Unsung Technology Innovators from CES, Vegas, 2011

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the headlines were stolen by the latest technology of exotic tablets, 3DTVs and Lady Gaga launching camera sunglasses with Polaroid. The majority of the products on show at CES were manufactured cheaply in China. So, when I came across R&R Associates who show it's possible to manufacture technology as a home grown industry and not out source, I was gripped because they were different. They are flying the flag, showing companies around the world that it is possible to manufacture at home. These were the unsung innovators of CES. R&R Associates has a great strap line that backs them up...'for the practical manifestation of your creative and innovative dreams, providing services that span the entire product design, development and engineering processes.'

Home Grown Innovation

R&R Associates is run by two enterprising brothers, Leo and Erkan Riza, based in Florida and their clients include amateur inventors to global brands like Xerox, Lipton, and Crestron Electronics. In fact it was some of their clients who approached Leo Riza with concerns saying while the company's product designs were excellent the final quality of the products didn't always match up. Naturally, Leo was worried about quality control as the company's products were being made on the other side of the world. Leo says, "I had to double and triple check everything." So, Leo took action and late last year to put together his own assembly and a light-manufacturing centre in Sarasota.

A smart move by Leo, as I believe soon it will become economically difficult for countries to carry on outsourcing its industries to other nations; countries like the UK who has lost nearly all of its manufacturing industries will need to reinvest in its industries, particularly its technology if it wants to stay in the game.

Cinema on your fridge

The smart refrigerator is just one of the innovative products of technology that R&R has been able to produce in the US. It's the fridge of the future with a built in LCD screen. So, whether you're looking for an afternoon snack or the evening news, you'll find everything you need in one place. It uses cable or satellite TV, and the TV refrigerator can also be used with any DVD player or VCR. The LCD also provides access to the internet so you could replace any product that you may need from your local grocery store.

The LCD integrated software makes it easy to order groceries right from your finger tips as all you need to do is click, scroll the product and order! The fridge is a spacious 26 cubic feet (combined) capacity with Energy Star rating, combining clever storage and features like the water and ice dispenser on the front of the unit, an integrated water filter and electronic temperature controls with 8 sensors. This is a refrigerator that we will all covet and a company that we will all want to keep track of!

Photo Credit: R&R Associates