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Indian textile and apparel industry is one of the most significant focuses for many multinationals and some of these multinationals are investing in India as they strongly believe in ‘India’s Growth Story’. One such company is UK-based Coats, a 260-year-old world’s largest industrial thread company with a turnover of US $ 1.58 billion, having India operations for the last 145 years. The London Stock Exchange-listed company has mainly three manufacturing units in India (Madurai, Tamil Nadu; Panoli, Gujarat and Faridabad in Haryana) and recently unveiled its state-of-the-art sustainability hub in Madurai. Team Apparel Resources (AR) was in Madurai to have a first-hand feel of this hub. Rajiv Sharma, Group CEO, Coats who inaugurated this sustainability hub with industry stalwarts, is bullish about Coats’ growing operations and revenue in India. Along with the growing Indian textile markets, the growth is also largely supported by plenty of Coats’ sustainable initiatives.
India is highly important for Coats as the company’s one-third of global manufacturing capacity is in India, and as of now, India accounts for nearly 10 per cent of its global revenue. And the same is expected to be around 17 per cent in the next few years. Out of a total staff of 17,000 globally, Coats has a total team of 5,000 people in India.
“I am quite optimistic about India’s growth story. The Government of India has renewed focus on textile and apparel with many incentive schemes put in place. The overall impact is that textile and apparel industry is expanding. At the same time, few of the global footwear companies are investing in India,” says Rajiv who also believes that unlike Vietnam or Bangladesh which are majorly into exports, India’s growth will be mostly in domestic consumption. Indian consumers, especially young India, are aspirational and they like to spend.
In India, Coats caters to mainly apparel exporters, domestic garment manufacturers and tailors spread across the country. Globally, 50 per cent of the company’s revenue comes from apparel and 25 per cent from the footwear industry, which is mainly Asia-centric. Rest 25 per cent is from performance materials which is largely EU- and US-centric.
Material transition strategy – recycled and renewable material is in focus
Coats’ innovation hub in Madurai is the first sustainability hub in India and this spinning and twisting pilot plant will further progress the company’s sustainability commitment. The company already has three large innovation hubs in China, Turkey and in the US.
And this newly established Indian hub will sit alongside the Coats Sustainability Hub in Shenzhen China, accelerating the material transition to recycled and renewable materials. The two hubs will work together to innovate new-generation materials for sustainable sewing threads for apparel, footwear and performance materials.
In future, the hub will also explore innovations with raw material like corn starch, banana and other waste material. Vegan dyes are also another thing on the radar.
This hub is part of a US $ 10 million investment planned over the next five years in scaling up the development of green technologies and materials to accelerate the achievement of Coats’ ambitious sustainability targets.
“We chose Madurai as a hub because we have the best talent here, best-spinning facilities and easy access to all kinds of raw material,” says Rajiv. This sustainability hub boasts a capacity of about 75 kg of samples every day.
It also has the infrastructure to process multiple fibres, blends and high-performance fibres like aramids. It has IOT-enabled machines and hence very less mechanical intervention is required to manage the machines to produce multiple samples.
With all available resources and the focus of the company, the hub will support customers and other stakeholders in creating sustainability in the industry, enabling Coats to streamline sustainability innovation, enhance brand collaborations and facilitate faster sustainable product offers and market entry capabilities
Less water and more recycled polyester
Sustainability is at the core of Coats and it has set a target to reduce emissions by 50 per cent in this decade and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. And its recently issued sustainability report also shows that the company is on the right track to achieve its sustainability targets.
Water saving is another big concern for Coats’ as to make one kg of thread, it uses around 150 litres of water and Coats manufactures this quantity every three hours, so its focus revolves around water conservation. Waterless dyeing is also very much on the radar of Coats. It has also invested in an Israeli start-up that is trying out waterless dyeing.
“The material transition journey is fundamental to the delivery of Coats’ emissions reduction targets. Historically, 95 per cent of raw materials are oil-based plastic fibres. But we are clear to have zero products from virgin oil-based materials by 2030,” avers Rajiv.
The company is highly enthusiastic about the sales of its recycled polyester-based thread as Rajiv informs, “We started with recycled polyester-based thread in 2019 and did about US $ 2 million of sales that year. But last year, we did about US $ 128 million of the same, US $ 250 this year and we want to get to about US $ 400 million next year.”
Coats is expanding the use of recycled polyester from drinks bottles. Using recycled fibres extends the life of the polymers and reduces CO2 emissions in the fibres by 40 per cent. Coats has recycled 723,986,816 PET bottles that have produced 10,790,848 kg of Ecoverde products and this has saved 567 MN MJ of energy and avoided 16,833 tonnes of Co2.
Rajiv believes that the last century was all about oil while this century is all about water. Everyone is now focused on reducing the water intensity and one can see technological breakthroughs in the textile industry in the next few years where the same product can be produced with less than half of the water. Coats in the last four years has reduced water consumption by 40 per cent.
He firmly says that Coats is an organisation where it in the DNA of the company to do the right thing and be sustainable and make sure that the impact is felt on the society while ensuring revenue growth.
“Sustainability is here to stay and is now becoming a licence to operate,” concludes Rajiv.
Coats’ new products in 2023
Going forward, sustainable aspects will reflect strongly in Coats’ newer products as the same in 2023 include Eloflex Eco Verde (recycle stretch thread), Surfilor Eco Verde (recycled nylon textured thread), Dabond Eco Verde (bonded recycled polyester thread) and Bio Nylon PA 11 thread (100 per cent bio-based).
Stalwarts at the inauguration
Planet, consumer and legislation are three major aspects of sustainability. Consumers are young and becoming more aspirational day by day, legislations across the globe are going to be stringent, so innovation is going to be key to decarbonisation. Sustainability can make business better and the more sustainable a company is, more are the opportunities there. Adrian Elliot, CEO, Apparel Division, Coats
From raw materials to processing, cut-make-trim to retail, there are a lot of opportunities for innovations and innovative solutions are critical on the road to net zero. Innovative solutions like accelerating next-generation materials, coal phase-out: dry processing and material efficiency need to be focused upon. Priyanka Khanna, Head of Asia Expansion, Fashion for Good
Sustainability is and will continue to remain ‘work in progress’ at ABFRL. We believe to simplify sustainability and are committed to giving back more than what we take from the eco system. In sustainability 2.0, we have a product-centric approach with a focus on product design and development, customer centricity and supply chain in line with lifecycle thinking. Naresh Tyagi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited
We follow the 5Rs of Sustainability (Production models and waste management): Rethink, Reduce, Recycle, Recover and Reuse. We reduced 58 per cent GHC emissions from 2016 to 2022. Less than 10 percent freshwater is used in composite operations (spinning to finishing). Our thrust is also on the use of sustainable materials like we use more than 50 per cent BCI cotton, man-made sustainable fibres-Lyocell, Ecovero, Refibra, recycled polyester etc. Arvind Mathur, CEO, Raymond UCO Denim


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Tablet demand is projected to rise in the runup to Christmas, with both Android and iOS form factors set to benefit, Context research confirms.
Marie-Christine Pygott, senior analyst at Context, said the growth was across Western Europe, including Poland, and making for a spectacular 88.2 per cent year-on-year expansion in Android tablet sales in October alone.
Android gadgets lead the European market, accounting for 70.1 per cent of tablets sold.
"The growing consumer demand for Android tablets, expected to last throughout Q4, has partly been driven by prices," she said.
"Android systems were more affordable to start with, but prices have been pushed down further thanks to increased competition inside the Android ecosystem leading to a greater number of devices on offer."
Apple's iOS devices have 28.3 per cent of the market, and Windows 8 just 1.1 per cent, she noted.
Pygott said the average distributor price for Android-based tablets fell from €204.10 (£169.85) last year to €184.20 in October. The largest chunk of growth was coming from the 7in segment.
In the UK specifically, average prices have fallen from €247.70 to €181.20 from 2012 to 2013.
Sales of 7in tablets soared 85.9 per cent year-on-year, comprising 47.9 per cent of all Android tablet sales in October.
Samsung remains the number one Android vendor, with its 10.1in and 7in Galaxy Tab 3 tablets ranking second and third, respectively, in terms of units sold in October.
However, Apple's iPad mini was the best-selling single product in October, while the iPad 4 came in fourth, the iPad Air fifth and the iPad 2 seventh in terms of market share, she added.
Pygott (pictured, right) said that Apple is expected to benefit from moving its product launches to the second half of the year, rather than spring.
Google's Nexus 7 is expected to perform well in the pre-Christmas period. In October, it took sixth place overall when it comes to sales through distribution across Europe, she said.
Amazon Kindles are expected to be the next-best performers, followed by a "long tail" of other vendors and own-brand devices from the likes of Tesco and Argos.
However, Pygott also warned that although consumer demand for tablets will rise in Q4, overall year-on-year growth for the category has slowed from 68.1 per cent in Q3 to 35.4 per cent in the month of October.
This is thanks to a growing base last year and partly because of new Q4 products not yet visible in distribution, she said.
Watford-based Hills Components ceased trading last month and its current inventory will be auctioned off
Robots, predictive analytics and selling without a salesforce: Where the UK's leading MSPs think the market is heading
MSP bosses to share their thoughts on the future of the managed services market
Distributor on course to hit £20m revenue this year
In an interview with CRN, Wendy Mars says Cisco and its partners are no longer having to arm-twist customers on the need for digital transformation

