Strategy in TECH...
Allterco Robotics, a global high-tech manufacturer of simple yet sophisticated Internet of Things (IoT) devices, offers a line of home automation tools and solutions they sell under the Shelly brand name. While there are a lot of “black box” type solutions on the market today, don’t be fooled – Shelly devices contain world-class technology, expansive capabilities, and broad compatibility with major control brands.
Emerald Holding Inc., [NYSE:EEX] parent company to Emerald Expositions, which itself is the parent company of CEDIA Expo, and CE Pro (and other former EH Publishing properties) announced this morning their financial results for both their fourth quarter and full year, fiscal 2021. As the company has begun to restart their live in-person events, they reported a revenue gain over fiscal 2020 – a year of almost total lockdown and the absence of live events.
But the gain seems surprisingly small.
The Biden Administration announced on Tuesday a comprehensive public/private mining initiative that is designed to boost the local supply of essential minerals. These minerals are required in a wide range of strategic products and the administration’s new programs will achieve several goals: they will use new technology to boost the mining of the minerals in new areas of the country, create a large number of good-paying American jobs, and reduce our reliance on China. What looks to be a savvy program, this new initiative partners with key American companies to improve the U.S.’s supply chain structure in order to make it more robust to “build a future that’s made in America.”
If you try to go to the website of Exogal, a high-end digital electronics manufacturer, you’ll end up at a YouTube video titled, “If you’re watching this, we’re dead.” The video consists of Exogal CEO Jeff Haagenstad looking directly into the camera and explaining to viewers that the company has died..and why that happened. It’s a cautionary tale for all manufacturers who are universally buffeted by supply chain issues – especially the worldwide, multi-industry chip shortage.
Crestron Electronics, one of the industry’s leading control and automation system manufacturers, announced today that they are making a major push into the lighting segment – especially within the realm of what is generally known as human-centric lighting (HCL). Their new line of LED Light Fixtures not only contemporizes their lighting offerings to today’s standards – but I believe that they take the lead with an exciting and futuristic new capability known as Solar Sync™.
Onkyo Home Entertainment Company Ltd. (formerly Onkyo Corp.) has announced that two of its consolidated subsidiaries will cease operations and file for bankruptcy. It is yet another dramatic development in the company’s effort to stop the bleeding and stabilize the company. But substantial concerns exist about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Crestron Electronics announced today that it is launching two new audio products, both part of its successful Crestron HOME residential line-up. The addition of these new models – an in-wall subwoofer developed in conjunction with partner Origin Acoustics, and a new DM NAX 4-zone streaming pre-amp – demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to further expanding their residential business.
Sound United, LLC, one of the audio industry’s leading providers of high-quality branded electronics and loudspeaker products, announced late Wednesday that it is being acquired by Masimo Corporation, a global provider of medical products, in a deal valued at $1.025 billion. The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement in a transaction that is expected to close later in 2022.
Last week, I updated the story of the Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) factory fire that destroyed one of the world’s largest fabs producing semiconductors, particularly LSIs (large-scale integrated circuits) for digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) widely used in audio for consumer, pro, and commercial applications. [See post: AKM Fire Update: Co. Makes Progress, Interim Solution Shows Promise] At the time I was working on that report, I reached out to AKM for comment on what I was learning from my sources, but did not receive a reply by the time the story was posted.
This morning, AKM responded to my request…
Sonos Inc. released the results for their fiscal 2022 first quarter on Wednesday and the results were mostly mixed. While a quarterly revenue record was set, net earnings dropped. CEO Patrick Spence called it “an excellent quarter, with record-setting revenue” but the tone of the company’s management seemed slightly more muted on a conference call with financial analysts as compared to previous such events. Perhaps this was because their financial performance was slightly more muted as compared to past quarters.
