Saturday, August 23, 2025

Power Integrations Rolls Out Reference Design Kit for Solar Race Cars Featuring High-Efficiency Gallium-Nitride IC

 PowiGaN runs 95 percent efficient for light- and full-load critical operational and safety features


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Power Integrations is rolling out a new reference design kit tailored specifically for solar-powered race cars as 37 student teams prepare to race across the Outback in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge starting August 24.


The kit, RDK-85SLR, features the PI™ InnoSwitch™3-AQ IC , which incorporates PI’s PowiGaN™ gallium-nitride switch technology. The kit is inspired by a design created by PI’s PowerPros℠ online support engineers in collaboration with the ETH Zurich aCentauri team, whose #85 ‘Silvretta’ challenger-class car is using the design to maximize efficiency in its auxiliary power supply.


“Thousands of engineering students participate in solar car challenges around the world each year, and these innovators will help bring about a more sustainable future,” said Andy Smith, director of technical outreach and training for Power Integrations. “We are providing this reference kit to help young engineers take advantage of the latest, most energy-efficient technologies, such as PowiGaN, in their designs.”


The design kit includes everything needed to create a 46-watt power supply that delivers up to 80 watts for short periods—making it ideal for use as an auxiliary power supply in a solar race car. It employs the company’s InnoSwitch3-AQ flyback power supply IC with a highly efficient PowiGaN switch and eliminates the need for a heatsink, enabling more compact, lightweight, and cost-effective designs. Contents of the kit include a sample power supply, four InnoSwitch3-AQ ICs, and an unpopulated PCB. It is backed by a report containing power supply and magnetics transformer build instructions, schematics, a PCB layout guide, a parts list and comprehensive performance data. Live tech support is available from Power Integrations’ PowerPros team.


“We proved PowiGaN’s reliability, performance and efficiency in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2023,” stated Aaron Griesser, lead electrical engineer from the 2023 aCentauri team. “We achieved 95 percent efficiency across both light and full loads with a broad output range of 5 to 60 W. Additionally, the scrutineering judges were astounded to see an auxiliary power supply without a heatsink.”


Power Integrations is a proud sponsor of the aCentauri team and will be reporting on the race from Mr. Green’s Blog and PI’s social media channels using hashtag #PowiGaNVan.


Availability & Resources


Reference design kit RDK-85SLR is priced at $50. Solar race car teams can get the kit free by registering online.


About Power Integrations


Power Integrations, Inc., is a leading innovator in semiconductor technologies for high-voltage power conversion. The company’s products are key building blocks in the clean-power ecosystem, enabling the generation of renewable energy as well as the efficient transmission and consumption of power in applications ranging from milliwatts to megawatts. For more information, please visit www.power.com.


Power Integrations, the Power Integrations logo, PI, PowiGaN, PowerPros and InnoSwitch3-AQ are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of Power Integrations, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner.


 


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Contacts

Media Contact

Linda Williams

Power Integrations

(408)-414-9837

linda.williams@power.com


Press Agency Contact

Nick Foot

BWW Communications

+44-1491-636 393

nick.foot@bwwcomms.com

Friday, August 22, 2025

The New Belkin UltraCharge Collection Brings Fast, Stylish Power at 25W

 The world’s first Qi2 25W certified lineup offers faster and smarter wireless charging experiences, designed for next-gen devices


(BUSINESS WIRE)--Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for over 40 years, today announced three new Qi2 25W certified wireless charging solutions, expanding its award-winning mobile power portfolio. These new products harness the power of the latest Qi2 standard, delivering up to 25W wireless charging with enhanced efficiency, thermal management, and cross-device compatibility.

The announcement follows Belkin’s successful certification of multiple products under the new Qi2 25W protocol, setting the stage for high-performance, future-ready accessories that meet the evolving needs of consumers and devices alike.

