The 3-D Virtual Reality Center at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT) in Florence, South Carolina is getting its ‘sea legs’ thanks to a partnership with the Charleston, South Carolina based Maybank Industries. Maybank builds equipment for the ocean going shipping industry and the U.S. military.
The port based company has developed a revolutionary fully articulated tug apparatus that can adapt to any barge or tug and provide a more cost efficient and safer way of securing both together. The device allows both tugs and barges to move together through the water placing less stress on both vessels.
Maybank and the 3-D VR Center have teamed up to provide Maybank’s marketing force with virtual reality renderings of the inventive technology that has replaced a cumbersome and heavy wooden model. The 3-D rendering has a lot more visual impact than the old school model according Maybank Vice President of Program Development David Shimp.
"The wooden model was low tech and the virtual reality 3-D model was a much more professional approach," said Shimp. The retired Navy Admiral continued, "It creates a much better visual impact when you can demonstrate our new technology on a lap top rather than lugging around a table sized model."
Company President Jack Maybank said, "The 3-D VR Center at the SiMT has 4,000 square feet of theater space for demonstrating the immersive technology and partners with world wide 3-D industry leader Eon Reality to develop and produce leading edge visual communication tools for business and industry."
3-D VR Center Director Michael Mazen said, "This is the first time we’ve worked with a maritime company to enhance its marketing capabilities. We are proud that Maybank chose our 3-D Virtual Reality Center to improve the way our partner shows off its revolutionary device."