From GE:

GE TO BUILD ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN PENNSYLVANIA

November 12, 2014

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$32 Million Investment to Drive Best-In-Class Technology across GE Manufacturing

• New center to develop and implement additive manufacturing technologies across GE industrial businesses
• Strengthen GE’s presence in advanced manufacturing through development of training program for GE technologists in additive manufacturing

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – November 12, 2014 – GE today announced that it will build a new manufacturing facility to drive innovation and implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies across GE. The new facility represents a $32M investment over three years by the company and will result in the creation of 50 high-tech engineering jobs initially, in disciplines ranging from mechanical and electrical to systems and software engineering. These technologists will join GE’s global network of 50,000 world-class scientists, engineers, and skilled labor who are working to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges.

The new facility reflects GE’s belief that the intersection of technology and manufacturing – marrying hardware with software – is bringing a new era of manufacturing. Advanced Manufacturing is about making things better and faster for customers. It includes new digital fabrication technology, lean manufacturing methods and rapid-prototyping, advanced materials sciences, supply chain efficiency and open innovation. The facility will focus on improving capabilities and usage of additive manufacturing across GE while advancing materials sciences and inspection technologies.

Dan Heintzelman, GE vice chairman said, “Advanced manufacturing is driving a profound change in industry and at GE. It is how we will compete and win in the future. We can more efficiently invent and build products for our customers, while driving better margins for our investors. This new facility is crucial for bringing advanced manufacturing technology to all our businesses.”

Pennsylvania is already home to more than 8,500 GE employees with significant presence from GE’s Transportation, Power & Water, Oil & Gas and Energy Management business. The site will be located outside of Pittsburgh in Findlay Township, PA to capitalize on the renowned academic institutions and skilled workforce in the area. Construction is expected to begin in March 2015 to be completed by September 2015.

Governor Tom Corbett said, “By integrating education, workforce training and technology, we are cultivating a renaissance in Pennsylvania manufacturing. I am proud of the economic environment we have created to encourage global companies like GE to invest in our future and in our skilled and talented workers. The 50 high-tech jobs GE is creating with this project is terrific news for hard working families in southwest Pennsylvania.”

This facility represents another major GE investment in U.S. manufacturing technology. In the past two years alone, GE has established new Advanced Manufacturing locations for GE Power & Water in Greenville, SC; GE Aviation in Asheville, North Carolina; and GE Oil & Gas in Jacksonville, FL; while expanding work in GE Aviation in Auburn, AL and improving manufacturing at GE Aviation in Rutland, Vermont.

Changing GE manufacturing is seeing financial results. In Rutland, Vermont a $75 million investment to expand the site to allow GE Aviation to use advanced materials has led to more than $300 million in engine production savings. Next year in Auburn, AL, mass production begins on the complex interiors of fuel nozzles for the next-generation LEAP jet engine being developed by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of GE and France’s Snecma (Safran). Each engine has 20 nozzles (produced by Advanced Atomization Technologies, a GE and Parker Aerospace joint venture) with GE’s special 3D-printed interiors to make the engine more durable, lighter, and fuel efficient.  3D printing allows GE to make the nozzle interiors as one part rather than 20 individual parts, reducing the number of brazes and welds required using traditional methods.

About GE

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.

Media Contacts:

Megan Parker, GE

Megan.parker@ge.com

646-682-5605

From GE:

QUIRKY + GE REVEAL BLUEPRINT FOR THE CONNECTED HOME

November 11, 2014

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Introduce 7 New Products, Microfactory, and a Comprehensive Campaign to Educate the World About the Smart Home

NEW YORK, NY (November 11, 2014) – Quirky, the company that makes invention accessible, and GE(NYSE: GE) today unveiled their joint connected-home strategy focused on affordability, simplicity, and accessibility. The two companies debuted seven connected products — ranging from light switches to security sensors — that are available today on the new Wink.com. An immersive experience educating the world about the connected home, Wink.com is the only online destination where consumers can learn how to live smarter and purchase more than 100 Wink-compatible partner products from 15 trusted brands.

Quirky and GE joined forces last April in a partnership to develop a line of co-branded connected products. Combining Quirky’s community and platform with GE’s scale and technology, the two companies are making the connected home accessible. In July of this year, Quirky spun off Wink, the company that connects you to the products you rely on in your home.

“Last year, we announced to the world that together with our partners at GE, we would enter the connected home market,” said Ben Kaufman, founder and CEO of Quirky. “In just 18 months, we have introduced an entire ecosystem of products, a powerful app that interacts with hundreds of connected devices from leading brands, and today, a comprehensive campaign to educate the world on what it means to live in the connected home.”

Today’s announcement greatly expands the existing line of Quirky+GE products while the launch of Wink.com provides consumers a simpler way to a smarter home.

