PolyVision (company)
Formerly called | Display Technology, Inc., Information Display Technology, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Headquarters | Johns Creek, United States |
Areas served | North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), APAC (Asia-Pacific) |
| Products | CeramicSteel Panels, Architectural Cladding, Writing Surface Materials |
Number of employees | 200 (2014) |
| Parent | Steelcase |
| Website |
polyvision |
PolyVision is a company that manufactures CeramicSteel surfaces for applications such as whiteboards, chalkboards, architectural surfaces and panels, and infrastructure projects.[1] It is a subsidiary of Steelcase and is headquartered in Georgia.[2] The company was founded in 1954 under the name Information Display Technology, Inc. and began operating under the name PolyVision in May 1995.[3] PolyVision has production facilities in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and Genk, Belgium, with their Okmulgee facility being one of the area's major employers.[4][5]
Mergers and acquisitions
In 1998, PolyVision purchased Alliance International Group, a manufacturer of ceramic/steel products used in visual displays and writing surfaces, for about $75 million.[6]
PolyVision acquired Nelson Adams in May 1999.[7]
In January 2000, PolyVision purchased both American Chalkboard and Peninsular Slate.[8]
PolyVision became a subsidiary of Steelcase in August 2001 when Steelcase bought the company for $73 million, plus approximately $103 million of debt.[9] In 2012, it was announced that PolyVision’s educational technology products would become part of the Steelcase Education Solutions group.[10]
Projects
PolyVision has created surfaces for public art installations:
- The "Flat Earth" mural at the Dijkzigt Metro Station in Rotterdam, artwork by Peter Jansen [11]
- Artwork at Telok Ayer MRT Station in Singapore, art by Lim Shing Ee and Kazunori Takeishi [12]
Awards and recognition
Some of PolyVision's products have won awards at the NeoCon World's Trade Fair:[13][14][15]
| Year | Award | Product |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Gold Award | LTX Multimedia Whiteboard |
| 2005 | Editor’s Choice | Commercial series of Markerboards and Tackboards |
| 2007 | Product Innovation Award | CopyCam Image Editing Software |
| 2007 | Product Innovation Award | RoomWizard |
Other awards
- 2005 MAX Award winner for the Walk-and-Talk Interactive Panel and Cordless Lectern[16]
- 2010 Best in Tech by Scholastic [17]
PolyVision's Genk facility was the first European CeramicSteel manufacturer to earn a Cradle-to-Cradle certification for its environmentally sustainable practices.[4]
References
- ↑ "Rob Kneebone, Managing Director of ABP Group". CEO Magazine. CEO Magazine. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "Steelcase Says it is Buying PolyVision". Los Angeles Times. The Associated Press. 28 August 2001. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "PolyVision Corporation Founded". Steelcase. Steelcase. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- 1 2 "Polyvision: Sustainability Pioneers in Ceramicsteel" (PDF). Wallonie Designs. RECentre. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "Okmulgee Area Major Employers". Okmulgee Area Development Corporation. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "The Week in Business: LaSalle Buys Compass to Create Gigantic Firm". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Atlanta Business Chronicle. 7 September 1998. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "Welcome to Nelson Adams NACO". Nelson Adams NACO. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "PolyVision Acquires Two Manufacturers". Indiana Gazette. 26 Jan 2000. p. 16.
- ↑ "Company News; Steelcase Buying PolyVision for $73 Million". The Associated Press. 28 August 2001.
- ↑ Doyle, Caity (5 November 2012). "Combining Tech With Furniture? How PolyVision and Steelcase are Integrating the Two to Enhance Learning in the Classroom". TechnApex. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "About Flat Earth". Peter Jansen. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "Our Work at a Train Station in Singapore". Monocircus. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ Sanchez, Mark (20 June 2003). "NeoCon Honors Manufacturers". Grand Rapids Business Journal. Grand Rapids Business Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ↑ "NeoCon '05: Best of NeoCon Competition Names 25 Gold Award Winners; Bernhardt's Seating/Table Collection Takes Best Of Competition". FMLink. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
- ↑ "Product Innovations 2007". buildings.com. Buildings Smarter Facility Management. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ↑ "Grand Winner: Polyvision Corp.". bizjournals.com. Bizjournals. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ "Best In Tech 2010: Whiteboard Solutions". scholastic.com. Scholastic. Retrieved 9 July 2016.