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FAST Hires Strategic Account Directors for Midwest and Northeast Market
Goal to Better Serve Appliance Manufacturers and Restaurant Operators
Stratford, Connecticut, September 24, 2008 – Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. (“FAST"), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls for the food service industry, has recently added two new members to its strategic accounts team for the purpose of offering flexible innovation, constant support and rewarding results to customers.
“FAST’s business model is successful when we build effective 1to1 working relationships with our customers”, said George Koether, FAST CEO. “Because we are deeply involved with appliance manufacturers and restaurant operators, it is essential that we locate sales leaders near to where our key customers are located.”
Tim Wrenn [northeast] and Joseph Ferron [midwest] join a team of sales leaders that have a strong reputation for delivering long term value, customer satisfaction, and effective communications with FAST’s design, manufacturing and support teams.
Before joining FAST earlier this year, Wrenn spent 25 years with Winchester Electronics in a number of sales and product marketing positions where he was a key participant in the delivery of solutions to OEMs that needed to add value to their product offerings. He has a strong insight into the electronics equipment industry and broad experience with computer, telecommunications, and test and measurement applications. Tim received his MBA from the University of New Haven and B.A. from Western Connecticut State University. He resides in Connecticut.
Ferron spent 13 years in applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, sales engineering and national account management for 3M and Invensys Appliance Controls where he gained a deep understanding of electromechanical timers, A.C. synchronous motors, fluid and gas filtration products and other systems used in appliance, HVAC and refrigeration applications. Joe received a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from the University of Dayton. He is an active community member who volunteers in a number of charity organizations. He resides in the Chicago area.
About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. FAST is considered the world leader in Foodservice Temperature and Process Control Solutions. FAST products are found in major brand appliances and restaurants in over 65 countries. While protecting its intellectual property, FAST continues its industry commitment by making available appropriate licenses for its proprietary technologies. FAST introduced the first solid-state (FASTRON.)® cooking computer in 1970, and continues to set the pace for its industry with products that improve food safety, food quality, and labor efficiency. Visit www.fastinc.com.
FAST
Announces New Web Site: Online Resource for Appliance Manufacturers
and Restaurant OperatorsStratford, Connecticut, August 25, 2008 – Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. ("FAST"), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls for the food service industry has recently launched its new website www.fastinc.com. This innovative resource center provides fresh, relevant and easy to find information for visitors who need a time and paper saving process for selecting the right products for their applications and for receiving constant support. "Our goals for the new site are to present FAST as a global company and to provide great customer service through a valuable online resource for learning about our products, how to benefit from them, and how to do business with our company," stated George Koether, FAST CEO. The new site effectively categorizes OEM appliance partner and restaurant operator information so that visitors can go directly to their areas of interest. "The website was designed for easy self-service through an intuitive user interface that guides navigation directly to product information along with videos, instant messaging and links to information on food safety, foodservice resources and technical terms," said Michelle Narus, FAST Marketing Specialist. Customers benefit from time savings on routine technical questions. Shortened call times enable support reps to focus on high impact activities. "When we redirect callers to a specific web page for online help regarding how to program our products or to spec sheets and operating manuals, they become more efficient," stated Joe Caponera, Tech Support Supervisor. "We coach them to self-sufficiency through FAQs, email-a-tech, and online warranty options and repair service procedures for easily locating an in-state or in-country service agent." By studying the types of downloaded information, we discover where customers need help. This guides FAST’s product planning and technical support initiatives. Also, the new website is a valuable information resource for users of FAST products who are removed from the buying process or have purchased through a third party. Self-service research facilitates a more rapid and cost-effective customized design-for-manufacture process because the availability of online information brings customer engineers up to speed on product features and guides the selection of the right one for their application. It sets the stage for very effective communications with their FAST account team. "I am proud of our new website because it tells stories about our customers who solve business and technical problems through uniquely global solutions that produce rewarding results", stated Koether. "It enhances our company’s credibility and image, and differentiates us from competitors who offer limited online information." About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. FAST is considered the World Leader in Foodservice Temperature and Process Control Solutions. FAST products are found in major brand appliances and restaurants in over 65 countries. While protecting its intellectual property, FAST continues its industry commitment by making available appropriate licenses for its proprietary technologies. FAST introduced the first solid-state (FASTRON.)® cooking computer in 1970, and continues to lead the industry with products that improve food safety, food quality, and labor efficiency. |