A national study conducted by Quirky+GE* shows that most American adults have yet to adopt smart home technology, but 83% say they’re considering it. A big barrier is the misconception that smart home technology is too expensive; most view the connected home as a luxury, not a necessity.

“In today’s connected world, GE and Quirky see an exceptional opportunity to make the connected home a reality for everyone—accessible, affordable, and focused on the foundational elements of how a home works. This includes lighting, energy management, and safety,” said Beth Comstock, CMO of GE. “We have seen tremendous success working with Quirky and its community of inventors to find new ideas and bring them to market at remarkable speed.”

Quirky+GE New Connected Home Products:

Controlled by the Wink app, these new products further Quirky+GE’s mission to deliver a simple, accessible, and affordable connected home. They are available today on Wink.com and national retailers this holiday season:

• Tripper - An affordable smart window and door sensor, Tripper notifies you when windows and doors are opened or closed. It also allows you to easily monitor your home security as well as use actions within the home to trigger robots within Wink. Tripper was invented by Robert Sweeney and is available for pre-sale as a pack of two today on Wink.com for $40.
• Overflow - An affordable sensor that alerts your mobile device when it detects water leakage. Its extended cable can reach around tight corners, allowing you to install Overflow in any potential trouble spot: under a leaky heater, next to the washer, or behind the toilet. Overflow was invented by Michael Taylor and is available for pre-sale today on Wink.com for $35.
• Outlink - A smart in-wall outlet that lets you control power and monitor energy usage from anywhere. Outlink has one standard outlet and one smart outlet, which you can turn on and off remotely. The smart outlet also keeps track of your energy consumption so you can better manage your budget. Outlink was invented by Michael Taylor and is available for pre-sale today on Wink.com for $50.
• Tapt - Tapt replaces your basic wall switch with two smart switches that give you one-touch control over many of your connected devices. Tapt allows you to control smart bulbs that have been manually turned off and will also allow dimming directly from the Wink app. Tapt was invented by Michael Taylor and is available for pre-sale today on Wink.com for $60.
• Ascend - Ascend makes your existing opener smart by connecting it to the Wink app so you can control your garage door from anywhere. Monitor your garage’s status from afar, open and close it remotely, and receive instant alerts when people come and go. Ascend was invented by Nathan Firth and is available for pre-sale today on Wink.com for $100.
• Norm - A smart HVAC controller that proves thermostats will soon be obsolete. Norm works as a network of sensors that make it easy to monitor and adjust your home’s temperature anywhere, anytime. It offers intelligence, convenience, and efficiency—Norm is your home’s sixth sense. Norm was invented by Denny Fong and is available for sale today on Wink.com for $80.

Introducing “Quirky UNIQ” and the First Smart Devices Microfactory:

Quirky also announced an upcoming urban microfactory in San Francisco. Located in the historic Buzzell Electric Works building, this factory will serve as Quirky’s west coast headquarters and develop the first built-to-order electronics for the smart home. The new facility is equipped with a plastic injection molding line, automated circuit board assembly machines, and 3D printers.

Along with the microfactory, Quirky announced Quirky UNIQ: a new line of connected home products that are completely customizable and built-to-order. The first product in this family will be Spotter UNIQ, the next generation of our popular home sensor and the first product leveraging the new microfactory.

“Understanding your environment and triggering events with the help of sensors is the first building block of a smart home,” said Steve Heintz, CTO of Quirky. “Soon, consumers will be able to configure Spotter with the sensors they need in colors that match their decor. Within a few days, they’ll receive a custom product off the line built specifically for them.”

Spotter UNIQ is the first of several customized electronics that will be developed in our microfactory that opens in December.

Click here to download a digital press kit containing information, images and videos about these new products. To view today's presentation, click here.

Launch of Wink.com:

Wink is the connected home platform that gives people simplicity, security, and control over hundreds of devices from trusted brands. The Wink smartphone app and Wink Relay—a control pad that gives you instant access to all your connected products—put your entire smart home at your fingertips.

Wink.com launches today as a destination for consumers who are curious about what it means to live in the connected home. Educational at its core, Wink.com combines an inspiring guide to living in the connected home with an e-commerce platform where customers can purchase products from Wink’s dynamic portfolio of partners.

“Wink’s growth to date can be attributed to the success we’ve had in partnering with industry leading brands in the connected home category and our strong partnership with The Home Depot,” said Brett Worthington, VP and General Manager of Wink. “We’re excited to augment our amazing success at brick-and-mortar retail with a comprehensive digital platform where consumers can learn how to live in a smart home.”

* The Quirky + GE Smart Home Misconceptions Survey was based on a nationally representative sample of 2,500 American adults ages 22-64. It was conducted from October 16-20, 2014 by Edelman Berland.

