The Calgary Stampede Adds Two New Mobile NanoLumens NanoSlim® 6MM LED Display Solutions

Anyone who has ever been to the Calgary Stampede knows it is an experience they will never forget. That’s because they and the approximately 1.2 million visitors the event — held annually since 1923 in the largest city in Canada’s Alberta province — draws each year are immersed in the largest rodeo in the world. Billed as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” the 10-day event held every July in the venue known as the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede Center features parades, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions and specialty events such as chuck-wagon racing, as well as typical rodeo events such as calf roping and bull riding. 

This year, the Calgary Stampede will also feature something totally new that will add to excitement the stampede generates — two NanoLumensNanoSlim 6MM 16 X 9 HD LED display platforms, assuring grandstand crowds in the Agrium Western Center venue of the Stampede that they won’t miss a single moment of the show. The portable NanoSlim displays will be moved to various locations within the venue, depending upon the type of events taking place any given day or night. Effortlessly suspended from a beam above the ground, the NanoSlim will portray live video, graphics and programmed information in a bright, easily visible image. These same screens will be used throughout the rest of the year, supporting conventions, expos and other events that make the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede Center one of the busiest event venues in Canada. 

“We did a lot of research for LED displays, because the Calgary Stampede has very specific needs that have to be addressed,” explains Mark Muench (RTPM), Events Services Manager for the Calgary Stampede. “I looked around and saw that NanoLumens displays were in a lot of the same kinds of major venues as the Calgary Stampede, such as Cleveland’s International Exposition Center.  Also, weight was a crucial consideration for us, because the displays would have to be hung in multiple locations in the venue. The NanoLumens solutions were less than 500 pounds per rigging point, which was the lightest weight of any display available. So these screens were easy to hang and to move, offered excellent brightness, and were extremely cost effective. That made NanoLumens an easy choice.” Muench was even more delighted once he experienced NanoLumens’ customer service, from NanoLumens’ Quebec office, which he described as fast and responsive. 

While the Calgary Stampede is still several months away, the two new NanoLumens displays are already getting a workout at convention and expo events taking place at the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede Center. Since March of this year, they’ve drawn compliments from event attendees for their brightness, vividness and visibility. “They were used for the Calgary Comic Expo recently and we had a chance to compare the NanoLumens LED displays to a projector and screen they also used for that event, and there was no comparison,” says Muench. “The NanoLumens displays simply look phenomenal. The 6MM pixel pitch offers excellent resolution. They were just what we needed to capture the excitement of the Stampede, or any event here.” 

Vancouver, British Columbia is the Next Stop on the 2015 Stampede Big Book of AV Tour & Conference Series

ProAV dealers and end-user customers in the great Pacific northwest will have the opportunity to learn how to profitably integrate drones, video conferencing, and video walls into their long-term business development plans when the 2015 Stampede Big Book of AV (BBOAV) Tour and Conference series makes its next stop at The Westin Wall Centre at the Vancouver Airport (3099 Corvette Way, Richmond, BC) on May 14, 2015. Registration information can be found at www.bigbookofavtour.com. 

The ProAV industry’s biggest annual traveling roadshow is going to provide Vancouver-area dealers and their customers with a jam-packed agenda of manufacturer exhibits, information-rich presentations, and CTS-certified training classes that emphasize both mainstream ProAV product categories and new revenue-generating platforms like drones.

“The Stampede Big Book of AV Tour & Conference series is the industry event that it is precisely because it consistently shows dealers how to continue to maximize their sales of traditional ProAV solutions while learning how to add new product categories into their mix,” Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly said today. “The Vancouver stop will be a great example of this.  We’re going to provide dealers with terrific information about profiting from the continued adoption of low cost video conferencing and video walls in more and more vertical market applications and, at the same event, we are going to introduce them to the next generation of drones from many of today’s leading drone manufacturers.

Specifically, the Vancouver stop will feature drone-centric training sessions on UAV Fundamentals: Overview of the Technology and Use in the ProAV Industry and UAV Applications for the ProAV Industry.

“Drones are poised to become a major revenue stream for ProAV dealers because many businesses, in a variety of fields, are beginning to understand just how much value they add to their operations,” Kelly explained. “Only Stampede, with its strategic alliance with Unmanned Vehicle University, has the capability to provide dealers with a wide range of drone options and the training courses required to certify operators.  This is a combination that no other company can offer ProAV dealers.”

This stop will also feature a session about Video Conferencing Fundamentals for the ProAV Industry and a presentation fromNEC Account Manager, Channel Sales Mark Weniger, briefing attendees on NEC 10 Steps to a Successful Video Wall. Attendees in this class will come away with a better understanding of what goes into a video wall solution including tips for mounting, ventilation, color calibration, power management and content creation.

