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Milwaukee Tool expands adoption of MEMEX’s MERLIN communications platform

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Burlington, ON, Canada – October 30, 2015 – Based on the success of a 5-license MERLIN pilot completed in June, MEMEX Inc. (TSX-V: OEE) is pleased to announce the receipt of a 53-license MERLIN follow-on order from Wisconsin-based professional power tool and accessories manufacturing company, Milwaukee Tool. This order represents the first of three phases negotiated by Milwaukee Tool to implement MERLIN on 130 additional industrial machines at its Greenwood, MS plant.

MEMEX’s flagship software product, MERLIN, is an industrial-strength shop-floor–to-top-floor communications platform that provides efficiency metrics in real time. Specifically, MERLIN delivers a 10%-50% average productivity increase, earns 20%-plus profit improvement based on just a 10% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), consistently achieves payback in less than four months with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) greater than 300%, and connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing native MTConnect or hardware adapters for older machines.

“MERLIN is an integral automated link in our efforts to adopt the OEE metric as the key KPI in our manufacturing facility,” says Jack Bilotta, Plant Manager of Milwaukee Tool’s Greenwood plant. “MEMEX’s MERLIN provides direct, real-time communication from our production equipment.”

“We are thrilled to see MERLIN being tested, validated and adopted by a manufacturing leader like Milwaukee Tool,” said John Rattray, MEMEX’s Vice President of Sales. “Milwaukee Tool has joined other leading manufacturers like Mazak, Magellan and iMech in recognizing MERLIN’s unique ability to bring machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity from the shop floor to the top floor.”

About Milwaukee Tool

Since the company began in 1924, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry in both durability and performance by providing the best in professional, heavy-duty tools and accessories. With an unwavering commitment to the trades, Milwaukee Tool continues to lead with a focus on providing innovative, trade-specific solutions. Whether it is through their leadership in LITHIUM-ION technology, as seen in the M12™, M18™ & M28™ Systems, time-saving accessories or innovative hand tool products, Milwaukee Tool is dedicated to delivering a steady stream of advanced solutions for the trades that offer increased productivity and unmatched durability. Milwaukee Tool is a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY). For more information on the full line of Milwaukee® products, please call 1-800-SAWDUST or visit www.milwaukeetool.com

About MEMEX Inc.

MEMEX is a leading Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology platform provider that connects to any machine and delivers real-time manufacturing productivity metrics. Industrial strength MERLIN software provides Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) efficiency metrics in real-time, from shop-floor-to-top-floor. MERLIN connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing MTConnect, other protocols or hardware adapters. The MERLIN magic delivers a 10% to 50% average productivity increase so that any manufacturer can achieve world-class standards of excellence. Based on just a 10% increase in OEE, customers see profit improvements of 20%-plus and payback in less than four months.  For more information, please visit: www.memexOEE.com

Forward-Looking Statements

The statement “This order represents the first of three phases negotiated by Milwaukee Tool to implement MERLIN on 130 additional industrial machines at its Greenwood, MS plant” is a forward-looking statement. This intention was communicated by Milwaukee Tool to MEMEX during the negotiations for the purchase order announced in this press release and that intention was an integral part of those negotiations. However, there is no guarantee that Milwaukee Tool will proceed with the second and third phases of their planned expansion of their adoption of MEMEX’s MERLIN communications platform. The aforementioned forward-looking statement is made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable securities legislation, MEMEX assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise this forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent information, events, or circumstances.

Media Contacts

Leanne Rattray, Communications Specialist
905-635-1540 x103
leanne.rattray@memex.ca

David McPhail, CEO
519-993-1114
david.mcphail@memex.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

MEMEX provides MERLIN software as part of collaborative SmartBox IIoT project with Mazak Corporation and Cisco

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BURLINGTON, ON – (Marketwired – October 19, 2015) – The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) just got real for manufacturing productivity. Later this month, Mazak Corporation will showcase MERLIN software from MEMEX Inc. (TSX-V: OEE) with hardware from information technology (IT) leader Cisco in what is described as a collaborative platform called SmartBox.

Developed by Mazak, SmartBox will launch in front of metalworking managers and C-level executives on October 27-29 and November 3-5 at DISCOVER 2015. This Mazak Technology and Education event takes place at the company’s North American Manufacturing Headquarters in Florence, KY. Click here for Mazak’s October 15 press release on SmartBox.

Mazak is an industry-first launch platform for easy and highly secure entrance into the Industrial Internet of Things. SmartBox builds on MEMEX’s strategic partnership with Mazak Corp., which earlier this year named MEMEX to its exclusive Value Inspired Partner (VIP) program.

