Monthly Archives: April 2016

Entertainment

Acclaimed Artist Rachael Sage Releases New Song “Try Try Try” New Album Choreographic Out May 20th

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“baroque strings and off-kilter but memorable percussion…fueled by triumph and feminine resilience.” – Baebel Music

New York, NY, April 28, 2016 – Award-winning recording artist Rachael Sage exclusively premiered her new song “Try Try Try” April 7 on Baebel Music. The track is the first release off of her forthcoming full-length studio album, Choreographic, inspired by her lifelong relationship with dance, due May 20 (MPress/ILS/Caroline). “Try Try Try” will be available as an instant download from iTunes with pre-orders of Choreographic beginning April 22.

A playful, uptempo folk-pop number with a tinge of country twang and more than a little bit of rock attitude, the track features Sage’s signature clever lyrics, catchy harmonies and impressive guitar skills. Accompanied by fantastic backing musicians including members of Coldplay, Adele, Esperanza Spalding and Brandi Carlile’s bands, it’s an uplifting, infectious song about love, perfect for spring! “Try Try Try” debuted at #97 on the FMQB Adult Contemporary radio chart among Gwen Stefani & Ellie Goulding.

“I wrote [“Try Try Try”] from a place of pure anticipation, in that moment where you’ve connected with someone immediately and all you feel is endless possibility, just being in each other’s presence.” – Rachael Sage

Embed “Try Try Try”

About Rachael Sage:

A soulful vocalist and innovative multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and producer Rachael Sage has become one of the busiest touring artists in independent music, performing 100+ dates a year with her band The Sequins throughout the US, UK, Europe and Asia. She has earned a loyal following for her dynamic piano playing, delicate guitar work, soulful vocals and improvisational audience interaction.

Sage has shared stages with Sarah McLachlan, A Great Big World, Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn, Jamie Cullum, The Animals and Ani DiFranco. She has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and received numerous songwriting awards including The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Grand Prize) and several Independent Music Awards. Her songs have appeared on MTV, HBO, the “Fame” soundtrack, and 13 of her songs have appeared in the last 3 seasons of Lifetime’s controversial reality series, “Dance Moms” (including several songs accompanying breakout Sia video star Maddie Ziegler’s winning routines).

Rachael’s full tour dates behind Choreographic are listed below, or visit: http://rachaelsage.com.

Rachael Sage Social Media
http://rachaelsage.com
http://www.facebook.com/rachaelsagepage

http://instagram.com/rachael_sage
http://www.youtube.com/rachaelsage

FOR ALL PRESS INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT Chip Schutzman – chip@mileshighproductions.com

On Tour Now (More Dates TBA!) * #ChoreographicTour

Apr 30 The Last Waltz Live @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel, NY
May 04 Ethel’s Stage Left Lounge Columbus, OH
May 06 First Unitarian Church Pittsburgh, PA
May 07 Cyber Cafe West Binghamton, NY
May 13 Rockwood Music Hall – Stage 2 New York, NY
May 14 Muses in the Vineyard Festival Columbia, NJ
Jun 02 How The Light Gets In Festival Hay-On-Wye, UK
Jun 05 Hotel Utah San Francisco, CA
Jun 07 The Hotel Cafe West Hollywood, CA
Jun 09 Uncommon Ground – Edgewater Chicago, IL
Jun 11 The Ark w/ Mary Fahl Ann Arbor, MI
Jun 12 Seven Steps Up Spring Lake, MI
Jun 24 The Avalon Theatre Easton, MD
Jul 21 Ladybug Festival Wilmington, DE
Nov 18 Nikolaisaal Potsdam Potsdam, Germany

Miles High Productions | 323.806.0400 | chip@mileshighproductions.com | http://mileshighproductions.com

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323 806-0400
chip@mileshighproductions.com
http://www.mileshighproductions.com

Technology

President Robert Miller and Future Electronics Recognize Milestone Anniversary of April Love

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Pointe Claire, Quebec (realtimepressrelease) April 29, 2016 – Future Electronics, a global leading distributor of electronic components with corporate headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, and the company’s President, Robert Miller, are pleased to recognize April Love, who recently celebrated her 30 year anniversary of employment within the organization.

