Welcoming a new sponsor: Plex Systems

It is an honor to welcome Plex to the past and present gallery of innovators and disruptors who sponsor the Deal Architect and the New Florence. New Renaissance. blogs.

Plex is the Manufacturing Cloud, delivering industry-leading ERP and manufacturing automation across industries including aerospace and defense, food and beverage and motor vehicles with customers like Aerospace Technologies Group, Green Flash Brewing Co., JD Norman Industries’ and Sanders & Morley Candy Makers.

The timing is impeccable as manufacturing is enjoying a renaissance particularly in the US. In the new book, The Digital Enterprise we wrote 

“The United States has offshored manufacturing for years. Now, the country is poised for a stunning turnaround, for multiple reasons. Differences in labor rates compared to developing countries like China are rapidly shrinking. Industrial strife and intellectual property theft in certain regions and cultures have become major business impediments. Shipping costs from overseas plants have been rising. Finally, the U.S. energy outlook
is increasingly bright, at least in terms of carbon-based fuel reserves, due to new shale explorations. These factors are combining to create a much healthier manufacturing environment in the United States.”

Confirming that momentum, Plex announced yesterday it had a record year in 2013, growing to nearly 400 customers representing more than 1100 manufacturing production lines. “They represent a wide range from craft beer and ice cream makers to diesel engine plants,” said Jason Prater, vice president of development at Plex. “Cloud has the potential to transform manufacturing, reducing costs while giving operations access to continuous innovation – from the shop floor to the top floor — and 2014 is shaping up to be our best year yet.”

Look forward to exciting new products and thinking from Plex. Welcome aboard!