MBX Systems
Encyclopedia
MBX Systems is a privately held designer and manufacturer of server appliance
and embedded systems hardware. The company builds the hardware platforms that independent software vendor
s (ISVs) can use to deliver their software as an appliance. Its headquarters are in Wauconda, Illinois
.
In 1996 the name was shortened to simply “Motherboard Express.” By this time the company was selling products that encompassed the entire PC
. As the World Wide Web gained popularity as a buying and selling vehicle, Motherboard Express began selling its entire catalog online. The company also found itself in the business building custom “white box” computer hardware
for customers on-demand. This business included both PCs for personal use and server
hardware.
In the year 2000, MBX built its first server appliance
s. In March of that year an ISV customer requested MBX’s assistance on a white box project that involved building the hardware for a new line of server appliances it wanted to offer.
Today, MBX has divested itself of the consumer component supply business and is focused solely on designing, building, and providing support for server appliances. The company is a pure OEM
supplier and does not market any products under its own name or brand. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2008 for its quality management system
s.
Services provided by the company are listed on its website in four areas:
In 2010, MBX was selected as finalist in the Network Products Guide "Hot Technologies Companies" Awards, based on the "4P" selection criteria - namely, Products, People, Performance, and Potential.
In 2009, MBX was a Most Innovated Company finalists in the American Business Awards, also known as The Stevie Awards.
In 2008, MBX was Manufacturer of the Year runner up for the START-IT Awards. The award recognizes manufacturing companies that illustrate excellence in their market and their contribution to the overall well-being of the economy and the manufacturing industry.
In 2006, the company was named a finalist in the Most Innovative Company – Up to 100 Employees in the American Business Awards Stevie Awards competition.
Server appliance
A server appliance is a computer appliance that works as a server. It is designed so that the end-user does not need to understand the details of the operating system or the commands associated with it. Server appliances have their hardware and software preconfigured by the manufacturer. The...
and embedded systems hardware. The company builds the hardware platforms that independent software vendor
Independent software vendor
Independent software vendor is a business term for companies specializing in making or selling software, designed for mass marketing or for niche markets...
s (ISVs) can use to deliver their software as an appliance. Its headquarters are in Wauconda, Illinois
Wauconda, Illinois
Wauconda is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,448 at the 2000 census, estimated to be 12,614 in 2006, and is projected to reach 13,811 by 2011. It is the site of the Wauconda Bog Nature Preserve, a National Natural Landmark...
.
History
The company that has become MBX Systems was started in April, 1995 by Tom Crowley under the name Drive Express. Its business at that time was selling hard drives to consumers through mail order ads in computer enthusiast magazines. This business quickly expanded to components besides hard drives, and in October 1995 the name of the company was changed to “Drive and Motherboard Express” to reflect this expanded lineup of products.In 1996 the name was shortened to simply “Motherboard Express.” By this time the company was selling products that encompassed the entire PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. As the World Wide Web gained popularity as a buying and selling vehicle, Motherboard Express began selling its entire catalog online. The company also found itself in the business building custom “white box” computer hardware
White box (computer hardware)
In computer hardware, a white box is a personal computer or server without a registered brand name. For instance, the term is applied to systems assembled by small system integrators and to homebuilt computer systems assembled by end users from parts purchased separately at retail. In this latter...
for customers on-demand. This business included both PCs for personal use and server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
hardware.
In the year 2000, MBX built its first server appliance
Server appliance
A server appliance is a computer appliance that works as a server. It is designed so that the end-user does not need to understand the details of the operating system or the commands associated with it. Server appliances have their hardware and software preconfigured by the manufacturer. The...
s. In March of that year an ISV customer requested MBX’s assistance on a white box project that involved building the hardware for a new line of server appliances it wanted to offer.
Today, MBX has divested itself of the consumer component supply business and is focused solely on designing, building, and providing support for server appliances. The company is a pure OEM
OEM
OEM means the original manufacturer of a component for a product, which may be resold by another company.OEM may also refer to:-Computing:* OEM font, or OEM-US, the original character set of the IBM PC, circa 1981...
supplier and does not market any products under its own name or brand. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2008 for its quality management system
Quality management system
A quality management system can be expressed as the organizational structure, procedures, processes and resources needed to implement quality management.-Elements of a Quality Management System:# Organizational structure# Responsibilities# Methods...
s.
Services provided by the company are listed on its website in four areas:
- Design, which includes product development, branding, and marketing
- Production, from manufacturing to inventory management of components
- Deployment, which includes stocking to inventory management of finished goods
- Support for the hardware or hardware and software on deployed units
Awards
In 2011, MBX CEO Tom Crowley was named the Executive of the Year/Computer Hardware in the Stevie Awards' 2011 American Business Awards.In 2010, MBX was selected as finalist in the Network Products Guide "Hot Technologies Companies" Awards, based on the "4P" selection criteria - namely, Products, People, Performance, and Potential.
In 2009, MBX was a Most Innovated Company finalists in the American Business Awards, also known as The Stevie Awards.
In 2008, MBX was Manufacturer of the Year runner up for the START-IT Awards. The award recognizes manufacturing companies that illustrate excellence in their market and their contribution to the overall well-being of the economy and the manufacturing industry.
In 2006, the company was named a finalist in the Most Innovative Company – Up to 100 Employees in the American Business Awards Stevie Awards competition.
Key people
- Tom Crowley, CEO and President
- Len Petty, CFO
- Justin Formella, CIO
- Jill Bellak, COO
- Chris Schmidt, Director of Sales and Marketing
- Chris Tucker, Business Development Manager
- Jeff Luckett, Engineering Manager
- Carl Nothnagel, Manufacturing Manager
- Dan Carrasco, Global Distribution and Export Manager
- Kevin French, Manager of Support Services
- Ray Winkel, Supply Chain Manager
Further reading
- Ezilon (description of MBX Systems from Ezilon Web site)
- InformationWeek Five Questions
- Crowley, Tom MBX Systems "Aha! What your refrigerator can tell you about selling software", Enterprise Open Source Magazine, July 14, 2006