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Shortening work hours might seem counterintuitive for companies that value nimbleness and productivity, and that need to clear their balance sheets, but a large body of evidence suggests that this approach pays dividends. In recent years, hundreds of forward-looking companies have pioneered four-day weeks or six-hour days, without cutting salaries. These companies are big and small, operate in a variety of industries, and are all over the world. They bring everyone together around the challenge of doing five days’ work in four. They’re continually prototyping new tools and practices, and rapidly evaluating the results. They make adjustments as they go.
A shorter workweek helps these companies be more productive, not less, and more attractive to first-rate talent. At Pursuit Marketing, a call center in Glasgow, Scotland, productivity went up 40 percent after the company implemented a four-day week, and annual staff turnover has dropped to an unheard-of 2 percent. Revenues at Woowa Brothers, a Korean online delivery company, have increased more than tenfold since it cut working hours in 2015; even though it’s a start-up, it now competes with giants like Samsung for engineering talent. Michelin-starred restaurants like Baumé, in Palo Alto, California, have moved to four-day weeks to reduce stress on staff. Employees are healthier and use fewer sick days because they have more time to exercise, cook better food, and take better care of themselves. Their work-life balance improves, they’re more focused and creative, and they’re less likely to burn out.


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More trouble ahead for Books & Nooks?
Barnes & Noble Inc. shares plunged 17.5% Friday, after a takeover offer fell apart, leaving the bookseller without a deep-pocketed parent in its battle against Internet giants Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.
Barnes & Noble said on Thursday that its recent suitor, John Malone's Liberty Media Corp., had ended discussions of its $17-a-share bid.
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Gamification, the tactic of applying game mechanics to traditional activities, has officially realized its self-fulfilling prophecy from early 2011 predictions of becoming the next big thing.
In March, we blogged about our experience at SXSW, noting Seth Priebatsch's belief that the next decade will likely see the game layer prevail over social media. Gamification is slated to lead a new era of incentives, giving users a way to interact with traditionally non-game activities.
If you think adding a game layer to a marketing experience will benefit your brand, there are a few ways to up the ante when incorporating it into your strategy.
The concept of gaming, rewards and incentives isn't new. Companies have been helping brands do it for years with sweepstakes, instant win games, loyalty solutions and more. But we are now shaping it in new ways, in new places and for newer audiences.
Making Health Fun
AARP launched a program this fall under its Brain Health channel, inviting site visitors to a photo memory challenge and offering a chance to win an Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad2, iTunes gift cards, Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit Plus, and $250 toward nutrition counseling – all prizes that tie in to users' overall health and wellbeing. Games, according to health experts, can help ward off diseases like memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's.
"Our brain health games are some of the most popular on the site,” said Nataki Edwards, vice president, digital strategy & operations for AARP. “The Photo Recall Challenge brought together our users' love of games, as well as their interest in staying healthy and vibrant. We knew that a game challenging memory would work well with our audience and the results did not disappoint –more than 134K people entered this sweeps."
Think games are just for kids?
Games also are effective for repeated brand engagement, and a surprising gamer segment is the over-55 crowd, who enjoy playing games, puzzles and trivia in the online environment.
"It’s not surprising that the over-50 crowd loves games,” Edwards added. “Sudoku, solitaire and mah-jongg were all very popular games played in the 'real world' and now they can be enjoyed online as well."
Blue Cross Blue Shield gets in the game
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida was looking for new ways to encourage Floridians to live an active, healthy lifestyle.
"In February 2011, we refreshed our brand promise with three core tenets: affordability, access and community support,” said Kate Warnock, social media community manager for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF). “The Pursuit was created as a way to connect Floridians with nonprofit organizations who expand the reach of our brand promise and help more Floridians in their pursuit of health."
To drive awareness, a social media campaign highlighted three non-profit organizations on BCBSF's Facebook page, inviting Floridians to vote for the organization that should win the monthly mash-up. Each monthly winner was awarded $3,000, while each of the runners-up received $1,000.
A leaderboard posting the monthly winners put visibility behind the initiative, showing which organizations were benefiting from users' votes, as well as the total amount donated to date.
Don't think gaming aligns with your audience?
Maybe that's a perfect reason that it does. Gaming by nature is fun, interesting and even competitive. What audience doesn't want to be captivated? Rather than using the same old tactics to convince, persuade, and educate, reprogram and think about the entertainment factor.
The questions every brand should think out loud are, "Is my brand providing organic value to the consumer?" and, if not, "Can we at least make their experience interesting so they spend more time with us?"
Whether or not your brand marketing aligns with a true gamification strategy, remember that in today's world, the consumer is always assessing “what's in it for me.” If your brand, service, or organization can provide extra value, you'll be sure to lock in their attention.


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Infinix, a fast-growing international smartphone brand, officially launched the all-new Infinix HOT 30 series earlier this month in Malaysia with two models – HOT 30 & HOT 30i, offering outstanding upgrades that give users an enhanced lifestyle and gaming experience worldwide.
Jackie Chen, Country Manager of Infinix Malaysia said, “At Infinix, we place great importance on understanding the needs of the younger generation and are dedicated to creating trendy, powerful, and attainably priced smart devices that bring the latest technology on the market to users worldwide. The latest HOT 30 series is equipped with powerful gaming processors, ample memory, lightning-fast charging capabilities, and the most vivid high-definition screens available in their class. We believe these features take the mobile gaming experience to new heights. Moreover, the HOT 30 series is competitively priced, which we believe will impress every young user seeking high-quality mobile devices,”
The HOT 30 & HOT 30i and priced at RM599 and RM399 respectively and will be up for purchase from the 14th of April onwards on all Infinix online and offline selling channels. Infinix’s collaboration with Garena Free Fire also offers a special-edition HOT 30 model at RM599 which will also be available for purchase from the 14th of April onwards nationwide, while stocks last.


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Farron calls for Kendal to be a Portas pilot scheme
South Lakes MP Tim Farron is backing a bid to make Kendal among 12 towns being picked to take part in a new government-backed Mary Portas pilot scheme, which aims to help communities with struggling high streets.
Those chosen will get up to £100,000 in grants and first-hand advice from Mary, Queen of Shops. Tim has today submitted a Parliamentary motion calling for Kendal to be one of the 12 pilot schemes.
Enterpriseand retail groups together with local authority representatives will consider the challenges and opportunities offered by the pilot scheme under which up to £100,000 will be available from the government to invest in initiatives aimed at improving what a town centre has to offer.
The Department for Communities and Local Government agreed to the Portas Pilot scheme in response to the independent review into the future of the high street that Mary Portas carried out last year. Shops are facing stiff competition from internet shopping and out-of-town retail parks.
Figures released in February show thatSouth Lakelandis bucking the trend when it comes to empty high street shops. But Tim believes more can be done to help local businesses. Nationally 14.5 per cent of shops on high streets are empty - but towns acrossSouth Lakelandare keeping well below this level, according to figures from South Lakeland District Council.
Tim said: "Bringing a Portas pilot to Kendal would be fantastic. I would provide us with investment, expert help and put us on the map. I'm backing the bid and keen to help Kendal Futures, Chamber of Trade and others to do whatever we can to bring one of the 12 schemes to the South Lakes."


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TTIP ‘doesn’t respect EU interests’: French PM Valls says ‘non’ to transatlantic treaty
France’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls has dismissed the possibility of an agreement on the US-EU transatlantic trade deal, since it goes against the interests of the European Union.
“No free trade agreement should be concluded if it does not respect EU interests. Europe should be firm. France will be vigilant about this,” Valls said addressing members of the governing Socialist Party on Sunday, AFP reported.
“I can tell you frankly, there cannot be a transatlantic treaty agreement. This agreement is not on track,” Valls added.
Valls pointed that the agreement “would impose a viewpoint which would not only be a breeding ground for populism, but also quite simply be a viewpoint that would be bad for our economy.”
The TTIP – or Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – is a EU-US free trade treaty project that was dubbed as controversial the moment it was proposed three years ago and has been criticized for its secretiveness and lack of accountability ever since.
The proposed agreement aims at promoting trade and multilateral economic growth by creating the world’s largest free-trade zone. Backers say it would help small businesses opening up markets and making customs processes easier, while trade tariffs on products would be reduced.
But critics fear big corporations would be the only ones to profit from the deal, with corporate interest coming even ahead of national interest.
The French minister has also stressed the “dramatic” consequences of canceling quotas on milk, stipulated in the TTIP deal. Dairy sector is particularly important to France, being a key driver of its economy.
The negotiations on the treaty were expected to be over by the end of 2014, however they are still in progress with the next round being scheduled for July.
The undecided issues are planned to be settled by year’s end when Barack Obama’s presidential term comes to an end.
The project has, however, been met with quite fierce opposition in Europe, especially in France and Germany, with critics speaking of its negative effects on environment and agriculture.
Thousands of protesters took to streets in the German city of Hannover in April, opposing the deal in fear it would put corporate interest before the national. Large corporations will be given more prerogatives than middle-sized and small businesses if the project is accepted, the protesters believed.
All EU member states, except for pro-TTIP Britain that has decided to leave the bloc, have to ratify the agreement for it to come into effect.


