ENGINEERING TECH
Altair | September 14, 2022
Altair ( Nasdaq: ALTR), a global leader in computational science and artificial intelligence (AI), signed a definitive agreement to acquire RapidMiner, a leader in advanced data analytics and machine learning (ML) software.
RapidMiner's low-code platform is used by more than one million people of all skill levels to develop production-scale data pipelines and ML models, putting advanced data analytics into the hands of those who know the domain problems best. It provides hundreds of powerful, drag-and-drop building blocks to transform and augment data – greatly accelerating work for coders and non-coders alike – and its flexible delivery models provide users and enterprises with the scale they need, from a user's desktop to on-premises servers to secure, multi-tenant cloud.
"This acquisition significantly strengthens Altair's end-to-end data analytics (DA) portfolio, which already offers customers the power to understand, transform, act on, and automate their data, Machine learning is becoming an essential part of business, but often the barriers to building ML models are too high to get started. Too much data, not enough data science expertise, and insecure or unscalable production environments can all keep a business from executing on their data analytics vision. That's where RapidMiner can be transformative."
-James R. Scapa, founder and chief executive officer, Altair.
RapidMiner's cloud platform takes the best of RapidMiner desktop and adds the strength of the cloud, bringing additional scale and governance to the low-code platform. This multi-tenant, SaaS-ready version enables organizations to ramp up their data science workloads easily and safely.
RapidMiner resonates with users in the data analytics community due to its talented, hands-on technical team with decades of experience, led by founder and chief technology officer Dr. Ingo Mierswa, who will join Altair. Under Mierswa's leadership, RapidMiner pioneered the entire concept of visual, explainable data science, and was the first platform to introduce automatic data science, text analytics, automated feature engineering, deep learning, and more.
"Altair and RapidMiner share the same vision to make data analytics simple enough for all users, but scalable, governed, and safe enough for all enterprises, We see this as an incredibly exciting opportunity to watch our solutions grow across the globe and expand into a larger, more powerful ecosystem."
-Dr. Ingo Mierswa,founder and chief technology officerRapidMiner.
RapidMiner reinforces Altair's DA market position in several verticals – especially manufacturing and financial services – through industry expertise and industry-specific ML techniques and data source connections. Sitting next to dozens of existing Altair products already in these verticals, RapidMiner presents an exciting new offering for new and existing customers who will be able to access existing Altair and RapidMiner products easily through Altair's unique units licensing model.
RapidMiner will be integrated with existing tools, such as Altair Knowledge Studio, Altair SmartWorks, and Altair SLC, to provide a comprehensive, code-optional, multi-language, SaaS-ready, cloud-scale platform for enterprise data analytics and data science.
About Altair:
Altair is a global leader in computational science and artificial intelligence (AI) that provides software and cloud solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics, and AI. Altair enables organizations across all industries to compete more effectively and drive smarter decisions in an increasingly connected world – all while creating a greener, more sustainable future.
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MATERIALS,CONSTRUCTION
GAF | August 03, 2022
Phase Change Solutions (PCS), a leading smart materials company, today announced a strategic partnership with GAF, a Standard Industries company and North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, for developing and commercializing advanced materials for thermal management. The partnership includes integration of PCS' core technology platform, BioPCM®, with relevant GAF products in the building and construction markets.
PCS' unique BioPCM® solution products, which are designed to absorb and release thermal energy at precise temperatures, enable customers to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce stress on HVAC systems in buildings, data centers and telecom shelters, as well as enable temperature control of pharmaceuticals and food products during transportation.
GAF's 2030 planet goals include extensive plans to reduce operational carbon in buildings and communities through its products, services and expertise. Advanced technologies like phase change materials are key to achieving these goals while offering sustainable and durable solutions to its customers.
Both companies have initiated work plans to collaborate and integrate their respective technologies to drive energy efficiency across the built environment. In addition, GAF was the lead investor in PCS' most recent series C funding round, which included Emerald Technology Ventures, Circulate Capital, Third Prime, GC Ventures America and others.
"Partnering with innovative and agile companies like Phase Change Solutions is part of our strategic growth and innovation plan, Integrating technologies like Phase Change Solutions will give us the ability to provide our customers with energy-efficient decarbonization solutions while continuing to deliver the trusted performance they have come to expect from GAF."
-Jim Schnepper, CEO of GAF.
Commenting on the collaboration, Govi Rao, CEO of Phase Change Solutions said, We are very excited to be part of the GAF ecosystem, which covers a broad range of building applications as well as the renewable energy space. He added, Combining our BioPCM® platform with GAF's robust technology matrix, brand recognition and market access is an ideal recipe to create and deliver scalable, sustainable and circular economy solutions to the customers.