Ms. Love started with Future Electronics in March 1986, as a Filing Clerk in the Traffic Department. Over the years, she worked her way up to her current position as a Debit Analyst in Supplier Services at the company’s headquarters in Montreal.

Asked about her thoughts on working at Future Electronics, Love said, “No journey with a company for 30 years is without learning curves or adaptability – but with great teams – you can succeed.”

The Founder and President of Future Electronics, Robert Miller, often refers to employees as being “the company’s greatest asset.” Many people have been with the organization for a long time, and milestone anniversaries are recognized with personalized cards, plaques, free meal vouchers, and other gifts based on their length of tenure.

About Future Electronics

Future Electronics is a global leader in electronics distribution, ranking 3rd in component sales worldwide, with an impressive reputation for developing efficient, comprehensive global supply chain solutions. Founded in 1968 by President Robert Miller, the company has established itself as one of the most innovative organizations in the industry today, with 5,000 employees in 169 offices in 44 countries around the world. Future Electronics is globally integrated, with one worldwide IT infrastructure providing real-time inventory availability and access, while enabling full integration of its operations, sales and marketing worldwide. Offering the highest level of service, the most advanced engineering capabilities and technical solutions through all stages of the design-production cycle, and the largest available-to-sell inventory in the world, Future’s mission is always to Delight the Customer®. For more information, visit www.FutureElectronics.com.

Media Contact

Martin H. Gordon
Director, Corporate Communications
FUTURE ELECTRONICS
www.FutureElectronics.com
514-694-7710 (ext. 2236)
Fax: 514-630-2671
martin.gordon@FutureElectronics.com

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Art, Entertainment

Fusion Art Gallery Opens in Palm Springs, California

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Fusion Art is pleased to announce the opening of its gallery in Palm Springs, California on May 4, 2016.

Palm Springs, CA, USA — Fusion Art is pleased to announce the opening of its gallery in Palm Springs, California on May 4, 2016.

Located at 2658 S. Cherokee Way, in the historic Backstreet Art District, Fusion Art joins an assortment of artist-owned galleries and working studios that feature diverse collections of original, contemporary art by locally, nationally & internationally recognized artists.

Founded by Chris and Valerie Hoffman, the gallery was envisioned and formed out of a passion for art and the artists who create it. Originally conceived as an online gallery that hosts international juried art competitions and exhibitions, Fusion Art has now grown to include a “brick and mortar” space in Palm Springs.

“It has always been my dream to open an art gallery and I am fortunate to now be at a point in my life to make it a reality,” said Fusion Art owner, Chris Hoffman. “I know how difficult it is for an artist to receive wall space in any gallery. A gallery has economics attached to it and is in the business of selling art. But Valerie and I also know that exposure is key to sales. So we launched Fusion Art, initially, on the web.”

“The goal,” noted Valerie, “when the website launched in mid 2015, was to give emerging and established artists the opportunity to gain experience and exposure as well as promote and connect artists with collectors and art enthusiasts.”

The website currently hosts monthly, themed, international online juried art competitions and exhibitions. The gallery gives monetary awards to the top three winners in each category and the Best in Show winners receive invitations to participate in a group exhibition to be held annually in Palm Springs. The first group exhibition will be held at the gallery in November 2016.

The gallery will showcase Chris’s art as well at the artwork of several other very talented artists including Chicago based abstract artist, Michael Goldzweig; Cleveland based Op Art artist, Evie Zimmer; Colorado based palette knife artist, Jeanie Gebhart; and Los Angeles based, Argentinean artist and figurative bronze sculptor, Alicia Savio. Both Michael and Evie were award winners in Fusion Art’s online juried art competitions.

The mission of Fusion Art is to create an online gallery seamlessly connected to the brick and mortar gallery. Fusion Art promotes and connects emerging and established artists with collectors and art enthusiasts, while offering the opportunity to participate in art experiences, art related education, engage in dialogue with artists, and purchase fine works of art.

The Gallery’s opening reception will be held the evening of May 4th between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Media Contact:
Valerie Hoffman
Fusion Art
2658 S. Cherokee Way
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-832-7568
info@fusionartps.com

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Software, Technology

LinkOptimizer for Adobe InDesign Improves Processing of Duplicate Images

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Zevrix Solutions announces LinkOptimizer 4.9.57, a maintenance update to its workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. LinkOptimizer allows users to reduce the size of InDesign links and speed up processing by automatically eliminating excess image data, performing essential image adjustments and converting colors and file formats. The new version improves the processing of images placed in InDesign document multiple times, and introduces other performance and stability improvements.