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With cash flow almost normalising after demonetisation, customers on Friday thronged jewellery shops across the country to celebrate Akshaya Tritiya.
“We are seeing good footfall in our stores. In the last two months, after demonetisation, people have again started buying gold. We expect sales to go up by 40 per cent this Akshaya Tritiya compared to last year as prices are almost at the same level,” Balram Garg, Managing Director, P.C. Jeweller, told IANS.
Gold price hovered around Rs 29,000 per 10 grams for 24-carat purity in the national capital on Friday.
Akshaya Tritiya, a holy day for Hindus and Jains, is believed to bring good luck and success. It is considered to be an auspicious day to bring home gold and ornaments.
“Millions of Indians believe that purchasing gold on Akshaya Tritiya brings good fortune. The festive sentiment among both trade and consumers appears to be stronger during this Akshaya Tritiya, as the industry is emerging steadily from a period of sluggishness faced during and immediately following demonetisation,” said Somasundaram PR, Managing Director, India, World Gold Council.
Buoyant gold sales on Akshaya Tritiya brought cheers to jewellers in Mumbai as well. Retail outlets saw crowds as people made their customary festive purchases on Friday morning.
All India Gems & Jewellery Federation President Nitin Khandelwal said the trend to buy gold started since Gudi Padva in March and was continuing owing to the ongoing marriage season.
“There are significant crowds in jewellery shops all over and people, more than 75 percent (of visitors), are opting for big and small items of gold jewelleries,” Khandelwal told IANS.
He said till noon, the sales were an estimated 18-20 percent higher compared to last year.
Mumbai Jewellers Federation President Rakesh Shetty said given the crowds, especially in suburbs, the gold sales could surpass even the Gudi Padva sales.
“Today, the gold prices are Rs 29,300 in Mumbai, coming down over the past few weeks. This has encouraged customers. They are buying both jewellery and coins,” Shetty told IANS.
“On this Akshay Tritiya, jewellers have so far seen 15-20 per cent growth in sales both in terms of volume and value for gold and silver. The standalone stores also noticed reasonable growth in sales,” India Bullion and Jewellers Association’s spokesperson Pankaj Parekh told IANS in Kolkata.
He said gold price may shoot up soon following international tensions. So, Akshaya Tritiya is being seen as the right time to buy gold.
Compared to last year’s Akshaya Tritiya, the price of gold now is relatively low. The yellow metal’s price was over Rs 30,000 per 10 gm in 2016.
“Similarly, silver price remains at a lower range at Rs 40,000-41,000 a kg, which is conducive for demand,” Parekh said.
Bengaluru was no exception. While many people bought gold to ring in good tidings, others chose jewellery as an investment.
Some jewellers in Bengaluru felt that demonetisation and restriction on cash payments would continue to affect the sale of gold jewellery and ornaments.
“The footfalls are good in jewellery shops in Chennai. The trade will do business like last year. There were initial fear that demonetisation would have an impact on sales. But it is not so,” Jayantilal Challani, President of Madras Jewellers and Diamond Merchants Association and a Pprtner in Challani Jewellery Mart, told IANS.
Driven by positive consumer sentiments and demand recovery, TS Kalyanaraman, Chairman and Managing Director, Kalyan Jewellers, said: “Kalyan Jewellers should witness 10-15 per cent growth in revenues during this Akshaya Tritiya compared to last year based on present trend of purchases.”
Besides traditional stores, even the online portals saw good traction.
“Considering the pent-up demand in the market, we are expecting a 100 per cent jump in sales leading to the auspicious day. Our manufacturing and logistics teams have already been strengthened to cater to the festival demand,” said Gaurav Singh Kushwaha, founder & CEO of online jewellery store BlueStone.com.