All three UltraCharge products are thoughtfully engineered with Belkin’s hallmark focus on safety, performance, and design. Supporting up to 25W wireless charging, the UltraCharge collection delivers charging speeds up to 5X faster1 than standard Qi chargers. Each product features Belkin’s proprietary new ChillBoost™ cooling technology, which actively regulates device temperatures for safe, high-speed charging. They also undergo Belkin’s rigorous SmartProtect testing which includes extensive quality control processes to assure safety and reliability. The UltraCharge collection is made with 85% recycled plastic, and packaging is 100% plastic-free, aligning with Belkin’s ongoing efforts to reduce waste and build products more responsibly.

The World's First Qi2 25W Certified Collection

UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock

The fastest and most advanced in the UltraCharge lineup, the UltraCharge Pro is designed for those who value performance and polish. Whether placed on a bedside table, desk, or countertop, UltraCharge Pro elevates any space while keeping your devices powered, protected, and ready to go.

Key features:

Charges iPhone from 0–50% in just 25 minutes2 and Apple Watch from 0–80% in 30 minutes3
Charges three devices at once: iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods
Adjustable viewing angle up to 70° in portrait or landscape
Weighted base with magnetic snap-on for easy one-handed placement
Premium materials including chrome finish and soft-touch silicone base
Includes 45W USB-C power adapter and 5-ft./1.5m USB-C to USB-C cable
UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger

Designed with portability in mind, the UltraCharge 3-in-1 features a foldable, lightweight form factor perfect for travel, while powering up to three devices at once. Ideal for busy professionals, frequent travelers, and design-conscious users who rely on a streamlined daily tech setup, UltraCharge 3-in-1 combines performance, flexibility, and ease of use.

Key features:

Charges iPhone from 0–50% in just 29 minutes4
Foldable, lightweight design for travel-friendly portability
Powers up to three devices at once: iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods
Adjustable viewing angle in portrait or landscape
Includes 45W USB-C power adapter and 5-ft./1.5m USB-C to USB-C cable
UltraCharge 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger

The UltraCharge 2-in-1 delivers ultra-fast wireless charging, plus a bonus USB-C port for an optional third device such as a smartwatch. It’s perfect for those who want maximum speed without the bulk. From home setups to carry-on bags, this charger is built for life on the go.

Key features:

Simultaneously charges 2 devices wirelessly, with bonus USB-C port for third device (5W)
Foldable, lightweight form factor designed for travel
Compatible with both Apple and Android devices
Converts from pad to stand with adjustable viewing angle
Includes 45W USB-C power adapter and 5-ft./1.5m USB-C to USB-C cable
Unlocking Qi2 25W: Why It Matters

Qi2 25W is the latest evolution of the Qi wireless charging standard, developed by the Wireless Power Consortium. It delivers faster charging speeds (up to 25W), greater energy efficiency, and improved compatibility across a wider range of devices and brands. This next-gen standard paves the way for a new era of wireless accessories that offer higher power without the need for cables. Belkin’s new Qi2 25W certified products are built to meet these demands, offering future-ready performance for the latest smartphones capable of supporting faster wireless charging.

Availability

UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 is available to order now on belkin.com, amazon.com, AT&T and select retailers worldwide for $129.99 USD MSRP.
UltraCharge 3-in-1 is available to order now on belkin.com, amazon.com, AT&T and select retailers worldwide for $99.99 USD MSRP.
UltraCharge 2-in-1 is available to order now on belkin.com, amazon.com and select retailers worldwide for $59.99 USD MSRP.
Media kit can be found HERE.

 
1 Based on internal testing, charging delivers up to 25W of power, compared to a 5W Qi charger. Actual results will vary.
2 Based on internal testing. Belkin Qi2 25W wireless technology charges iPhone 16 from 0-50% in 25 minutes using iOS 26 or newer. Charge time varies with environmental factors; actual results will vary.
3 Based on internal testing. Actual results will vary.
4 Based on internal testing. Actual results will vary.

About Belkin

Belkin is a California-based accessories leader delivering award-winning power, protection, productivity, connectivity, and audio products over the last 40 years. Designed and engineered in Southern California and sold in more than 100 countries around the world, Belkin has maintained its steadfast focus on research and development, community, education, sustainability and most importantly, the people it serves. From our humble beginnings in a Southern California garage in 1983, Belkin has become a diverse, global technology company. We remain forever inspired by the planet we live on, and the connection between people and technology.


