GE Healthcare IT Showcases its Latest Innovations at HIMSS Singapore

Press release:

18 September 2012

GE Healthcare IT Showcases its Latest Innovations at HIMSS Singapore

• Integrated Products Give Comprehensive End to End Radiology Workflow Solution
• Accessibility is Key Theme of Innovations, with Access at the Touch of a Button
• Broad Portfolio Features Radiology, Cardiology, Perinatal, High Acuity Care and Service

SINGAPORE – 17 Sep 2012 – GE Healthcare IT, a division of General Electric Company, will be exhibiting regional firsts among its latest range of IT solutions at this year’s HIMSS AsiaPac12 Conference and Exhibition, from 17-19 September at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on stand #527. Additionally, a full slate of Company experts will be featured as part of the AsiaPac12 conference speaker series.

At the expo, GE Healthcare IT will demonstrate how its broad portfolio is helping to fulfill the needs of its customers, in particular supporting the aim of providing patients with access to high quality healthcare in a cost effective and efficient way.

“The face of healthcare is changing and we are entering a time of ‘collaborative care’ which is a patient-driven, outcomes-driven method of delivering healthcare,” said Mitchell Silong, General Manager, GE Healthcare IT, Asia Pacific. “IT helps make this possible by linking together information from across the healthcare delivery system (inpatient, ambulatory, and home-based) to generate new insights that contribute to improved patient outcomes.”

A key theme running through GE Healthcare IT’s latest innovations is accessibility. Clinicians want to access all types of patient data at the touch of a button from anywhere at any time. In particular, they want to improve work flow and be able to share information and collaborate with other specialists to make clinical decisions more quickly.

“Our IT solutions connect data from across departments, the hospital enterprise and the region to provide a comprehensive view of the patient, and have been developed to give clinicians access to the right, quality information precisely when they need it,” continued Mr. Silong. “This is particularly significant in ASEAN where we are addressing the need for care in remote areas through tele-radiology. We believe moving data, rather than moving the patent is the most efficient way to allow access to the best care available, specifically for rural areas.”

Highlights of the company’s broad portfolio of technologies on display on the GE Healthcare IT stand include:

Radiology
• The GE Centricity* Radiology Information System (RIS), offering the latest generation of community-wide radiology workflow sharing capabilities
• A Web based PACS viewer for global reading across enterprises which is deeply integrated with RIS through a single user interface
• A four-level Vendor Neutral Archive which allows patient records from across different hospitals, to be consolidated and stored using industry standards
• A Clinical Patient Information Viewer which provides access and viewing of patient histories to multi-disciplinary teams throughout the patient’s health community
• Centricity Radiology Mobile Access (CRMA) allows clinicians and radiologists to quickly find images and reports through the AccessNow app, on their mobile device - iPhone, iPod, Touch, android Touch.

High Acuity Care
• The Centricity Perioperative software is highly adaptable management software to streamline workflow and help enhance patient care before, during and after surgery

Cardiology
• Launching for the first time in Asia, Centricity Cardiology Enterprise is a tightly interfaced cardiovascular IT solution that includes both CVIS (Cardiovascular Information System) and CVPACS (Cardiovascular Picture Archiving and Communications System) functionality, providing clinicians full access to a single comprehensive, web-based patient record.

Centricity Perinatal
• A clinical information system that integrates documentation and fetal surveillance to help clinicians deliver the best care to every mother and baby. From labor & delivery to the nursery or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the centricity perinatal software interfaces with multiple devices and systems to optimize ease of use and workflows.

GE Healthcare IT CMIO Mark Dente will participate in a panel discussion and presentation in the HIT X.O track. Dr. Dente’s presentation focuses on the shift in healthcare technologies and how the influx of Healthcare IT is impacting each person in a definite way. He’ll deliver his presentation on 18 September from 1400hr – 1430hr and twice on 19 September, from 1015 – 1045 and 1435 – 1520.

GE Healthcare IT Senior Engineer Chris Lindop is scheduled to present in the Interoperability Theater on Next Generation PACS and how it’s impacted by new and emerging global standards. Mr. Lindop is presenting twice on 18 September, 1130 – 1200 and 1630 – 1700, and again on 19 September from 1315-1345.

“In partnership with our Asia Pacific customers, GE Healthcare IT is constantly working to introduce workflow and connectivity solutions to meet their evolving requirements,” said Mr. Silong. “The range of solutions on display at HIMSS AsiaPac12 illustrates the breadth and depth of what we have to offer to help clinicians deliver better quality care for more patients at a lower cost.”

