Nortek Launches New "Core Brands" Group

Providence, RI, August 27, 2012 – Nortek, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTK), a global diversified company with leading brands and innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for residential and commercial applications, today announced the formation of Core Brands, a new group that combines the product and marketing strengths of 10 of the company’s formerly independent audio, power management and control brands operating within its Technology Solutions segment.

Including Nortek’s Aton®, BlueBOLT®, Elan®, Furman®, Niles®, Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands, Core Brands has more than 190 years of combined experience in the residential, commercial and professional markets and over 4,300 direct customer accounts in multiple distribution channels in the U.S. and worldwide.

Core Brands will be based in Petaluma, Calif., with offices in Carlsbad and Riverside, Calif., and Marblehead, Mass. Bill Pollock, who has served as president of Panamax, will lead Core Brands. Dave Keller, vice president of sales and marketing for Panamax/Furman, will handle worldwide sales. Keith Marshall, president of SpeakerCraft/Proficient, will be in charge of channel management, and Paul Starkey, president of Elan, will lead marketing for all brands.

“The formation of Core Brands reflects the strategic refocusing currently taking place as we pursue new markets and new opportunities to serve our dealers, channel partners and end users,” said Nortek President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Clarke. “We expect that combining the unique capabilities of each of these 10 formidable brands will deliver new and powerful benefits they can only achieve as a group.”

“Operating as Core Brands will enable us to leverage economies of scale while strengthening our ability to invest in launching innovative technologies and a range of new marketing programs designed to increase the value, clarity and acceptance of each brand,” said Sean Burke, group president of Nortek’s Technology Solutions segment. “In addition, combining these market leading brands will allow us to deliver more localized and responsive factory training and product support expertise. These initiatives should position the brands not only to improve their business performance, but also to increase their penetration of un-served and underserved market segments during a period of generally improving business conditions in their respective distribution channels.”

About Nortek

Nortek* is a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. The Company’s broad array of offerings includes audio/video and security solutions, digital display mounting solutions, ventilation products such as range hoods and bathroom fans, heating and cooling products, and air management systems.

*As used herein, the term "Nortek" refers to Nortek, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.  This term is used for convenience only and is not intended as a precise description of any of the separate corporations, each of which manages its own affairs.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "feel," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "project," "should," or "would" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on Nortek's current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors impacting such forward-looking statements include the availability and cost of certain raw materials (including, among others, steel, copper, packaging materials, plastics, resins, glass, wood and aluminum) and purchased components, freight costs, the level of domestic and foreign construction and remodeling activity affecting residential and commercial markets, interest rates, employment levels, inflation, foreign currency fluctuations, consumer spending levels, exposure to foreign economies, the rate of sales growth, prices, and product and warranty liability claims. Nortek undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please refer to the reports and filings of Nortek with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the description of "risk factors" set forth under IA in our annual report on Form 10-K, as updated on subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

NanoLumens To Participate In Upcoming Almo Professional E4 AV Events In Dallas And New York

NanoLumens®, the pioneering Norcross, Georgia-based company that introduced the world to large format flexible LED display technology, will again team up with Almo Professional A/V, the nation’s fastest growing audiovisual distributor, at the upcoming E4 AV training and networking events in Dallas on September 13 and New York on October 3, 2012. An overview of the Almo Pro A/V E4 tour can be viewed here.

According to NanoLumens’ VP of sales, Dana Michaelis, NanoLumens will showcase its NanoFlex™ 112” and NanoSlim™ 114” LED displays at both events. “NanoLumens looks forward to participating in the Almo E4 A/V events this fall,” Michaelis said today. “Exhibiting at the spring events provided us with a strategic opportunity to take our displays out into key markets, and we are eager to reach even more installers and end-users at these new stops.”

“NanoLumens has been an excellent addition to our E4 event – the technology is so unique that it always draws a tremendous amount of interest,” explained Melody Craigmyle, VP of marketing for Almo Professional A/V. “Attending E4 partners have a special opportunity to learn more about how the NanoLumens products can be designed into any shape or size and to the exact specifications of their digital signage and rental and staging installs. This keeps our partners competitive and makes what they can offer their customers, in terms of displays, truly limitless."

The NanoLumens NanoFlex will be showcased in a 112” model of the lightweight LED display that can be elegantly curved and wrapped around contoured walls and structures to meet the specific needs of any environment, including corporate lobbies, high-end retail stores, stadiums, and anywhere else digital signage is needed.
 
