Crestron Electronics
Company typePrivate
IndustryAudiovisual automation, control integration
Founded1972
FounderGeorge Feldstein
Headquarters
Rockleigh, New Jersey
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Dan Feldstein
(CEO & President)
Dan Brady
(COO)
ProductsHome automation, commercial audiovisual
RevenueIncrease US$2 billion (2020)
Number of employees
5000+ (March 2021)
Websitecrestron.com

Crestron Electronics (or simply Crestron) is an American privately held multinational corporation that manufactures and distributes control automation and integration technology. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes equipment used to control technology in commercial audiovisual environments such as meeting spaces, conference rooms, classrooms and auditoriums. Crestron equipment is also used for high-end residential audiovisual installations, built on the company's Crestron Home OS.[1]

History

Crestron was founded by George Feldstein in 1972. After graduating from New York University with a master's in electronic engineering, Feldstein worked as chief engineer at a firm that built industrial control and testing equipment. He left in 1969 to start his own business. He began by cold-calling other businesses, offering to build or repair their equipment. His company's first job was for Colgate-Palmolive, building a device to help automated assembly lines put the right amount of powder into boxes of detergent. An early milestone was the company's development of a wireless remote for commercial audiovisual systems, which led to work developing audio switches, video projectors, and lighting control panels, and selling integrated audiovisual systems to businesses and universities.[2]

After George Feldstein's death in 2014, Randy Klein was named Crestron's CEO and president. In December 2021, Klein retired, and Dan Feldstein took over as CEO and president.[3] In May 2022, Crestron unveiled the company's engineering base, the George Feldstein Technology Center in Rockleigh.[4]

Crestron Certification began in 1998, which evolved into the Crestron Masters program in 2001. Crestron Masters is an annual certification and training event where programmers, technology architects, and systems designers are trained in the latest Crestron technology, industry best practices, and distribution strategies, with various levels of certification offered.[5][6][7]

Originally headquartered in Cresskill, New Jersey, Crestron is now headquartered in Rockleigh, New Jersey, with over 90 offices worldwide.[2][3]

Products

The company does not sell its products directly, instead using a network of dealers and integrators to sell products to end users. Crestron equipment can be found in homes, offices, universities, government buildings, churches, and healthcare facilities worldwide.[8]

The company offers commercial business solutions for enterprise, education, and government, including conference room technology, video distribution, XiO cloud management software, and network security.[9] One such offering is Crestron Flex, a line that integrates video conferencing, wireless presentation, and smart room control.[10] Crestron has been noted for envisioning "the workplace of the future," helping to design workspaces for companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Johnson & Johnson.[11]

The company also offers technology solutions for residential, hospitality, marine, and multi-dwelling units industries using their own operating system, Crestron Home OS.[9][12] Crestron Home is used to configure and control home automation devices.[12] It integrates with Amazon Alexa, Siri, and Google Home.[13] Crestron Home OS can be customized for each homeowner, based on user preferences.[14]

Mark Zuckerberg's smart home technology, Jarvis, is built on top of smart home technology by Crestron. It uses Crestron to provide a way for Jarvis's app to speak to lights, thermostats, and doors.[13]

Starting in 2016, Crestron donated audiovisual and automation technology to Orbis International's Flying Eye Hospital, an eye care hospital located onboard an aircraft that flies to underserved areas to treat patients at risk of losing their sight. The Crestron technology helps enable staff to operate on these patients and gives local doctors the opportunity to be trained in a classroom onboard the plane. It is the world's first such hospital.[15][16]

Crestron Electronics hosted its Modern Work Summit on latest workplace trends at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel and Conference Center in Spain on May 23 and 24, 2023, and featured presentations from Microsoft, Zoom and Gensler.[17]

Acquisitions

Crestron announced partnerships with Huddly in 2017 and with Shure and Jabra in 2021.[10] In 2022, Crestron acquired 1 Beyond, a video technology company.[10]

References

  1. ^ Balakrishnan, Anita Balakrishnan (30 December 2016). "Meet the company that helps power Mark Zuckerberg's Jarvis and the homes of 'the 1%'". CNBC. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b Ewalt, David (16 November 2011). "Crestron Electronics: A Made-In-America Success Story". Forbes. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b Vena, Mark (1 December 2021). "Crestron Turns The Leadership Mantle Over To Dan Feldstein". Forbes. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Crestron Unveils George Feldstein Technology Center in NJ". CE Pro. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. ^ Knott, Jason (21 August 2019). "Crestron Masters Draws 900+ for Education, Certification". CE Pro. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ^ Middlemiss, Maya (30 April 2021). "Crestron Masters Week Re-Mastered". UC Today. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  7. ^ Campos, Guy (30 January 2018). "Crestron announces Masters 2018 training for programmers". AV Interactive. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. ^ Vena, Mark. "How Crestron Paved The Way For The Smart Home, And More". forbes.com. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  9. ^ a b Sait, Daniel (20 January 2023). "Crestron announces several product innovations". Essential Install. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Davis, Cindy (23 March 2022). "The Inside Story: Crestron to Acquire 1 Beyond". AV Network. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  11. ^ Schaffler, Rhonda (14 January 2017). "Here's the Company That Helped Design Work Spaces for Facebook and Microsoft". The Street. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  12. ^ a b Glowacki, Jeremy (15 December 2022). "Powershades Now Integrates into the Crestron Home OS". Residential Tech Today. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  13. ^ a b Balakrishnan, Anita (30 December 2016). "Meet the company that helps power Mark Zuckerberg's Jarvis and the homes of 'the 1%'". CNBC. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  14. ^ Austin, Patrick (25 July 2019). "What Will Smart Homes Look Like 10 Years From Now?". Time. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  15. ^ Gustafson, Alice. "Flying Eye Hospital". Essential Install. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  16. ^ Farrell, James (16 June 2016). "World's first high-tech flying hospital poised for take off". Silicon Angle. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  17. ^ AV Magazine (2023-05-02). "Crestron unveils line-up for Modern Work Summit 2023". avinteractive.com. AV Interactive. Retrieved 2023-05-23. The event, at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Center on 23-24 May, will feature presentations by executives from companies such as Microsoft, Zoom and Gensler.
Categories