Wearable computing agency RealWear has acquired Switzerland-based Almer Applied sciences in a transfer set to “reshape the economic augmented actuality (AR) market”, the agency has mentioned. 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 major leap ahead within the mission to empower frontline staff worldwide with cutting-edge AR expertise,” mentioned an announcement. The payment 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 non-public 4G/5G networks to help distant employee functions. Almer Applied sciences, based in Bern in 2021 following a analysis mission on the Swiss Institute of Know-how (ETH), employs 35 individuals; all of them will be a part of RealWear. Sebastian Beetschen Timon Binder, chief government and chief expertise officers, respectively, be a part of the agency’s government group.
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 mentioned: “RealWear’s established market presence and rugged, voice-operated options at the moment are complemented by Almer’s revolutionary, subscription-based AR headsets, recognized for his or her compact design and user-friendliness.”
It continued: “As the economic 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 revolutionary strategy to satisfy this demand… Almer [has] shortly gained recognition as a disruptive power in enterprise AR and set a brand new trade normal. 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, mentioned: “[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 clients. 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, mentioned: “Almer’s revolutionary strategy for frontline staff has enabled us to ship industrial AR options which might be essentially the most intuitive and most easy to make use of. We’re excited to usher in our experience and pace of execution to RealWear and push the boundaries of frontline employee options.”
Oliver Steil, chief government at TeamViewer, mentioned: “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 progress 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.”