NanoLumens will also feature a 114” model of its NanoSlim display, which is designed to provide a sleek digital signage solution for even the most discerning clientele. NanoLumens uses their patented technology to build beautiful, thin, lightweight large format LED display solutions unlike anything in the display market today. Available in 6mm, 5mm, and 4mm pixel pitches, the displays offer customers a more cost-effective alternative when flexibility is not a requirement.

NanoLumens displays are extremely slim, ultra-lightweight, energy efficient, and feature a seamless, edge-to-edge picture quality that can be viewed from any angle or any distance without color shift or picture drop-off. The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitch (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment.
 
NanoLumens displays are designed and engineered with the environment in mind, and consume significantly less energy per square foot than conventional digital displays. Further emphasizing their commitment to eco-friendly technology, NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50 percent reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable.  What’s more, some NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.  

Designed and assembled in the United States, NanoLumens displays are offered in standard configurations as well as design-specific configurations to fit virtually any size, shape or curvature in both the NanoFlex line of flexible displays and the NanoSlim line of fixed frame displays.
 
The company’s technology has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and was cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards.  NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards. Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

The E4 Dallas event will take place on Thursday, September 13 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas while the E4 New York event is on October 3 at the Meadowlands Expo Center. Both events will run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are entirely free, including parking, to Almo Pro A/V’s reseller, integrator and consultant partners. To register, go to www.e4avtour.com.

The E4 AV program can be accessed on demand during and after each event for instructor videos, copies of the course presentations and live Twitter updates.

About Almo Professional A/V’s E4 AV Tour

Launched in December 2009, The E4 AV tour is a free, full-day program with an intense educational focus that allows partners to earn valuable InfoComm International CTS RUs while networking with the industry’s top manufacturers. For more information, go to www.e4avtour.com.

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry. Since its founding in 2006, NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the weight, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

ELAN® Makes g! Even Easier To Install With New Remote Professional Programming Service

Expanding its commitment to provide dealers with all the tools they need to perfect every ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System installation, ELAN Home Systems today launched a new service that offers remote system programming by highly experienced ELAN programming professionals. According to ELAN Brand Manager Robert Ridenour, the new Remote Programming Service gives dealers more time to complete installations, helps to ensure that every g! system works flawlessly, eases the staff requirements to manage an installation company, and frees dealers to sell more g! systems.

“Our new Remote Programming Service provides a major benefit for new ELAN dealers, smaller installation companies, or any company that is very busy and needs to offload the programming of an ELAN g! system to help manage their time,” Ridenour said. “By offering full programming by highly experienced professionals who can program and troubleshoot systems quickly and efficiently, we are adding another best-in-the-industry dealer support feature.”

To purchase professional programming assistance, all an ELAN dealer needs to do is log into the dealer portal on the new ELAN web site, www.elanhomesystems.com, fill out an application form with specific system info, receive a quote, prepay for the service, and schedule a time for the programming to occur. The application can be completed in less than 10 minutes.

By eliminating or reducing programming requirements, ELAN is giving dealers more time to focus on growing their business with more sales and more installations. New dealers, prospective dealers, and growing dealers who utilize this invaluable tool gain a distinct competitive advantage over competing dealers and competing control systems.

“We’ve made the process as simple as possible for our dealers so they can sign up for programming, and then get back to selling and installing g! systems,” Ridenour said. “Whether it’s a simple multi-zone audio system in an apartment or a fully integrated entertainment and control solution in a 30,000 square foot home, our programming professionals have the knowledge and experience to efficiently program the system and save the dealer time and frustration.”

The standard programming service includes everything necessary to fully program a g! system, and the time required varies by the size and complexity of the installation as well as any optional programming services requested. The price for ELAN’s programming service is $100 per hour, which is comparable with market rates. And when the programming is done, the dealer is given full control of the code so they can make changes and additions in the future, and retain control of their clients’ experience without having to return to the ELAN programming service.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole house" solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

Niles GeoRealistic Pro Series Rock Speakers Awarded 2012 EXC!TE Award By CustomRetailer Magazine

Niles® today announced that its new GeoRealistic™ Pro Series Rock Speakers have been named a 2012 EXC!TE Award winner by CustomRetailer Magazine. The award will be presented to Niles on Sept. 6 at the 2012 EXC!TE Awards Party at CEDIA EXPO 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

According to Niles’ Chief Marketing Officer Paul Starkey, “Niles continues to lead the custom installation industry in product quality, selection and dealer support.  We’re proud to have Niles’ new GeoRealistic Pro Series Rock Speakers recognized by CustomRetailer Magazine for their outstanding sound, weather resistance and color selection.  For discrete outdoor audio installations in both residential and commercial settings, the Pro Series delivers above and beyond expectations year-round.”