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Contacts
Media Contact
Jen Wei
VP of Global Communications and Digital Marketing
comms@belkin.com

Esri Releases Practical New Guide to Creating Visually Stunning and Effective Map Apps

 Clear Instructions and Step-by-Step Tutorials Make GIS App Building Easy and Accessible


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, has released Top 20 Essential Skills for ArcGIS Experience Builder. This new book leads users—beginners and experts alike—through the process of creating visually stunning and highly functional apps. Concise chapters with simple instructions guide readers on how to create various types of apps to visualize data, perform analysis, explore 3D environments, and more. With explanatory screenshots and self-paced learning resources, each chapter takes about 45 minutes to finish. Upon completion, readers will know how to:


Use ArcGIS Experience Builder interface and create layouts


Employ best practices from a design perspective


Create simple apps to perform a number of useful activities


Set up powerful tools to conduct analysis and gain valuable insights


Share apps and optimize them for mobile use


Top 20 Essential Skills for ArcGIS Experience Builder is perfect for ArcGIS users who want to understand ArcGIS Experience Builder, what kind of apps they can create, and how to make them functional as well as visually compelling. The book is authored by writer Thomas Coughlin along with Michael Gaigg and Alix Vézina, both engineers who specialize in solutions for Esri.


Top 20 Essential Skills for ArcGIS Experience Builder is available in paperback (ISBN: 9781589487949, US$89.99) and as an ebook (ISBN: 9781589487925, US$89.99). This book can be purchased at most online retailers worldwide. Interested retailers can contact Esri Press book distributor Ingram Publisher Services.


About Esri


Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the world’s most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com.


Copyright © 2025 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri Globe and Frame logos, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners.


 


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Contacts

Jo Ann Pruchniewski

Public Relations, Esri

Mobile: 301-693-2643

Email: jpruchniewski@esri.com


 

Rimini Street and American Digital Partner to Deliver Alternative SAP, Oracle and VMware Support, Savings and Innovation on HPE Infrastructure

LAS VEGAS - Friday, 22. August 2025


Clients can avoid low ROI software upgrades and migrations, achieve a reduction in total IT support costs by up to 90% and leverage full potential of existing systems without re-platforming


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, management and innovation solutions, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced its strategic partnership with American Digital, a leading IT solutions provider specializing in custom data center solutions based on HPE infrastructure.


The strategic alliance provides North America based clients with a full-stack solution, with Rimini Street providing comprehensive software support and managed services for mission-critical enterprise software running on infrastructure provided and operated by American Digital.


Rimini Street and American Digital are working together helping clients maximize the full potential of existing systems, enabling organizations to immediately save up to 90% total software maintenance costs, and keep their stable software running securely and in full legal compliance.


The partners are also working together to help clients integrate modern technologies like AI, workflow and automation on top of their current applications and databases – without any required vendor upgrades or migrations or additional budget strain.


A Winning Partnership for Clients


Already clients are benefitting from the partnership, including Regal Rexnord, a manufacturer of sustainable energy products that integrate sustainable technology, digital connectivity and full-service solutions.


Tim Dickson, the chief digital & information officer of Regal Rexnord, shared, “Our partnership with Rimini Street and American Digital has been built on a foundation of trust, responsiveness, and shared commitment to excellence. Their teams consistently deliver outstanding customer service and technical expertise, enabling us to extend the value of our data center investments and drive digital transformation with confidence. We deeply appreciate the close collaboration and reliability they bring to our operations.”


Leaders in Transformative Technology and Support Enable Innovation and Unmatched Support for Enterprise Applications


“With rising IT costs, urgent licensing and security challenges and looming vendor end of support dates for mission-critical systems, coupled with the demand from the board for fast adoption and execution of ROI-rich innovations like AI, organizations must achieve growth, profitability and speed to market,” said Seth Ravin, Rimini Street’s CEO. “Sinking costs into endless upgrades will leave organizations behind competitors and waste limited resources that could be focused on new innovation. The partnership between Rimini Street and American Digital ensures clients can leapfrog competitors and bring to market real, tangible innovations – quickly and within existing IT budgets.”