Toronto (ON), Canada — Zevrix Solutions today announces the release of LinkOptimizer 4.9.57, a maintenance update to its popular workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. LinkOptimizer automates complex image manipulation tasks helping users reduce the size of InDesign links, save processing time and production costs, and repurpose InDesign documents for web and mobile devices.

The new version addresses an issue in which an error could occur when processing images linked to InDesign document multiple times if a certain sort order was applied to image list before processing. The update also improves handling of certain Photoshop errors, as well as processing of images whose file extension doesn’t match the actual image format.

“LinkOptimizer is the one product no creative studio can live without,” says Wayne Guy from Edge Graphics studio in Lake Balboa, California. “It saves hours of time, tediously replacing linked images, resizing, batch processing… If you’re a designer or production artist, you need this.”

LinkOptimizer works automatically with Adobe Photoshop to eliminate the excess image data of InDesign links, perform essential image adjustments and convert image formats:

–Resize links to match their InDesign dimensions at a target resolution.
-Reduce link size by eliminating excess image data.
–Convert colors and apply ICC profile.
-Convert image formats.
-Merge layers and delete hidden ones.
-Run a Photoshop Action on each image.
-Optimize files for web and mobile devices.

As a result, users can save gigabytes of disk space and hours of optimizing images manually, accelerate document output, reduce job turnaround and cut costs through faster processing.

Pricing and Availability:
LinkOptimizer can be purchased from Zevrix website for US$259.95 (Light version: $179.95) as well as from authorized resellers. Trial is also available for download. The update is free for LinkOptimizer 4.x users and $130 to upgrade from previous versions. LinkOptimizer requires Mac OS X 10.6-10.11 and Adobe InDesign/Photoshop CS3-CC 2015.

About Zevrix Solutions
Located in Toronto, Canada, Zevrix Solutions provides productivity solutions for Adobe Creative Suite software, PDF and graphic file diagnostics, as well as Microsoft Office on Mac OS. Zevrix Solutions is dedicated to helping professionals increase their profits through automating their everyday tasks, producing error-free documents, saving disk space and cutting production costs. For more information, visit http://www.zevrix.com.

Contact:
Leo Revzin
Owner
Zevrix Solutions
105 McCAUL St, Suite 301
Toronto Ontario M5T 2X4 Canada
858-206-0607
media@zevrix.com

Solutions for Adobe InDesign & the Graphics Industry

Business, Industrial

New Medical Technologies Showcased at Medtec 2016 Present LEMO’s Redel SP Connector and Northwire’s BioCompatic Cable

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LEMO and Northwire feature fully integrated medical cable and connector solution.

Osceola, WI, USA — Custom cable assemblies for the life sciences engineered by cable manufacturer, Northwire, Inc., (NWI) and precision cable connector leader LEMO were featured among Medtec’s most recent innovations and technology within medical device design and medical manufacturing at its April 2016 Europe show.

Addressing the highly specialized considerations necessary for connectivity within the life sciences, LEMO’s new addition to the lightweight REDEL plastic Push-Pull connector series and Northwire’s robust USP Class VI silicone cable alternative, BioCompatic and BioCompatic II, are ideally suited to be paired together for an integrated medical cable assembly solution and were exhibited at Medtec 2016.

The REDEL SP connector’s patented internal push-pull latching system embedded in the shell offers both increased durability and very high contact density. With its proprietary sulfone construction, the REDEL SP connector stands up to extensive sterilization cycles, offers multiple contact configurations, and a variety of colors supporting ease in visual identification and avoidance of cross mating. The specially designed ergonomic grip within the shell allows surgeons and medical staff to easily mate and align the connections making the LEMO REDEL SP connectors an ideal solution for medical connector or measurement applications.

A cost-effective and USP Class VI alternative to silicon jacketed cable, BioCompatic was engineered by Northwire specifically to eliminate the extended curing process for silicon cable and incorporate improvements including robust resistance to chemicals, cuts, and abrasion.

Maintaining the advantages of traditional silicone cable including biocompatibility and sterilization resistance, BioCompatic provides an ideal medical cable solution as well as a quality cable assembly for diverse industrial cable and energy cable applications and more.