FAST
Appoints Lawrence Mucherino as Vice President of Finance Stratford, Connecticut, September 29, 2006— Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. ("FAST"), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic process controls and timers for the food industry is pleased to announce the appointment of Lawrence Mucherino, CPA as Vice President of Finance. Mr. Mucherino recently served as Executive Director of Process and Cost Controls for Stamford, CT headquartered Pitney Bowes, Inc. where he developed the company’s initiatives to increase profitability, streamline processes, and evaluate new products and acquisitions. Prior, he served as Chief Financial Officer for the company’s Customer Care - Shared Service division. Additionally, he has held the position of Divisional CFO for both Standard Motor Products, Inc. and Revlon, Inc. "Larry’s experience provides an exceptional fit for FAST and our corporate and financial initiatives," said George Koether, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that his broad expertise in a number of key business and financial areas will nicely complement the company's existing management team and help FAST continue to aggressively pursue our goal to be the undisputed world leader in foodservice process controls.” Mr. Mucherino received both his BS in Accounting and MBA from the University of Bridgeport and resides in Trumbull, CT.
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About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST) Notices: FAST is a registered trademark of Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © Copyright 2006 FAST Certain information discussed above may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are the general economic climate, costs of food and labor, consumer demand, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and other risks associated with the acquisition, development and operation of new and existing restaurants. |
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FAST Introduces First Mesh Network Protocol Wireless-Communications Products for the Commercial Foodservice IndustryStratford, Connecticut, July 7, 2006 – Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. ("FAST"), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls and timers for the food industry is pleased to announce the introduction of its new Xwire™ line of Mesh Network Protocol wireless communication products. FAST’s new Xwire™ products allow Foodservice and Restaurant Operators the ability to efficiently connect multiple appliances and timers for synchronizing food equipment and monitoring inventory levels, energy consumption and usage levels. FAST will offer three new Xwire™ products (a proprietary bezel mount for use with (FASTRON.)® controllers, a universal appliance mount, and a communications gateway) allowing foodservice operators the choice to link together existing FAST equipped appliances and timers together with other communications-enabled appliances, either controlled by kitchen automation software or simply point-to-point. FAST has worked closely with its business partner SCK Direct, Inc., www.mysck.com, to create seamless applications utilizing FAST’s Xwire™ hardware platforms with SCK’s Kitchen Advisor™ smart kitchen application to orchestrate just-in-time food management practices resulting in increased food quality, profitability, and safety. “Mesh Networks are promising to be the standard for facilitating networking solutions worldwide in the future. We are proud to be the first to bring the benefits of this technology into America’s commercial kitchens,” said George Koether, President and CEO of FAST. “These new products underscore our leadership position in providing innovative possibilities into the foodservice sector.” FAST’s Mesh Network platform includes a 16-bit Renesas, www.renesas.com, M16C based Zigbee™ microcontroller and software stack operating at 2.4 GHz and designed to comply with IEEE® 802.15.4 global standards for a robust, cost efficient, and easy to deploy solution. “Renesas has been an incredibly supportive partner and combining the expertise of both of our organizations represents a significant advancement in wireless design engineering,” said William Flynn, Vice President of Engineering for FAST. FAST’s new Xwire™ products made their debut in Renesas’ booth at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, CA April 3-7, 2006. In cooperation with its partner SCK Direct, Inc., FAST is now deploying pilot Xwire systems at its clients’ testing facilities and at select test restaurants here in the U.S. and internationally. |
About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST) Notices: FAST is a registered trademark of Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. Kitchen Advisor™ is a trademark of SCK Direct, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © Copyright 2006 FAST Certain information discussed above may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are the general economic climate, costs of food and labor, consumer demand, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and other risks associated with the acquisition, development and operation of new and existing restaurants. |