About Quirky:

Quirky makes invention accessible by bringing real people’s product ideas to life. To take ideas from pipe dream to consumer product, an in-house team of designers and engineers collaborate with Quirky’s online community on nearly all aspects of development. Anyone can make their mark by submitting a problem-solving idea or weighing in on others'. And when a product is sold, Quirky shares its revenue with every community member that had an impact. Founded by Ben Kaufman in 2009, Quirky’s products can be found at The Home Depot, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Amazon.com, and of course—Quirky.com.

About GE:

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 helping to cure the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

About Wink:

Wink exists to make connected devices accessible. We believe that the home of the future is connected, and that it should be designed around people. We build apps and devices that help you control hundreds of connected products—built by our top-name partners—so that you can choose those that work best for your life.

For more information, visit Wink.com.

Media Contacts:

Quirky

Tiffany Markofsky

305.710.2960

tiffany@quirky.com

GE

Jessica Oster

203.814.7604

jessica.oster@ge.com

Corporate Events, on Campus

The following is an excerpt from an article in:


The New York Times
Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Corporate Events, on Campus

By AMY ZIPKIN

The description of the meeting center was effusive: “The conference center has a million-dollar panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline that will leave you breathless.”

But this was not for some fancy hotel. It was for the center at Montclair State University in New Jersey, less than 20 miles west of Manhattan. Montclair, like hundreds of colleges and universities around the country, has experienced increased interest in its conference centers as companies seek more frugal sites for their corporate meetings.

“It’s a question of optics,” said Kristin Kurie, president of the Wilderman Group in Charleston, S.C., a company that manages meeting and event sites. “Companies don’t want to appear to be spending lavishly.”

Chuck Salem, president of Unique Venues in Johnstown, Pa., a referral service for about 500 college and university conference centers, said he had seen a rise in inquiries in the last several years. In 2009, he said, his staff followed up on 2,087 leads. By 2011, that number had jumped to 9,721, with 55 percent from corporate or business planners.

For their part, many colleges and universities have long had conference centers, though they were primarily for academic conferences. Now, they are eager to find new sources of funds.

“There’s a built-in market,” said David E. Arnold, co-president and chief executive of PKF Consulting East Coast, a hospitality management consultant in Philadelphia. Not only do the collegiate conference centers make money by marketing to outside groups, he said, they can also burnish a university’s image.

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.

ESET Mobile Security Contains the Most Modern Security Components for Smartphones Says AV-Comparatives

Press release:

San Diego, CA, September 6, 2012

ESET Mobile Security Contains the Most Modern Security Components for Smartphones Says AV-Comparatives

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ESET, the leader in proactive protection celebrating 25 years of its technology this year, has scored an excellent review for its Android-based product in the latest Mobile Security Review by independent testing authority AV-Comparatives.

ESET Mobile Security for Android has scored high marks in all major categories, including both low battery usage and malware detection capabilities while also earning recognition as a top solution when it comes to detecting the most adware families.

AV-Comparatives analyzed the key functionalities of the feature-rich product, namely Antivirus, Antispam, Anti-Theft, SIM-matching, Remote Wipe and Remote Lock. The testing authority also recognized ESET for flawless installation of the product and, “a variety of setting options for Antivirus protection compared to other products.”

Most importantly, AV-Comparatives found that, “this product was one of few that made data recovery after a remote wipe completely impossible,” given that ESET Mobile Security overwrites the entire memory. “ESET Mobile currently contains the most modern security components for smartphones,” concluded AV-Comparatives in the report.

“A dedicated team of ESET Mobile Security developers has made every effort to develop the most advanced solution for protecting our customers on-the-go,” said ESET Product Manager for Mobile Security Miroslav Majtáz. “We are proud that an authority such as AV-Comparatives is recognizing our talent and technology.”

In the coming weeks, ESET is planning to release ESET Endpoint Security for Android – a mobile security solution for business customers with remote administration capabilities.

About ESET

ESET is on the forefront of security innovation, delivering trusted protection to make the Internet safer forbusinesses and consumers. IDC has recognized ESET as a top five corporate anti-malware vendor and one of the fastest growing companies in its category. Trusted by millions of users worldwide, ESET is one of the mostrecommended security solutions in the world. ESET NOD32 Antivirus consistently achieves the highest accolades in all types of comparative testing, and powers the virus and spyware detection in ESET Smart Security and ESET Cybersecurity for Mac. Sold in more than 180 countries, ESET’s global headquarters is in Bratislava, Slovakia, with distribution headquarters for North America located in San Diego, California. ESET also has offices in Buenos Aires, Prague, Krakow and Singapore and is represented by an extensive global partner network. For more information, visit http://www.eset.com/us or call +1 (619) 876-5400.