“The SmartBox collaboration realizes the IIoT vision on the factory floor,” said MEMEX’s CEO David McPhail. “We’re thrilled to be participating in this powerful combination with Mazak and Cisco. As well as MERLIN software, we are contributing our easy-to-deploy Ax760 hardware adapters to SmartBox. They enable every machine on the shop floor, old or new, to become web servers that utilize the MTConnect® manufacturing communication standard.”

Using MTConnect® as its foundation, SmartBox connectivity of machines and devices allows for enhanced monitoring and analytical capabilities including advanced cyber security protection. SmartBox represents a huge leap in digital integration across manufacturing.

“With the development of SmartBox, Mazak continues to drive toward its iSMART Factory concept and connecting today’s shops to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to achieve levels of efficiency and productivity never before realized,” said Brian Papke, President of Mazak. “And while our concept centers around open connectivity and the Internet, we at Mazak believe it is our moral obligation to also provide customers the highest level of security possible with SmartBox. As with all the technology we develop, Mazak has first implemented SmartBox into our own operations before expecting customers to wholeheartedly embrace the system.”

The power of SmartBox will be demonstrated at DISCOVER 2015 in one of the automated cells as part of Mazak’s own manufacturing operations. Each of the cell’s four machines are outfitted with a SmartBox and sensor array package, giving event attendees a firsthand look at the device in action within an actual manufacturing environment and network.

Mazak developed SmartBox to work with any machine regardless of make, model or age and will offer it in various configurations/kits based on the scenarios and challenges in which the units will be used. The device physically mounts to the side of machines without having to integrate into a machine’s electrical cabinet. With several standard input/output connecting ports, SmartBox lets users quickly and easily connect any standard off-the-shelf sensors to the system for machine data gathering and condition monitoring. One SmartBox may service several machine tools along with other associated manufacturing equipment, depending on the application.

At the heart of SmartBox is Cisco’s Connected Machines solution, based on the IoT System, designed specifically for industrial environments and equipped with an MTConnect software agent. Using a fog computing model, MTConnect runs directly on the ruggedized Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) 4000 switch, providing MERLIN software’s real-time visibility and insights into data right on the factory floor.

MEMEX’s MERLIN software installed in Mazak’s factory allows for monitoring analytics of machines, test stands and other equipment within the plant. The Cisco hardware is designed to help prevent any issues with unauthorized access from both directions – to or from the machines and equipment within a network. SmartBox satisfies the highly critical security concerns of IT departments when connecting legacy equipment to a plant’s main network for the purpose of gathering manufacturing data via the MTConnect protocol.

About the Company

MEMEX Inc. is a leading Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology platform provider that connects to any machine and delivers real-time manufacturing productivity metrics. Industrial strength MERLIN software provides Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) efficiency metrics in real time, from shop floor to top floor. MERLIN connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing MTConnect, other protocols or hardware adapters. The MERLIN magic delivers a 10% to 50% average productivity increase so that any manufacturer can achieve world-class standards of excellence. Based on just a 10% increase in OEE, customers see profit improvements of 20%-plus and payback in less than four months. For more information, please visit: www.memex-inc.com.

Media Contacts

Leanne Rattray, Communications Specialist
905-635-1540 x103
leanne.rattray@memex.ca

David McPhail, CEO
519-993-1114
david.mcphail@memex.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To see the full press release, please click here.

Mazak launches platform to bring manufacturers into the IIOT

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By: Canadian Metalworking – October 15, 2015

Mazak developed SmartBox to work with any machine regardless of make, model or age.

Mazak Corporation is collaborating with Cisco and MEMEX to launch a platform “for easy and highly secure entrance into the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT),” called SmartBox.

This technology represents a huge leap in digital integration across manufacturing. Access to real-time manufacturing data is used to improve overall productivity and responsiveness to customer/market changes. Using MTConnect technology as the foundation, SmartBox connectivity of machines and devices allows for enhanced monitoring and analytical capabilities including advanced cyber security protection.

Mazak is showcasing the SmartBox technology during its DISCOVER 2015 Technology and Education Event, held October 27-29 and November 3-5 at its North American Manufacturing Headquarters.

The power of SmartBox will be demonstrated in one of the automated cells as part of the company’s own manufacturing operations. Each of the cell’s four machines are outfitted with a SmartBox and sensor array package, giving event attendees a firsthand look at the device in action within an actual manufacturing environment and network.

The SmartBox is another component within Mazak’s dynamic iSMART Factory concept and one that takes advantage of Cisco’s Connected Machines solution to provide insights into machine operations. Advanced manufacturing cells and systems, along with full digital integration, can achieve free-flow data sharing, i.e., process control and operation/equipment monitoring.

The iSMART concept also incorporates Mazak’s SMOOTH Technology working in tandem with the MTConnect standard connectivity protocol.

