GE Executive Joins Vuzix Board of Directors

1 June 2016 – Vuzix, a leading supplier of video eyewear and smart glasses products for consumer and enterprise markets, today announced that Paul Boris (above) has joined its board of directors.

"Paul's addition to the Vuzix Board of Directors supports our plans to grow our business and coincides with the launch of our next generation Smart Glasses products. He is a leader in his field and we are thrilled to welcome him to our board," said Vuzix Corporation's President and CEO Paul Travers.

Mr. Boris, currently Head of Manufacturing Industries for GE Digital, has driven digital transformation within industrial operations for decades. In the mid-90's, he led the trend of deployment of technology within manufacturing as a senior consultant with one of the world's largest manufacturing integration firms. He was the  force behind the Perfect Plant initiatives at SAP and as CIO of Advanced Manufacturing Strategy for GE, has focused on driving GE's innovative factory strategy to increase productivity and deliver asset and operations optimization. His extensive experience in driving industry initiatives and as a senior contributor at several Fortune 100 companies makes him an ideal candidate to join the Vuzix board.

"With Paul and the recent addition of another new member, Edward Kay, we have a strong advisory team to take us into the next phase of our company's development," Mr. Travers continued.

Source: Vuzix

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Uses PTC’s ThingWorx for Smart Service Across the Globe

25 May 2016 – PTC today announced Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), a major provider to the global printing industry, has selected and is using ThingWorx technology to remotely monitor and service more than 25,000 printing devices and software modules, resulting in significant improvements in service delivery and customer satisfaction.

Heidelberg produces highly-automated, and versatile high-tech machines in Germany and manufactures high-quality components in China. Heidelberg has approximately 40 percent of its sales derived from services, consumables, and parts.

Heidelberg knows that even a small defective part or a simple software error is enough to bring a printing press to a halt and with it the mass production of newspapers, books, posters, or packaging. Recognizing the high importance of product up-time for its customers’ mission-critical businesses, as well as for its own competitive differentiation, Heidelberg undertook an exhaustive due-diligence process, investigating a wide variety of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.

The ThingWorx platform was selected for its connectivity, security, and completeness. Today, Heidelberg Remote Service, based on ThingWorx technology, is used in 50 countries with as many as 3,000 remote sessions per month. Heidelberg is able to resolve over 70 percent of all issues remotely, keeping costs low and customer satisfaction high.

“We have successfully connected over 10,000 machines and 15,000 systems with the new solution and as the global leader in our market, we can give our customers excellent support,” said Uwe Galm, vice president, system service and head of operations, Heidelberg (above). “With the ThingWorx platform, ongoing consultation as needed, and regular function and security updates through PTC Cloud Services, we are well positioned for the future.”

“The ThingWorx technology enables forward-looking companies like Heidelberg to iteratively innovate business processes – and to do so significantly faster than conventional methods and tools, thus accelerating time to value,” said Rob Gremley, president, technology platform group, PTC (left). “Heidelberg’s progressive strategy and vision to transform its remote service business and processes will help promote future success. We look forward to working with Heidelberg to help drive business value in the emerging IoT market."

Heidelberg has approximately 12,500 employees across the globe and serves customers in 170 countries.

Source: PTC