CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND/LONGUEUIL, CANADA, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Directors of New Zealand-based Pulse Data International and Canadian-based VisuAide are delighted to announce the merger of their companies, and the creation of an exciting new organisation to serve the needs of people with visual impairment. The merged entity will be known as the HumanWare Group.
The HumanWare name has been widely used in North America since it was adopted as the name for Pulse Data’s North American subsidiary in 1989. The name has now been reborn to define a caring and people-focused global company, dedicated to providing innovative, technology-based, solutions to enable people who are blind or visually impaired, to access information.
HumanWare combines two of the industry’s most innovative companies - both recognised as world leaders in their respective fields. Products like the SmartView video magnifier and more recently myReader - the worlds first low vision auto-reader - are redefining the way people look at low vision while the Victor Reader family of digital talking book players has been at the forefront of the industry since its inception. The BrailleNote is the best- known solution in the notetaker market today, and this market will be expanded with the introduction of Maestro. Finally, the companies produce the world’s only commercialised GPS based orientation solutions for the blind - Trekker and BrailleNote GPS.
Pulse Data International’s CEO, Dr Russell Smith, will head the new organisation. According to Dr Smith, “Over the past few years, both Pulse Data and VisuAide have gained impressive reputations for providing outstanding products that enable visually impaired people to achieve equality of access to information. These successes have led to the strong growth of both organisations”
“We strongly believe that unifying the two organisations will accelerate the achievement of the companies’ common vision and goals,” Dr Smith said. “VisuAide shares our dream of developing, manufacturing and marketing world leading products that enable people with sight related disabilities to attain their greatest potential.”
Following the merger, Gilles Pepin will become President and CEO of HumanWare’s Canadian subsidiary. Both Mr. Pepin and Yves Boisjoli, VisuAide’s CFO, will become significant shareholders of the HumanWare Group. Pepin will also join the HumanWare Group’s Board of Directors.
VisuAide’s President and CEO, Gilles Pepin, is extremely enthusiastic about the merger. “Both our companies share the desire to be the best in the industry - working together in such a talented and motivated team will be a positive move for our employees, partners and, most importantly, our customers”, he said.
For many years, Pulse Data and VisuAide have shared a similar research and development philosophy and have invested heavily in ongoing product development. HumanWare is committed to retaining this focus on innovation and will maintain the existing R&D operations in both New Zealand and Canada. The combination of these units will create the largest R&D capability in the industry.
With a team of over 200 employees worldwide, HumanWare is one of the largest companies in the low vision and blindness industry. Sales offices are located in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, while the parent company will be based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Background
VisuAide was founded in 1988 with the encouragement of the Institut Nazareth et Louise-Braille, Canada’s leading rehabilitation centre for the blind and visually impaired, to conduct research and development activities for such users. In 1996 VisuAide obtained growth capital from financial investors to expand its business. VisuAide is now recognised as the world leader with Victor Reader, its digital audio book solutions for the print disabled. The company also manufactures Trekker, a GPS-based orientation and mobility product for the visually impaired and Maestro, the first accessible mainstream PDA. Further information on VisuAide and its products can be found at http://www.visuaide.com/
Based in Christchurch, New Zealand Pulse Data International was also established in 1988. Since its inception the company has gained a reputation as a major supplier of integrated Braille and speech technology, a range of video magnification solutions, screen-reading software and speech synthesizers. Pulse Data is internationally acclaimed for its highly successful BrailleNote and SmartView product ranges, and in recent months has launched myReader, the worlds first low vision auto-reader. Pulse Data exports approximately 96% of its products to more than 30 countries worldwide. Further information on Pulse Data International and its products can be found at http://www.pulsedata.com/
VISUAIDE
CONTACT: Pulse Data International, Russell Smith, CEO,russell.smith@pulsedata.com, +64 21 362 765; Greg Thompson,International Sales & Marketing Manager, greg.thompson@pulsedata.com,+64 21 528 003; Hassan Wong, Manager, Strategy and New Ventures,hassan.wong@pulsedata.com, +64 21 464453; VisuAide, Gilles Pepin,President and CEO, gillesp@visuaide.com, +1 514 217 5087; Ivan Lagace, VicePresident Sales & Marketing, ivanl@visuaide.com, +1 514 943 2043