CustomRetailer Magazine presents its annual EXC!TE Awards to the best product  s available to the industry. Each year, CustomRetailer invites nominations of products that stand out for being innovative, high-performing and solutions-oriented for the custom installation professional. Past winners stand out as particularly impressive, considering the unique challenges custom installers face every day on the job. The impact these products have had on the industry is felt in the installers' productivity, the dealers' profitability, the clients' satisfaction and the industry's vitality.

 

Engineered with a focus on durability, and designed to deliver an audiophile-quality performance in any outdoor setting, the GeoRealistic™ Pro Series is the next generation of high fidelity outdoor speakers. Featuring a new NoFade™ Protective Finish and four-layer fiberglass weave, the Pro Series speakers are built in a case strong enough to stand up to anything that Mother Nature can deliver, and are at least five times more durable and long-lasting than the current model of rock speakers, making them the perfect audio solution for any outdoor area. 

About Niles®:

California-based Niles® is recognized as The First Name in Custom Installation®. Niles is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of audio/video custom installation products and accessories and is guided by its vision to be the world’s leading provider of products and services that enable professional custom installers to design and install systems that delight their customers. To that end, Niles pursues a mission to provide solutions for end users that enable simple access to home entertainment and that integrate seamlessly with other low voltage subsystems like lighting, Internet, security and HVAC in residential and light commercial environments. Niles conducts its business with a promise to treat its customers, employees, suppliers and stakeholders with fairness and respect and to foster teamwork, innovation and a commitment to be the best in everything it does. Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.nilesaudio.com.

Sunfire HRSIW8 In-Wall Subwoofer Awarded 2012 EXC!TE Award By CustomRetailer Magazine

 Sunfire®, a specialist in the design, manufacturing and marketing of luxury home theater audio products, today announced its HRSIW8 in-wall subwoofer has been named a 2012 EXC!TE Award winner by CustomRetailer Magazine. The award will be presented to Sunfire on Sept. 6 at the 2012 EXC!TE Awards Party at CEDIA EXPO 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

According to Paul Starkey, Sunfire’s Chief Marketing Officer, “Sunfire continues to innovate and prove that it is the premier maker of audiophile-quality home theater speakers and subwoofers.  Our groundbreaking in-wall subwoofers feature Sunfire’s patented StillBass™ anti-shake technology, so no other manufacturer can match the discrete installation profile and incredible sound quality of the HRSIW8.”

CustomRetailer Magazine presents its annual EXC!TE Awards to the best product  s available to the industry. Each year, CustomRetailer invites nominations of products that stand out for being innovative, high-performing and solutions-oriented for the custom installation professional. Past winners stand out as particularly impressive, considering the unique challenges custom installers face every day on the job. The impact these products have had on the industry is felt in the installers' productivity, the dealers' profitability, the clients' satisfaction and the industry's vitality.

The Sunfire HRSIW8 is an in-wall dual-driver 8” subwoofer that features the brand’s patented Stillbass™ anti-shake technology that virtually eliminates mechanical vibration, improving bass definition while helping to contain the bass to the room in which it is mounted.  The Stillbass technology, coupled with Sunfire’s trademark High Back-emf designed woofers, helps provide pounding audiophile-grade bass from a subwoofer that easily retrofits into a standard 16” on-center stud bay.

The HRSIW8’s external rack-mount amplifier is an evolution of the Sunfire digital amplifier used in the company’s SDS subwoofer line.  Using Sunfire’s Frequency Filtration Design (FFD) for high fidelity bass, the amp delivers 520W of power with near zero distortion. A wide range of filtering adjustments are included as well as DSP with room equalization and a remote control that provides one-touch access to preset equalizer modes.

The continuing “Science of Sunfire” is the direct result of a design philosophy originally pioneered by Bob Carver that has become codified by the brand. This unique approach to design has resulted in amazingly compact high performance subwoofers that combine the best electronics and acoustics with specialized, premium materials to exemplify the mantra of “small form, high fidelity with high output and reliability”. 

