Friday, February 27, 2015

Silicon Graphics: Manufacturer of Powerful Semiconductor Chips


Before Silicon Graphics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2006, the company was historically known as Silicon Graphics Computer Systems or simply SGCS. The business was created in 1982 and manufactures high-performance computing solutions that includes software and computer hardware.

Under the leadership of Ed McCracken as CEO, the business has grown tremendously into a multi-billion venture. The company was heralded for being one of the pioneers of 3D graphics display terminals. As the market intensified and as competition emerged, the business eventually developed other products. The continuous decline of the business, despite the restructuring and change of management has led to the company filing for bankruptcy. With this bankruptcy, the largest chunk of the company was purchased by Rackable Systems. This newly acquired assets were later renamed into Silicon Graphics International Corporation. The remaining properties were rebranded as Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.

Today, the new SGI continues to battle in the semiconductor arena as one of the leading providers of solutions in Big Data Analytics, Petascale Storage and Technical Computing.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

SEI Investments Company: A Global Financial Services Company


It is in Oaks, Pennsylvania that SEI Investments Company holds its headquarters. The business is registered as a global financial services company that employs more than 2,700 associates around the world. The business has been around since 1968 and continues to be led by its founder and current chairman and CEO, Alfred P. West Jr.

As a financial services company, it offers investment management, investment processing and investment operations solutions to companies around the world. In addition to the $625 billion in mutual fund, the company also manages about $372 billion of client assets. It continues to provide its services to investment managers, investment advisors, institutions, private banks, and high net-worth individuals. SEI Investments is also credited for creating the first computer-simulated training technology for loan officers, to date, this product is still widely used in financial institutions. They were also among the first institutions to completely stray from the “paper and pencil” transactions in the 1970s. They created a trust investment accounting system that is fully automated.

The operations of the company are segmented into five different units, namely SEI Advisor Network, Institutional Group, Private Banks, Investment Manager Services and Private Wealth Management. These business arms provide various financial solutions to different clients around the world. It is also worth noting that the business is one of the global fiduciary managers. It caters to the needs of non-profit organizations, corporations and retirement scheme sponsors. As a fudiciary manager, they operate in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South Africa and in the Netherlands.

SEI’s main offices are located in Longdon, Dublin, Hong Kong, Dubai, South Africa, Toronto and in the Netherlands. The company continues to publicly trade its common stocks on the NASDAQ, under the ticker symbol SEIC. To remain globally competitive, it continues to innovate its wide array of comprehensive solutions to help organizations and individuals reach their financial goals.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Rex Energy Corp: An Indepenent Oil and Gas Company


The proven reserves and the increasing production rates of Rex Energy Corporation continue to attract investors as the company publicly trades its common stocks on the NASDAQ. The business markets its stocks under the ticker symbol REXX.

Rex Energy Corporation is an independent energy corporation that is headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania. It is engaged in the acquisition, production, development, exploitation and exploration of oil and natural gas. The operations of the business are focused within the United States with a strong presence in the Appalachian and Illinois regions. They also have operation in the Permian regions, which is considered as one of the most bountiful locations in the country.

Through the acquisition of complementary oil and natural gas companies and properties, the company is able to significantly grow its operations. It was in March 2007 that the business got created. It continues to operate under using state of the art technology, sound business practices and a diversified management team.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Rignet, Inc.: The Trusted Communications Partner in the Oilfield


Other than the drilling services and all the machinery services needed in the oil and gas industry, the sector also needs consistent and reliable communication services to allow the free flow interaction of all the operations within the company. Specifically serving the oil and gas industry is Rignet, Inc., a global provider of network infrastructure for remote communications.

Through the services provided by the company, businesses thriving in the oil and gas industry are provided a global network of controlled and managed IP/MPLS (Internet Protocol/Multiprotocol Label Switching). The highest performance and most trusted connections are needed in the industry and Rignet is able to deliver these business needs. The business is able to deliver their products and services with world class customer service and highly skilled technical support team.

Under a multi-tenant revenue model, the business delivers voice, data, video and other collaborative services. With their expertise and state of the art facilities, the company has become the preferred partner and provider of remote collaborative services and communications to more than 500 customers around the world. Their clients are from 48 countries in 6 continents. As of, they have over 1,100 remote sites. It has become a trusted provider of single source solutions that combine multiple offshore or remote site rigs. Compared to traditional providers, Rignet has come a long way in innovating communication means. To date, they have world class service powered by satellite and network technology that reaches any corner in the world.

