Chamberlain Group acquires two tech companies

Oak Brook-based Chamberlain Group, which manufactures garage and door opening systems and technology, said Thursday it acquired two California tech companies that will help the company expand its smart products' capabilities.

The maker of brands including Chamberlain and Liftmaster garage door openers will acquire Fremont, California-based Tend Insights, a video AI and platform company, and Lockitron, a Mountain View, California-based developer of connected lock technologies. Financial terms of the acquisitions were not announced.

The company said Tend's home video monitoring products and technology will be integrated into Chamberlain's myQ technology platform. Current and new myQ users will be able to link a Tend video camera to capture footage of their garage door opening and closing and of the people who are coming and going from their homes, according to the company.

"We know families enter and exit their homes through their garage doors multiple times a day," said Chamberlain Group CEO JoAnna Sohovich. "Our myQ technology allows homeowners to monitor and control access from their smartphone. Adding video, connected locks and enhanced artificial intelligence to our access solutions will provide even further peace of mind as homeowners connect to their homes and loved ones."

Tend founder Herman Yau will stay on as general manager and lead the video and AI platforms, Sohovich said.

Founded in 2010, the Lockitron connected lock portfolio provides keyless access to homes from a smartphone using Bluetooth or the cloud. The Lockitron line includes the keyless access lock, the Bolt, and the Bridge for away-from-home status and control. Lockitron products will also be incorporated into the Chamberlain line, the company said.

"Lockitron provides convenient home access security and new functionality to test and launch a broader array of new innovative solutions," said Cory Sorice, vice president & general manager of emerging business at Chamberlain Group.