"The American Digital and Rimini Street partnership is designed to deliver immediate, measurable cost savings while ensuring critical applications are fully covered with flexible, tailored solutions that adapt to each client's unique needs," said Bob Panos, president of American Digital Corporation. "Together, we're redefining exceptional service and driving real results from day one," concluded Panos.


To learn how IT and finance leaders can self-fund and accelerate their innovation goals, click HERE.


About Rimini Street, Inc.


Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of unified solutions to run, manage, support, customize, configure, connect, protect, monitor, and optimize enterprise application, database, and technology software. The Company has signed thousands of contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who selected Rimini Street as their trusted, proven mission-critical enterprise software solutions provider and achieved better operational outcomes, realized billions of US dollars in savings and funded AI and other innovation investments.


To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.


About American Digital


American Digital (www.americandigital.com) is a Midwestern-based IT Solutions partner. With 40 years of expertise, we design seamless, modern, future-proof IT solutions that our clients count on as a mission-critical component of their business strategy. As a Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Platinum Partner and an Aruba Partner, we provide custom system integration and consulting services across HPE’s complete enterprise portfolio of server, storage, and networking products.


Our fast-growing SAP and Managed Services practice is built on customizable solutions that support mission-critical business applications safely and securely. We see our clients as long-term partners and we reinforce that relationship every day through consistency, reliability and accountability.


At American Digital, your vision becomes our mission. We design and implement a digital environment that brings next-level continuity, efficiency, and security—exactly as you imagined it. That’s what we mean when we design IT solutions built around you.


Forward-Looking Statements


Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, litigation, agreements and Court orders involving Oracle, the wind down of support services for Oracle’s PeopleSoft software products and the impact on future period revenue and costs incurred related to these efforts; changes in the business environment in which Rimini Street operates, including the impact of macro-economic trends, geopolitical tensions and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; the evolution of the enterprise software management and support landscape and our ability to attract and retain clients and further penetrate our client base; significant competition in the software support services industry and our intentions with respect to our pricing model; customer adoption of our expanded portfolio of products and services and products and services we expect to introduce; our expectations regarding new product offerings, partnerships and alliance programs, including but not limited to our partnership with ServiceNow; our ability to grow our revenue and accurately forecast revenue, along with the results of any efforts to manage costs to align with revenue expectations and expansion of our offerings; the expected impact of reductions in our workforce during the last and current fiscal year and associated reorganization costs; estimates of our total addressable market and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; variability of timing in our sales cycle; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately predict retention rates; the loss of one or more members of our management team; our ability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel; our business plan and ability to grow in the future and our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; the volatility of our stock price; our need and ability to raise equity or debt financing on favorable terms and our ability to generate cash flows from operations to help fund increased investment in our growth initiatives; risks associated with global operations; our ability to prevent unauthorized access to our information technology systems and other cybersecurity threats; any deficiencies associated with generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies potentially used by us or by our third-party vendors and service providers; our ability to protect the confidential information of our employees and clients and to comply with privacy regulations; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand and intellectual property; changes in laws and regulations, including changes in tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take; tariff costs (including tariff relief or the ability to mitigate tariffs, in light of new or increased tariffs imposed by the United States government and the potential for retaliatory trade measures by affected countries); a failure by us to establish adequate tax reserves; adverse developments in and costs associated with defending pending litigation or any new litigation; our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; any negative impact of environmental, social and governance matters on our reputation or business and the exposure of our business to additional costs or risks from our reporting on such matters; our ability to maintain our good standing with the United States government and international governments and capture new contracts with governmental entities; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; uncertainty as to the long-term value of Rimini Street’s equity securities; catastrophic events that disrupt our business or that of our clients; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 31, 2025, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.


© 2025 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.


 


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Contacts

Janet Ravin

VP, Global Communications

Rimini Street, Inc.