About PCS:
Phase Change Solutions (PCS) is a global leader in the development and supply of phase change materials ("PCMs"). The company's proprietary PCMs, collectively referred to as BioPCM® have been certified to include 100% bio-based content and listed among the USDA's BioPreferred® products. BioPCM® can be designed to store and release thermal energy at temperatures ranging from -75°C to 175°C. This tuning capability of BioPCM® enables customers worldwide to lower operating costs, protect perishable food & pharma and reach their sustainable development goals (SDGs).
About GAF:
GAF, a Standard Industries company, is the leading roofing and waterproofing manufacturer in North America. For more than 135 years, GAF has been trusted to protect what matters most for families, communities and business owners with its innovative solutions and focus on customer service. GAF's leadership extends to its commitment to making a positive impact on its communities, industry, and planet.
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CONSTRUCTION
Autodesk | July 21, 2022
As part of its strategy to provide customers with digital tools for a competitive advantage in the market, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today launched the next phase in its effort to upskill current construction workers and help the industry engage the next generation of prospective recruits. The company's latest initiatives, Construction Master Class and the Autodesk Construction Cloud Learning Center, allow construction industry professionals to learn new skills, advance their career and future-proof their businesses.
The construction labor shortage and digital skills gap are global challenges. According to the latest annual survey by Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk, 89 percent of construction firms in America are having a difficult time filling hourly craft positions and 86 percent are struggling to fill salaried positions. Sixty-one percent of firms surveyed said their projects are being delayed because of workforce shortages. Globally, according to a recent Core Research survey commissioned by Autodesk of 300 construction professionals in Ireland, most professionals attributed their recruitment challenges to a lack of available skilled labor (59 percent) and a subset of this group (43 percent) believes labor is available, but company recruitment efforts are unable to attract the right talent.
To help its customers and the construction industry more broadly address challenges around the digital skills gap, Autodesk has launched two new programs: Construction Master Class and the Autodesk Construction Cloud Learning Center.
Construction Master Class provides online tutorials from industry leaders that are free to everyone. Hosted by top construction experts, the videos provide practical insights to empower participants with best practices on workflows and career advancement. Construction Master Class allows viewers to hear directly from industry leaders and Autodesk experts on how to deliver critical project outcomes like better cost control, improved quality management and standardized field collaboration workflows – all through a mix of personal stories, use cases and examples of "what not to do."
Autodesk Construction Cloud Learning Center houses easy-to-follow courses free to everyone and translated into five languages on how to use Autodesk Construction Cloud products, including Autodesk Build, Autodesk Takeoff and Autodesk Docs. Learning paths include videos that provide specific and practical instructions on using Autodesk Construction Cloud solutions to excel with digital construction skills such as setting up project templates, tracking issues, managing RFI and submittal workflows and collaborating with project members. Since the launch of the Learning Center in the spring of 2021, there have been more than 42,000 course enrollments with registration from 134 countries.
Autodesk has also established several other initiatives to help develop tech acumen in current construction workers and encourage a new and diverse set of workers to join the profession. These include:
The Autodesk Membership Training Provider Program: More than 215 trade unions and industry associations are now enrolled in Autodesk's program that aims to increase the digital skills of members. Training centers in the MTP Program are provided with Autodesk software products, such as Autodesk Construction Cloud and Revit, for an annual subscription license fee. The program's benefits enhance BIM and CAD training efforts at current training sites and allow new sites to offer enhanced training initiatives with Autodesk technology.
Autodesk's Make It Real program: A community education program encouraging young people to apply design thinking to real problems related to construction and the built environment. The program offers inspiration, learning and funding opportunities, including this year, $50,000 worth of microgrants provided through the Building Changemakers Giveaway. Recipients decide for themselves how to apply the funds where they are needed most, such as expenses to support training – ranging from tuition and certification fees to safety equipment and childcare.
"As we have all acutely felt, the industry is facing major obstacles when it comes to hiring and retaining labor and skilled trades workers, There's huge demand not just for labor in and of itself, but for workers who have digital skills under their belt. Project-ready professionals need to be adept at using technology on the jobsite and in the trailer, as well as in the office. Autodesk's learning resources will enable us to upskill current members and provide new ones with the right tools to get quickly up to speed."
-Ronald McGuire, program administrator at the International Training Institute.
The labor shortage in the construction industry will only get more dire as the current workforce retires, with about 41 percent of current US construction professionals expected to age out by 2031, according to McKinsey, said Allison Scott, director of customer experience and industry advocacy at Autodesk. Our customers consistently voice concerns that though there will be an influx of new projects and roles, the industry is not bringing in enough people to fulfill their increasing needs or grow the right skillsets. Autodesk's construction learning initiatives are being employed to help companies move fast, so they can remain competitive and stay ahead of the curve during the industry's digital transformation.
About Autodesk-
Autodesk is changing how the world is designed and made. Our technology spans architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media and entertainment, empowering innovators everywhere to solve challenges big and small. From greener buildings to smarter products to more mesmerizing blockbusters, Autodesk software helps our customers to design and make a better world for all.
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