Ends

*Registered trademark of General Electric Company

NOTES TO EDITORS

About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com

For our latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com

GE Working to Bring Air Traffic Management into “The Cloud”

Press release:

18 September 2012

GE Working to Bring Air Traffic Management into “The Cloud”

 

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GE researchers working with NASA to enable NextGen air traffic management to be operated through cloud computing

Will transform the way air traffic is managed

Project part of GE’s global software initiative to build the “Industrial Internet”

NISKAYUNA, NY, September 18, 2012 – A global leader in avionics and software development, the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) has embarked on an 18-month project with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to help bring NextGen air traffic management (ATM) technology into “The Cloud.” Cloud computing will enable airlines and air traffic controllers to perform their tasks by sharing not only real-time information but also data analysis and decision support tools to improve aircraft operations and airspace efficiency.

Cloud computing is computing that allows a user to tap into a remote location where data storage and computational capabilities are virtually limitless. It already is revolutionizing how information storage and business operations are managed on the ground but has been slower to progress in the aviation sector, especially in safety critical areas such as the ATM arena.

Today, homeowners can use cloud computing to store music, photos, videos and other files in a remote, secure place. If the hard drive on their home computers fails, the information stored in the cloud will not be compromised. Beyond common applications in the home, you are beginning to see more prevalent use of cloud computing in everyday business operations. For example, commercial airlines already are beginning to replace their data centers with cloud computing, which is saving them millions of dollars in capital and maintenance costs.

GE’s program with NASA will identify opportunities within ATM that can benefit from cloud computing.

Liling Ren, electrical engineer and project leader from GE Global Research, “Cloud computing has the potential to fundamentally change how air traffic management operates today. With the transition to it, airlines, pilots, and air traffic controllers will be able to achieve increased information exchange, sharing of decision support automation capabilities that tell them more accurately and reliably about a plane’s current position and future flight path. This will enable them to improve traffic flow and plan more preferable routes and altitudes, which ultimately means more predictable and efficient travel that is on-time for passengers.”

A key program objective is to explore how air traffic controllers, airlines and aircraft can interact more efficiently in a cloud computing environment. Today ATM functionalities and capabilities are developed and hosted separately by each of these entities. The expectation is that this project can help accelerate the transition of NextGen ATM technology, which traditionally would take years or even over a decade to complete.

The effort to bring cloud computing to air traffic management is part of GE’s efforts to build the Industrial Internet. The Industrial Internet represents the next evolution in product development, creating a living network of intelligent machines and systems that allows customers to realize new heights of efficiency and performance in their operations.

In November 2011, GE announced an aggressive expansion of its software programs to harness big data and take industrial product development to the next level. The company has opened a global software headquarters in San Ramon, California, which will employ 400 new software professionals to support these efforts across GE’s business portfolio.

GE researchers will combine its growing capabilities in software with deeply embedded experience in aviation and avionics to revolutionize air traffic management. GE is a key avionics integrator, offering Flight Management System (FMS) capabilities to the world’s most widely operated commercial fleets.

About GE Global Research

GE Global Research is the hub of technology development for all of GE's businesses. Our scientists and engineers redefine what’s possible, drive growth for our businesses and find answers to some of the world’s toughest problems.

We innovate 24 hours a day, with sites in Niskayuna, New York; San Ramon, California; Bangalore, India; Shanghai, China; Munich, Germany; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Visit GE Global Research on the web atwww.ge.com/research. Connect with our technologists athttp://edisonsdesk.com and http://twitter.com/edisonsdesk.

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Seeing is Believing: Mount Sinai School of Medicine Aims to Revolutionize Medical School Program

Press release:

14 September 2012

Seeing is Believing: Mount Sinai School of Medicine Aims to Revolutionize Medical School Program

 

Class of 2016 Medical Students to Participate in Research Study Involving GE Pocket-Sized Ultrasound

New York City, NY September 14, 2012 – First-year medical students at Mount Sinai School of Medicine will be the first in New York to be introduced to a digital-age ultrasound device that can visualize inside the body, and fit directly into the pockets of their brand new white coats.

The visualization tool, made by GE Healthcare, is a handheld ultrasound device called Vscan*, and is roughly the footprint of a smartphone. The Vscan houses innovative technology that can provide an immediate, non-invasive method to secure visual information from inside the body. A total of 72 pocket-sized devices will be provided for use in a research study[1] and distributed to teams of first year medical school students that make up the 140-member Class of 2016. The objective of the study is to demonstrate that handheld imaging technology can contribute to medical education at all levels of instruction and learning.

At the beginning of each academic year, first-year medical students at Mount Sinai School of Medicine participate in a medical school tradition that kicks off their medical career—the White Coat Ceremony. After listening to inspirational speeches, students don their new white coats and receive a stethoscope at a special ceremony attended by family, friends and faculty members. During this momentous day, students, parents and faculty will also be introduced to the handheld ultrasound.

