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Merck Supports Enterprise Integration with Polycom Immersive Telepresence Solutions
Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Merck simplifies communication between global teams by utilising Polycom's® Open Telepresence Experience™ High Definition 300 solution to boost productivity
 
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Aug 24, 2011 : Global pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck KGaA has long recognized the benefits of visual communication solutions from Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), a global leader in unified communications, in improving productivity and reducing travel costs. Now, Merck has turned to Polycom's immersive telepresence video conferencing systems to enable fast and efficient employee communication despite long geographical distances, and to lower the effort involved in international travel. The recent acquisition of Millipore, a large biotechnical and chemical company based in the U.S., accentuated this need. After an evaluation of available telepresence solutions, Polycom Inc. was selected as partner of choice.
 
"Innovation is one of our core competencies. Our Polycom immersive telepresence environments give us a competitive edge because our managers can communicate more quickly and react faster," said Gunter Bert, Associate Manager Networking and Telecommunications Corporate Information Services, Merck KGaA. "The Polycom OTX 300 immersive telepresence rooms put our geographically separated executives in a life-like virtual conference room without the inconvenience of long-distance flights. This results in faster decisions, saved travel costs and more productive employees. Polycom's solutions offer us real added value."
 
Merck expanded its existing Polycom portfolio with the Polycom® Open Telepresence Experience™ 300 (Polycom OTX™ 300) with high-definition (HD), for its company headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, and at its newly acquired Millipore office in Billerica, a town in Massachusetts, USA. The Polycom OTX 300 consists of three large (65-inch or 165cm) LCD monitors embedded in a unique telepresence room. Incorporated in these flat screens are new PS-VA liquid crystals (polymer-stabilized vertical alignment), pioneered by Merck itself, that offer improved contrast and low power consumption. The result is life-like HD video and audio that shows meeting participants in full-sized proportions so that even the smallest gestures and elements of body language can be interpreted. In addition, the Polycom OTX 300 uses H.264 High Profile, a powerful new standards-based video compression technology, to further reduce the solution's consumption of network bandwidth.
 
Merck's business analysis shows rapid return on its Polycom investment: According to calculations the company believes that the new Polycom OTX 300 systems will be amortised very quickly because of long distance travel cost savings.
 
Merck already deploys video communication and telepresence systems at most of its locations and is now increasing its adoption of high-end immersive solutions for management. Due to the success of the new Polycom OTX 300 and its existing telepresence rooms, Merck plans investments in telepresence solutions for other regions.
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Douglas Fearing- Co-Founder / President

A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.

Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.

Lois Fearing- Co-Founder/Accounting, Human Resources

A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.

Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.

Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.

Ehren Tresner-VP of Technology and Innovation

Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.

Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.

Ben Voeck-Director of Commercial AV

With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.

By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.

Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.

Chris Matson-Senior VP of Sales

Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.

Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.