Chamberlain Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Garage door openers, access control systems, security surveillance |
| Fate | Ownership transferred to Blackstone in September 2021 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Garage door openers (Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Raynor, Craftsman, Clicker), security cameras, gate access control systems, myQ smart garage door controller technology |
| Owner | Blackstone (since September 2021) |
Chamberlain Group (CGI), the parent organization behind brands such as LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Merlin, and Grifco, specializes in the design and engineering of residential garage door openers, commercial door operators, security surveillance cameras, and gate access control systems.
Additionally, CGI owns Controlled Products Systems Group, recognized as the largest wholesale distributor of perimeter access control products within the United States.
In September 2021, ownership of Chamberlain Group transferred from The Duchossois Group to Blackstone.
Garage door openers
- Chamberlain — a line tailored for do-it-yourself garage door opener installations.
- LiftMaster — garage door openers intended for professional installation.
- Raynor — a less frequently encountered professional installer brand.
- Craftsman — Chamberlain models rebranded and retailed through Sears, distinguished by a "139" prefix in their model numbers.
- Clicker — universal remote controls compatible with garage doors.
The components such as gears and circuit boards are interchangeable among Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman products. Notably, Chamberlain and Craftsman models utilize a square split-rail system, whereas LiftMaster employs a single solid inverted T-shaped rail.
myQ app
The myQ smart garage door controller technology by Chamberlain is embedded within their garage door openers and lighting products, offering Wi-Fi connectivity managed via a subscription service. This platform is being extended to additional home devices to broaden connected home functionalities.
During CES 2019, Chamberlain collaborated with Amazon to facilitate in-garage package delivery through myQ-enabled openers as part of the Amazon Key program, improving last-mile delivery solutions.
Controversy
In November 2023, Chamberlain terminated support for Google Assistant and its official Apple HomeKit integration. Furthermore, the company blocked all other third-party access to myQ devices, effectively ending open-source integrations such as Home Assistant.
Ron Amadeo, an analyst at Ars Technica, interpreted this decision as part of Chamberlain’s "hardware-app-as-ad-platform strategy," indicating that the myQ application functions primarily to deliver advertisements and encourage additional service subscriptions, marking a strategic shift toward monetizing the platform beyond mere hardware sales.