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When Hyzon Motors Inc. reported its fourth-quarter and full-year results late last month, CEO Craig Knight said “2021 was truly a transformational year” for the Honeoye Falls-based company. Hyzon’s shares had begun trading on the Nasdaq Global Select market, its worldwide team had grown to more than 200, and it had logged revenues for the first time.
“We see hydrogen as the solution to decarbonize the commercial transport industry and have positioned ourselves as the key to the hydrogen economy through our leading fuel cell technology,” Knight told analysts during a conference call.
Legal papers filed two days earlier, however, told a different story. An amended class-action complaint, the filing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York repeated the allegations laid out in litigation brought last fall but added new information to bolster the claim that Hyzon had violated securities laws. The new material included the findings of a China-based investigative firm hired by the lead plaintiff that, the filing alleges, cast serious doubt on Hyzon’s reported sales from that market.
In truth, the filing contends, Hyzon is a “repackaging of a flailing Chinese hydrogen-fuel-cell business covered in a glittering new wrapper of misleading deal announcements, illusory customer contracts, and fantastical financial projections.”
The lead plaintiff was appointed by the court when it consolidated three securities class-action suits. The litigation has been brought on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Hyzon shares from Feb. 9, 2021, to Jan. 12, 2022. In addition, several other related shareholder derivative lawsuits have been filed against Hyzon.
What may prove decisive in these cases—and for Hyzon itself—is another development: a Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry into allegations against the company.
A vision realized
A global supplier of zero-emissions commercial vehicles fueled by hydrogen fuel cells, Hyzon is “the realization of the vision that our Chairman George Gu and I had almost 20 years ago,” Knight told analysts in February 2021, following the announcement that the firm would merge with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corp., a “blank check” public company that traded under the symbol DCRB. The merger agreement had an expected $2.1 billion enterprise value, the companies said. Hyzon said it expected revenues to jump from an estimated $37 million in 2021 to nearly $3.3 billion in 2025, adding that the 2021 forecast was “100 percent covered by contracts and (memorandums of understanding).”
Hyzon at the time was barely a year old. It had been launched in 2020 when Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies spun off its Heavy Vehicle Business Unit. That year, Hyzon opened its headquarters in Honeoye Falls at the former General Motors facility that closed in 2012.
In February 2021, it also announced plans for a nearly $8 million expansion there, with assistance from Empire State Development, Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise.
Hyzon shares began trading under the ticker symbol HYZN on July 19, three days after completion of its merger with DCRB. After expenses, the transaction pumped $512.9 million into Hyzon, which said it planned to use the proceeds to fund operations and accelerate its growth.
Less than three months later, Hyzon was rocked by a Sept. 28 report by Blue Orca Capital, a self-described “activist investment firm.” As the Rochester Beacon reported, Blue Orca claimed Hyzon’s “supposed major customers are a fake-looking Chinese shell company incorporated three days before the deal announcement and a tiny New Zealand startup which told us they are not really a customer.”
The shareholder class-action litigation, based largely on the Blue Orca report, followed in short order. It accused Hyzon and current and former top executives of “misrepresenting the nature of (Hyzon’s) ‘customer’ contracts and severely embellish(ing) its ‘deals’ and ‘partnerships’ with customers.” Early October brought another scathing report, from Iceberg Research.
The day before the Iceberg Research report appeared, Hyzon hit back at Blue Orca, maintaining that its “self-serving short seller report (was) inaccurate and misleading, and we believe it was intended solely to generate profits on Blue Orca’s short position at the expense of Hyzon’s long-term shareholders.”
The company added: “We stand by our public disclosures, and we expect Hyzon’s performance will speak for itself.”
Operating in the red
Its recently filed 2021 10-K provides new detail on Hyzon’s performance. For the year ended Dec. 31, it reported total revenue of $6 million and a net loss of $13.8 million, compared with a loss of $14.3 million from Jan. 21, 2020 (the firm’s inception) through Dec. 31, 2020. However, the company’s loss from operations last year was much larger—$101.4 million—as was net cash used in operating activities, which totaled $95.2 million. (The difference between the operating loss and net loss is due in large part to an $84.6 million “adjustment in fair value of earnout liability,” relating to shares held by Hyzon stockholders before the merger with DCRB.)
Executive compensation also increased sharply last year. Gu received total compensation of $6,357,709 versus $429,519 in 2020, and Knight’s compensation jumped to $4,640,278 from $414,415 the year before.
As of Dec. 31, Hyzon had $445.1 million in cash.
In the March 23 conference call with analysts, Knight said Hyzon last year delivered 87 fuel cell electric trucks to customers in Asia and Europe with a total contract value of $19 million. The total deliveries topped its February 2021 forecast of 85 vehicles, though its revenues fell short of expectations due, as the company noted in a January press release, to “lower average selling price per vehicle due to product mix and multi-year revenue recognition for the majority of sales, which will result in materially lower than forecast revenues and margins.”
Most of the vehicles were sold to Shanghai Hydrogen HongYun Automotive Co. Ltd., in a deal announced last September. Chief Financial Officer Mark Gordon said during the March 23 conference call that “we expect another large portion of cash for the vehicles delivered in China during 2021 to be collected in 2022. Once this customer has a longer operating history, we anticipate booking more revenues up front.”
Blue Orca pulled no punches in its description of this customer, writing that Chinese government records show “Shanghai HongYun was established only three days before Hyzon announced the deal and has no paid in capital. It has no WeChat account or website. The supposedly major customer appears to be just an empty shell entity.” Added Blue Orca: “Such evidence suggests that Hyzon announced a major order with a fake looking Chinese customer just to pump its stock price.”
Much of the new material in the amended class-action complaint focuses on research into Shanghai HongYun by a firm in China owned and operated by “Investigator C-1,” who observed “significant abnormalities” that support Blue Orca and Iceberg Research’s conclusions. The filing states that while “Shanghai HongYun’s purchase of 62 vehicles to date, if genuine, would generate at least $15 million in revenue for Hyzon (and) the MoU for 500 vehicles would similarly generate as much as $125 million,” the Chinese customer in fact has “no paid-in capital.”
The amended complaint also alleges that Shanghai HongYun has “no real operations,” stating that “Investigator C-1 found that Shanghai HongYun’s entire building—which primarily houses a community center—has been closed for renovations since as early as August 10, 2021—well before the company was founded.”
The investigator found that Shanghai HongYun has one primary shareholder, Kou Jian, who serves as CEO. And as of February, no employees working for Shanghai HongYun had been identified.
Investigator C-1 further confirmed that “Shanghai HongYun had no direct phone line, no website, and no WeChat account, suggesting that it had little to no ability to build the customer base necessary in China to purchase for itself, or as a channel partner, up to 100 (vehicles) from Hyzon in 2021, or make upfront or installment payments for any vehicles,” the filing states.
To date, Hyzon has not filed a response to the amended class-action complaint.
Hyzon has vowed to “vigorously defend the company and its shareholders.” The company also says it is cooperating with the SEC, which has subpoenaed information and documents including those related to the allegations made in Blue Orca report.
In its 10-K, Hyzon notes that “because of these events, certain of the Company’s potential suppliers and partners indicated that they were suspending negotiations with us concerning supplying us with key components necessary to produce our vehicles. … The negative publicity stemming from (the Blue Orca) article has adversely affected our brand and reputation as well as our stock price,” making it more difficult for the company to attract and retain employees, partners and customers.
Like other manufacturers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyzon also has faced supply-chain difficulties, which it thinks will persist through 2022. “Lead times on things that are normally a five- or six-week delivery schedule, those lead times went out to unknown numbers of months and typically nine months plus,” Knight told analysts on March 23.
Overall, though, Hyzon’s CEO was decidedly upbeat on the company’s prospects. Knight said he was “particularly excited by the recent commissioning work occurring on Hyzon’s Membrane Electrode Assembly production line, and we look forward to producing the first made-in-the-USA Hyzon fuel cell system before the end of 2022.” He also pointed to “increasing demand as evident in our growing backlog, which now stands at $287 million, an increase of well over 200 percent since our last backlog update was provided, as of July 2021.” Hyzon also expects its first gas-to-hydrogen and waste-to-hydrogen hubs—in partnership with Raven SR—to be online by the end of the year.
On April 11, Hyzon said Hylane GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of German motor insurer DEVK Versicherung, had purchased 18 vehicles, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2022. Nine days later, Hyzon Motors Australia unveiled plans to build a green hydrogen refueling depot at its regional headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, in partnership with the RACV, hydrogen specialists ENGV, and others. The company expects to have the depot online in late 2023.
Meanwhile, Hyzon hired Samuel Chong as chief financial officer, replacing Gordon, who will serve as senior adviser for the next 12 months. Chong previously was treasurer and head of investor relations for Fluence Energy Inc. and treasurer of Gogo Inc. The move was seen by some on Wall Street as a step to strengthen Hyzon’s financial reporting.
Investors have yet to return a clear verdict on Hyzon. The day Blue Orca issued its report last September, Hyzon’s share price plunged 28 percent, to $6.63 from $9.21 the day before, then rebounded to over $8 in November. On Friday, it closed at $4.33 a share.
As Hyzon’s 10-K filing notes: “Negative publicity has adversely affected our brand and reputation and our stock price. … If we fail to successfully rehabilitate our brand … or if events similar to the negative publicity occur in the future, our brand and reputation would be further damaged and our business may suffer.”


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Australia’s major supermarkets will be ordered to front up to a senate inquiry examining whether customers are being subjected to “price gouging” during the cost-of-living crisis.
Many families have buckled under the pressure of consecutive interest rate rises this year, with mortgage payments pushed up, rents rising and weekly budgets tightened.
The select senate inquiry will scrutinise the impact of market concentration on food prices and the pattern of pricing strategies employed by the supermarket “duopoly” – Coles and Woolworths.
It will also assess the rise in essential item prices, the validity of discounts offered, and the inflation of profits during economic hardship.
The inquiry is expected to be established next week as Parliament sits for the final time this year, after the Greens secured Labor’s support.
Initial hearings are tipped to take place in early 2024.
“Coles and Woolworths are making billions in profits by price gouging in a cost of living crisis,” Greens Economic Justice spokesman Senator Nick McKim said.
“For too long the big supermarkets have had too much market power. This allows them to dictate prices and terms that are hitting people hard.”
“It’s time to smash the duopoly.”
The inquiry will examine the price setting practices between the two major supermarket chains, the large increase in price of essential items, as well as the prevalence of opportunistic pricing and mark-ups.
The contribution of home brand products to the concentration of corporate power, rising corporate profits and the use of automation to extract cost-savings from consumers and employees will also form part of the inquiry.
Mr McKim called on the supermarket chief executives to “justify their decisions” in the public hearing, expected to be held next year, and said it would be a “critical step” towards dismantling market concentration.
“We’ll find a way to dismantle their power and bring grocery prices down,” he said.
“It is about that Australians can afford to eat without being exploited, and that suppliers are treated fairly.”
A Woolworths spokesman said the supermarket is “committed to offering our customers value while working with our suppliers to manage economy-wide inflationary pressures”.
“We know Australians are feeling the strain of cost of living and we are working to deliver relief in their weekly grocery shop,” he said.
“As we start to see the rate of inflation ease, we will continue to focus on delivering savings to our customers.”
A Coles spokesperson said they “believe all Australians should be able to put quality food on the table for their families, at a good price.”
They said having a “profitable business” means they can continue to serve Australians and employ their team of 120,000 staff.
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PRESS RELEASE. The Web3 Investment firm has purchased 40 NFT plots of virtual real estate on the SuperWorld platform.
From companies like Apple and Facebook to brands like Puma and Gucci and beyond, suffice it to say the Metaverse is becoming the new frontier for commerce and community. And right now, many forward-looking investment firms and financial institutions are exploring the myriad opportunities offered by Web 3 and the incipient Metaverse.
SuperWorld is a virtual world in augmented reality (AR), similar to Decentraland or Cryptovoxels, both user-owned virtual worlds who are, like SuperWorld, built on the Ethereum blockchain. However, one critical difference between the SuperWorld platform and other virtual worlds, is that SuperWorld has created a virtual world by digitally mapping the whole surface


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Hormel Foods Corporation will sell its CytoSport business to PepsiCo, Inc. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed in 30-60 days, a company release stated.
CytoSport makes Muscle Milk and Evolve Protein products, which include protein powders, shakes and bars. Both lines are marketed as healthy, natural products to an active set of consumers -- a segment of the market that’s experiencing growth.
“PepsiCo has deep expertise and experience in the sports nutrition category and has been a long-standing distribution partner for CytoSport and the Muscle Milk® brand, which puts them in a strong position to grow this dynamic business,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “We look forward to working with PepsiCo to ensure a smooth transition for our team members, suppliers, customers and consumers.”


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Kiwis can now rent a Tesla Model Y from Europcar New Zealand following its recent electric fleet expansion.
As for the Model Y, Europcar NZ will supply the rear-wheel drive variant capable of 455km on a single charge with plenty of space inside for items like skis, furniture, luggage and more.
The fully electric SUV is available for short-, mid-, or long-term rent from the company’s Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch locations with monthly rental rates starting from $418.60 per week.
“Adding yet another electric vehicle model to our offering in New Zealand reiterates Europcar’s commitment to driving down carbon emissions in the markets we operate in, and being an advocate for zero-emission vehicles,” says Europcar Mobility Group Managing Director Benoit Garel.
Benoit adds that demand for electric rental vehicles has increased significantly in recent months, saying that the Model Y helps achieve both Europcar NZ and its customer’s sustainability goals.
Those wanting to rent a Tesla Model Y can explore options here.