Northwire’s newly launched second generation BioCompatic II medical device cable engineered with a softer durometer to specifically provide increased flexibility, maximum glide, and robust resistance to chemicals, cuts, crush, and abrasion, was unveiled at Medtec 2016. (Click to download the BioCompatic white paper.)

BioCompatic II optimizes end-user experience by reducing cable tackiness and ensuring the smoothest device for patient and practitioner interaction.

Building upon the strengths of the original, BioCompatic II maintains:

• Optimal biocompatibility within a USP Class VI, ISO 10993-5, REACH and RoHS2 compliant custom cable silicone alternative
• Complete compatibility with LEMO’s REDEL Series Connectors
• Custom design-to-ship in 5 days or fewer services ensure rapid technological development compared to lead times from silicone OEMs which are typically 8 to 12 weeks
• Cost savings as BioCompatic eliminates an extra stage of production and associated equipment and curing catalysts associated with silicone cable
• Design and engineering to optimize torque-ability and retractable cable capabilities
• Extreme engineering capabilities for applications in life sciences, industrial, energy, aerospace and defense featuring signal, control, power, and instrumentation, BioCompatic is also ideally suited for hybrid fiber optic applications
• Tear strength and resistance to chemicals, cut and abrasion, boasting a brittle point of -80°C and a high-temperature rating of 105°C

LEMO and Northwire together provide fully integrated custom connectors and cable assembly solutions. True to form, Northwire’s BioCompatic and BioCompatic II silicone cable alternatives are ideally suited for use with LEMO’s lightweight & resilient REDEL® series of medical connectors.

To learn more about integrated medical cable assembly and medical connector solutions, connect with the Customer Care TEAM at 800.468.1516, CableInfo_Northwire@lemo.com, or via live chat.

About LEMO
LEMO (http://www.lemo.com/en) is an acknowledged leader in the design and manufacture of precision custom connection and cable solutions. LEMO’s high quality Push-Pull Connectors are found in a variety of challenging application environments including medical, industrial control, test and measurement, broadcast, and telecommunications.

LEMO has been designing custom connectors for over six decades. Offering more than 100,000 combinations of products that continue to grow through tailored, specific designs, LEMO and its affiliated sister companies REDEL, NORTHWIRE and COELVER currently serve more than 100,000 customers in over 80 countries around the world. In 2014, LEMO Group acquired Northwire, Inc.

About Northwire
Cable manufacturer, Northwire, Inc., celebrating over 43 years of innovation, has corporate headquarters and manufacturing in Osceola, Wisconsin and engineering and manufacturing in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The cable engineering company is the premier partner for the design, manufacture and contract services of custom technical products including custom technical wire and cable, retractable cable, cable assemblies, connectors, harnesses, injection moulding, over-molding and contract engineering and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for diverse applications in broadcast, life sciences, energy, MIL-Spec defence, industrial, machine vision, architectural lighting, underwater and beyond.

In addition to ISO 13485:2003, ISO 9001:2008, SAE AS9100C:2009 certifications and qualification to ISO 17025:2005, Northwire is a member of NDIA (National Defense Industrial Association), NCMA (National Contract Management Association), RIA (Robotics Industries Association), AIA (Automated Imaging Association), FieldComm (fka Foundation Fieldbus), ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendors Associations) and WAI (Wire Association International), among others.

For more information, visit http://www.northwire.com.

Media Contact:
Katina Kravik
Northwire, Inc.
110 Prospect Way
Osceola, Wisconsin 54020
715-294-2121
cableinfo@northwire.com
http://www.northwire.com

Education

ThingLink Launches Virtual Reality Lessons App for Education

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Interactive media platform ThingLink has launched its first virtual reality content app called VR Lessons. The app is designed for elementary school students, their teachers and parents.

Palo Alto, CA, USA — Interactive media platform ThingLink (http://www.thinglink.com) has launched its first virtual reality content app called VR Lessons. The app is designed for elementary school students, their teachers and parents.

VR Lessons by ThingLink is a collection of high quality, interactive, 360° image and video journeys on a variety of topics including science, language, and arts. The first stories take students to visit different kinds of ecosystems from the French Alps to a jungle in the archipelago of northern Australia. As students turn their heads to look around, they can spot details and unlock additional information of each habitat in a narrated virtual reality environment.