About Sunfire:

Founded by renowned audio innovator Bob Carver, Sunfire designs, develops, manufactures and markets the smallest, most powerful speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers in the world.  Sold in over 65 countries, Sunfire combines unconventional thinking with precision engineering to create innovative audio products that deliver exceptional performance – whenever, and wherever, they are heard.  Carver’s forty years of scientific research has resulted in numerous patents including the Tracking Downconverter™ power supply used in the company’s subwoofers and amplifiers; and High Pressure, High Back-emf technology found in the company’s loudspeakers.  Complete information on Sunfire, its products and technology, is readily available at www.sunfire.com.

Xantech XtraLink Infrared-Over-Coax Kits Awarded 2012 EXC!TE Award By CustomRetailer Magazine

Xantech, a leader in the field of audio/video remote control and distribution for 40 years, today was named a 2012 EXC!TE Award winner by CustomRetailer Magazine for its new XtraLink infrared-over-coax kits, designed to allow remote control operation of a satellite receiver, cable box, DVD player or other device from a second room using existing coaxial cabling. The award will be presented to Xantech on Sept. 6 at the 2012 EXC!TE Awards Party at CEDIA EXPO 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  

“We designed our new XtraLink IR-over-coax kits with contractors and system integrators in mind,” said Paul Starkey, Chief Marketing Officer of Xantech. “As more look toward expanding their business into residential installations, the use of existing cable makes everyone’s lives easier, including the end user. We are very proud to have the new IR-over-coax kits named as an EXC!TE award winner.”

CustomRetailer Magazine presents its annual EXC!TE Awards to the best products available to the industry. Each year, CustomRetailer invites nominations of products that stand out for being innovative, high-performing and solutions-oriented for the custom installation professional. Past winners stand out as particularly impressive, considering the unique challenges custom installers face every day on the job. The impact these products have had on the industry is felt in the installers' productivity, the dealers' profitability, the clients' satisfaction and the industry's vitality.

Introduced in response to the growing residential market and with input from contractors and system integrators, the new XtraLink kits allow IR remote control functionality to be implemented over previously installed coax cabling without impacting the cable and antenna TV signals currently being carried, and without the need to install additional cable runs.

The DL85CK DinkyLink Coax IR – Surface Mount and HL85CK Hiddenlink Coax IR –Table Top kits each include an injector, which introduces the IR signal into the existing coax cable, and a coupler that interfaces between the coax cable and the device being controlled. Each kit, which take only minutes to install without the need for tools, also includes Xantech’s best-selling, Hall of Fame Dinkylink surface-mount IR receiver, IR emitters, power supply and coax jumper cables.

For installations that require IR-over-coax remote control to more than one room, Xantech is also introducing the DL85CX Dinky Link Coax Expansion Kit and HL85CX Hidden Link Coax Expansion Kit. Each kit includes an IR receiver, injector, power supply and coax jumper cable for use in conjunction with a standard DinkyLink or Hiddenlink Coax IR Kit as appropriate.

About Xantech:

Xantech designs and manufactures an extensive range of audio, video and control products and systems, many of which have become de facto industry standards. Xantech IR products are specified into more audio/video installations than any other brand. Xantech also supplies hi-definition HDMI video solutions, touch-panels and IP control systems for residential and commercial applications, multi-room audio/video systems, audio source components and processors, and software programming tools.

Products are sold to professional installers and distributors directly from Xantech. Xantech’s products are marketed in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. For additional information about Xantech and its innovative products, please visit www.xantech.com.

ELAN VL10 Valet Color LCD Touch Screen Awarded 2012 EXC!TE Award by CustomRetailer Magazine

ELAN® Home Systems today announced that its new VL10 Valet touch screen interface for the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System has been named a 2012 EXC!TE Award winner by CustomRetailer Magazine. The award will be presented to ELAN on Sept. 6 at the 2012 EXC!TE Awards Party at CEDIA Expo 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  

“It’s thrilling to have our new VL10 Valet recognized by CustomRetailer,” said Paul Starkey, ELAN‘s Chief Marketing Officer. “The VL10 provides our custom installation dealers, consumers and commercial customers with a convenient, always-on user interface that is perfect for use in homes, board rooms and bars. It features ELAN’s user-friendly ‘touch and swipe’ design and is an ideal control solution for kitchens and bedside tables, where it can double as a TV thanks to the included analog video input.”

CustomRetailer Magazine presents its annual EXC!TE Awards to the best products available to the industry. Each year, CustomRetailer invites nominations of products that stand out for being innovative, high-performing and solutions-oriented for the custom installation professional. Past winners stand out as particularly impressive, considering the unique challenges custom installers face every day on the job. The impact these products have had on the industry is felt in the installers' productivity, the dealers' profitability, the clients' satisfaction and the industry's vitality.