“First year medical students traditionally learn about the human body by dissecting the cadavers and eventually by examining the patients, and the examination ranges from inspection and palpation to listening with the help of a stethoscope and interpreting the sounds of the heart, lungs and blood vessels,” says Jagat Narula, MD, PhD, who is the Principal Investigator of this research study and the Director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “With handheld ultrasound, our medical students will have the ability to see live images of inside the body projected onto a handheld screen in real time. It’s an innovative educational concept that can modernize medical education.” In fact, Narula believes that imaging and specifically handheld devices will become an integral part of the physical examination.

As part of the study, handheld ultrasound will be added to the curriculum of first year students during their Art and Science of Medicine (ASM) courses to augment their physical examination skills. Groups of four students will share the device as they learn about the capabilities of ultrasound.

David Muller, MD, the Dean of Medical Education at Mount Sinai School of Medicine says of the research study, “First year medical students will learn how to identify and assess the anatomical structures within cardiac, thoracic and abdominal applications. We are excited to incorporate the portable ultrasound in our curriculum as we strive to revolutionize the way medicine is taught.”

“Today, we are thrilled to play a part in this important research project by providing Mount Sinai’s first-year medical students with the power of portable ultrasound technology, as they take the first step towards becoming our next generation of doctors,” says Tom Gentile, President and CEO, GE Healthcare Systems. “Tools like Vscan have the ability to help transform the physical exam and today’s announcement reaffirms GE Healthcare’s commitment to research and improving patient care by helping enhance the physician’s ability to quickly and accurately diagnose patients.”

Commercially launched in February 2010 by GE, this device offers applications in cardiology, emergency medicine, primary care and obstetrics applications. Through the study, as an educational tool at Mount Sinai, students will use hand-held ultrasound to examine the real-life anatomy and physiology of healthy subjects and then apply this base knowledge to their studies.

“We expect that using handheld ultrasound will bring our students’ education to an innovative new level,” said Brett Nelson, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai, who will be leading the new curriculum with Dr. Narula. “Having exposure to this ultrasound technology early in their medical education will provide our first-year students with skills that they will carry with them throughout their careers.”

About The Mount Sinai Medical Center

The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Established in 1968, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of the leading medical schools in the United States. The Medical School is noted for innovation in education, biomedical research, clinical care delivery, and local and global community service. It has more than 3,400 faculty in 32 departments and 14 research institutes, and ranks among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and by U.S. News & World Report.

The Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is a 1,171-bed tertiary- and quaternary-care teaching facility and one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. In 2012, U.S. News & World Reportranked The Mount Sinai Hospital 14th on its elite Honor Roll of the nation’s top hospitals based on reputation, safety, and other patient-care factors. Mount Sinai is one of 12 integrated academic medical centers whose medical school ranks among the top 20 in NIH funding and by U.S. News & World Report and whose hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll. Nearly 60,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients last year, and approximately 560,000 outpatient visits took place.

For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/.

Find Mount Sinai on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mountsinainyc

Twitter @mountsinainyc

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mountsinainy

*Trademark of General Electric Company.

**As a research institution and medical school, Mount Sinai does not endorse specific products.

---

[1] Study Name is Operation Seeing is Believing (SIB) by SINAI R-ME

GE Capital, Franchise Finance Provides Imvescor with $37.1 Million Credit Facility for Refinancing

Press release:

07 September 2012

GE Capital, Franchise Finance Provides Imvescor with $37.1 Million Credit Facility for Refinancing

 

MONTREAL (QC), Sept. 7, 2012 - GE Capital, Canada’s Franchise Finance business announced today that it has provided Imvescor Restaurant Group Inc. (IRG) with a $37.1 million term loan. IRG will use the funds to refinance all of its outstanding secured debt facilities, including senior loans from GE Capital. The new debt structure also provides IRG with additional flexibility to pay down its outstanding subordinated debt.

Headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, IRG owns franchised and corporate restaurants throughout Canada under four brands: Pizza Delight®, operating primarily in Atlantic Canada in the family/mid-scale segment; Mikes® and Scores®, operating primarily in Quebec in the family and casual dining segments and the take-out and delivery segments; and Bâton Rouge®, operating in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia in the casual dining segment.

"Throughout our association with GE Capital, we’ve been impressed by their understanding of and commitment to the restaurant industry,” said Denis Richard, president and chief executive officer of IRG. “GE Capital helps us create shareholder value by providing a solid financial foundation that allows us to concentrate our energies on executing our strategic initiatives."

"We’ve financed more than $1.1 billion in restaurant transactions in Canada over the last 10 years, through all the market cycles," said Edward Khediguian, senior vice president of GE Capital’s Franchise Finance business in Canada. "We combine our industry knowledge, expertise, and financial capabilities to provide customers with customized and flexible credit facilities that help them concentrate on growing their businesses.”

