distributor relationships and regional brand preference. Both are fully KNX interoperable.
Does Vimar make KNX actuators for the distribution panel?
Vimar does not have a comprehensive KNX DIN-rail actuator range. For Italian KNX projects, Vimar switches are typically combined with MDT Technologies, Hager, or ABB DIN-rail actuators. Weinzierl or MDT provide the KNX IP router. This mixed-manufacturer approach is standard practice in KNX — ETS6 handles all devices from all manufacturers in a single project.
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