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FAST Promotes George F. Koether II to President and CEO
Stratford, Connecticut, May 26, 2006 — Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. ("FAST"), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls and timers for the food industry is pleased to announce the promotion of George F. Koether, II to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mr. Koether spent his formative years in Westport, CT where he attended Greens Farms Academy. He later received his BA from Oglethorpe University and studied business at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and Stanford University. Mr. Koether joined FAST in 1993 where he served in the United Kingdom as a Sales Assistant and quickly rose to the position of Director of International Operations; managing offices in the United Kingdom, South Africa and China. He soon became President & General Manager of the UK operation. Returning to the United States, he served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Mr. Koether assumed responsibility for Engineering and Product Development and led the creation of a new family of microprocessor-based network controllers, wireless devices and application solutions for improving the quality of food prepared in thousands of restaurants in over 100 countries. He expanded the Asian operations launching a new office in China that today is the fastest growing market for FAST products. George and his wife Kathleen reside in Connecticut with their two children. |
About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST) Notices: FAST is a registered trademark of Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © Copyright 2006 FAST Certain information discussed above may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are the general economic climate, costs of food and labor, consumer demand, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and other risks associated with the acquisition, development and operation of new and existing restaurants. |
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FAST Revolutionizes Digital Temperature Controls with the Release of its New EVOLUTION SeriesStratford, Connecticut, April 1, 2006 – Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. (“FAST”), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls for the food industry has launched two new versions of a precise, microprocessor-based digital temperature controls—the e5 Series and e6 Series. Applications include ovens, fryers, holding cabinets, proofers, grills, griddles, rethermalizers, toasters, and more. The new e5 and e6 controls share the same footprint as FAST’s popular G Series controls, and offers the same durability and dependability with increased flexibility. A new tab-selectable supply voltage feature means a reduction in the number of SKUs that customers need to stock. Choice of output—relay or triac—allows for precise temperature control. The e5 interfaces with thermistor temperature sensors and the e6 interfaces with RTD sensors. Rate of temperature increase can be controlled by a duty cycle option, or it can be used as a solid-state infinite switch replacement. System functions can be checked with the controls new onboard diagnostics feature. Convenient mounting options include bracket or open board. In addition to the standard duty cycle options, the e5 and e6 Series controls offer numerous selectable options, including on-board or remote potentiometers, adjustable set points, melt cycle, proportional temperature control, and multiple custom and standard mounting footprints. |
About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST) Notices: FAST is a registered trademark of Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © Copyright 2006 FAST Certain information discussed above may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are the general economic climate, costs of food and labor, consumer demand, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and other risks associated with the acquisition, development and operation of new and existing restaurants. |
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Renesas’ ZigBee Solution Adopted by FAST for Wireless-Enabled Food Management Systems at Commercial Kitchens | The Renesas M16C based ZigBee system allowed FAST to accelerate the development of its upcoming mesh network communications products SAN JOSE, Calif. — April 3, 2006 — Embedded Systems Conference —Renesas Technology America, Inc., a subsidiary of leading microcontroller supplier, Renesas Technology Corp., today announced that Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls and timers for the food industry, has selected a Renesas ZigBee™ system solution for its new Xwire™ line of Mesh Network Protocol wireless-communication products. Both companies are demonstrating their respective products at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, Calif., which is being held now througn April 7th. The Renesas ZigBee system is a comprehensive platform that accelerates the development of reliable, cost-effective low-data-rate wireless applications. It includes a robust 16-bit M16C microcontroller, IEEE 802.15.4 standards-based radios, a ZigBee software stack, media access control (MAC) software, real-time operating system (RTOS), and an integrated development environment. Software and