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Work on Amazon Mechanical Turk, learn from the best, and have fun doing it. Join the crowd today!
Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Social Discussion' started by Tribune, Dec 6, 2016.
These Toys Don’t Just Listen To Your Kid; They Send What They Hear To A Defense Contractor
Maker of Internet of Things-connected vibrator will settle privacy suit
Lawsuit says company chronicled "vibration settings" and how long toy was used.
You know those self-driving SUVs that Uber has unleashed on San Francisco?
The ones that the state of California says are illegal and wants off the roads, since the company didn’t seek approval yet?
Yesterday, others on the roads noticed one of the vehicles running a red light, which Uber blames on the car’s human operator.
Britain's Doomsday Nuke Subs Still Run Windows XP


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Genshin Impact version 3.0 has officially been released, which means that players finally have the opportunity to explore part of the new Sumeru region. The New Nation also introduced the long-awaited Dendro element in the combat system, which will have a significant impact on the meta of the game’s characters.
Even though the 3.0 update has opened up most of the map, players are still looking forward to finding out how big the entire Sumeru region really is. A new post on the popular Reddit subsection Genshin Impact Leaks apparently showed an image showing the entire map of Twilight.
At the moment, the only game parts of Sumeru are the rainforests associated with Chasm. The leak shows that the entire Sumeru region may be larger than Mondstadt and Liue combined, which makes it the largest country in the game at the moment. However, it should be noted that Mondstadt has not yet received an extension to the north. The developer of HoYoverse presented an interesting scheme for adding a new large region in parts in many updates, which means that the entire Sumeru region can be unlocked in a couple of months.
Numerous responses in the comments section claim that desert parts of Twilight may appear in the upcoming version of Genshin Impact 3.1, which is expected to be released around September 28, at least according to the latest live broadcast event. The game’s official social media accounts have already revealed three new characters who will join the game roster in Update 3.1. Some of these characters, such as Qino, are inspired by the traditional clothing of Ancient Egypt, which means that HoYoverse can present the first part of the desert with him.
Recent leaks hint that Tsino will become the new character of Genshin Impact DPS. In one of Sumeru’s commercials, it was confirmed that Tsino would become a new user of the electric halberd, just like the popular Raiden Shogun. As for his playing style, trustworthy sources hint that he is very similar to two strong DPS characters, Razor and Xiao.
Most of the community seems surprised that none of the characters that are due to appear in Update 3.1 will use the Dendro element. This means that players will still have to rely on Tighnari, Collei and the new version of the Traveler for Dendro app. The new element introduced many new elementary reactions to Genshin Impact, which means that players should probably have at least one Dendro character on their team.
Genshin Impact is now available for mobile devices, PC, PS4 and PS5. The Switch version is currently in development, the release date has not been confirmed.


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If Your Grocery Store Doesn't Have This, Don't Go Inside, CDC Says
This simple addition could help keep you safe from COVID while shopping.
Even if you're being extremely careful to protect yourself from COVID by staying home, avoiding crowds, and opting for takeout, you likely still have to hit the grocery store from time to time. While wearing a mask and maintaining six feet of distance between you and other shoppers can help keep you safe, people have still gotten sick despite these precautions—and the emergence of more infectious strains makes that even likelier. There are some essential steps grocery stores can take to help keep you healthy, and you should reconsider trusting them if they don't have one specific precaution in place. Keep reading to find out what your grocery store needs to have for you to shop there safely, and for more locations to avoid, The CDC Says Don't Go to These 4 Places Without a Better Mask.
Grocery stores need to have a capacity counter at the entrance.
If your grocery store doesn't have a capacity counter at the entrance, you might want to move on to another store. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that grocery stores should "control the flow of traffic into the establishment by ensuring that maximum capacity plans are adjusted and managed at the front door." Doing so will help maintain a safe environment for employees and shoppers, according to the CDC. And for essential vaccine guidance, If You Take This Common Medication, Talk to a Doctor Before Your Vaccine.
Capacity limitations can easily be exceeded without someone standing watch.
Without an employee counting how many people have entered and exited the establishment, there's no way to guarantee that the store is adhering to capacity limitations, which could affect your ability to social distance once inside.
"Safety is not guaranteed [if there is no capacity counter], as there is no way to confirm if it is too crowded in the store to prevent adequate social distancing," said infection control practitioner Erica Susky. And for insight into life in the near future, Dr. Fauci Says It's Safe for You to Do This Once You're Vaccinated.
Even if there is a capacity counter, you still have to take other precautions when shopping.
While a capacity counter is a good indication that the store is taking precautions and you'll be able to safely distance inside, it doesn't automatically mean you're in the clear. "It remains critically important that we continue to wear masks, social distance, be cognizant of touching common surfaces, washing one's hands, and not going out if you feel sick," said infectious disease specialist Javeed Siddiqui MD, MPH, chief medical officer at TeleMed2U.
As long as you adhere to all public health measures, you have a very low risk of catching COVID. "If you and the other people in the store are wearing masks, the probability of COVID-19 transmission is pretty low," said physician assistant Ben Tanner. "And if it did happen, it would probably … cause a much less severe disease." And for a look at the future of the pandemic, COVID Will Be "Mostly Gone" By This Date, Johns Hopkins Doctor Says.
There are other precautions your grocery store should take to prevent the spread of COVID.
The CDC suggests that grocery stores institute measures to physically separate people. Next time you're in your local grocery store, look for partitions at checkout lanes, make sure every other cashier is closed, and check for indications on the floor of where to stand during checkout to maintain social distancing. And for more safety tips you need to know, If You Smell This in Your Car, Your Health Could Be in Danger, Study Says.


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Norway, Aruba and Orlando have emerged as some of the top 10 family destinations for 2014, according to a group of family vacation experts. Though the Christmas holidays may have just ended, parents of school-aged children know that spring break is coming soon.
Here are a few suggestions from the editors of US-based FamilyVacationCritic.com, whose list of best family-friendly destinations is topped by Aruba, also known as “one happy island.”
In addition to a wide range of family-friendly activities like windsurfing, cave exploration and shell-hunting tours, the Aruba government is developing the Caribbean’s largest linear park (characterized as being longer than they are wide), which will feature playgrounds and bike paths.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Aruba’s Carnival, the island’s biggest annual party, notes FamilyVacationCritic, a kid-friendly festival that includes a children’s parade.
Inspired by the “storybook-like” village of Bergen, Disney’s latest animated film “Frozen” captures some of Norway’s best assets: the country’s dramatic landscapes, fjords, mountains and cascading waterfalls. Disney also hopes to make the unlikely destination top of mind for parents, having added the country to their Adventures by Disney roster which offers guided family vacations for 2014.
Highlights of Disney’s eight-day Norwegian trips scheduled for the summer months include a visit to Bergen, the inspiration for the kingdom of Arendelle; trout fishing; river rafting and Norwegian folk dance lessons.
No surprise here, Orlando is a perennial favorite for family travel with its slew of theme parks. New this year, Universal Orlando will be expanding its wildly popular Harry Potter space with the addition of Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is also undergoing its largest ever expansion that will include the debut of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
This summer, the posh 444-room Four Seasons Resort Orlando will open its doors to families looking for a luxury stay, that will come complete with a five-acre “Explorer Island” featuring a pool, climbing wall, water park, and outdoor movie nights.
Kansas City, MO
This kid-friendly city features destinations like a Planet Snoopy at Worlds of Fun, a LEGOLAND Discovery Center and the Crayola Café. But the real reason Kansas City is poised to become a go-to destination for families in 2014? The opening of the Verruckt, the tallest, fastest waterslide in the world, at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark this year.
Here are the top 10 family destinations for 2014, according to FamilyVacationCritic.com.
3. Cruise the Mediterranean
4. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
5. Beaver Creek, Colorado
7. Kansas, City, Missouri
8. Yosemite National Park, California
9. Rhode Island, NY
10. New York City
Roger Scoble blogs about the latest gadgets, travel and luxury news. A graduate of UCLA, Roger loves to travel, drive luxe autos and have amazing adventures.


