Ideation attendees experience an apparel micro-factory simulation in virtual reality with the HTC VIVE Pro and Powertrak VRoom.
Miami Beach, FL- October 4, 2018 Axonom, a global provider of visual and virtual configure, price, quote (CPQ) software, today announces customer Gerber Technology is unveiling a virtual reality exhibit of a modern micro-factory at the ideation conference in Miami Beach, Florida. The exhibit combines immersive virtual reality with 3D animation to give fashion, retail, and apparel leaders the most realistic experience to learn the benefits of a digitally-connected micro-factory.
The Gerber Technology VR exhibit transports attendees into a virtual micro-factory environment where they can see animated machines moving fabric from design to production. It gives attendees an immersive, first-person viewpoint of the hand-off process from product design to digital printing to automated cutting to robotic sewing.
“Virtual Reality is a first-class demonstration tool,” said Bill Grindle, chief marketing officer at Gerber Technology. “It’s an effective way to show each stage of the apparel design process - from concept in software to fabric to completed garment. In fact, virtual reality with 3D animation helps us build trust with the customer. We can share detailed information and answer questions in real-time while they experience fabric being digitally printed, cut, and sewn into a complete product.”
The VR exhibit demonstrates the interaction between Gerber Technology's digitally-connected machines and 3rd party printers. It shows how data is passed seamlessly from system-to-system, automating the workflow, and minimizing human interaction. Attendees will learn how digitally-connected micro-factories improve product quality, reduce costs, and speed time to market.
“Transporting attendees into a virtual environment eliminates the need to ship large machines to the conference,” said Mike Belongie, COO at Axonom. “Gerber Technology’s investment in Powertrak VRoom is saving the company on added drayage, labor, and floor space expenses.”
The VR exhibit is powered by Axonom’s Powertrak VRoom and Powertrak 3D Product Configurator, and viewed with the HTC VIVE Pro, a professional-grade VR headset. “With VIVE Pro, businesses can experience the best quality display in addition to built-in high-performance headphones, creating a heightened sense of presence and immersion,” said Daniel O’Brien, HTC VIVE General Manager, Americas. “In the product design and retail space, VR is playing a large role to showcase how impactful products can be."
All attendees are invited to the virtual reality experience exhibit located in the Embracing Digitalization Interactive Studio in Salon A at the Eden Roc/Nobu Hotel. The three-day conference features interactive sessions, workshops, demonstrations, and keynote speaker and fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff.
About Gerber Technology
Gerber Technology delivers industry-leading software and automation solutions that help apparel and industrial customers improve their manufacturing and design processes and more effectively manage and connect the supply chain, from product development and production to retail and the end customer. Gerber serves 78,000 customers in 134 countries, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies in apparel & accessories, home and leisure, transportation, packaging and sign & graphics. The company develops and manufactures its products from various locations in the United States and Canada and has additional manufacturing capabilities in China.
Based in Connecticut in the USA, Gerber Technology is owned by AIP, a New York based, global private equity firm specializing in the technology sector and has more than $3.0 billion assets under management.
About HTC VIVE
VIVE is a first-of-its-kind virtual reality platform, built and optimized for room-scale VR and true-to-life interactions. Delivering on the promise of VR with game-changing technology and best-in-class content, VIVE has created the strongest ecosystem for VR hardware and software, bringing VR to consumers, developers and enterprises alike. The VIVE ecosystem is built around the best VR hardware in market, supported by VIVE X, a $100 million accelerator for VR and related technology start-ups, Viveport, a global platform and app store with the world’s first VR subscription model that operates in more than 45 countries, and VIVE Studios, its VR content development and publishing initiative. For more information on VIVE, please visit www.vive.com.
About Axonom
Axonom is a worldwide leader in marrying Visual Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software with Virtual Reality (VR) experiences. Established in 2002, the developer of Powertrak 3D Product Configurator and VRoom enables sales, channel partners, and customers around the world to visually build products and design environments, then experience them in virtual reality.
Enriched with mobile extendibility, the Powertrak solution suite includes: Configure-Price-Quote, 2D/3D Visual Product Configurator, Virtual Reality Product Configurator, Guided Selling, and Web Portals. By delivering more transactions more efficiently through channels at a lower cost, Powertrak helps customers achieve greater profit potential. For more information on Powertrak, please visit www.axonom.com.