A day at the office for Jon Melchin means working with the architectural and design community on a national level. As the director of architectural business development for FSR Inc. (FSR), a leading global manufacturer of a wide variety of signal management and infrastructure solutions in audiovisual, datacomm and control systems for a range of sectors, Melchin connects with top architects and designers to develop market-driven solutions.
“I think we’ve grown as a company, because we consistently branch out with products we feel are true solutions, tapping into specific market needs,” explains Melchin, who’s been in the industry for more than 12 years. “My role at FSR is to be in contact with architects, engineers and other designers to facilitate the selection and specification of our products early on in the design phase of construction so we can take an active approach toward the right solutions for the facility.”
Market-driven solutions
Since forming in 1981 by William Fitzsimmons, Jan Sandi and Charles Rodriguez, hence company moniker: FSR, the New Jersey-based manufacturer has been growing through innovative products. “We recently won several awards at the InfoComm show in June 2014,” reveals Melchin.
InfoComm, an association dedicated to advancing innovation and technological excellence, is the world’s largest technical professional society. It is designed to serve professionals involved in all aspects of the electrical, electronic, audiovisual and computing fields and related areas of science and technology. “InfoComm is the major event in our industry and we’re proud to have won several awards this year recognizing FSR for innovation,” says Melchin.
“When we started up in 1981, FSR was a small electronics company,” he continues. “Over the years, FSR added product lines and we have become a global leader in the audiovisual industry.”
From a single manufacturing site in Woodland Park, N.J., FSR offers products that seamlessly integrate into a facility, becoming part of the structure, not just an addition. “We manufacture floor, wall, ceiling and table boxes,” expands Melchin. “These products are designed to reduce cable clutter associated with audiovisual, presentation and IT technologies that are incorporated into functional, intelligent environments.”
Quality control
FSR also offers analog and digital switchers, interfaces, extenders and cables, as well as small touch-screen control systems and collaboration systems. “Everything is manufactured in Woodland Park and our facility is green friendly,” assures Melchin. “By doing everything in-house, we have great control over quality in the manufacturing process.”
That means lead-free, mercury-free products and no hazardous chemicals. “Our facility is restriction of hazardous substances [ROHS] compliant,” details Melchin. “Our customers can rest easy knowing they’re getting the highest quality, safest products on the market.”
FSR takes pride in offering its customers personal service and products made in the United States. With 120 employees, the company engineers and manufactures on-site, but FSR’s reach extends well beyond the U.S. “We’re now an international company with representatives throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America and Mexico,” reveals Melchin. “We have worked in a vast variety of corporate environments, as well as institutional, educational, civic, hospitality, retail and houses of worship.”
Connecting high-profile clients
From Apple to Facebook, Bank of America to ESPN, the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts to Princeton University and Harvard Law School, FSR has delivered audiovisual infrastructure and cable management systems for many high-profile clients.
“We have products installed in the White House media room,” shares Melchin. “FSR also did a complete audiovisual installation for the Marriot Marquis Hotel’s ballroom in New York City, which was one of our largest projects to-date.”
“Another unique feature FSR delivers is addressing BYOD [bring your own device] requirements,” continues Melchin. “We can install these specialty boxes in desks and tables, which allows people to plug nearly any device – laptop, cellphone, tablet and more – into a piece of furniture.”
FSR recently collaborated with Boston-based architectural design firm Baker Design Group. “We developed a customized table box for one of Baker Design Group’s corporate clients,” Melchin details. “We installed several of these boxes in their high-end boardroom table to make laptop connections easier.”
Melchin is also excited for FSR’s third trip to Greenbuild International Conference & Expo (Greenbuild), which is being held in New Orleans this year. “Our main objective is to meet with architects at the show, not only to demonstrate how we can offer better connectivity solutions, but also to highlight the recycled content in our manufacturing process,” he says. “One product that will be featured at Greenbuild is called the Huddle-VU, a system that allows laptops, tablets and mobile devices to connect four to seven users, so that they can share their data on a main display device. Collaborative work stations are a growing trend in both learning and corporate environments.”
With June 2014 being one of the most robust sales months in the company’s history, Melchin says FSR is well-positioned to continue to gain market share and expand. “It’s important to be in constant contact with architects – they’re the ones who help us drive innovation,” he explains.
Carefully planned connectivity infrastructure and technology can work together to maximize building performance. Therefore, FSR Inc. is a leader in offering smart solutions for smart buildings.
Original article - http://www.usbuildersreview.com/case-studies/fsr-inc-huddling-connectivity-design-phase/