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In an unusual move, it seems that the Ford F150 will be one of the first in line to receive an update. Even though Ford didn’t confirm it just yet, industry experts said that the truck would get a rather large refresh with the 2018 Ford F150. If this is an answer for Ram’s upcoming 1500, it still is unclear. However, we can say for sure that the F150 will become even better than before, and it was not bad to start with.
This should allow Ford to keep their massive edge on the truck market, and it will put GM even further behind them which will become a problem at some point in the near future.
Read about history about Ford Atlas F-150!
Design – New Look & Changes
We can say for sure that Ford is readying a new truck because a few months ago as well as more recently, test mules have started to show around Michigan. At first, these were heavily camouflaged in order to keep the changes hidden. However, in the recent months, the camouflage became thinner, and it seems that, at least on the outside, the upcoming F150 is going to be similar to the ongoing truck. Many inside sources suggested that the F150 would be the third medium size truck to receive diesel.
Even though Ford hasn’t confirmed the rumors, the test mule showcased a while ago most likely had diesel. It sounded like one; it had a larger exhaust pipe than the regular petrol-powered trucks and it also featured the same body modifications as the EcoBoost trucks.
These rumors also suggested that the upcoming 2018 Ford F150 would receive a better interior. We are also quite positive of this, especially since the Expedition is just around the corner. It would not be all that hard to take the newly designed interior from the crossover and install it in the truck. This would save Ford development funds, and it would give their customers a more premium experience. Things like the infotainment system, the climate control and even most of the buttons should remain the same. The truck will likely receive a set of new auxiliary buttons, wireless charging for devices and likely more USB plugs, all as standard.
Considering the latest spy shots of the test mules, it is safe to assume at this point that its design will not change as much as we first thought. Instead, the new truck might receive a new set of headlights and tail lights as well as likely a new grille. The latter though has yet to be revealed, but we do think that influences from the upcoming Expedition are most definitely going to show.
2018 Ford F150 Engine
Let’s now move to the part that most people are interested in, its engines. The future 2018 Ford F150 is expected to feature not one but two all-new powertrains as well as a few other changes to its running gear. For starters, the truck is expected to receive a diesel engine which will make it a direct competitor for the new Titan xD and the ongoing Ram 1500. There are two possibilities here. Ford could use their 3.2 liters turbocharged inline five diesel which they already brought to the US for the new Transit.
In this particular application, it makes 185 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque which is significantly less than the competition. They could modify the engine to offer more, but this is unlikely at this point. Instead, Ford might use their 3-liter V6 unit here.
This is an engine which many people do not know about mostly because it has been used in Land Rover and Jaguar applications so far. It currently makes 254 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. This is actually better than the competition. However, the engine does not fit the US market emission standards, at least for now. If they plan on offering it on the 2018 Ford F150, then expect it to get some upgrades. For starters, it may offer more torque at lower rpm as well as slightly more power.
The result could be as much as 260 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque which would instantly make it a success. This engine also proved its reliability throughout the years so most problems should be ironed out by now. Like with their other rear wheel drive applications, the new F150 will most likely receive Ford’s ten speed automatic as the standard for all its engines.


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ink drop - stock.adobe.com
Google Cloud and SAP want to make it easier for enterprises to view their entire business data estates in real-time through the roll-out of a jointly created open data offering.
The two companies are long-standing technology collaborators, with Google Cloud specifically working with numerous enterprises to help migrate their on-premise SAP business application and data estates to its public cloud datacentres.
The pair are now turning their attention to enabling their joint enterprise customers to build an end-to-end data cloud, using SAP Datasphere to pull in data from across the business and marry it up with Google’s fully managed, serverless data warehouse to BigQuery so they can derive more value from it.
“Being able to easily combine SAP software data and non-SAP data on Google Cloud, from virtually any other data source, means organisations can dramatically accelerate their digital transformation with a fully defined data foundation that retains complete business context,” the companies said, in a statement.
It also means enterprises will be better prepared to put their data to use in artificial intelligence (AI)-related contexts, the companies added.
“Organisations spend significant resources building complex data integrations, custom analytics engines, and generative AI and natural language processing (NLP) models before they start to realise value from their data investments,” they said.
“Data originating from SAP systems, in particular, are among organisations’ most valuable assets, and can contain critical information on supply chains, financial forecasting, human resources records, omnichannel retail and more.”
Read more about SAP and Google Cloud migrations
- Vodafone anticipates that it will take up to three years to move its on-premise SAP system to Google Cloud, in a project that is being billed as one of the biggest and most complex migrations of its kind in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
- Whirlpool is moving its SAP systems and data to the Google Cloud as part of a global push to bolster its business agility and improve the sustainability of its operations.
Specifically, the SAP-Google Cloud offering will allow customers to access their business-critical data in real-time without risk of duplication, and aims to reduce incidents of data siloes existing in different lines of business.
By drawing on Google Cloud’s portfolio of AI and machine learning tools, enterprises will also be able to train models on data from SAP and non-SAP systems, the companies added.
“Bringing together SAP systems and data with Google’s data cloud introduces entirely new opportunities for enterprises to derive more value from their full data footprints,” said Christian Klein, CEO of SAP SE.
“SAP and Google Cloud share a commitment to open data, and our extended partnership will help break down barriers between data stored in disparate systems, databases and environments,” he said. “Our customers not only benefit from the business AI already built into our systems, but also from a unified data foundation.”
Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said the expanded technology tie-up between the two companies will help enterprises realise their AI ambitions even more quickly.
“SAP and Google Cloud now offer an incredibly comprehensive and open data cloud, providing a foundation for the future of enterprise AI,” he said.
“Few resources are as important to digital transformation as data. By deeply integrating SAP data and systems with our data cloud, customers will be able to utilise our analytics capabilities, as well as advanced AI tools and large language models to find new insights from their data.”


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CLIFTON PARK – With the long drives, harrowing escapes and winning putts still fresh in the mind of golfers throughout the Capital Region, hundreds drove, literally, to the Northway 8 Golf Center to take their swings with the latest technology available during the 35th annual Golf Demo Day.
Popular golf names like Nike, Callaway, Cleveland, Titleist, Taylor Made, Ping and more formed a line of tents behind the open driving range stations at Northway 8, all open for free and encouraging duffers, whether double-digit or scratch swingers, to test drive their goods.
“There is new technology available to golfers every year,” Scott Hoffman, owner of Northway 8 Golf Center said. “Golfers are adamant to shoot a better score.
“We believe that technology, when properly fit and correct technique is applied to any golfer’s game the results are compelling,” Hoffman said. “We pride ourselves and give each golfer the assurance that their purchase is solid versus making a purchase on-line, self-service or at a big box retailer. Without those three things, it could be a costly mistake.”
Northway 8 has always provided custom fittings for each purchase at no charge for its customers, making the Demo Day worth the drive.
Thomas Redding played varsity golf for four years at Cooperstown Central and is hoping to play at the college level next year with a four-year school. As a tall, lanky, left-hander, Northway 8 was an important start.
“There aren’t any golf shops around me and this is probably the best one around,” Redding said. “I needed new shoes and a putter and I love Titleist clubs. I haven’t hit their now ones yet, so I did and I love it.”
Redding took more than a few swings with the Titleist drivers, sealing his decision.
“It’s the workability of it,” Redding said. “I can go up to the tee and if I need to hit a draw or a fade, I can do with it what I want. This driver is amazing.”
The row of tents was dotted with familiar faces, some from the area and some further away.
Saratoga Springs native Christin Boeckman was a welcome site, bundled up from the chilly weather, but wearing a bright smile for all golfers as they strode towards her Callaway Golf tent.
“We have about 40 demo days a year,” Boeckman said. “People are always looking for something new and different and the technology improves every year. They always want more distance asking ‘How do I get 10 yards further?'”
Boeckman’s tent was buzzing with the No. 1 selling iron on the market, the Razr X irons and its new forged composite drivers that were developed in partnership with Lamborghini.
While golf is typically measured in yards and putts missed by inches, the duo at the Cleveland Golf tent were focused on minute weight differences that translate into more speed.
Cleveland Golf took the weight out of the average tour driver of 315 grams and provided three different models at 310, 290 and even 270 grams.
Right now we have the lightest golf club on the market,” Troy resident and Cleveland Golf technical representative Dave Loysen said. “People are surprised. I’m actually warning them before they get swing it for the first time.
“We’re actually at the point where we’re letting the equipment do its job,” Loysen said. “As technology has changed, we’ve moved to developing a driver that is stronger and lighter.”
The lighter driver is expected to translate into longer drives.
“If you look at other sports, hockey sticks, tennis rackets, bicycles, they are getting lighter which allows more speed,” Cleveland Hockey sales representative and territory manager Kevin Harrington said. “We never talked about the weight of a driver before. We talked about loft, shaft stiffness, but never about the club weight. The lighter the club equals more speed in your swing that equals more distance.”
Also looking at weight is Wilson Staff that has developed new golf shafts that combine graphite and steel through its Half & Half Shaft Technology, taking some tips from its home run division.
“We also own the DeMarini baseball bat company,” Wilson Staff territory manager Alex Glaza said. “We have combined graphite and steel in our composite bats and become the No. 1 bat maker in the world.
“We had the technology last year and expanded it to all of our irons this year,” Glaza said. “Golfers feel the softness in their hands and it hits straight because of the steel shaft at the bottom of the club.”
While each vendor packed up their respective golf bags and tents Sunday afternoon, the product is still available at Northway 8 Golf Center throughout the year and each purchase always includes complimentary custom fitting by the staff.