The new ELAN VL10 Valet features a 16:9 wide screen format, a built-in speaker and microphone for messaging, simple IP connectivity for communication, non-volatile flash memory, quick & easy programming, a screen saver mode that can display photos and it is compatible with all ELAN system controllers.

The g! family of interfaces is ELAN’s breakthrough series of touchscreen devices and applications that put total entertainment and control right at a consumer’s fingertips. No matter what is being controlled – the home, office, restaurant & bar, conference room or classroom — this exciting group of g! interfaces enable users to control everything in a fast, powerful, and most importantly, intuitive way. Each one of ELAN’s tabletop, handheld, mobile and in-wall interfaces has the uniform g! look and feel, creating a consistent user experience that is both familiar and satisfying. Users simply touch one of the fun g! interface icons and have immediate control of their media, lighting, climate, security, video and much more.

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use "whole house" solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

Scarlett Osborn Takes Over The IBIS BAY Fun Desk!

Key West’s truly unique resort, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort, is proud to announce that Key West-native Scarlett Osborn is taking over the resort’s Fun Desk, where visitors and locals can get the inside scoop on the best local beaches, adventures, activities, restaurants, shops, bar crawls and fishing expeditions.  One of the biggest benefits is that locals with visitors in town can now plan a fun-filled day or week no matter what types of things their visitors love to do!

“I love Key West, and I want every guest to have the best Key West experience possible,” said Osborn. “I’ve spent most of my life here and I want to share the best the island has to offer with as many people as I can.  Even though it’s located in the IBIS BAY lobby, the Fun Desk is open to everyone, not just guests staying at the resort.  Everyone on the island can find the most up-to-date info and best prices for everything in Key West at the IBIS BAY Fun Desk!  All they have to do is tell me what types of things they like to do, and I can arrange a day full of fun for thrill-seekers, shopaholics, foodies, fishermen or families!”

With new Fun Desk activity packages specially designed for different personality types, Osborn has made it quick and easy for locals and travelers to plan and book their adventures and experience Key West.  Located in the main lobby of the popular new IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort on North Roosevelt Boulevard, the Fun Desk brings together all the best attractions of Key West, saving travelers time and money by offering them everything they could want all in one place.  With a quick stop by the Fun Desk, it’s easy to book and schedule activities and then get on with enjoying everything the island has to offer.  IBIS BAY has also launched a new second location for the Fun Desk right on the beach outside the resort!

The full list of activities, packages, and specials can be found at www.ibisbayresort.com/attractions, and visitors can book in advance by calling the Fun Desk at (305) 296-0616.

Scarlett Osborn grew up swimming, snorkeling, free diving and spear fishing on the island and she brings her love of Key West's aquatic lifestyle to her work at the Fundesk.  This was also the inspiration for Scarlett's own SOS line of designer swimwear which is now on sale at the IBIS BAY gift shop. Osborn’s SOS label will hold fashion shows at IBIS BAY to support local causes such as the Kevin Piper, Jr. Foundation.  She’s also active in the Key West economy, making sure the IBIS BAY gift shop will soon offer more local items such as hot sauces from Peppers of Key West. 

“I want to help stimulate the Key West economy,” Osborn added, “so I’m bringing more local items to the IBIS BAY gift shop and getting people excited about all the great nightlife, restaurants, shops, tours and watersports that make Key west so special!.”

IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort is known for having fun and original attractions such as Mixed Martial Arts Fight Nights, Thursday night Dive-In movies on the poolside movie screen, hosting performers during the Key West Songwriter’s Festival and holding fashion shows for local designers. 

About IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort:

IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort (www.ibisbayresort.com) embodies the very best of Key West and offers guests a vacation experience like no other. With a full deck of options for active adventure-seekers, Hemingway buffs, or travelers who want to fit in with the locals, there is something special for every guest. Featuring classic Key West architecture and design, 600 feet of beautiful private beach, a 20-foot poolside movie screen for outdoor movie nights and the Stoned Crab restaurant, IBIS BAY Waterfront Resort is more than a resort—it’s a destination.