“Virtual reality can take students to places they could only dream of visiting, but it is also an open canvas for students to imagine and build new worlds and experiences. We are making it possible for schools to use virtual reality as an engaging learning platform,” says ThingLink’s founder and CEO Ulla Engestrom.

VR Lessons by ThingLink utilizes three key feature additions to ThingLink’s core product, the image editor: audio annotations, background audio for 360° images, and the ability to connect several 360° images or videos into a one immersive story.

“Audio annotations work wonderfully in a mobile VR environment, adding depth to the overall experience of the space. For example, in VR Lessons we added the sound of the wind in the background of an image from the Norwegian tundra, and an owl howling in the image of a cold winter forest in Finland. In annotations we are using both human and computer voiced files, and students can vote which voice they like the best,” says Engestrom.

The first VR lessons have been created by ThingLink’s own content team using the company’s new VR editor. Later, educators from around the world will be able to publish their virtual reality lessons in ThingLink’s VR Lessons app.

About ThingLink
ThingLink, founded in 2010, is an interactive media platform that empowers online publishers to create more engaging content by adding rich media links to photos, videos and virtual reality. With over 3 million content creators, ThingLink has become the most popular cross-platform solution and creative community for interactive images and videos. For more information, visit http://www.thinglink.com.

Media Contact:
Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
415-259-5638
tomw@woolfmedia.com

Technology

Netswitch Technology Management is Pleased to announce that Mary Landesman has joined their Advisory Board

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Netswitch Technology Management is pleased to announce that Mary Landesman has joined their Advisory Board in support of new threat intelligence and UBA-based Authentication product development.

San Francisco, CA, April 27, 2016 — Netswitch Technology Management is pleased to announce that Mary Landesman has joined their Advisory Board in support of new threat intelligence and UBA-based Authentication product development.

“Mary’s extensive experience in researching malware and security events along with her background in big data analytics will serve to guide our product direction over the next few months,” said Steve King, Netswitch’s COO and Chief Security Officer. “Mary’s knowledge of the global cyber-security market combined with her data science experience at Cisco, Microsoft and most recently with Norse will give us unique insights into the threat intelligence space and will provide invaluable design input to future products. We are lucky to have her on board.”

Mary is a widely known and broadly published author on cyber-security issues and is a popular speaker and presenter at cyber-security conferences, including e-Crime Congress, RSA, and the Gartner Security Summit. As a security analyst, Mary is well-known as the discoverer of Gumblar, the most prevalent Web threat of both 2009 and 2010 and the DarkLeech compromises of Web hosting servers in 2013.

Mary is a three-time Microsoft MVP award recipient for her role in furthering consumer security. In 2010, Apollo Research declared Mary the most quoted security researcher for malware and phishing topics and third most quoted for security overall. In 2012, eWeek magazine listed Mary as one of the “10 Women in Information Security that Everyone Should Know”, and in May 2014, Intelligent Defense listed Mary as one of “3 Women Leading the Way in IT Security.”

About Netswitch:
Netswitch is a global cyber-security solutions provider, serving businesses of all sizes whose model for success relies upon secure, smoothly running, and fully available IT systems.

The SECURLI® Integrated Security Platform is in use at over 3,000 client sites around the world providing intrusion detection and prevention, advanced behavioral analytics, preemptive breach detection, monitored and managed web firewalls and gateways, security information and event management, managed incident response and remediation and complete audit-ready regulatory compliance.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.netswitch.net/

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455

Where We’re Going

Business, Electronics

Fulham Introduces New Programmable WorkHorse LED Outdoor Driver Family with Optional Integrated Controls

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Intelligent Outdoor Drivers Designed to Interoperate with Tvilight CityManager Software for Smart City Lighting Applications, DALI, or 0-10v Dimming.

Hawthorne, CA, USA — Fulham Co., Inc., a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, today introduced a new line of WorkHorse LED Outdoor drivers that are fully programmable, and offer a variety of controls interfaces, including integrated wireless. The new WorkHorse LED drivers are the first integrated drivers for integrated remote management and are designed to work with the Tvilight CityManager web-based Smart City management platform. Fulham will be demonstrating the WorkHorse LED Outdoor drivers next week in booth 3817 at LightFair in San Diego.

