Kalogon’s first-ever chief technology officer is a veteran of such industry icons as Microsoft, Meta and HP.
The seating manufacturer announced in an Oct. 5 news release that it has hired Marty Evans, who “brings more than 25 years of experience designing and shipping consumer hardware.”
At Melbourne, Florida-based Kalogon, Evans will “lead Kalogon’s engineering and product development teams as the company brings its smart seating technology to more people who spend hours in a seat, from wheelchair users to pilots and passengers.”
Evans most recently served as vice president of engineering at Magic Leap, a company that develops the optical technology behind augmented-reality (AR) glasses. But he launched his career as a U.S. Air Force avionics technician supporting F-16 and F-117A stealth fighters. Then after earning his electrical engineering degree, Evans joined the consumer electronics industry.
During his career, Evans has amassed more than 20 patents for pressure sensing, wireless charging, electromechanical actuation, power management and accessory usability. And now at Kalogon, “Evans will shape the company’s technology and lead engineering execution from concept through production as the company grows into new markets,” the manufacturer said.
“Joining Kalogon feels like coming full circle, getting closer to the technology again while applying the same principles of empathy-driven design to a new sector,” Evans said in the announcement. “In AR, we explored ways technology could extend someone’s abilities, from helping someone follow a conversation in a noisy room to making visual information easier to see. Adaptive seating calls for the same mindset — understanding what each person needs, then using hardware and thoughtful design to improve their daily experience.”
While it’s known in Complex Rehab Technology for its wheelchair seating, Kalogon’s technology is used in other industries as well.
“The company has secured multiple SBIR Phase II grants totaling $3.5 million to adapt its seating for B-52 and E-4B aircrews, who can spend 30 to 40 hours in seats designed decades ago,” Kalogon said. “In Air Force testing, Kalogon’s cushions reduced peak pressure by 51% and significantly reduced pilot fatigue, results that point to real potential applications in long-haul commercial aviation.”
“Marty has built some of the most sophisticated consumer devices on the market, and he knows how to make advanced technology disappear into the background of someone’s day,” said Tim Balz, Kalogon’s founder and CEO. “That’s exactly what great seating should do. His experience will help us move faster as we take what we’ve learned from wheelchair users into new places people sit, including the airplane cabin.”