U.S. Sets Much Higher Fuel Efficiency Standards

The following is an excerpt from an article in 

The New York Times
Wednesday, August 29, 2012

U.S. Sets Much Higher Fuel Efficiency Standards

By BILL VLASIC

DETROIT — The Obama administration issued on Tuesday the final version of new rules that require automakers to nearly double the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks by 2025.

The standards — which mandate an average fuel economy of 54.5 miles per gallon for the 2025 model year — will increase the pressure on auto manufacturers to step up development of electrified vehicles as well as sharply improve the mileage of their mass-market models through techniques like more efficient engines and lighter car bodies.

Current rules for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, program mandate an average of about 29 miles per gallon, with gradual increases to 35.5 m.p.g. by 2016. The new rules represent a victory for environmentalists and advocates of fuel conservation, but were attacked by opponents, including the Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, as too costly for consumers.

While the regulations have been in development for more than a year, the White House’s decision to make them final on the first full day of the Republican National Convention seemed intended to highlight one of President Obama’s proudest accomplishments at a time when Mr. Romney has laid out a different energy and environmental agenda.

The administration called the new rules “historic,” and estimated that Americans would reduce their oil consumption by 12 billion barrels over the course of the program. “These fuel standards represent the single most important step we’ve ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Mr. Obama said in a statement.

But the Romney campaign has criticized the new rules as “extreme” and said the standards would limit the choices when consumers shop for a new car. “The president tells voters that his regulations will save them thousands of dollars at the pump, but always forgets to mention that the savings will be wiped out by having to pay thousands of dollars more upfront for unproven technology that they may not even want,” said Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for the Romney campaign.

For more, visit www.nytimes.com.

Press release:

Lenovo Again Included in Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index

PC maker earns #1 slot for IT companies, AA rating and second consecutive spot on “Honour Board” for ongoing commitment to sustainability

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 1:40 pm EDT

Dateline:

Hong Kong

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"The last year has been tremendous for Lenovo. We are now the second-largest PC manufacturer in the world, and very close to becoming the industry leader. This was achieved while maintaining and extending our dedication to sustainability and our core values."

Lenovo Group, the world’s second-largest PC manufacturer, has been selected as a constituent stock the 2012 Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index (HSCSI) with an improved AA rating. This is the third year of the index and the third in which Lenovo has been selected, acknowledging Lenovo’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. The HSCSI is a tradable index and useful indicator for investors seeking socially responsible companies to include in their portfolios. Research for the index covered 95 percent of market capitalization in the Hong and Mainland China markets.

Lenovo’s AA ranking is an improvement from the A+ rating it received last year and is representative of Lenovo’s continuous efforts to be both sustainable and socially responsible. For the second consecutive year, Lenovo has earned a position on the index’s Honour Board, which puts it among the top 10 of the 636 companies whose corporate sustainability performance was examined. In addition, Lenovo is the top rated company in the Information Technology sector and the only company in its sector among the Hong Kong top 20.

“As we continue to commit ourselves to sustainability and social responsibility, it is an honor to be recognized for our efforts by this important index,” said Peter Hortensius, Lenovo’s SVP and President, Product Group, who also serves as the company’s chief sustainability officer.  “The last year has been tremendous for Lenovo. We are now the second-largest PC manufacturer in the world, and very close to becoming the industry leader. This was achieved while maintaining and extending our dedication to sustainability and our core values.”

As a global company, Lenovo supports and implements sustainable business practices and is devoted to ensuring that its products, employees, sites and suppliers are following the commitments the company has made to environmental and socially responsible business practices.  Lenovo’s corporate social responsibility commitment encompasses:

• Protecting the environment as a strategic focus in all aspects of the company’s business, from product design and supplier selection to manufacturing and product life cycle management
• Focusing on product quality and safety throughout the entire life cycle
• Building a safe and healthy workplace where Lenovo treats its people as the company’s greatest asset
• Maintaining the highest ethical standards with a commitment to integrity and responsibility
• Donating time and resources to philanthropy to help those less fortunate and when disaster strikes

Additional details about Lenovo’s commitment to sustainability, and the company’s latest sustainability report, can be found online here: http://www.lenovo.com/csr.

Launched in 2010, the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series is Asia’s leading benchmark of the sustainability of Hong Kong listed companies – it is the first index series of its kind to focus exclusively on the environment, social and governance (ESG) performance of Hong Kong and mainland China stocks. The Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series is managed and compiled by Hang Seng Indexes Company, in collaboration with RepuTex-ESG, the ESG research arm of RepuTex Group. Full press release from RepuTex-ESG here: http://www.reputex.com/media-centre/media-release-asia-esg-performance-improves-across-the-board

About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $US30 billion personal technology company – and the second largest PC company in the world, serving customers in more than 160 countries.

Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com