David Yurman Celebrates New Fall Line With The Help of a NanoLumens® NanoFlex Display

When high-end jewelry designer David Yurman introduces its new line of jewelry, it requires a launch party that is as glamorous as its products. When the company asked Coloredge, their visual communications provider, to find a video display for a roof-top celebration in New York City, they decided to use a NanoLumens® display to help kick off the fall line.  NanoLumens, the pioneering Norcross, Georgia-based company that introduced the world’s first large format flexible LED display technology, provided Coloredge with a NanoFlex™ display that was used to showcase the jeweler’s new Fall 2012 ad campaign.

According to Kerry Fitzgibbons, Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Recruiting at Coloredge, they found everything they were looking for in NanoLumens. “Our client tasked us with finding a video display that could shine bright against the brilliant sunset over the New York City skyline. After doing some research, we decided that a display created by NanoLumens was the ideal solution. Not only are their displays beautiful and economic, but they provide a clear, seamless picture that maintains its radiance, regardless of the ambient light.”

Coloredge found that the lightness and flexibility of the NanoLumens screen was the perfect technology for the sparkling event. They rigged the display on trusses and built a 12-foot by 12-foot custom frame to enclose the NanoFlex. The display was used throughout the night to display David Yurman’s new ad campaign, the brand guide, behind-the-scenes glimpses into the ad campaign, and a photo slideshow.

“To have a NanoLumens display featured at a David Yurman event only makes sense,” said Will Amos, Director of Retail Sales at NanoLumens. “David Yurman represents the best in high-end jewelry, while NanoLumens represents the best in digital display technology, so this was a perfect match. Our displays are easy to set up, and are able to produce a brightness of up to 5,000 nits, making it so that party-goers can enjoy our unmatched picture quality even when set against the backdrop of an amazing sunset.”

NanoLumens displays are extremely slim, ultra-lightweight, energy efficient, and feature a seamless, edge-to-edge picture quality (up to a brightness of 5,000 nits) that can be viewed from any angle or any distance without color shift or picture drop-off. The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitch (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment.

NanoLumens displays are designed and engineered with the environment in mind, and consume significantly less energy per square foot than conventional digital displays. Further emphasizing their commitment to eco-friendly technology, NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50 percent reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable.  What’s more, some NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

Designed and assembled in the United States, NanoLumens displays are offered in standard configurations as well as design-specific configurations to fit virtually any size, shape or curvature in both the NanoFlex line of flexible displays and the NanoSlim line of fixed frame displays.

The company’s technology has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and was cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards.  NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”

About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry.  Since its founding in 2006, NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the weight, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

Three Niles Product Lines Selected As Finalists In The 2012 Resi Award Program

Niles®, The First Name In Custom Installation®, today announced that three of its new speaker product lines have received the distinction of being selected as finalists in the 2012 RESI Award Program, hosted by New Bay Media’s Residential Systems magazine. The Niles CM Ceiling Mount Architectural Loudspeakers, Niles SW Compact Subwoofers, and the Niles GeoRealistic Pro Series Rock Speakers were all chosen as finalists in the categories of Speakers (In-Wall), Speakers (Compact), and Speakers (Floorstanding), respectively.

"Niles has a longstanding history of designing award-winning products, the kind of products that translate directly and immediately into successful CI products for our dealers, and it is an honor to see that legacy continue in this year’s RESI AWARD Program," said Paul Starkey, Niles’ Chief Marketing Officer.  "The CM Speakers, Compact Subwoofers and RS Pro Series are three amazing new product lines, and what better way to launch them into the market than with this recognition from Residential Systems.”

Each year, Residential Systems magazine presents the prestigious Resi Awards to honor the best products exhibited at CEDIA EXPO, based on their industrial design. This year, the final winners will be announced at a special reception, to be held on September 5, 2012 in Room 205 of the Indiana Convention Center.

“Year after year I’m astounded by the attention to detail and artistry of the products submitted for Resi Awards recognition, and this year’s finalists are some of the best yet,” stated Residential Systems editorial director Jeremy Glowacki.

The Niles CM Architectural Loudspeakers feature thin-bezel and ultra-low profiles for a crisp, clean finish, and the magnetically-attached grilles greatly reduce installation time. The grilles are rust-resistant, eliminating service calls for loudspeakers installed in moisture-prone areas such as saunas, bathrooms and even outdoors under eaves. Niles’ patent-pending spring-loaded mounting clamps compensate for a number of environmental conditions that would cause the mounting surface for the new CM series to expand or contract, such as high heat and humidity. All speakers in the line feature the same premium components found in Niles’ DS Directed Soundfield series including copper caps, high-level crossovers and Kapton voice coil formers to deliver the exceptional sonic performance expected from Niles loudspeakers.