About GE Capital, Franchise Finance GE Capital, Franchise Finance is a leading lender to the franchise finance market, serving the restaurant and hospitality industries. We specialize in financing regional and national restaurant businesses of all sizes across the country. Over the past 10 years, we’ve financed more than 700 restaurant customers with upwards of 1,500 property locations, lending more than $1.1 billion to the Canadian restaurant space. In the Canadian hotel market, we provide financing for nationally known brands in the limited and select-service segments of the industry.

With more than 20 offices throughout Canada, GE Capital (gecapital.ca) offers a wide variety of financial products and services to address commercial financing and fleet management needs in all phases of a business' lifecycle. From equipment finance to working capital and growth financing to large asset-based and restructuring loans, we apply our wealth of industry expertise and develop custom solutions for your company. Some of the industry sectors we specialize in include transportation, construction, healthcare, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, oil and gas, wholesale and retail, and restaurant and hotel franchise.

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital).

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE Capital Provides $75 Million Asset-Based Credit Facility for Acme Lift Company, LLC

Press release:

07 September 2012

GE Capital Provides $75 Million Asset-Based Credit Facility for Acme Lift Company, LLC

 

NORWALK, Conn.--07 September 2012-- GE Capital, Corporate Finance today announced it is administrative agent on a $75 million asset-based credit facility for Acme Lift Company, LLC, a leading wholesale rental company for aerial work platform equipment. The loan will be used to refinance existing debt and support future growth. GE Capital Markets served as sole bookrunner.

Based in Arizona and founded in 1997 by Woody Weld, Acme Lift Company provides equipment to more than 900 rental companies in the United States and Canada, who in turn rent equipment to commercial, industrial and specialty construction firms. Acme is one of the world’s largest strictly wholesale rental companies, with an extensive fleet of boom lifts, telehandlers and truck-mounted cranes.

“GE Capital brought extensive industry knowledge and creative structuring concepts to the deal,” said Steve Nadelman, president and chief operating officer of Acme Lift Company. “Their deep understanding of our business model enabled them to deliver a financing solution that will help build our business.”

“We’re committed to providing capital and market insight to our customers,” said Bob McCarrick, chief commercial officer, lending for GE Capital, Corporate Finance. “Leveraging GE’s insight and industry experience in the rental equipment marketplace allowed us to develop tailored financing options that support the growth of mid-size businesses.”

About GE Capital, Corporate Finance

GE Capital, Corporate Finance provides asset-based, cash flow and structured loans and leases to mid-size and large U.S. businesses. Financing supports working capital, growth, acquisitions, turnarounds and balance sheet optimization in key sectors: Aerospace and defense; automotive and transportation; chemicals and plastics; construction and building products, corporate aircraft; energy; food and beverage; manufacturing; marine; metals and mining; paper, packaging and forest products; retail; and technology and electronics. Funding may be provided through GE Capital, Corporate Finance’s affiliate, GE Capital Bank, member FDIC. With Access GE, clients also benefit from access to GE’s best practices to help build their business. Visit gelending.com/clnewsor follow@GELendLease on Twitter.

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital). GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. For more information, visit ge.com.

Advocate Health Care and GE Healthcare Join to Further Reduce Patient CT Radiation Dose

Press release:

06 September 2012

Advocate Health Care and GE Healthcare Join to Further Reduce Patient CT Radiation Dose

 

Oak Brook , Ill. — September 6, 2012 — Advocate Health Care, one of the nation's top health systems and the largest integrated health care system in the state of Illinois, and GE Healthcare, a national leader in low dose, high performance imaging, today announced a joint effort to help further reduce radiation dose in Computed Tomography (CT). The goal is to optimize care for patients needing imaging procedures and reduce radiation where possible without adversely impacting image quality. It’s one of the first announcements of the GE Blueprint for low dose, a comprehensive campaign in which GE Healthcare is working alongside leading U.S. health systems to further reduce radiation dose in CT imaging. Leaders from Advocate and GE Healthcare unveiled the Advocate-based GE Blueprint for low dose today during an event at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.

“Advocate Health Care is committed to delivering the best health outcomes for our patients,” said John Anastos, D.O., chairman of radiology at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. “By providing the best-in-class diagnostic capabilities, and leveraging advanced technologies to capture the highest-quality CT images, we ensure all of our patients receive the lowest possible radiation dose in each and every procedure.”

Advocate’s radiation dose reduction program includes a plan to install the GE DoseWatch software on all its diagnostic and radiation therapy CT scanners. The technology allows for precise management of dose data. Advocate will also participate in the American College of Radiology (ACR) Dose Index Registry (DIR). The national database allows CT facilities to compare their dose levels to other CT facilities across the country.

Additionally, Advocate will hold an annual radiation dose symposium designed to educate associates on the latest in CT technology, clinical protocols and best practices for radiation dose reduction. A CT Steering Committee will oversee and monitor the program’s effectiveness.