The universal voltage (120-277v) family of outdoor drivers come in five models, from 40W to 200W, offer programmable output from 250mA to 2050mA, are rated IP65 or better, and use the Fulham SmartSet programmer and software. They are designed for outdoor luminaire applications such as area/roadway, parking lot, parking garage, and building exteriors.

Between now and 2020, these applications, today penetrated just less than 11% by LED is expected to grow to over 60% of the market, totaling an installed base of over 100M luminaires at that time.

In addition, the WorkHorse LED Outdoor drivers have integrated software to connect to the Tvilight cloud-based control system. The 802.15.4 wireless device can be quickly installed and commissioned, and the real-time software driver includes a fixture health monitor as well as the ability to read and set the driver remotely. Sensors can be added to the installation wirelessly.

“Luminaires are becoming much more connected, especially outdoors”, said Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing for Fulham. “With this WorkHorse LED outdoor driver family, we provide multiple control options enhanced for simple integration and easy operation. Removing the complexity from controls is what customers are demanding.”

The WorkHorse LED Outdoor drivers are designed to interoperate with CityManager software from Tvilight, which applies Internet of Things (IoT) for wireless management and control. Combining the LED drivers with the CityManager software gives users a centralized management system for outdoor lighting that provides complete remote control. When used for street, parking, or other outdoor fixtures, the WorkHorse LED driver can be remotely programmed for automated on, off, and dimming, as well as providing health and performance statistics. The drivers also can even be reprogrammed for different light sources, such as a replacement LED light source that is more energy efficient.

“More and more customers are requiring programmability, not only for manufacturing flexibility, but also for maintenance, when replacement LED light sources are more efficient and drive current has to be tuned to ensure the updated fixture light output matches the rest in that room or location,” Sharer said.

Optionally, the drivers are also available with a DALI control interface, the global IEC 62386 communications standard, and the most multivendor interoperable of any lighting control protocols. A 0-10v version is also available.

The drivers will be available in May for OEM integration into luminaires.

For more information about Fulham’s complete line of LED drivers, please visit http://www.fulham.com/product-systems/led-systems.

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the U.K., China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com.

Media Contact:
Andy Firchau
Marketing Manager
Fulham Co., Inc.
Phone: +1 (323) 779-2980, ext. 1252
afirchau@fulham.com

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Business

AsTech Consulting Warns Companies That Lacking Adequate Cyber Insurance Coverage Poses Major Threat

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San Francisco Based Security Firm Recommends Full Cyber Risk Assessment to Prevent Losses that Can Cost Millions.

San Francisco, CA, USA — Losses from cyberattacks and security breaches continue to plague companies of all sizes, and while more organizations are investing in basic cyber insurance, most are woefully underinsured. According to Greg Reber, CEO of AsTech Consulting — independent cyber security experts specializing in software and IT infrastructure security — to protect themselves, companies need a comprehensive risk assessment and to work with underwriters to make sure they both agree and understand the terms of cyber insurance policies.

The history of financial losses from a cyber-attack are well documented. Target reported $252 million in expenses related to its data breach in 2013, however the company only had $90 million in cyber risk insurance. Similarly, Anthem Inc. suffered a data breach in February 2015, and the company is now providing credit monitoring and identity protection services to patients who were affected. In both cases, insurance coverage was inadequate to cover costs and additional losses from litigation and class-action suits.

According to a recent study by the Ponemon Institute, companies are four times more likely to insure physical assets than information assets, even though the Probable Maximum Loss (PML) from loss of intellectual property can exceed $200 million. Of those surveyed by Ponemon, 52 percent see cyber risk exposure increasing but only 19 percent have cyber insurance coverage with an average limit of $13 million, and 54 percent have no plans to purchase cyber insurance.

“Executives underestimate the potential losses from a cyber-attack and are unclear how to best insure their operation against potential losses,” said Reber. “They buy cyber risk insurance, but too often the coverage is inadequate since many insurance companies rely on self-reporting when assessing areas of coverage. By being better educated about cyber risk and cyber risk insurance and taking simple preventative steps to isolate potential areas of cyber risk, companies will be in a much better position to protect themselves when they do have a security breach.”

Cyber risk insurance policy coverage is often based solely on information provided by the company and insurance questionnaires are generic and leave companies under insured. Another common issue is undervaluing the potential losses from a cyber breach, resulting in substantial losses not covered by insurance.

