The Autoglide 5100 has had a major upgrade for 2026

Silent Gliss has given the Autoglide 5100 its biggest update in years. The motor, the remotes, the timers and the touch control all stay exactly the same, but underneath them sits a brand new track. SG's own headline for the change is "Streamlined Design. Elevated Performance.", and for once that is not marketing fluff. This is a genuine upgrade that opens the 5100 up to bigger windows, heavier curtains and a much wider range of interiors.

Here is what has actually changed, and why it matters if you are about to order an electric curtain track.

The 5100 now shares its track with the flagship 5600

The old 5100 used Silent Gliss profile SG 10925, a slim 21mm wide aluminium track that had been in production for decades. The new 5100 uses profile SG 10850, the same heavy duty 32mm wide track that sits underneath the Autoglide 5600, Silent Gliss's flagship motorised system. So the 5100 and the 5600 are now built on identical rails. The difference between the two products is the motor, the control system and the price. The track itself is the same.

That matters for two reasons. First, it means the 5100 is now built on a profile that Silent Gliss is committed to long term. Second, the heavier track has a higher weight capacity and a longer maximum span, which is where the headline improvements come from.

Up to 9 metres in a single run

The old 5100 was capped at 6 metres. The new one goes all the way to 9 metres, in a single uninterrupted run, with no joins. That is a serious upgrade. It means the 5100 will now cover almost any domestic window in the country, including very wide bay runs, full wall to wall installations in lounges and master bedrooms, and the kind of wide aspect picture windows you find in modern open plan extensions. If you previously had to step up to the 5600 just to get the length, you can now stay on the 5100 and save a chunk of money.

Pricing for the extra length is straightforward. Each 50cm increment between 6 and 9 metres is added at the same fixed rate as the rest of the price ladder, so there is no jump in cost when you go past the old 6 metre limit. Use the configurator on the 5100 product page to see the price for your exact length.

Heavier curtains, up to 30kg

The maximum weight on a straight track has gone up from 25kg to 30kg. Five kilos might not sound like much, but it is the difference between a track that is happy with most lined curtains and a track that will comfortably handle thick interlined drapes, blackout linings and heavy fabrics like velvet and chenille across a full sized window. If you have ever weighed a pair of full length lined curtains for a tall window, you will know how quickly the kilos add up. The new 5100 gives you a bit more headroom, which is exactly where you want it.

If you are not sure how heavy your curtains will be, we have a separate guide where we actually weighed real curtains to find out: how much do curtains weigh?

Now available in black

This is the change a lot of customers have been asking for. The 5100 is now available with a black track as standard, alongside the original white. The motor housing on the end of the track stays white, which in practice doesn't matter because the curtain hangs in front of it and hides it from view. The long aluminium track itself is finished in deep matte black (RAL 9005). It looks fantastic against dark walls, against panelled rooms, against industrial and warehouse style interiors, and anywhere a white track would have stood out for the wrong reasons.

You choose the colour in the configurator on the product page. There is no extra charge for black. If you would like to see what the black track actually looks like before you commit, click the help icon next to the colour selector and you will get the official Silent Gliss product photos.

Silent Gliss also offer the new 5100 in an anodised aluminium finish, but we are not currently stocking that option. If you specifically need anodised, get in touch and we will see what we can do.

Same motor, same controls, same warranty

This is important: nothing has changed about the motor or the control system. The 5100 still comes in the same four variants you already know:

• 5100 B with the wireless wall button
• 5100 R with the infrared remote control
• 5100 T with the timer remote
• 5100 TC with the touch control panel

The motor is the same proven 5100 motor that has been running in homes for years. The 5 year Silent Gliss warranty still applies. Spares, replacement remotes, batteries and gliders all work the same way they always have. If you already own a 5100 and you are adding a second one to another room, the controls will be familiar from day one.

Pricing is unchanged for existing sizes

One of the first questions we asked Silent Gliss when this update landed was whether the new track meant a price increase. The answer was no. The 2026 price book is unchanged for every existing size, and the new lengths between 6 and 9 metres are added at the same per metre rate. So you are getting a heavier duty track, a longer maximum span, and a new colour option, for the same money you would have paid last month.

Should you wait, or order now?

If you have a 5100 on order already, nothing changes. Silent Gliss have switched production over to the new track immediately, so any new order placed today will arrive built on the new profile. There is no waiting list and no delay. The changeover has already happened.

If you have been holding off because you needed a longer track, a heavier weight capacity, or a black finish, this is the update that unblocks you. Head over to the Autoglide 5100 product page, build your spec in the configurator, and you will see your exact price in seconds.

If you are not sure whether the 5100 or the 5600 is the right choice for your project, our comparison page shows them side by side, or you can drop us a line and we will talk you through it.