RealWear, a leader in wearable computing, has acquired Switzerland’s Almer Technologies. This acquisition, backed by TeamViewer, aims to transform the industrial augmented reality (AR) market. “This acquisition… marks a significant leap forward in the mission to empower frontline workers worldwide with cutting-edge AR technology,” said RealWear. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed.
RealWear, based in Washington, is known for rugged, voice-operated AR glasses used mainly by industrial workers. These devices are particularly effective when attached to private 4G/5G networks, facilitating remote worker functionalities. Meanwhile, Almer Technologies, founded in Bern, emerged from a project at the Swiss Institute of Technology and has grown rapidly in the enterprise AR arena.
All of Almer’s 35 employees, including key executives Sebastian Beetschen and Timon Binder, will be integrated into RealWear. This merger is expected to bolster RealWear’s market reach with Almer’s compact and user-friendly AR headsets. The latter’s equipment is well-regarded for its ease of use, which aligns with the current industrial demand for intuitive wearable AR devices.
Strategic moves like this ensure that RealWear can maintain its leadership position by integrating Almer’s subscription-based AR headset technology. Almer had already established a strong European presence and was recognized as a disruptive force in enterprise AR.
Chris Parkinson, CEO at RealWear, highlighted that, “Almer’s innovative approach for frontline workers has enabled us to deliver industrial AR solutions that are the most intuitive and most effortless to use. We’re excited to bring in our expertise and speed of execution to RealWear and push the boundaries of frontline worker solutions.”
The collaboration with TeamViewer further cements this strategy. With its substantial customer base of around 640,000 subscribers, TeamViewer’s endorsement and backing enhance RealWear’s efforts to offer scalable AR solutions. Oliver Steil, CEO at TeamViewer, remarked, “Investing in RealWear and supporting their growth is a strategic move for us and a stride into the future of industrial digital transformation.”
