Wearable computing agency RealWear has acquired Switzerland-based Almer Applied sciences in a transfer set to “reshape the commercial augmented actuality (AR) market”, the agency has stated. The deal has been backed “strategically and financially” by Germany-based enterprise AR software program supplier TeamViewer, which sits on the RealWear board and has mixed with it traditionally. “This acquisition… marks a big leap ahead within the mission to empower frontline staff worldwide with cutting-edge AR expertise,” stated a press release. The charge has not been disclosed.
RealWear, based in Vancouver in Canada, primarily based in Washington within the US, sells ruggedised, voice-operated AR glasses for industrial staff – notably, for RCR Wi-fi readers, to connect to personal 4G/5G networks to help distant employee purposes. Almer Applied sciences, based in Bern in 2021 following a analysis mission on the Swiss Institute of Expertise (ETH), employs 35 folks; all of them will be part of RealWear. Sebastian Beetschen Timon Binder, chief government and chief expertise officers, respectively, be part of the agency’s government staff.
TeamViewer was a minority investor in each RealWear and Almer previous to the acquisition. The likes of bottling firm Coca-Cola HBC, automotive producer Ford, programs integrator Samsung SDS have taken joint RealWear/TeamViewer options. TeamViewer has round 640,000 subscribers. The assertion stated: “RealWear’s established market presence and rugged, voice-operated options are actually complemented by Almer’s modern, subscription-based AR headsets, recognized for his or her compact design and user-friendliness.”
It continued: “As the commercial sector more and more turns to digital options to reinforce productiveness and security, the demand for intuitive, wearable AR gadgets has surged. This acquisition unites RealWear’s market management with Almer’s modern method to satisfy this demand… Almer [has] rapidly gained recognition as a disruptive pressure in enterprise AR and set a brand new trade commonplace. This acquisition is ready to make superior expertise extra accessible and user-friendly for frontline staff throughout the globe.”
Chris Parkinson, chief government at RealWear, stated: “[Almer’s] successes in Europe are paralleled with a imaginative and prescient to drive AR adoption world-wide. This impression can now be dropped at the worldwide market as a part of the RealWear ecosystem. [Its] subscription-based {hardware} renting mannequin will improve our current portfolio to supply extra versatile and scalable options for companions and prospects. We’ve got secured TeamViewer’s renewed dedication and backing, strengthening our collaboration with the main software program firm within the enterprise AR trade.”
Sebastian Beetschen, chief government at Almer Applied sciences, stated: “Almer’s modern method for frontline staff has enabled us to ship industrial AR options which can be essentially the most intuitive and most easy to make use of. We’re excited to herald our experience and pace of execution to RealWear and push the boundaries of frontline employee options.”
Oliver Steil, chief government at TeamViewer, stated: “RealWear and Almer collectively unite the brightest minds in wearable computing to form the way forward for the trade. Investing in RealWear and supporting their development is a strategic transfer for us and a stride into the way forward for industrial digital transformation. Our shared imaginative and prescient is to proceed to combine software program and {hardware} innovatively, delivering world-class industrial productiveness options for max buyer worth.”