+1 702 285-3532

pr@riministreet.com


Daniella Lundsberg-Steele

VP, Marketing

American Digital Corporation

+1 630-956-0098

daniellas@americandigital.com

Blue Yonder Acquires Optoro to Further Transform Returns Management and Extend Capabilities

  Strategic acquisition of U.S.-based technology company to enhance Blue Yonder's warehouse and in-store returns processing capabilities, delivering a comprehensive returns management solution

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Product returns create friction for consumers, negatively impact profit margins for companies, and result in significant inefficiencies in inventory utilization throughout the supply chain. To combat these challenges, Blue Yonder, the world leader in end-to-end digital supply chain transformation, announced today it has acquired Optoro, Inc., a leading technology provider for returns, to enhance its Returns Management capabilities, delivering a more robust, comprehensive solution.

Returns processing both in the warehouse and in-store is a complex part of the returns lifecycle, especially since 9.5 billion pounds of returns end up in landfills. Blue Yonder identified Optoro’s robust returns processing capabilities, especially for major retailers and brands with a high volume of returns, as a way to further strengthen its capabilities in this space. With Optoro’s and Blue Yonder’s solutions coming together into a consolidated offering, retailers, brands and logistics service providers (LSPs) gain access to a comprehensive end-to-end Returns Management solution, which allows them to streamline services for greater efficiency, waste reduction, and visibility.

“With e-commerce sales continuing to grow, retailers need to be prepared when it comes to returns, which were projected to hit $890 billion last year, representing 16.9% of annual retail sales and is more than double the return rate from 2019,” said Tim Robinson, corporate vice president, Returns, Blue Yonder. “We are excited to acquire Optoro, to enrich the capabilities available to our customers, allowing them to enhance their ability to manage returns with increased efficiency and effectiveness to meet the needs of consumers. This strategic acquisition affirms Blue Yonder's commitment to leading the industry, providing customers with unparalleled opportunities to refine their operations and driving transformative business success through a comprehensive returns solution.”

When combining Optoro’s capabilities with Blue Yonder’s existing returns management offering from a previous acquisition, Blue Yonder can now offer customers:

  • Enterprise-Grade Returns Processing: Enhances Blue Yonder's current offering with cloud-native, mature, feature-rich, processing and dispositioning capabilities to process returns in the warehouse and in-store. This completes the circularity of the journey of the returned item.
  • Enables Dedicated Returns Facilities: Allows retailers, brands and LSPs to efficiently manage specialized returns facilities, enhancing operational flexibility and efficiency.
  • In-Store Returns: The in-store app enables faster processing and automates inventory disposition to optimize recovery and maximize margin potential. By driving returns traffic in-store, retailers can capitalize on opportunities to resell products to enhance profitability and attract invaluable foot traffic with new-purchase potential.
  • Recommerce Capabilities: With configurable workflows to recommerce vendors built in, the solution enables retailers and brands to efficiently identify resalable inventory and sell it to the next-best option, promoting inventory circularity. This prevents backlogs in warehouses and reduces goods ending up in landfills.
  • Next-Level Returns Management: By extending Blue Yonder’s existing capabilities in returns initiation, decisioning and kiosks, Blue Yonder customers can complete the end-to-end journey needed to fully manage the returns process.

"Blue Yonder's acquisition of Optoro extends its returns management solution as an even more comprehensive offering,” said Jordan K. Speer, research director, IDC Retail Insights. “With the addition of Optoro, Blue Yonder will be able to provide more expanded capabilities that address the complexities of the returns lifecycle. This strategic move not only opens new opportunities to enhance operational efficiency but also aligns with the growing demand for sustainable practices. Blue Yonder's comprehensive approach addresses the downside of traditional returns processes, which often lead to poor profitability and lower customer satisfaction, by taking a transformative, dynamic approach to the entire end-to-end supply chain. The new combined offering has the potential to deliver great value to its users."