With the offerings of Rignet, Inc. oil and gas companies become more effective in their drilling projects and produce more raw products at a far lower cost. The delivery of vital information becomes faster and more secure, allowing companies to be agile and positioned to make impactful business decisions. The business is headquartered in Houston, Texas and continues to trade publicly on the NASDAQ.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Range Resources: An Independent Oil and Gas Company


Listed as the most productive natural gas field in the United States, the Marcellus Shale, located in Pennsylvania was first tapped by Range Resources, an independent oil and gas exploration and production business. The company was founded in 1976.

This Fort Worth, Texas-based company traces its roots in the formation of Lomak Petroleum, which later on merged with Domain Energy Corp to create the current business structure. Together with its subsidiaries, the company exploits the natural gas reserves in the Southwestern and Appalachian regions. In the state of Pennsylvania alone, Range Resources has more than 1 million net acres of properties. As of December 2014, the company has proven reserves of more than 10.3 Tcfe.

Rooted on their position in the best gas play in North America, Range Resources is positioned to make their venture grow with an exciting market position in the future. The business continues to trade publicly on the New York Stock Exchange.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.: Provider of Data Center Services

Data centers play an integral role in running businesses smoothly. Companies that don’t have the right infrastructures to handle large volume of data can still continue to operate by outsourcing their data centers. These centers will provide the much needed computer server networks that would allow businesses to remotely store, process and distribute huge amounts of data.

In the United States, one of the trusted providers of these infrastructures is QTS Realty Trust, Inc. The business operates as a subsidiary of General Atlantic, LLC. Other than its 4.7 million square feet of data centers, the company is best known for their best in class technology, high end equipment and state of the art infrastructure. The business is focused on the ownership, acquisition, development and operations of carrier-neutral data centers across the country. Its national portfolio of data centers has attracted some of the biggest businesses in the country. In total, there are more than 850 customers that rely on the facilities offered by QTS Realty.

The offerings of the company enables their customers and business partners access to all the 3C product line of the business. This product line allows their end users to tap the unique opportunities offered by the company that includes blended and hybrid services. Through this access, companies are able to fully avail of the flexibilities offered by QTS to adjust to their business needs in order to meet the demands of their business.

From a very small venture that started with just one single data center, QTS has become one of the largest national providers of high class facilities. By acquiring and developing centers that encompass coast to coast operations, the company has grown exponentially in 10 years. Today, the business operates and owns 12 data centers and services clients of various sizes. The company remains to be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and maintains its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Palo Alto Networks: Protecting Enterprise Data


There is a need for companies to increase the security protection of their most valuable assets – data. There are a lot of means for hackers to penetrate networks and steal valuable data, but with the help of companies like Palo Alto Networks, these hackers are prevented from entering the company’s systems.

Palo Alto Networks is registered as a network security business. Since its founding in 2005, the business has innovated the way companies protect their data. The company provides companies advanced firewalls that would help mitigate issues of security breach. These product offerings are designed and developed to provide granular control of network activity, network security and visibility. The company’s firewall products are said to be “the next generation firewall”.

It is in Santa Clara, California that Palo Alto Networks holds its main office. Its first firewall product was produced and shipped out in 2007. For its expertise in firewall technology, the business was cited by Gartner, Inc. as the leader in enterprise firewall.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

PGT Industries: Functionality Meets Aesthetic Values


For more than 30 years, PGT Industries has led the revolution of windows and doors in the country. The business has become the leader in the manufacturing of residential impact-resistant windows and doors that have added beauty and character to every home in the country. The products of the business have reached the international markets and have set the standards of what quality and durable impact-resistant windows and doors should be.

Created in 1980, PGT industries have grown from a venture manned by four employees into a giant venture that employs more than 1,700 associates. Its manufacturing facility is located in Venice, Florida, where its headquarters is also located. The operations of PGT Industries cover the Gulf Coast, the Southeastern region of the country, the Caribbean, Coastal mid-Atlantic, Canada and Central America. Since the devastating Hurricane Andrew hit the country in 1992, PGT has started manufacturing windows and doors that could withstand hurricane-force winds and other debris that might get swept during hurricanes and typhoons.

The products offered by PGT are known for their strength and functionality. Their product portfolio includes heavy-duty aluminum or vinyl frames, impact-resistant vinyl windows and doors and non-impact resistant aluminum and vinyl frame windows and doors. They market several products that are made specifically to withstand hurricane winds and are used in mid to high-rise buildings. While these items are very durable, they also created the products with aesthetic qualities to still look appealing. These products are marketed under the brand names Eze-Breeze, SpectraGuard, PGT Architectural, PremierVue and WinGuard.

Formerly known as JLL Window Holdings, the business changed its name to PGT Industries in 2006. The company continues to market its product internationally. It directly supplies home repair and remodeling end markets, residential new constructions, enclosure contractors, building supply distributors and to window replacement dealers.