Mazak also developed SmartBox to work with any machine regardless of make, model or age and will offer it in various configurations/kits based on the scenarios and challenges in which the units will be used. The device physically mounts to the side of machines without having to integrate into a machine’s electrical cabinet. With several standard input/output connecting ports, SmartBox lets users quickly and easily connect any standard off-the-shelf sensors to the system for machine data gathering and condition monitoring. One SmartBox may service several machine tools along with other associated manufacturing equipment, depending on the application.

At the heart of the SmartBox is Cisco’s Connected Machines solution, based on the IoT System, designed specifically for industrial environments and equipped with an MTConnect software agent. Using a fog computing model, the MT Connect software runs directly on the ruggedized Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) 4000 switch—providing real time visibility and insights into data right on the factory floor.

The Memex software installed in Mazak’s own factory allows for monitoring analytics of machines, test stands and other equipment within the plant. The Cisco hardware is designed to help prevent any issues with unauthorized access from both directions – to or from the machines and equipment within a network. SmartBox satisfies the highly critical security concerns of IT departments when connecting legacy equipment to a plant’s main network for the purpose of gathering manufacturing data via the MTConnect protocol.

“With the development of SmartBox, Mazak continues to drive toward its iSMART Factory concept and connecting today’s shops to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to achieve levels of efficiency and productivity never before realized,” said Brian Papke, President of Mazak Corporation. “And while our concept centers around open connectivity and the Internet, we at Mazak believe it is our moral obligation to also provide customers the highest level of security possible with SmartBox. As with all the technology we develop, Mazak has first implemented SmartBox into our own operations before expecting customers to wholeheartedly embrace the system.”

The underlying Cisco networking platform helps ensure that IT technicians will be familiar with SmartBox’s operation and can use it to quickly and easily control and manage network security. Also, the hardware allows manufacturers to enable secure machine communications through secure access and identity policy mechanisms. Third parties, such as equipment suppliers, can then log on to a company’s network and access only those machines equipped with a Mazak SmartBox.

“This is great example of how Cisco works with our ecosystem of partners to help customers capture the value of digitization,” said Tony Shakib, Vice President, Vertical Solutions, at Cisco.

“Cisco’s scalable and secure IoT platform makes it possible for partners like Mazak and MEMEX to quickly launch new IoT offerings that provide high-value customer experiences and business outcomes. We’re helping our OEM partners transform their business from selling products to selling industrial services.”

For more information, visit www.mazakusa.com.

To see the article, please click here.

Seyer Industries has provided an order for MEMEX’s MERLIN

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Saint Peters, MO – October 08, 2015 – MEMEX Inc. (TSX-V: OEE) is pleased to announce that Seyer Industries Inc., a Missouri-based aerospace manufacturing company with a focus on the development, manufacture and aftermarket support of aerospace products, has provided an initial order for MERLIN.

MEMEX’s flagship software product MERLIN is an industrial-strength shop-floor-to-top-floor communications platform that provides efficiency metrics in real time. Specifically, MERLIN delivers a 10%-50% average productivity increase, earns 20%-plus profit improvement based on just a 10% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), consistently achieves payback in less than four months with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) greater than 300%, and connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing native MTConnect or hardware adapters for older machines.

“We have seen the benefits of data-driven manufacturing. Now with MERLIN collecting data automatically from the machine, we will get OEE metrics as well as much more detail and granularity of events, allowing us to retrieve actionable data to streamline our manufacturing process,” said Mark Seyer, VP Manufacturing at Seyer. “We will use the MTConnect standard for machine connectivity, initially operating on the Mazak machines.

“The aerospace sector demands a high degree of accuracy and efficiency in the manufacturing supply chain,” said John Rattray, MEMEX’s Vice President of Sales. “We see Seyer Industries as a leading company, embracing data-driven manufacturing, to improve efficiencies in their operations and gain competitive advantages. MERLIN has the unique ability to bring machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity from the shop-to-the-top-floor, driving cost competitiveness with superior machining processes.”

About Seyer Industries

Founded in 1957, Seyer Industries is a third generation, family-owned business specializing in higher-level assemblies for the aerospace and maritime industries.  It serves as a supplier to major prime contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Gulfstream Aerospace, as well as a direct government contractor to the departments of the Navy, Air Force, and Army. As an integrator of assembly-level work, Seyer maintains a wide breadth of in-house capabilities including CNC machining, NADCAP-certified welding, painting, tube bending, electrical and mechanical assembly, kitting, (Catia v.5), and testing. For more information, please visit www.seyerind.com

About MEMEX Inc.