drivers were developed and optimized in house by Renesas, and tuned with the assistance of FAST to meet the reliability and performance requirements necessary for networking in commercial kitchens and other industrial applications. The Renesas M16C family offers scalable on-chip memory resources, IO, peripherals, packages and very low electromagnetic interference (EMI) electromagnetic susceptibility (EMS), which makes it ideal for RF designs. FAST, in cooperation with its partner SCK Direct, Inc., is now deploying pilot Xwire systems at its clients' testing facilities and at selected test restaurants here in the U.S. and overseas. Further, it has identified and is pursuing other product ideas for the Renesas ZigBee solution. “By working with Renesas, we were able to rapidly deliver cost effective wireless connectivity solutions to our clients,” said George Koether, President and COO of FAST. “For example the combination of FAST’s Xwire hardware products and SCK Direct, Inc.’s Kitchen Advisor™ software allows foodservice operators to orchestrate just-in-time management practices resulting in increased food quality, profitability, and safety.” “We are pleased that FAST has selected our M16C based ZigBee platform as the choice for robust, economical connectivity solutions in commercial kitchens,” said Tim Dry, senior manager of market development, Renesas Technology America. “By using the ZigBee mesh networking method, we were able to successfully establish a stable wireless network to connect multiple kitchen appliances reliably day after day, in an environment where multiple interference sources challenge the radios. We will continue to build on this success to provide more complete, reliable connectivity solutions with true networking capabilities. We will also continue to actively participate in technology alliances such as the ZigBee Alliance to promote standards and interoperability for future technology specifications." |
Editorial Contact: About the FAST Xwire™ products NOTE: Xwire is a trademark of Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. Kitchen Advisor™ is a trademark of SCK Direct, Inc. ZigBee is a trademark of Konink Philips Electronics N.V. All other products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. |
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FAST Reaches Agreement with TurboChef Technologies, Inc. Over Use of Oven Control TechnologyStratford, Connecticut, March 7, 2006 – Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. (“FAST”), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls for the food industry has reached an agreement concluding its litigation with TurboChef Technologies, Inc. FAST filed suit in July 2005 claiming TurboChef Technologies infringed its US Patent No. 4,920,948. Details of the agreement are confidential. As a result of the settlement, TurboChef Technologies has the right to continue to manufacture and sell without interruption. “We are pleased with this agreement and glad we could work out an amicable resolution,” said George Koether, President and COO of FAST. |
About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST) Notices: FAST is a registered trademark of Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © Copyright 2006 FAST Certain information discussed above may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are the general economic climate, costs of food and labor, consumer demand, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and other risks associated with the acquisition, development and operation of new and existing restaurants. |
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FAST Teams Up with Bauer Marketing Group (BMG) to Expand Representation of Foodservice Process TimersStratford, Connecticut, February 27, 2006 – Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. ("FAST"), a leader in the design and manufacture of electronic appliance controls and timers for the food industry is pleased to announce the appointment of Bauer Marketing Group (BMG), located in Ohio, as its newest Manufacturer’s Representative. Dedicated to customer satisfaction, BMG has been firmly established since 1947, providing coverage to the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia areas. Says Chris Barlow, Sr. Director of Sales and Marketing, “BMG’s impressive portfolio of manufacturers, including companies like Hatco, Wolf, Rankin-Delux and more, makes them a perfect match for FAST’s high-quality electronic process timers and related products.” Bruce Bauer, President of Bauer Marketing Group, has coordinated “The BMG Team” to provide efficient and professional representation for the manufacturers his company represents. This is achieved by providing individualized and personalized service to each manufacturer. To learn more, visit BMG on the Web at www.bauermarketing.com. |
About Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST) Notices: FAST is a registered trademark of Food Automation - Service Techniques, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © Copyright 2006 FAST Certain information discussed above may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are the general economic climate, costs of food and labor, consumer demand, interest rate levels, the availability of financing and other risks associated with the acquisition, development and operation of new and existing restaurants. |
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For additional info on any of the releases posted here, or for further
comment, please contact:
Sherry Kraynak
FAST
203.380.3488
skraynak@fastinc.com
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