CT imaging is a critical tool in helping physicians diagnose disease and has positively impacted millions of lives. Historically, physicians have had to balance the desires for high image quality and low radiation dose levels in CT. Through ongoing collaboration with healthcare leaders including Advocate, GE is changing the equation in diagnostic imaging. Launched in June 2012, GE Blueprint offers a comprehensive approach based on an assessment of a health care provider’s technology, people and processes and helps identify breakthrough imaging technologies, system-specific solutions and processes, and comprehensive imaging “blueprints” to help providers achieve low-dose, high-definition diagnostic capabilities. Additionally, solutions such as DoseWatch*, a first-of-its-kind management tool, will further enable Advocate Health Care and other providers to measure, track and optimize patient radiation dose over time.

“GE Healthcare has long collaborated with healthcare providers as they work to continuously reduce radiation dose in CT imaging,” said Steve Gray, vice president and general manager for Computed Tomography at GE Healthcare. “Building upon our announcement last November to invest more than $800 million in the development of low-dose technologies over 15 years, GE Blueprint will help hospitals optimize imaging departments systemically and significantly.”

Leveraging a team of “Low Dose Architects,” GE Blueprint helps Advocate and other hospital systems assess their dose management programs, and collaborates on recommendations for end-to-end dose management, including staff education, process improvements, equipment assessments and CT technologies that can enable low-dose, high-definition imaging.

For more information, please visit www.gehealthcare.com/GEBlueprint.

* Trademark of General Electric Company

ABOUT ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE
Advocate Health Care, named among the nation’s top health systems, is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. Advocate operates more than 250 sites of care, including 10 acute care hospitals, two integrated children’s hospitals, five Level I trauma centers (the state’s highest designation in trauma care), two Level II trauma centers, one of the area’s largest home health care companies and one of the region’s largest medical groups. Advocate Health Care trains more primary care physicians and residents at its four teaching hospitals than any other health system in the state. As a not-for-profit, mission-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Advocate contributed $571 million in charitable care and services to communities across Chicagoland and Central Illinois in 2011.

ABOUT GE HEALTHCARE
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.

For our latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com.

GE’s PACSystems RSTi Standards-Based Distributed I/O Delivers High Performance and System Flexibility

Press release:

05 September 2012

GE’s PACSystems RSTi Standards-Based Distributed I/O Delivers High Performance and System Flexibility

 

• PROFINET connectivity provides high-speed I/O throughput with connectivity to hundreds of third-party devices
• Leverages GE’s expertise in automation and ruggedized computing
• Simplifies system design without sacrificing performance to meet the needs of the Industrial Internet

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — SEPTEMBER 5, 2012—GE Intelligent Platforms (NYSE: GE) today announced the availability of its PACSystems® RSTi, a new, innovative standards-based granular machine I/O integrated with the company’s PACSystems controllers on PROFINET that meets the needs of the Industrial Internet. The RSTi is based on global standards and delivers on the PROFINET promise of a consistent and standard high performance communication link between field I/O and controller. The unit’s integration into the control system also simplifies development and commissioning that results in increased productivity.

The RSTi family of PROFINET-based granular I/O is part of GE Intelligent Platforms’ High Performance Platform that leverages industry standards as well as the company’s experience in embedded technology and automation to deliver long-life higher performance solutions that are easy to configure, manage and upgrade.

“The RSTi, like all of our new control solutions, is based on open standards, leveraging our expertise in automation and ruggedized computing to meet the needs of the Industrial Internet,” said Bill Black, Controllers Product Manager for GE Intelligent Platforms. “In designing our distributed network architecture GE set a goal of making distributed I/O configuration and operation as simple as traditional rack-based systems. With the introduction of RSTi this capability is extended to an entire new range of applications that benefit from the combination of a wide range of high-density, small form-factor I/O types.”

The RSTi provides simplified installation by placing the granular I/O closer to the field devices using standard Ethernet cabling. The distributed nature of the unit provides the flexibility to expand and reconfigure field devices without impacting control-to- device wiring unlike centralized control systems that require new wiring to be installed back to the central control cabinet, thereby lowering the total cost of ownership by reducing the high cost of field wiring. OEMs can build machines in sections with local I/O drops which can easily be assembled at the customer site, connected to the controller by a high performance network, one standard Ethernet cable versus hundreds of wires. And, the compact size will be attractive to equipment builders and end users alike because it allows the modules to be closer to the control devices and therefore reduces wiring and hardware cost.

“Equipment builders are continuously looking for ways to improve the performance of their equipment while augmenting usability and reducing size and complexity,” continued Black. “These requirements extend to the control system. With PACSystems GE provides high performance control solutions with best-in-class integration of distributed, networked, I/O ideally suited for demanding applications.”