Blue Yonder customers who use the solution will receive the following benefits:

  • Enhanced Efficiency: With up to 18% of inventory often tied up in the returns process, optimizing returns management is crucial. Customers can accelerate receiving speeds by more than two times, enabling quicker inventory turnaround for resale and faster customer refunds.
  • Improved Financial Performance: Customers can achieve significant cost savings by reducing the volume of returns and cutting reverse logistics expenses. Additionally, they can streamline warehouse operations to lower labor costs and minimize fraud.
  • Loyalty-Winning Customer Experience: Customers can deliver both a simple, digital returns journey and an exceptional in-store returns experience, while offering fast refunds and exchanges to enhance customer satisfaction and foster brand loyalty.
  • Increased Sustainability: Customers will be able to reduce shipping miles, stock wastage, and stock transfers, as well as removing returns labels from parcels, all while improving sustainability.

“Optoro was founded when e-commerce was in its early days, with the foresight to solve the returns problem. Over time, we built enterprise-grade returns solutions to meet the needs of the most iconic retail brands,” said Amena Ali, CEO, Optoro. “Now, thanks to Blue Yonder’s growing customer base, we will realize the full potential of our vision, helping thousands of companies worldwide address the returns challenge. By seamlessly integrating with Blue Yonder, it will be easier than ever for companies to optimize their returns to improve the shopper experience, inventory planning, and overall profitability.”

Blue Yonder continues to be the only company with a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, from planning and execution to fulfillment and returns, to build more sustainable and profitable, end-to-end supply chains. This deal is Blue Yonder’s sixth acquisition in less than two years and is indicative of Blue Yonder's momentum in the supply chain management space. The acquisition allows the company to continue showcasing its strength in the retail and logistics industries. The acquisition agreement was closed by Blue Yonder and Optoro on Aug. 19, 2025.

About Blue Yonder

Blue Yonder is the world leader in end-to-end digital supply chain transformation. With a unified, AI-driven platform and multi-tier network, Blue Yonder empowers businesses to operate sustainably, scale profitably, and delight their customers—all at machine speed. A pioneer in applying AI solutions to the most complicated supply chain challenges, Blue Yonder’s modern innovations and unmatched industry expertise help more than 3,000 retailers, manufacturers, and logistics service providers confidently navigate supply chain complexity and disruption. blueyonder.com

“Blue Yonder” is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name “Blue Yonder” is a trademark and/or property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated.

 



Contacts

Blue Yonder Corporate Communications:
mediarelationsteam@blueyonder.com
U.S.: +1 480-308-3037
EMEA: +39 335 7849149

 

Kioxia Achieves Successful Prototyping of 5TB Large-Capacity and 64GB/s High-Bandwidth Flash Memory Module




 Enabling Advanced AI Processing at the Edge to Help Boost the Smart Transformation of Industries

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kioxia Corporation, a world leader in memory solutions, has successfully developed a prototype of a large-capacity, high-bandwidth flash memory module essential for large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models. This achievement was made within the "Post-5G Information and Communication Systems Infrastructure Enhancement R&D Project (JPNP20017)" commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan's national research and development agency. This memory module features a large capacity of five terabytes (TB) and a high bandwidth of 64 gigabytes per second (GB/s).

To address the trade-off between capacity and bandwidth that has been a challenge with DRAM-based conventional memory modules, Kioxia has developed a new module configuration utilizing daisy-chained connections with beads of flash memories. We have also developed high-speed transceiver technology enabling bandwidths of 128 gigabits per second (Gbps), along with techniques to enhance flash memory performance. These innovations have been effectively applied to both memory controllers and memory modules.

The practical application of this memory module is expected to accelerate digital transformation by enabling the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data analysis, and advanced AI processing in post-5G/6G Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) servers and other applications.

1. Background
In the post-5G/6G era, wireless networks are expected to achieve higher speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect more devices simultaneously. However, transmitting data to remote cloud servers for processing increases latency across the entire network, including wired networks, making real-time applications difficult. For this reason, there is a need for the widespread adoption of MEC servers that process data closer to users, which is expected to drive digital transformation across a variety of industries. Furthermore, the demand for advanced AI applications, such as generative AI, has been rising in recent years. Alongside the performance improvements of MEC servers, memory modules are also required to have even larger capacity and higher bandwidth.

Against this background, Kioxia has focused on enhancing the capacity and bandwidth of memory modules using flash memory for this project. The company has succeeded in developing a prototype memory module with a capacity of 5 TB and a bandwidth of 64 GB/s, and has verified its operability.