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- 10:56 am Friday, September 28th, 2012 by Emily Roach
Design Wars are on at the Town Center mall in Boca Raton.
A two-day fashion extravaganza kicks off today called Simon Fashion Now (Simon is the company that owns the mall and many others, such as Sawgrass Mills). The runway show at 7:30 tonight (Sept. 28) can be seen from the area surrounding center court.
The runway action continues Saturday with the Design Wars competition at noon, a Nordstrom runway fashion show at 1 p.m. and the 2013 South Florida Firefighters Calendar models giving a special appearance at the 3 p.m. fashion show.
Participating retailers include Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Anne [More]


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Electric Gamebox coming to Oakbrook Center
Electric Gamebox is aiming to become the next group entertainment evolution of the old-school video arcade or the clue-filled escape room.
And suburban Chicago game enthusiasts will soon be the first in the state to experience it, when the first Illinois location begins a soft opening at Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook on Saturday, Jan. 22, with an official opening event on Feb. 3.
Electric Gamebox has three locations in Texas, and a fifth will open in Utah by the end of the month.
“It's a hyper-immersive game room and it's interactive. Think of them as digital smart rooms,” said Nettie Davis, the vice president of operations for Electric Gamebox North America.
With Electric Gamebox, two to six players can play a variety of group games that feature a combination of digital technologies, including touch screens, projection mapping, 3-D motion tracking and surround sound.
Though players wear visors to aid with the motion-sensing technology, Davis stressed that they're not as clunky or eye-covering as most virtual reality headsets.
“VR and console gaming are often very solitary,” Davis said. “Our concept is bringing people together to complete tasks and activities within the game and doing it in a very physical way. In our game rooms, you are the controller.”
According to Davis, Electric Gamebox play can last between 15 minutes to an hour. Prices begin around $10 for kids and $30 for adults.
Electric Gamebox originated in the U.K., which is reflected in two of its popular games titled “Rescue the Royals” and “Shaun the Sheep” (a spinoff of Aardman Animation's “Wallace and Gromit” cartoons). Davis said the company has been pursuing licensing agreements to get more American properties into their games, especially as they expand globally.
Electric Gamebox is aiming to open up to 100 U.S. and U.K. locations over the next two years. By 2026, Davis said the company hopes to have more than 1,000 international locations.
Opening an Electric Gamebox location amid the COVID-19 omicron surge could be considered a risky bet. But Davis highlighted one potential safety factor: a family of game players.
“You're entering into the box with the people that you came with, who are presumably within your 'COVID bubble,'” Davis said. “So, I think it's a great way to get out.”


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Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Confio Acquired By SolarWinds
Boulder-based database performance management software developer Confio Software has been acquired by IT management software developer SolarWinds, in a deal worth $103M in cash, the two announced Monday. Confio was led by Matt Larson, and develops database management tools specifically focused on the Oracle environment. SolarWinds said that Confio's products will "slide right into" the company's sales and marketing engine.


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BuildTech Asia 2023 is proud to work with the Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore (STAS) to co-organise the Singapore Pavilion – funded by Enterprise Singapore. The Singapore Pavilion houses all Singapore-registered companies and provides them with a platform to access to overseas and regional markets. A total of 41 local companies convene under the Singapore Pavilion, showcasing their latest construction solutions and expanding their networks regionally and internationally.
Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore is an industry association representing the building specialist contractors and suppliers in the building and construction industry. An alliance of 13 Building Specialists and Suppliers associations with over 1,300 corporate members, we advocate the standards of fair trading and commerce in our building and construction industry. As a credible and relevant industry partner, STAS strives to support trade specialists in growing their businesses to become more resilient and sustainable.
2023 Exhibiting Companies under Singapore Pavilion:
An Event Of :
Constellar Exhibitions Pte. Ltd.
1000 Toa Payoh North News Centre, Annexe Level 2 Singapore 318994