To ensure proper cyber risk insurance coverage, Reber recommends companies take a number of steps:

1. Assess their cyber risk to understand the specific possibilities for a cyber-attack and what data could potentially be exposed or lost. The best approach is to assume that you can’t cover all possible contingencies, so it’s a matter of when a breach will occur, not if.
2. Develop a cyber breach response strategy, including remediation and notification, to minimize potential losses.
3. Work with an experienced cyber risk underwriter that understands the potential losses from a cyber-attack or data breach and is willing to develop a policy with adequate coverage.
4. Review potential cyber risk annually, since the degree of cyber risk changes over time.

About AsTech Consulting
AsTech Consulting has been helping Fortune 1000 companies manage risk and protect vital information assets since 1997. AsTech’s technical team are true Internet security experts, providing a full suite of services focused on risk management and mitigation including Vulnerability Discovery and Remediation, Secure Development Training, Secure Software Development Lifecycle Consulting and Security Architectural Design. For more information, visit http://www.astechconsulting.com.

Contact:
Tom Woolf
Public Relations Director, Gumas Advertising
415-259-5638
twoolf@gumas.com

Technology

Lufft introduces new visibility sensor VS2k and launches MARWIS 2.0

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Fellbach, Baden-Wurttemberg (realtimepressrelease) April 26, 2016 – Two innovations are to supplement the product portfolio of G. Lufft, the sensor manufacturer based at Fellbach. The new VS2k-UMB visibility sensor will replace the VS20-UMB optical sensor from the middle of May. The Lufft-UMB VS2k is the first product of an entire series in this segment. The award-winning technology among the Lufft sensors, the MARWIS mobile road sensor, is getting a useful update. The second generation of the sensor replaces its predecessor from now on.

Best tuned to its environment: the new VS2k-UMB visibility sensor

Lufft’s visibility sensor VS2k-UMB is another optical sensor now marketed. In the traffic sector, it serves as equipment for road weather stations and traffic control systems. The sensor measures accurate visibility values in a range of up to 2,000 meters. The VS2k-UMB model replaces the VS20-UMB, which has been used around the world for 10 years. Thanks to intensive development work, the VS2k-UMB visibility sensor features enhanced product characteristics such as a highly optimized housing alloy that is seawater resistant and therefore suitable for offshore use. During numerous saltwater tests, the sensor showed stable longevity even under the most extreme conditions.

The new housing design reduces maintenance frequency significantly, not least by active spider defense. A motor that vibrates within the housing at irregular intervals prevents the arachnids from nestling, which would be a source of interference. In addition, the VS2k visibility sensor has been equipped with further sensors that detect contamination on the optics. Also, the calibration concept has been largely improved. An optionally available calibration disk can be easily attached with magnets and an anchoring to the sensor with little effort.

The new VS2k-UMB visibility sensor is the first product of an entire series that is currently being launched by the sensor company. Another device version with a maximum range of 25 kilometers will be available by mid-year.

MARWIS 2.0 measures air temperature and relative humidity

The mobile road sensor MARWIS, which was among those that were awarded the Industry Prize 2015, measures additional environmental data. The new MARWIS 2.0 version has been equipped with an external temperature sensor which detects the air temperature. With the aid of the other measured variables, this allows the relative humidity to be determined. Until now, the road sensor could measure variables such as the road surface temperature, water film thickness, dew point or road conditions.

Directly attached to the vehicle, the smart sensor transmits the data 100 times per second via Bluetooth in real time to a tablet, smart phone, or an alternative output device in the cab. By using a data cloud, MARWIS can forward the app measurements to the control center, where operations managers can track the test runs using the View Mondo management software.

This version update was launched after requests by many customers. In addition to the road conditions, weather-related data such as the temperature and relative humidity also play a role in evaluating critical conditions such as ice, snow, and hydroplaning. The addition of these two fair values to the road sensor was thus a logical and above all, a practically oriented extension. MARWIS 2.0 will now replace the current model. For more details visit http://www.lufft.com

Media contact:

G. Lufft Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH
Tobias Weil
Gutenbergstr. 20
70736 Fellbach
Tel.: +49 711 51822-819
E-Mail: tobias.weil@lufft.de

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