2. Achievements of This Project
2.1 Adoption of Daisy-Chain Connections
To achieve both large-capacity and high-bandwidth memory modules, Kioxia has adopted a daisy-chain connection with beads of controllers connected to each memory board instead of a bus connection. As a result, the bandwidth is not degraded even when the number of flash memories is increased, and a large capacity beyond the conventional limit is achieved.

2.2 128 Gbps PAM41 High-speed, Low-power Transceiver
High-speed differential serial signaling is applied to daisy-chain connections between memory controllers instead of parallel signaling to reduce the number of connections, and PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 Levels) is utilized to achieve higher bandwidth of 128 Gbps with low-power consumption.

2.3 Technologies Boosting Flash Memory Performance
To shorten the read latency of flash memory in memory modules, Kioxia has developed flash prefetch technology, which minimizes the latency by pre-fetching data during sequential accesses, and implemented this in the controller. In addition, memory bandwidth has been increased to 4.0 Gbps by applying low amplitude signaling and distortion correction/suppression technology to the interface between the memory controller and flash memory.

2.4 Memory Controller and Memory Module Prototyping
By implementing 128 Gbps PAM4 high-speed, low-power transceivers and technologies boosting flash memory performance, Kioxia has prototyped a memory controller and memory module that uses PCIe® 6.0 (64 Gbps, 8 lanes) as the host interface to the server. The prototyped memory module demonstrated that a capacity of 5TB and a bandwidth of 64GB/s can be realized with less than 40 watts of power consumption.

3. Future Plans
In addition to IoT and big data analysis and advanced AI processing at the edge, Kioxia is promoting the early commercialization and practical implementation of the findings from this research, exploiting new market trends such as generative AI.

PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 Levels): data transmission technique using four voltage levels representing two-bit data.

* PCIe is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG.

* Company names, product names and service names may be trademarks of third-party companies.

* This announcement has been prepared to provide information on our business and does not constitute or form part of an offer or invitation to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for or otherwise acquire any securities in any jurisdiction or an inducement to engage in investment activity nor shall it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract thereof.

* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is correct on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

About Kioxia

Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. Kioxia is committed to uplifting the world with “memory” by offering products, services and systems that create choice for customers and memory-based value for society. Kioxia's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH™, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, automotive systems, data centers and generative AI systems.

 



Contacts

 

Kota Yamaji
Public Relations
Kioxia Corporation
+81-3-6478-2319
kioxia-hd-pr@kioxia.com


Energy Vault, Turkey’s Astor Enerji Launch Global Strategic Partnership with BESS Deployments Totalling 2 GWh and 1 GW Transformer Procurement from Astor Enerji




 The partnership brings together advanced expertise in energy storage, transformers, high-voltage equipment, and energy management software — maximizing project returns (IRR) while reducing time-to-market for critical infrastructure such as AI Data Centers

Energy Vault will deliver to Astor Enerji 2 GWh of B-VAULT™ systems for its grid-connected PV projects, combining advanced energy storage technology with Energy Vault’s VaultOS™ software platform to optimize dispatch, accelerate execution, and enhance overall project returns

Astor Enerji will deliver to Energy Vault over 1 GW of power transformers and high-voltage equipment, enabling global supply chain acceleration under Energy Vault’s Asset Vault platform

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV), a global leader in grid-scale energy storage solutions, and Astor Enerji (BIST: ASTOR), a leading global manufacturer of high-quality power transformers and high-voltage equipment, today announced the signing of a Global Strategic Agreement to strengthen global supply chains for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and accelerate the deployment of large-scale energy storage and grid infrastructure across multiple markets.

This global alliance brings together two fast-growing innovators in the power sector, united by a mission to enable power abundance — delivering the cost-effective and reliable clean electricity needed to fuel industrial growth, digital transformation and long-term economic prosperity. The partnership marks the formation of a powerful industrial alliance, aligning complementary strengths to unlock commercial and technological synergies — including supply chain efficiency, advanced system integration and accelerated execution for utility-scale projects. At a time when U.S. transformer wait times have stretched from 50 weeks to as long as 127 weeks, this collaboration directly addresses supply shortages by leveraging Astor Enerji's manufacturing capacity and global supply chain to ensure access to high-quality equipment from sources outside areas of U.S. concern.

