Eye-catching designer switches

Classical inspiration and intuitive movement

In a natural way, Niko is moving up to the slightly higher segment. This is no wonder, because the switching material from the Belgian family company stands out in terms of design. This spring, Niko, which has been around for more than 100 years, is introducing two striking designer switches: Niko Rocker and Niko Toggle.

On and off. Up and down. Up and down. These are the basic functions of any switch. For its new generation of designs, Niko is harking back to that intuitive motion. Marketer Jurren Zomer: "With the introduction of Niko Rocker and Niko Toggle, we are betting on timeless design and intuitive interaction. The new switches are characterized by a minimalist design and high-quality finish, entirely in aluminum and steel. They simultaneously pay homage to Niko's rich design history and reflect more than a century of innovation and craftsmanship."

Niko Rocker pays homage to an innovative rocker switch design by Niko from 1958. The switch has a robust metal construction that provides a distinct "click" when switching between on and off. The long shape and subtly finished edges of the switch knob blend harmoniously with the monolithic cover plate. 

Niko Toggle is a modern nod to Niko's classic 1928 Bakelite® toggle switches. The switch works just like a small joystick, which you operate with a slight movement up or down. The design is characterized by a subtle notch at the top of the lever, a softly etched texture and robust shape. 

Quality and functionality up to date

Although Niko is harking back to past designs with these new switches, Niko Rocker and Niko Toggle are completely up-to-date in terms of quality and functionality, according to Zomer. "The switch mechanism builds on Niko's switching technology, which is also used in Niko's existing ranges of switchgear; from subtle dimming to integration into Niko Home Control, the Niko smart home solution for automatic control of lighting, screens, heating, music, and much more."

Both switches (produced entirely in Belgium) feature an optional LED indicator that indicates with a soft warm glow whether they are on or off, adding to the overall design experience. They are made of aluminum or steel and available in a variety of switch mechanisms and finishes, including alu gold brushed, alu black brushed, alu grey brushed, alu blue grey brushed, steel champagne coated and steel white coated. 

Niko is celebrating 25 years in business in the Netherlands this year and is finding that its new switches are being well received. "We are increasingly gaining a foothold in the middle and high segment. In addition to our design, this is due to our automation system Niko Home Control. As an entry-level system, this is suitable for traditional homes, but more and more people are choosing to equip the entire house with this system when they build a new house. Niko Home Control is then much more than a system for automating lighting and sun blinds. It can make a major contribution to energy management, for example, to use solar panels when this is beneficial. Now that net-metering is going to be removed in the Netherlands (as it has been in Belgium), this is more relevant than ever!"