Furthermore, Stampede will offer event incentives such as a $500 Stampede credit to qualified attendees and a $50 Amex gift card to all in attendance the day of the Tour and Conference. Every attendee will also be entered into a drawing to win a 60” LG LED HDTV.

Manufacturers participating in the 2015 Stampede Big Book of AV Tour & Conference include Optoma, Sharp, Chief, Mustang, Ken-a-vision, Lumens, Sony, Christie, Hitatchi, Hitachi Starboard, Samsung, Ladibug, Atlona, Balt, Iogear, Epson, LG, Vision, NEC, Benq, Da-Lite, Casio, AVteq, Canon, Peerless AV, Hall Research, DynoScan, Vidyo, Circle Technology, WHOOSH! Screen Shine, Gefin, MediaPointe, AmpliVox, Audio Solutions, Vaddio, Luidia, and BrightSign.

Tech Hygiene Became a Reality at CES 2015!

If there was any doubt that Tech Hygiene was one of the major story lines of CES 2015, it was put to rest today with the announcement by WHOOSH! Inc. CEO Jason Greenspan that an estimated 10,000 mobile device screens were cleaned and polished with WHOOSH! Screen Shine throughout the four-day show. 

“By any measure, CES 2015 was the most successful show in the three-year history of the company,” Greenspan said today. “Our booth was jammed every day with people who wanted to learn more about how to make Tech Hygiene a part of their lives. What’s more, we gave away thousands of WHOOSH! Screen Shine samples to show attendees to get them started practicing good Tech Hygiene.” 

According to Greenspan, the company is now finalizing delivery dates and pricing for the company’s newly expanded line of Tech Hygiene cleaning solutions, which includes WHOOSH! Wipes andWHOOSH! BLAST. “WHOOSH! Screen Shine Wipes and WHOOSH! BLAST provide additional ways for consumers to practice Tech Hygiene and keep their screens, gadgets and devices clean. Our retail partners are excited how we are revolutionizing the category and driving sales,” Greenspan emphasized.

WHOOSH! Screen Shine Wipes combine pre-treated disposable wet and dry cloths into a single serve packages that make them easy to carry and use. Consumers can safely clean, polish, and protect all of their tech and gadget devices by first using the wet Wipe cloth and then polishing it with the dry cloth. “New WHOOSH! Screen Shine Wipes deliver the same great result as our original WHOOSH! Screen Shine screen cleaner spray,” Greenspan explained. “Now it’s available in a different configuration to suit consumers who are very accustomed to regularly washing their hands with handi-wipe type products.” 

Additionally, available in a 10-ounce canister at a suggested retail price of $8.99 (USD), new WHOOSH! BLAST compressed gas duster is designed to enable consumers to maintain a more complete tech hygiene program — particularly as it applies to their notebooks and PCs, which often attract all sorts of dirt, dust, and crumbs in and around the keyboard. “New WHOOSH! BLAST has been designed to deliver a burst of compressed gas that effectively ‘blasts’ dirt, dust, and crumbs out from among the keyboard keys. Then consumers can use their WHOOSH! Screen Shine solution of choice to complete the cleaning and polishing of their device,” Greenspan emphasized. 

WHOOSH! Screen Shine is the next generation screen cleaner that is made with non-toxic and biodegradable surfactants instead of with harsh chemicals that can damage mobile devices. Leveraging the latest advancements in formula development, WHOOSH! is specifically developed to be a safe yet powerful cleaning solution that cleans both screens and devices — making them shine like new while leaving an ultra-thin invisible coating that provides a resistance to dirt build-up, smudges, and fingerprints. WHOOSH! does not contain alcohol, acids, ammonia, chlorine, petroleum distillates, phosphates or volatile organic compounds.

WHOOSH! Screen Shine is available for purchase at all North American Apple stores and at more than 2500 Walmart stores, as well as in Staples Canada, Canadian Tire, and Shoppers Drug Mart stores. WHOOSH! can also be purchased at www.whooshscreenshine.com.

WHOOSH! Screen Shine is available in a number of sizes: Duo+ (one 3.4 fluid ounces and one .3 fluid ounces) is for a suggested retail price of $19.99, Pocket (.3 fluid ounces) for $5.99 and Go (1 fluid ounce) for $9.99. All sizes come with a 6”x6” W! micro-fiber cloth. WHOOSH is also available for the commercial, industrial, and education markets.  WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner made its debut at CES 2014 where it became the only screen and device cleaner to be awarded two coveted CES Innovations Design & Engineering Awards.

Three-Year Old Canadian Company Profits From Growing Awareness About The Importance Of Tech Hygiene

Jason Greenspan remembers the moment like it was yesterday.  He and his partners had started out in 2011 making and selling car-detailing products.  It was the fall of 2012 when he was sitting at his desk one day, working on next year’s plan for the business, when serendipity struck. 