Engineered with designers in mind, the Niles SW6.5 and SW8 Compact Subwoofers feature ultra-compact size and fingerprint-resistant piano-black finishes that present an aesthetically pleasing profile that is easy to blend into any décor.  Pairing a long-throw front-firing woofer with dual long-throw side-mounted passive radiators, the compact subwoofers deliver the power of subwoofers four times their size, making them perfect for any setup requiring more bass in less space.

Featuring Niles’ signature rugged design and long-lasting materials, the Niles GeoRealistic™ Pro Series Rock Speakers are engineered to deliver the highest quality audio fidelity and weather any outdoor climate. Thanks to a new NoFade™ Protective Finish and four-layer fiberglass weave, the GeoRealistic™ Pro Series speakers are built for extreme temperatures. The speakers are able to withstand temperature ranges from -50°F to 185°F (-45° to 85° Celsius), allowing consumers the luxury of being able to leave their speakers out all summer long without having to worry about the heat.

About Niles®:

California-based Niles® is recognized as The First Name in Custom Installation®.  Niles is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of audio/video custom installation products and accessories and is guided by its vision to be the world’s leading provider of products and services that enable professional custom installers to design and install systems that delight their customers. To that end, Niles pursues a mission to provide solutions for end users that enable simple and easy access to home entertainment and that integrate seamlessly with other low voltage subsystems like lighting, Internet, security and HVAC in residential and light commercial environments. Niles conducts its business with a promise to treat its customers, employees, suppliers and stakeholders with fairness and respect and to foster teamwork, innovation and a commitment to be the best in everything it does. Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.nilesaudio.com.

Busy New Jersey Integrator Updates Restaurant From Old Control System to ELAN g! In A Single Day!

After the owners of the New Jersey-based restaurant group Delicious Heights learned how much easier it was to manage their restaurant’s audio and video with the ELAN® g! Entertainment and Control System in one restaurant, they decided to upgrade their Berkeley Heights, N.J. flagship location from their original AMX system to ELAN g!  What’s more, and because everyday counts in the restaurant business, it was of the utmost importance that the g! system be online right away without disrupting a single hour of business operations.

Cue the custom installation pros at Maplewood, New Jersey-based 360 Media Innovations, who worked through the night from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. one recent Monday morning and had the new g! system up and running on the first day!

“It was nerve-wrecking, but also exciting, to see if we could get the system changed over in a single night,” said Abiose Gale, co-owner of 360 Media Innovations.  “The restaurant owners needed it to be a smooth transition so the guests wouldn’t even know anything changed. It took some hard work and quick fingers, but we got the old AMX system out and the new ELAN g! system installed, programmed and running in less than 10 hours.  We couldn’t have done that with any other control system.”

Owners of older control systems in both commercial and residential locations can benefit from the long list of third-party components that integrate with the g! system, which allows them to keep using much of their existing equipment and lowers the overall cost of installation.  The complete installation by 360 Media Innovations, which was performed throughout construction of the renovation, included installation of new amplifiers, indoor TVs, two 55” Sunbrite outdoor LCD TVs, 27 surveillance cameras, an ELAN TS10 touch screen, and the programming for every interface device.

Alex Rubinstein, co-owner of Delicious Heights, was impressed at how much simpler it is to operate the new ELAN g! system than other control systems he’s used.  “We have 18 TVs showing 7 live sources and eight audio zones that can play five sources, so there’s the potential for it to get complicated.  But with ELAN g! it is always clear and easy to see what is playing on each TV and audio zone, and just as easy to change the channel or the source.  When a guest asks to raise the volume or change the channel, they’re always blown away that our managers can simply pull out an iPhone and hit a couple buttons.  And now we can easily log in to both locations from our iPhones to check on the restaurants when we’re home or on the road.  Add that to the fact it was more affordable than almost every other control system, and ELAN g! is the clear winner.”

The switch to ELAN g! was coincident with an expansion of the restaurant that added a 24-seat private dining room with two wall-mounted 37” Panasonic LCD TVs as well as room for 3 additional tables, eight feet of bar space, one POS terminal and one new Samsung thin-bezel 37” LCD TV all in the main bar area.  The private dining room even has its own iPod dock and VGA input so private parties can show videos on the TVs and listen to music from their own iPods or iPhones!