The RSTi extends the capabilities of the PROFINET-enabled solution with the addition of a comprehensive line of granular slice I/O that allows users to simplify panel design and reduce the overall size of the control panel while benefiting from the performance, maintainability and upgradeability of the PACSystems platform. There are more than 80 different module types to choose from for discrete, process, motion and specialty applications. In addition, communications protocols like PROFINET, PROFIBUS DP, DeviceNET, MODBUS/TCP, MODBUS serial, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, CANopen and CC-Link are available. Users can standardize on the RSTi for a wide range of applications which, in turn, reduces spare parts, training and support costs.

For more information: www.ge-ip.com/rsti.

GE Capital is Co-collateral Agent on $1.65 Billion Asset-Based Credit Facility for SUPERVALUINC.

Press release:

05 September 2012

GE Capital is Co-collateral Agent on $1.65 Billion Asset-Based Credit Facility for SUPERVALUINC.

 

NORWALK, Conn.--05 September 2012--GE Capital, Corporate Retail Financetoday announced it is co-collateral agent on a $1.65 billion asset-based credit facility for SUPERVALU INC., a leading national grocery and pharmacy retailer. The loan will be used for working capital needs and to refinance existing debt. GE Capital Markets served as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner.

Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU) is one of the largest companies in the domestic grocery channel with annual sales of $35 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through its network of more than 4,400 locations, which include traditional retail and hard discount stores, in-store pharmacies and independent stores. SUPERVALU has approximately 130,000 employees.

“This financing will provide SUPERVALU with more financial flexibility as we execute our business turnaround.” said Sherry Smith, executive vice president and chief financial officer of SUPERVALU INC.

“We believe that effective capital solutions are built on sound financing structures as well as strategic insight into the retail business cycle,” said Jim Hogan, senior managing director of GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance. “Our long-standing specialization financing mid-size and large retailers allows us to develop tailored solutions that support growth.”

About GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance

GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance is a leading provider of senior secured loans to retailers, primarily in the U.S., to support working capital, growth, acquisitions and more. With Access GE, clients also benefit from access to GE’s best practices. For more information, visitwww.gelending.com/clnewsor follow @GELendLease on Twitter.

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital). GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. For more information, visit ge.com.

GE Capital, Franchise Finance Provides $15 Million to Summit Hotel Properties

Press release:

05 September 2012

GE Capital, Franchise Finance Provides $15 Million to Summit Hotel Properties

 

Refinances Courtyard® and Springhill Suites® by Marriott hotels

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--05 September 2012-- GE Capital, Franchise Finance recently provided $15 million to Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. The funding provides $9.75 million for a Courtyard® by Marriott and $5.25 million for a Springhill Suites® by Marriott to refinance existing debt on the two hotels.

“We have a long-standing relationship with GE Capital, Franchise Finance,” says Dan Hansen, president and CEO, Summit. “We appreciate the consistency in their product, process, and execution, all of which allow us to grow more efficiently.”

Based in Sioux Falls, Summit owns 74 hotels in 20 states.

“We are very pleased to be able to build on our already extensive relationship with Summit,” says Jim Petty, senior vice president, GE Capital, Franchise Finance.

Summit focuses on acquiring and owning premium-branded, select-service hotels. They most recently added their 74th hotel with a Residence Inn® by Marriott in Arlington, Texas.

About GE Capital, Franchise Finance

GE Capital, Franchise Finance is a leading lender for the franchise finance market via direct sales and portfolio acquisition. With more than 30 years of experience and $10 billion in served assets, we serve over 3,000 customers and over 18,000 property locations. We specialize in financing mid-market operators with multiple stores in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Our team of industry experts will work with you to help develop your own growth plan with access to our proprietary industry research and customized tools. More information is available atwww.gefranchisefinance.com.

GA-ASI Introduces System-wide Enhancements for Predator B/MQ-9

Press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sep 05, 2012

GA-ASI Introduces System-wide Enhancements for Predator B/MQ-9

New MQ-9 Block 1-plus Aircraft Completes Successful First Flight

SAN DIEGO – 5 September 2012 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), tactical reconnaissance radars, and electro-optic surveillance systems, today announced the successful first flight of the Block 1-plus Predator® B/MQ-9 Reaper, an upgrade to the original Block 1 Predator B that has been in production since 2003. The MQ-9 Block 1-plus test flight occurred on May 24 at the company’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., with no discrepancies.

“We continue to enhance the capabilities of our aircraft, improving their performance to meet emerging customer requirements,” said Frank Pace, president, Aircraft Systems Group, GA-ASI. “The first flight of the MQ-9 Block 1-plus follows in the footsteps of the aircraft’s combat-proven Block 1 configuration and is an important technological achievement that will provide increased effectiveness, increased multi-mission flexibility, and even greater reliability.” 