“I accidently spilled some of the cleaner on my IPad, panicked, and immediately began to wipe the screen.  When I finished I couldn’t believe the result – it was like my screen was brand new again!  That’s when I knew we had our next big idea,” Greenspan explained recently from the company’s Toronto headquarters where, this year, the company shipped 200,000 units of WHOOSH! Screen Shine screen cleaner to more than 5,000 retail locations across North America.  WHOOSH! is now carried in all North American Apple stores, 2500 Wal-mart stores, as well as in Target Canada, Staples Canada, Canadian Tire, and Shoppers Drug Mart stores.  “We’ve definitely captured lightening in a bottle,” Greenspan explained, “and we believe the best is yet to come."

The best is yet to come, he emphasized, because consumer awareness of the importance of tech hygiene is really just beginning to reach a critical mass.  

“More people use mobile devices than ever before.  Smartphones, tablets, and notebook computers have become staples in our daily lives.  Unfortunately, so too have the dirt that builds up on all of these devices.  In fact, according to Yahoo!, the average cell phone is up to ten times dirtier than a toilet seat. 

After testing the idea with consumers, WHOOSH! developed a new proprietary formula made with non-toxic and biodegradable surfactants instead of with harsh chemicals that can damage mobile devices and pose a threat to health.  Leveraging the latest advancements in formula development, WHOOSH! was specifically developed to be a safe yet powerful cleaning solution that eliminates fingerprints, smudges, dirt, grime and makeup from any electronic device screen — leaving a clear, streak-free finish that  not only makes the screen shine like new but also resists hatred fingerprints.  WHOOSH! does not contain alcohol, acids, ammonia, chlorine, petroleum distillates, phosphates or volatile organic compounds.

WHOOSH! Screen Shine made its debut at CES 2014 where it became the only screen and device cleaner to be awarded two coveted CES Innovations Design & Engineering Awards.  It’s also the only screen cleaner certified by the Sharp STAR Program for use on Sharp AQUOS BOARD interactive displays, and it’s the only screen cleaner that comes with a ‘Safe for Your Screen’ guarantee.  WHOOSH! is the most advanced non-toxic, streak-free screen cleaning solution that safely cleans screens while keeping them shining like new and resistant to fingerprints and smudges. WHOOSH! is also ideal for use on television screens.

“2014 sales year-to-date are up over 500 percent from a year ago,” Greenspan said.  “We estimate that WHOOSH! has now cleaned more than one million mobile device screens.  Just thinking about that number makes me smile, but we know it’s just a start.”

As for the future, new and innovative cleaning products are definitely on the horizon, according to Greenspan, who said that the company has plans to make a major new product introduction at CES 2015, the place where it all began.

NanoLumens and PartnerTech Begin Manufacturing LED Displays For Distribution in Canada

Major high tech electronics manufacturer and world’s leading manufacturer of indoor LED displays expand Made in America initiative by manufacturing large format LED displays for Canadian customers. 

NanoLumens®, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of indoor LED displays, and PartnerTech Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of PartnerTech AB, a major systems integration and electronics manufacturer, today expanded their ‘Made in America’ partnership with the announcement that they are now manufacturing large format LED displays for customers in Canada.

According to NanoLumens President & CEO Rick Cope, PartnerTech Inc. is providing expert mechanical and electrical assembly, testing and calibration expertise for more than a dozen large format NanoLumens LED displays, ranging from 20 to 27 feet wide. These displays will be used for advertising purposes in malls across Canada.

“Scalability and flexibility, along with nimble performance in handling multiple projects are the key drivers of this relationship,” Cope said today. “PartnerTech has demonstrated its ability to scale production while maintaining expert cost controls and a high level of customer support, key factors that formed the foundation of our relationship three years ago.” 

PartnerTech has provided manufacturing, engineering and assembly resources to NanoLumens for previous projects at both PartnerTech and NanoLumens sites. The companies have worked together on many LED display installations including NBA basketball arenas, international train stations, convention centers, and more. 

NanoLumens is expected to grow as a first-in-class provider of indoor LED displays with the support of volume demands provided by PartnerTech.

“Continued accelerated growth for NanoLumens presents opportunities for larger scale and more complex orders,” Cope added. “With each new opportunity, the advantages of our relationship with PartnerTech are proven through rapid scale and cost control while maintaining a high level of customer care.” 

Electronics manufacturing is making a huge comeback to the United States in part due to the partnerships like the one between PartnerTech and NanoLumens.  The ability to scale production through additional resources, both skilled labor and physical space, support the exponential growth that NanoLumens has experienced in the last year. The flexibility and scalability afforded through this type of partnership is extremely advantageous in managing cost control and providing better service to customers. 

“With multiple projects occurring simultaneously, the ability to scale production and manage production space is imperative,” Gary Bruce, President of PartnerTech Inc. stated. “PartnerTech is able to provide the flexibility and resources needed for NanoLumens to respond to growing demand and to continue to deliver excellence to their customers.”