According to Carl Sciarrone, the project manager for renovations at both restaurant locations, 360 Media Innovations and ELAN g! were his only choice for the second location.  “After working with 360 and seeing what they could do with the ELAN g! system, I knew we’d be working together again soon.  Having the same system at both locations is ideal, because the owners can easily monitor everything from their iPhones. I can definitely see them integrating the lighting, security and HVAC in the future.”

The restaurant’s ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System includes an ELAN TS10 touch screen at the main bar, iPhone and iPad control, and one point-of-sale terminal (POS) with the g! control interface.  Each interface device provides a live video preview function that lets the user see what is currently playing on each video source, in real time, before sending the signal to a TV.  This makes it easy for the manager to change to the right video source the first time, every time.

The system uses the ELAN HC6 Controller, two ELAN S86P Multi-Zone Audio Controllers, an ELAN DT11 Tuner and four Crown amplifiers.  The media sources include six DirecTV feeds, a Comcast Cable feed, a DVD/VCR combo, am/fm radio, SIRIUS|XM® satellite radio, and two iPort iPod docks.

Currently, the g! system manages the audio and video for Delicious Heights, and can easily be expanded in the future to integrate control of the restaurant’s security, surveillance, HVAC and lighting systems.

As for the impact the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System is having on his business, Gale couldn’t have put it simpler than this:  “With ELAN g! we definitely write far more orders and far less code and that has made all the difference to the growth of our business.  It’s staggering!”

About ELAN Home Systems:

Since 1990 ELAN® Home Systems has been an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use “whole house” solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select dealers and distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. To learn more visit www.elanhomesystems.com.

Stampede Takes Its Industry Leading Dealer Resource Mobile With The Big Book of AV App!

Underscoring its commitment to providing dealers with the most complete range of information resources for their extensive product lines, Stampede Presentation Products Inc., North America’s largest, high value added ProAV distributor, today announced the immediate availability of its new Big Book of AV mobile app. The new free app, available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android, allows users to browse Stampede’s nearly 1,000-page catalog that remains the industry’s number one dealer resource for product information. Dealers can now carry the standard-setting 2012 Big Book of AV catalog, featuring nineteen new product lines and a host of other innovative features, wherever they go.

“With the new app, our dealers can finally have high quality AV information right at their fingertips,” said Kevin Kelly, Stampede President & COO. “Our 2012 Big Book of AV contains 19 new product lines from the last year alone, and this new app allows the nearly 10,000 dealers in our network to access information on more than 7,967 products from more 90 manufacturers, with just one push of a button on their mobile device.”

New lines featured in the 2012 Big Book of AV catalog include: Chorus Call (Unified Communications), Christie (Commercial Displays, Micro Tiles, Projectors), Clear One (Unified Communications), DynaScan (Commercial Flat Panels and Digital Signage Solutions), Horizon Displays (Classroom, Digital Signage, and Touch Screen Solutions), IO Gear (Audio-Video Distribution, Presentation Accessories, and Digital Signage), Navitar, (Non-Lens Digital Signage) Marshall Electronics (Security Cameras, Commercial Flat Panels, Unified Communications, and Microphones), Olens (Projectors and Home Audio), Panasonic (Security Products), Peerless (Non-Mount Digital Signage and Education Products), Phoenix Audio (Commercial Audio and Unified Communications), RADVISION (Unified Communications), Room Pro (Unified Communications, Carts/Racks/Cases, and Classroom Solutions), Samsung (Commercial Flat Panels), Screen Innovations (Projection Screens), TTUFF (Digital Signage Solutions), Ultimate Support (Pro Audio), and Xantech (ATON product line).

The physical version of the 2012 Big Book of AV was introduced to Stampede’s dealers at INFOCOMM 2012, and features information on more than 7,967 products from more 90 manufacturers, making it the single largest resource guide in the entire industry.  The book itself weighs more than four pounds and is just shy of 1,000 pages.  What’s more, dealers will have the opportunity to custom imprint their logo on the cover of the catalog.

The 2012 catalog will once again include enhanced QuickLink® barcodes. These codes allow readers the opportunity to obtain further information about various product by scanning the codes with their smartphone, to be directed to digital information about the products on the page, either via videos about the products or a direct connection to one of Stampede’s call center representatives.

About Stampede

Known for its value-added distribution, Amherst, New York-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety of audio/video, computer and home theater resellers and integrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketing and solution-based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” a nearly 1,000-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) that provide hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to product details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede, log onto www.stampedeglobal.com.