MEMEX Inc. is a leading Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology platform provider that connects to any machine and delivers real-time manufacturing productivity metrics. Industrial strength MERLIN software provides Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) efficiency metrics in real time, from shop-floor-to-top-floor. MERLIN connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing MTConnect, other protocols or hardware adapters. The MERLIN magic delivers a 10% to 50% average productivity increase so that any manufacturer can achieve world-class standards of excellence. Based on just a 10% increase in OEE, customers see profit improvements of 20%-plus and payback in less than four months. For more information, please visit: www.memex.ca

Media Contacts

Leanne Rattray, Communications Specialist
905-635-1540 x103
leanne.rattray@memex.ca

David McPhail, CEO
519-993-1114
david.mcphail@memex.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

MEMEX rides into WESTEC 2015 on triple-digit sales growth for MERLIN, new VIP partnership with Mazak

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Los Angeles, CA – WESTEC 2015 (WESTEC Booth 440) – Sept. 15, 2015 – Coming off record sales growth for its MERLIN communications platform and a partnership with advanced machine tool manufacturer Mazak Corp., MEMEX Inc. (TSX-V: OEE) is bringing its new logo, associated branding and MERLIN value proposition to WESTEC, the West Coast’s premier manufacturing tradeshow and learning event.  

Proven in single and multi-plant installations across North America, MERLIN is an industrial strength shop-floor-to-top- floor communications platform that provides efficiency metrics in real time. Specifically, the MERLIN value proposition:

  • Delivers a 10%-50% average productivity increase
  • Earns 20%-plus profit improvement based on just a 10% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  • Consistently achieves payback in less than 4 months with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) greater than 300%
  • Connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing native MTConnect or hardware adapters for older machines

MERLIN market traction catapulted MEMEX Inc.’s revenue by 155% year over year for the third quarter of 2015, and 97% for the first nine months ended June 30, 2015. President & CEO David McPhail commented, “We are pleased with both our year to date as well as our quarterly year over year comparable growth. Our continued investment in the development of our direct sales and partner channels is reflected in the numbers reported. The concept of data-driven manufacturing and MERLIN’s new branding and value proposition are resonating well with new customers and the follow-on MERLIN plant expansion plans of our existing customers.”

MEMEX Inc. also has a new strategic partnership with Mazak Corp. Mazak has named MEMEX to its exclusive Value Inspired Partner (VIP) program. The announcement comes at a time when Mazak is paving the way in digital resource productivity via its iSMART Factory concept, an all-encompassing vision that harnesses the power of connectivity to optimize manufacturing operations at every level.

Mazak selects VIP partners that share its same forward-thinking approach to manufacturing. According to Brian Papke, president of Mazak Corporation, MEMEX makes the perfect VIP because Mazak knows first-hand how the company can help create factories of the future today. And, like Mazak, MEMEX believes in continuous innovation, boosting manufacturing productivity via digital interconnectedness and helping customers achieve the best possible competitive advantage.

MERLIN plays a critical role in the iSMART Factory concept by allowing Mazak to monitor its productivity and overall equipment effectiveness metrics from anywhere in real-time. The MTConnect® open communications protocol works in conjunction with MERLIN to harvest the data from all the different production floor machines, cells, devices and processes.

The WESTEC manufacturing community can also come to Booth 440 to learn more about MEMEX Inc.’s documented MERLIN Return on Investment (ROI) case studies, including:

  • An aerospace plant reduced downtime events from 400 hours down to 100 hours. This resulted in a net increase in machining capacity of 100 hours/month. The Return In Investment (ROI) was $30,000/month against an initial cost for MERLIN of $20,000.
  • An advanced manufacturing CEO initiated a mandate to look at OEE systems that automatically track machine utilization. The company standardized on MERLIN with more than 140 machines in 6 manufacturing plants. With accurate OEE, they continuously question assumptions, improve processes and cut downtime. They contend this is far cheaper than buying new machines.
  • An aerospace and defense components manufacturer saw a 20% gain in efficiency within a week of installing MERLIN
on six machines, and then saw another gain across the board over the course of a year. The company scaled up to every machine in its plant and increased OEE by 25%.

About the Company

MEMEX Inc. is a leading Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology platform provider that connects to any machine and delivers real-time manufacturing productivity metrics. Industrial strength MERLIN software provides Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) efficiency metrics in real time, from shop floor to top floor. MERLIN connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing MTConnect, other protocols or hardware adapters. The MERLIN magic delivers a 10% to 50% average productivity increase so that any manufacturer can achieve world-class standards of excellence. Based on just a 10% increase in OEE, customers see profit improvements of 20%-plus and payback in less than four months. For more information, please visit: www.memex-inc.com 

Media Contacts

Leanne Rattray, Communications Specialist
905-635-1540 x103
leanne.rattray@memex.ca

David McPhail, CEO
519-993-1114
david.mcphail@memex.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To see the full press release, please click here.