Under the agreement:

  • Energy Vault will supply B-VAULT™ BESS solutions for Astor Enerji’s four grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) projects in Romania, delivering a combined storage capacity of up to 2 gigawatt-hours (GWh). These systems will be integrated with Energy Vault’s VaultOS™ energy management system platform for optimal performance and grid stability.

  • Astor Enerji will provide transformers and high-voltage equipment for more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of Energy Vault BESS projects planned in the United States, Australia, and Europe, creating significant supply chain efficiencies across Energy Vault’s global portfolio.

By combining Energy Vault’s portfolio of advanced long- and short-duration energy storage hardware solutions and AI-driven software platform with Astor Enerji’s manufacturing scale and global delivery track record, the partnership unlocks operational efficiency, speeds time-to-market and strengthens grid infrastructure in high-growth regions.

Energy Vault will source over 1 GW of transformers and high-voltage equipment from Astor to support its BESS projects, which are being developed and operated through Asset Vault — a fully owned subsidiary dedicated to building, owning, and operating energy storage assets in high-growth global markets. Backed by a recently announced $300 million preferred equity investment, Asset Vault underpins Energy Vault’s independent power producer (IPP) strategy, enabling long-term revenues through bankable off-take agreements and merchant market participation.

“This partnership is about more than equipment supply — it’s about aligning two high-growth companies to solve the most pressing challenges in the energy transition,” said Marco Terruzzin, Chief Revenue Officer, Energy Vault. “Together, we are building the technology and supply chain capacity to meet surging power demand from AI data centers and the rapid adoption of renewable energy. This is how we deliver power abundance and economic growth on a global scale.”

“Energy Vault’s innovative approach to energy storage, combined with their extensive global project pipeline, makes them an ideal partner as we expand our footprint in the rapidly growing battery storage sector,” said Olcay Doğan, Chief Financial Officer, Astor Enerji. “This agreement builds on our mission to deliver the grid infrastructure needed for a sustainable energy future, and we are excited to create lasting commercial and technological value together.”

About Energy Vault
Energy Vault® develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to transform the world's approach to sustainable energy storage. The Company's comprehensive offerings include proprietary gravity-based storage, battery storage, and green hydrogen energy storage technologies. Each storage solution is supported by the Company’s hardware technology-agnostic energy management system software and integration platform. Unique to the industry, Energy Vault’s innovative technology portfolio delivers customized short-and-long-duration energy storage solutions to help utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users significantly reduce levelized energy costs while maintaining power reliability. Utilizing eco-friendly materials with the ability to integrate waste materials for beneficial reuse, Energy Vault’s gravity-based energy storage technology is facilitating the shift to a circular economy while accelerating the global clean energy transition for its customers. Please visit www.energyvault.com for more information.

About Astor Enerji
Astor Enerji (BIST: ASTOR) is a global manufacturer of power transformers, distribution transformers, and high-voltage/medium-voltage switchgear, providing robust and efficient grid solutions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the U.S.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, the Company’s operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “suggest,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projections,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “might,” “will” and other similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements or projections on our current expectations, plans, and assumptions, which we have made in light of our experience in our industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances at the time. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the failure to execute definitive agreements, changes in our strategy, expansion plans, customer opportunities, future operations, future financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; the uncertainly of our awards, bookings and backlogs and developed pipeline equating to future revenue; the lack of assurance that non-binding letters of intent and other indication of interest can result in binding orders or sales; the timing of permits; the possibility of our products to be or alleged to be defective or experience other failures; the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model and growth strategy; our ability to develop and maintain our brand and reputation; developments and projections relating to our business, our competitors, and industry; the ability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems in a timely manner; the impact of health epidemics, on our business and the actions we may take in response thereto; our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; the international nature of our operations and the impact of war or other hostilities on our business and global markets; our ability to obtain funding for our operations and future growth; our business, expansion plans and opportunities and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

 



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