PolyVision Corporation

Polyvision Corporation is a company that manufactures CeramicSteel surfaces for applications such as whiteboards, chalkboards, architectural surfaces and panels, and infrastructure projects.[1] Headquartered in Georgia, Polyvision was acquired by Industrial Opportunity Partners in February 2020.[2] The company was founded in 1954 under the name Information Display Technology, Inc. and began operating under the name Polyvision in May 1995.[3] Polyvision has production facilities in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, New Philadelphia, Ohio, and Genk, Belgium, with their Okmulgee facility being one of the area's major employers.[4][5]

Polyvision Corporation
FormerlyDisplay Technology, Inc., Information Display Technology, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1954; 70 years ago (1954)
Headquarters
Johns Creek
,
United States
Areas served
North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), APAC (Asia-Pacific)
ProductsCeramicSteel Panels, Architectural Cladding, Writing Surface Materials
Number of employees
200 (2014)
Websitepolyvision.com

Mergers and acquisitions

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In 1998, Polyvision purchased Alliance International Group, a manufacturer of CeramicSteel products used in visual displays and writing surfaces, for about $75 million.[6]

Polyvision acquired Nelson Adams in May 1999.[7]

In January 2000, Polyvision purchased both American Chalkboard and Peninsular Slate.[8]

Polyvision became a subsidiary of Steelcase in August 2001.[9] In 2012, it was announced that Polyvision’s educational technology products would become part of the Steelcase Education Solutions group.[10]

Polyvision was divested by Steelcase and acquired by Industrial Opportunities Partners in February 2020.[11]

Polyvision announced its acquisition of Marsh Industries in August of 2020.[12]

Projects

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Polyvision has created surfaces for many public art installations, only a few of which include:

Awards and recognition

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Some of PolyVision's products have won awards at the NeoCon World's Trade Fair:[16][17][18]

Year Award Product
2003 Gold Award LTX Multimedia Whiteboard
2005 Editor’s Choice Commercial series of Markerboards and Tackboards
2007 Product Innovation Award CopyCam Image Editing Software
2007 Product Innovation Award RoomWizard
2018 Good Design™ Award Motif™
2019 Red Dot Design Award: Product Design Motif™

Other awards

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  • 2005 MAX Award winner for the Walk-and-Talk Interactive Panel and Cordless Lectern[19]
  • 2010 Best in Tech by Scholastic[20]

Polyvision's Genk facility was the first European CeramicSteel manufacturer to earn a Cradle-to-Cradle certification for its environmentally sustainable practices.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Rob Kneebone, Managing Director of ABP Group". CEO Magazine. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Steelcase Sells Polyvision to Industrial Opportunity Partners". Globe Newswire. Steelcase Inc. 24 February 2020.
  3. ^ "PolyVision Corporation Founded". PolyVision. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Polyvision: Sustainability Pioneers in Ceramicsteel" (PDF). Wallonie Designs. RECentre. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Okmulgee Area Major Employers". Okmulgee Area Development Corporation. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  6. ^ "The Week in Business: LaSalle Buys Compass to Create Gigantic Firm". Atlanta Business Chronicle. 7 September 1998. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Welcome to Nelson Adams NACO". Nelson Adams NACO. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  8. ^ "PolyVision Acquires Two Manufacturers". Indiana Gazette. 26 Jan 2000. p. 16.
  9. ^ "Company News; Steelcase Buying Polyvision for $73 Million". The Associated Press. 28 August 2001.
  10. ^ Doyle, Caity (5 November 2012). "Combining Tech With Furniture? How Polyvision and Steelcase are Integrating the Two to Enhance Learning in the Classroom". TechnApex. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  11. ^ "PolyVision Acquired by Industrial Opportunities Partners". Business Insider. 24 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Atlanta-based PolyVision Acquires US-Based Visual Display Board Manufacturer, Marsh Industries Inc". Metro Atlanta CEO. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  13. ^ "About Flat Earth". Peter Jansen. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Our Work at a Train Station in Singapore". Monocircus. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  15. ^ "publicart.ie".
  16. ^ Sanchez, Mark (20 June 2003). "NeoCon Honors Manufacturers". Grand Rapids Business Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  17. ^ "NeoCon '05: Best of NeoCon Competition Names 25 Gold Award Winners; Bernhardt's Seating/Table Collection Takes Best Of Competition". FMLink. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Product Innovations 2007". buildings.com. Buildings Smarter Facility Management. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Grand Winner: Polyvision Corp". bizjournals.com. Bizjournals. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Best In Tech 2010: Whiteboard Solutions". scholastic.com. Scholastic. Retrieved 9 July 2016.