The MQ-9 Block 1-plus is a capability enhancement over the Block 1 configuration, which has amassed more than 420,000 flight hours across all customers. Block 1-plus was designed for increased electrical power, secure communications, auto land, increased Gross Takeoff Weight (GTOW), weapons growth, and streamlined payload integration capabilities.

With the completion of development, testing, and expected Milestone C decision this fall, follow-on aircraft to the MQ-9 Block 1-plus configuration will be designated “MQ-9 Block 5.”

Featuring a new high-capacity starter generator, the aircraft offers an increase in electrical power capacity over the current Block 1 design. This increased power provides the aircraft with significant capacity for growth. In addition, the upgraded electrical system includes a backup generator which is sufficient to support all flight critical functions. This vastly improves the reliability of the electrical power system by providing three independent power sources.

Numerous new communications capabilities also will be available in the Block 5, including dual ARC-210 VHF/UHF radios with wingtip antennas, allowing for simultaneous communications between multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground parties; secure data links; and an increased data transmission capacity. 

Additionally, the new trailing arm main landing gear will be included in Block 5, enabling the aircraft to carry heavier payloads or additional fuel.

Predator B is currently operational with the U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force as MQ-9 Reaper and the Italian Air Force as MQ-9, with NASA as Ikhana, and with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as Predator B/Guardian. The aircraft is designed to perform multi-mission ISR and “Hunter-Killer” missions over land or sea, with more than 130 vehicles delivered to date.

High-resolution photos of the first flight of the MQ-9 Block 1-plus are available upon request to qualified media outlets from the GA-ASI media contact listed above.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., an affiliate of General Atomics, delivers situational awareness by providing remotely piloted aircraft, radar, and electro-optic solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide. The company’s Aircraft Systems Group is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft systems, including Predator A, Predator B, Gray Eagle®, and the new Predator C Avenger®. It also manufactures a variety of solid-state digital Ground Control Stations (GCS), including the next-generation Advanced Cockpit GCS, and provides pilot training and support services for RPA field operations. The Reconnaissance Systems Group designs, manufactures, and integrates the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar and sophisticated Claw® sensor control and image analysis software into both manned and unmanned aircraft. It also develops and integrates other sensor and communication equipment into manned ISR aircraft and develops emerging technologies in solid-state lasers, electro-optic sensors, and ultra-wideband data links for government applications. For more information, please visitwww.ga-asi.com.

Predator, Gray Eagle, Avenger, Lynx, and Claw are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

GE Healthcare launches modular biopharmaceutical factory, KUBio

Press release:

04 September 2012

GE Healthcare launches modular biopharmaceutical factory, KUBio

 

Innovative approach will save biopharmaceutical manufacturers time and money

Chalfont St Giles, UK – 4 September 2012 – GE Healthcare, the healthcare business of GE (NYSE: GE), today introduced KUBio^TM, an innovative off-the-shelf, modular factory designed to save manufacturers of biopharmaceuticals both time and money. KUBio’s pre-made modules, which are assembled at a customer’s chosen site to make a fully functional ready-to-run bioprocessing facility, are significantly faster to install than constructing a traditional factory. The modules are equipped with GE Healthcare’s world-class technologies for the start-to-finish manufacture of biopharmaceuticals.

Worldwide demand for biopharmaceuticals - such as antibodies for the treatment of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the new generation of innovative vaccines - is increasing dramatically, driven by the global ageing population, rising obesity levels and the global effort to reduce the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases. KUBio will help manufacturers to respond to local healthcare needs and bring these potentially life-saving treatments to market more quickly.

KUBio is a fully functional off-the-shelf bioprocessing facility specifically designed to meet cGMP requirements while optimizing manufacturing flexibility and productivity. The 1200m² facility is pre-fabricated and delivered with a complete ready-to-use production line, based on GE Healthcare’s Ready-to-Process^TM single-use technologies. With a total planning, delivery and construction time of 14-18 months, compared to the traditional 24 -36 months, both time-to-market and level of capital investment are significantly reduced. The first modular facilities to be introduced will be configured for the manufacture of monoclonal antibodies. GE Healthcare also plans to introduce modules for the manufacture of other biopharmaceuticals.

“KUBio is a totally new approach to the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals, bringing our customers a greatly simplified way to build their production capacity,” said Olivier Loeillot, General Manager of Enterprise Solutions, GE Healthcare Life Sciences. “With KUBio our customers will be able to cut months off the typical construction time, and greatly streamline the whole construction process. We’re already seeing interest from a wide range of customers, from governments wanting to develop in-country manufacturing capability right through to pharmaceutical companies wanting to expand production capacity in new locations. KUBio is an industry game-changer that will help them do just that.”

