Avalue adds new terminals for Point-of-Care applications
Following the success of Avalue Technology MTP-1702 and MTP-1502, of which thousands units have been installed in worldwide famous hospitals as bedside terminals, Now Avalue presents a new further enhanced MTP medical terminal----MTP-1201. MTP-1201 is a true medical panel computer that is UL60601-1/EN60601-1 and CE/FCC Class B approved.
MTP-1201 is specially designed to resist spills and water damage, and ensures dust resistance with its protected LCD, sealed ports and card slots.
The low audible noise signature of the MTP-1201 makes it an ideal point-of-care solution for patients and hospital practitioners.
The high contrast ratio, 1000:1 and high brightness, 450 nits, of MTP-1201 makes it a perfect image terminal for PACS and DICOM applications.
MTP-1201 adopts fanless design to achieve silence operation, providing users with an improved environment enabling better rest and recuperation.
The fanless design also increases system reliability and up time by removing the point of failure that fans add to system.
Further more the fanless design also reduces the risk of containment and recirculation of dust and bacterial infections. Further enhancing the fight against the risk of bacteria born infections such as MRSA.
MTP-1201’s 12-inch touchscreen further enhances resistance to bacteria born infections by eliminating the need for a mouse and keyboard. While the traditional mice and keyboards are often the preferred method of user input and control, they are also a hotspot for harboring bacteria, germs and dust.
The use of a touchscreen reduces this risk and also reduces cleaning time.
Given that the front panel is the most frequently touched part of this system we have implemented an anti-bacterial housing.
Adopting the special antibacterial housing further helps in the fight against MRSA and other bacteria born infections and germs.
IP-65 is a well known and accepted standard for water and dust ingress protection.
The certification of IP-65 guarantees this system can function normally when exposed to liquids. The compliant front panel prevents any damage by resisting liquid and dust penetration.
This means that MTP-1201’s front panel can be wiped and disinfected with detergent, liquid disinfectant, antiseptics or any kind of spray.
Avalue (www.avalue.com.tw) has been dedicated to delivering long-life embedded computer systems and authorized OEM/ODM services.
Established in 2000, Avalue is staffed with a seasoned R&D department. Avalue has successfully expanded its expertise from x86 platforms into RISC-based hardware and software solutions.
Avalue provides a wide selection of products including small form factor single board computers, ETX, motherboards, InnoFlex Panel PCs, Box computers and more.
Kontron AG founds joint-venture with Quanta
Kontron AG, one of the world;s leading manufacturers of embedded computer systems, is founding a joint-venture with the Taiwan company Quanta Computers. As announced today by the Executive Board of Kontron, the Taiwan listed company andits affiliates are acquiring a 21 percent stake in Kontron Asia Inc., Taipei.
Kontron Asia Inc. is the production organization of the Kontron Group which included its production plant in Penang, Malaysia.
Kontron designs and manufactures embedded computer systems at locations in Europe (Southern Germany), America (Montreal, Minneapolis, San Diego) and Asia (Taipei). Founded in 1962, Kontron is a world market leader. The enterprise, headquartered in Eching (near Munich), Germany, is a Premier Member with the Intel Communications Alliance.
Both parties have signed a relevant purchase agreementy. The price per share is close to market price. The closing of the transaction is expected during the course of March.
Kontron AG will retain both the operating management of, and a voting right majority in, the enterprise.
Both Kontron and Quanta expect to benefit equally from the advantages the partnership offers. Kontron AG’s main objective is to optimize its manufacturing costs for embedded computers using Quanta’s purchasing and production conditions to achieve the cost leadership in purchasing and production in the embedded market place.
Quanta will benefit from diversifying its production capacities in the industrial market.
With over 40,000 employees globally, Quanta produces around 30% of worldwide laptops per year, and generated total revenue of over EUR 16 billion in 2007.
“Volumes are constantly rising in the high-growth embedded computer market, particularly for applications in the POI/POS, cash machine, infotainment, and gaming areas. The new Joint Venture between Quanta and Kontron now allows Kontron AG to offer volumes of 100,000 embedded computer systems per year on a competitive basis’ commented Kontron CEO, Ulrich Gehrmann.
Kontron launched a reorganization of its sales structures in Asia as recently as the fourth quarter of 2007, entailing the installation of centrally managed sales, with the aim of achieving higher EBIT margins in this region.
Kontron AG’s target is to raise the EBIT margin by up to two percentage points over the next three years through improved purchasing terms and further optimization of production costs.
Kontron AG aims to relocate additional production volume to Asia over the next few years; the aim is for 75 percent of all of Kontron’s embedded computers to be manufactured in the Joint Venture by 2010.
Processes such as final configuration and the installation of software, however, which are highly know-how critical, will continue to be performed at the European and American Kontron companies.
The company will present detailed figures for the 2007 financial year at its year-end results press conference in Munich on March 26, 2008.
Kontron has finalized its announced acquisition of the French company Thales Computers SA, a subsidiary of the Thales Group.
As already communicated by the respective companies, the acquisition has now received the required approvals from both the workforce representatives and the French ministry of Economy and Finance.
This means Kontron Modular Computers GmbH, a 100 percent Kontron subsidiary based in Kaufbeuren, is now the owner of all shares outstanding in the Thales Computers SA.
Thales Computers SA will generate annual sales of approximately EUR 20 million, and has a workforce of around 100 employees.
The company commands particular strengths in the high-end application areas in the government, aerospace, and transportation sectors.
According to statements made by Ulrich Gehrmann, CEO of Kontron AG, the acquisition represents a strategic purchase for Kontron since it compensates Kontron for its disinvestment from its mobile, rugged embedded computer business in the US. This division was sold to Crane Co, Stamford, Connecticut, in August 2007.
Kontron helps leading OEMs and systems integrators to significantly reduce their time-to-market to gain a competitive edge.
Kontron designs and manufactures innovative building blocks capable of supporting numerous applications for today’s networked infrastructure.
Kontron’s broad portfolio of products includes Computer-On-Modules industry standard COM Express, PCI, ATCA, CompactPCI, ePCI-X and VME board-level solutions, open platform communications servers, industrial-grade rackmount solutions, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) systems, and mobile rugged computers.
Kontron products are designed to withstand higher temperature ranges, shock, vibration, moisture, dust and electrical noise; all of which are characteristic of embedded computing applications.
Kontron solutions can be found at work in a wide range of industries and applications. Kontron Asia Inc. (www.kontron-asia.com) supports Kontron’s sales and distribution efforts in the Asia Pacific region. Kontron Asia company also develops value line systems and solutions for Kontron worldwide.
Based in Eching (near Munich), Germany, Kontron Embedded Computers is the Kontron group’s parent company.