The introduction of KUBio expands GE Healthcare’s broad offering of world-class tools, technologies and services for the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry, allowing customers to benefit from a wide range of solutions that can be tailored to meet specific needs, from pilot to commercial scale. GE Healthcare’s start-to-finish technologies and services include Fast Trak training, PAA cell culture media, ReadyToProcess single use technologies, specialist purification media and Xcellerex biomanufacturing systems. KUBio aligns with GE’s healthymagination initiative which focuses on reducing cost, increasing access and improving quality in healthcare.

To see a video of KUBio click here

About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries.  For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.

For our latest news, please visithttp://newsroom.gehealthcare.com/http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com

GE Capital is Administrative Agent on a $150 Million Credit Facility to Support Combination of Golf Town and Golfsmith

Press release from GE:

30 August 2012

GE Capital is Administrative Agent on a $150 Million Credit Facility to Support Combination of Golf Town and Golfsmith

 

NORWALK, Conn.--30 August 2012-- GE Capital today announced it is serving as administrative agent on a $150 million senior secured credit facility to support the combination of Golf Town and Golfsmith. The combined business operates under the name Golfsmith International and creates the world's largest golf specialty retailer. The credit facility will be used to support working capital and to refinance existing debt. GE Capital Markets served as lead arranger and bookrunner on the transaction.

Golf Town, an OMERS Private Equity portfolio company, was founded in 1999 in Ontario, Canada and operates stores across Canada and the greater Boston area. Golfsmith, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, began as a golf catalog business and now includes retail locations across the U.S. along with a significant online platform. The newly formed Golfsmith International will operate a combined 151 retail locations across the U.S. and Canada, as well as an e-commerce site.

"GE Capital structured the financing that will enable us to make this combination and our ongoing operations a success," said Sue Gove, president and chief operating officer of Golfsmith International. “Golfsmith International and OMERS Private Equity have both worked with GE Capital for years, and we are confident that we will benefit from their industry knowledge and understanding of our business goals.”

“The industry continues to be selective with mergers and acquisitions, but smart retailers are finding there are good opportunities available to accelerate growth,” said Jim Hogan, senior managing director of GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance. “Bringing together our retail finance expertise with the sponsor finance experts at GE Antares meant we were able to quickly understand the needs on all sides of this transaction and structure financing accordingly.”

About GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance

GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance is a leading provider of senior secured loans to retailers, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, to support working capital, growth, acquisitions and more. With Access GE, clients also benefit from access to GE’s best practices. Visit gelending.com/clnews.

About GE Antares Capital

GE Antares is a unit of GE Capital, Americas. We are builders, not bankers. With offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, GE Antares is a leading middle market lender, offering a “one-stop” source for GE’s lending and other services offered to middle market private equity sponsors. For more information, visit the GE Antares website at geantares.com.

About GE Capital

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital). GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. For more information, visit ge.com.

Profits in G.M.A.C. Bailout to Benefit Financiers, Not U.S.

The following is an excerpt from an article in 

The New York Times
Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Profits in G.M.A.C. Bailout to Benefit Financiers, Not U.S.

By STEVEN M. DAVIDOFF

Among the companies that were bailed out by the federal government during the financial crisis, perhaps the most intractable is proving to be the company formerly known as the General Motors Acceptance Corporation. It's a case study in how bailouts can linger and profits, when they do come, flow not to the government but to the Warren E. Buffetts of the world.

G.M.A.C. was the financial arm of General Motors. In the years leading up to the financial crisis, it was also G.M.'s most profitable unit, which tells you something about the auto industry at the time. The company earned more profit from lending money to customers than in selling cars.

In 2005, desperate to raise cash, General Motors sold a 51 percent stake in G.M.A.C. to the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. Cerberus beat out a rival, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, for the privilege, spurring BusinessWeek to write that Henry R. Kravis's loss "has to sting."

During the financial crisis, however, the sting was felt on the other side, as G.M.A.C. staved off collapse thanks only to a government infusion of $17.2 billion. The company was renamed Ally Financial - you have probably seen its catchy commercials on television. The Treasury Department owns 73.8 percent of Ally, with Cerberus retaining an 8.7 percent stake.

Almost since that time, the Treasury Department has wanted to rid itself of its Ally stake. Ally filed for an initial public offering in March 2011, but it has so far languished in the face of a weak market and concerns over Ally itself. The Treasury Department has been paid back about $5.7 billion and still controls the company through its stock ownership and appointment of a majority of Ally's directors.

Despite lingering concerns about Ally, the automobile sales market is recovering and Ally's auto finance operations turned a profit last year. But Ally is still suffering from legacy debts, primarily concentrated in its ResCap unit. While you might think that with a name like G.M.A.C., the company financed only automobiles, but the company was also one of the largest subprime housing lenders through its ResCap subsidiary.

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.