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Exciting news has emerged from the world of smartphones, as rumors suggest that OnePlus is gearing up to launch a highly anticipated new device, codenamed “Oscar.” This has sparked curiosity and speculation among tech enthusiasts who are eager to know if the device in question is the much-awaited OnePlus 10. OnePlus has gained a strong reputation for its premium smartphones packed with cutting-edge features, top-notch performance, and affordable prices. With the potential release of the OnePlus Oscar, the company seems poised to continue its tradition of offering exceptional devices that push the boundaries of innovation. So, could the OnePlus Oscar indeed be the highly anticipated OnePlus 10? Let’s delve into the details and explore what this new smartphone might offer.
Inside This Article
- Rumors of a New “Oscar” Smartphone
- Is it the Successor to OnePlus 9?
- Potential Features and Specifications
- Release Date and Price Speculations
Rumors of a New “Oscar” Smartphone
Exciting rumors have been circulating in the tech world about OnePlus potentially launching a new smartphone nicknamed “Oscar.” This cryptic moniker has sparked curiosity and speculation among mobile enthusiasts, leaving many to wonder what OnePlus has in store for its avid fans.
The rumor mill is abuzz with whispers that the “Oscar” smartphone could be the highly anticipated successor to the OnePlus 9 series. OnePlus has gained a reputation for producing high-quality devices packed with cutting-edge features, and the “Oscar” is expected to be no different.
Industry insiders and smartphone enthusiasts have been scouring the web, looking for any leaks or hints regarding the potential features and specifications of the “Oscar” smartphone. With OnePlus’ track record of innovation and user-centric designs, expectations are running high for this rumored device.
Although OnePlus has managed to keep the details of the “Oscar” smartphone under wraps, there are a few speculated features that have surfaced. It is believed that the device might boast a powerful processor, a stunning display with a high refresh rate, and an impressive camera setup to capture stunning photos and videos.
As with any rumors, it is important to take them with a grain of salt until official announcements are made. OnePlus is known for surprising its fans with unique features and design elements, and the “Oscar” smartphone could be no exception.
OnePlus has a history of launching its smartphones in the first half of the year, so it is possible that we might see the “Oscar” make its debut in the coming months. However, until OnePlus officially confirms the release date, it is all speculation and anticipation.
Regarding the pricing of the “Oscar” smartphone, OnePlus has always managed to provide flagship-level devices at competitive prices. It is expected that the “Oscar” will follow suit and offer excellent value for money, making it an attractive option for smartphone buyers.
As OnePlus continues to innovate and push the boundaries of mobile technology, the mobile world eagerly awaits the official unveiling of the “Oscar” smartphone. Whether it lives up to the rumors or surprises us with unexpected features, one thing is for sure: OnePlus enthusiasts and tech lovers alike are in for a treat.
Is it the Successor to OnePlus 9?
OnePlus, the renowned smartphone manufacturer, has been making waves in the industry with its innovative and high-performance devices. With the recent rumors of a new smartphone codenamed “Oscar,” many tech enthusiasts are wondering if it could be the highly anticipated successor to the OnePlus 9.
The OnePlus 9, released earlier this year, received rave reviews for its exceptional camera system, powerful performance, and sleek design. It delivered a flagship-level experience at a more affordable price point, making it a popular choice among consumers. However, technology never stands still, and OnePlus is known for its commitment to continuous improvement.
While OnePlus has not officially confirmed any details about the rumored “Oscar” smartphone, speculation suggests that it could indeed be the successor to the OnePlus 9. OnePlus has been following a consistent naming pattern for its devices, incrementing the number in the series with each new release. So, it is not far-fetched to assume that the OnePlus 10 might be on the horizon.
If the “Oscar” smartphone does turn out to be the OnePlus 10, we can expect several upgrades and enhancements over its predecessor. OnePlus is known for pushing the boundaries of technology, and we can anticipate improvements in areas such as display quality, camera capabilities, processing power, and battery life.
Furthermore, OnePlus is committed to delivering a seamless and user-friendly software experience. The OnePlus 9 came with OxygenOS, which is known for its clean interface and smooth performance. We can expect the “Oscar” smartphone to continue this trend, potentially featuring an updated version of OxygenOS, tailored to provide a more intuitive and personalized experience.
In terms of design, OnePlus has consistently delivered sleek and modern smartphones. The “Oscar” smartphone is unlikely to be an exception. With premium build materials, a slim form factor, and possibly a stunning new color variant, the OnePlus 10 has the potential to be a visual delight.
It is important to note that until OnePlus makes an official announcement, all information regarding the “Oscar” smartphone remains speculative. OnePlus has a track record of surprising its audience, so we may witness unexpected features or innovations with the OnePlus 10.
For now, OnePlus fans and tech enthusiasts eagerly await any official news or teasers that may shed light on the mysterious “Oscar” smartphone. Whether it is indeed the successor to the OnePlus 9 or an entirely new addition to the OnePlus lineup, one thing is certain – OnePlus has consistently raised the bar in the smartphone industry, and the “Oscar” smartphone is expected to be no exception.
Potential Features and Specifications
The rumored “Oscar” smartphone from OnePlus is expected to come with some impressive features and specifications. While specific details are still scarce, here are some possibilities that we can speculate on:
- Display: The OnePlus “Oscar” could sport a stunning AMOLED display with a high refresh rate, providing users with a smooth and immersive viewing experience.
- Processor: We might see the inclusion of the latest flagship processor, offering blazing fast performance and efficient multitasking capabilities.
- Camera: OnePlus has always prioritized camera quality, so it’s safe to assume that the “Oscar” will have a powerful camera setup. With advancements in computational photography, users can expect stunning photos and videos.
- Battery: To keep up with the demands of users, OnePlus may equip the “Oscar” with a large battery capacity and fast charging technology, ensuring long-lasting usage without needing frequent recharges.
- Storage and RAM: The smartphone could come with ample internal storage for all your apps, photos, and videos, along with generous RAM to handle resource-intensive tasks effortlessly.
- Connectivity: OnePlus devices are known for their strong connectivity options, so the “Oscar” may support 5G networks, providing users with lightning-fast internet speeds.
- Operating System: Being a OnePlus device, it will most likely come with the latest version of OxygenOS, which offers a clean and smooth user interface along with useful customization options.
- Security: OnePlus devices have been incorporating advanced security features, like facial recognition and fingerprint sensors. The “Oscar” could further enhance these features, ensuring reliable and convenient device security.
Of course, these are just speculations based on OnePlus’ track record and industry trends. The actual features and specifications of the OnePlus “Oscar” will be revealed only when the device is officially announced.
Release Date and Price Speculations
The release date and pricing of the rumored “Oscar” smartphone from OnePlus are still shrouded in mystery. As of now, there is no official confirmation or announcement about when the device will be launched. However, based on OnePlus’ previous patterns, we can make some educated guesses.
OnePlus usually follows an annual release cycle, introducing new flagship devices in the first half of the year. Considering this, we can expect the “Oscar” smartphone to be unveiled sometime in the coming months. If it is indeed the successor to the OnePlus 9, it might be launched around March or April.
When it comes to the pricing, OnePlus has gained a reputation for offering feature-packed devices at competitive prices. The “Oscar” smartphone is likely to continue this trend. While it is challenging to pinpoint the exact price without official information, it can be speculated that the device will fall within the premium price range, similar to its predecessors.
Considering OnePlus’ commitment to providing value for money, it is anticipated that the “Oscar” smartphone will offer high-end features with a reasonable price tag. This will make it an attractive option for tech enthusiasts who want cutting-edge technology without breaking the bank.
As with any rumors and speculations, it is important to take these release date and pricing predictions with a grain of salt. OnePlus may surprise us with an earlier launch or different pricing strategy. The best course of action is to stay tuned for official announcements from the company.
In conclusion, the rumor of OnePlus launching a new “Oscar” smartphone has generated excitement and speculation in the tech community. While it is unclear whether this device will be the highly anticipated OnePlus 10, the possibility of an upgraded flagship phone is certainly intriguing.
OnePlus has always been known for its innovative features, cutting-edge technology, and competitive pricing. With each new smartphone release, they push the boundaries of what is possible in the mobile industry. Whether it’s a significant hardware upgrade, improved camera capabilities, or the integration of the latest software advancements, OnePlus never disappoints.
As the company continues to strive for excellence, it’s safe to say that the rumored “Oscar” smartphone will be no exception. Fans can look forward to a device that combines stunning design, powerful performance, and a seamless user experience. The OnePlus 10, or whatever name it may be given, is likely to set new benchmarks for what a smartphone can achieve.
Is the “Oscar” smartphone the OnePlus 10?
While the specifics of the new “Oscar” smartphone are yet to be confirmed by OnePlus, there is speculation that it could be the OnePlus 10. However, until OnePlus makes an official announcement, we can only speculate about the device’s actual name and specifications.
What can we expect from the OnePlus “Oscar” smartphone?
As of now, there is limited information available about the OnePlus “Oscar” smartphone. However, based on OnePlus’ history of producing high-quality devices, we can anticipate a premium, feature-packed smartphone with impressive performance, advanced camera capabilities, and a sleek design. Stay tuned for updates from OnePlus to know more.
When will OnePlus reveal more details about the “Oscar” smartphone?
OnePlus has not announced an official release date for unveiling more details about the “Oscar” smartphone. It is advisable to keep an eye on OnePlus’ official channels, including their website, social media platforms, and press releases, for any announcements or events related to the device’s launch.
Will the “Oscar” smartphone be compatible with 5G networks?
Given OnePlus’ focus on incorporating advanced technology into their devices, there is a possibility that the “Oscar” smartphone will be compatible with 5G networks. However, until OnePlus confirms this information, we can only speculate about the device’s network compatibility. It is recommended to wait for official announcements or specifications from OnePlus for accurate details.
How does the OnePlus “Oscar” smartphone compare to previous OnePlus models?
Without official information about the “Oscar” smartphone, it is challenging to make a direct comparison with previous OnePlus models. However, OnePlus has consistently pushed boundaries in terms of design, performance, and innovation with each new release. It is safe to assume that the “Oscar” smartphone will aim to deliver an enhanced user experience and incorporate the latest advancements in technology.


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U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, testified before the International Trade Commission against imports of mattresses that he said hurt domestic industry.
Leggett and Platt, which makes steel wire used in mattress components at Merit Steel in Kouts, and the United Steelworkers union have petitioned for antidumping and countervailing duty orders on mattresses from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. The tariffs would raise the price of the imports so the foreign manufacturers.
"I believe that one of the reasons that there is a great divide in our nation is because too many workers feel left behind. In the case before you today, imports of mattresses in the United States increased by 52,000 percent from 2018 to 2019, resulting in the loss of over 350 jobs and the closure of businesses. These were good-paying jobs that are part of an industry with a solid U.S.-based supply chain," Mrvan testified. "It is not right, and it is not fair to those workers, and those families, whose lives are upended because companies in countries far away from their homes are cheating and exporting their unemployment to our great nation. We must do more to protect the livelihoods of every single worker in our nation."
The United States imported $1.1 billion worth of mattresses last year, mainly from China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, according to the International Trade Commission.
The United States still produces $4.8 billion worth of mattresses, including in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
"Together, through our dedication and commitment to a thriving economy with fair rules for all, we can ensure that all American workers can compete on a level playing field with the understanding that when others violate our trade laws that the U.S. government will fight for them, for their families, and their communities," Mrvan testified.


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What’s the deal with lab-grown meat? Why Australia’s free trade agreement with India could see a boom in exports of innovative cruelty-free meat alternatives and vegan wine
As Australian cattle farmers face climbing temperatures and intense droughts, speculation continues to grow over whether lab-grown meat will step up to support the future of meat production and exports.
Over the next 30 years, it is predicted that Aussie farmers will see a devastating fall in profits of up to 50% as unpredictable weather cycles caused by global warming render their farms less productive, according to a report by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.
Unfortunately, that’s a bleak future that many farmers are already beginning to experience, with Aussie farms seeing an average profit drop of 23% over the 20 years to 2020 due to the changing climate.
So, will the wonders of lab-grown meat step up to the plate to become one of Australia’s largest exports as cattle farming dwindles? It’s unlikely, say researchers.
Lab-grown meat, also known as cultured meat, has long been hailed as the ‘cruelty-free’ future of all meat production in the 21st-century zeitgeist. The truth is far from appetizing.
Behind its ‘vegan-friendly’ image most lab-grown meat is hiding a number of unsavoury secrets, the most disturbing of which is Fetal Bovine Serum.
Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is a growth supplement produced from the blood of unborn calves who are slaughtered along with their mothers. This serum is used in the production of most lab-grown meats to maintain the cells and promote them to proliferate (multiply) into strips of muscle as if they were still inside the body.
Animals being killed for meat is nothing new, but the crux of the issue with FBS is just how shockingly inefficient this unnecessary waste of animal life is.
For every one lab-grown burger approximately 100 unborn calves and their pregnant mothers are killed to produce the 50 litres of FBS needed. That’s 200 cows killed for ONE burger.
Unfortunately, the process used to extract the blood from the fetus is equally as nauseating.
Researchers believe the calf is able to consciously feel pain as it is cut open for access to its heart and drained of blood. The calf’s heart continues to beat for up to five minutes during this slow death.
Over one million unborn calves are harvested this way for Fetal Bovine Serum each year. Whilst some of this serum will be used to grow cells during vital medical research, in the last two years demand from the cultured meat industry has pushed FBS prices up by 300%.
This means that the estimated cost of producing just one lab-grown burger using FBS is approximately $7,600 (AUD), WIRED reports. However, this could be an underestimate as other reports price FBS at up to $1,200 (AUD) per litre.
Although around 90% of the 110 companies pioneering cultured meat products worldwide continue to use FBS to make their products, almost all intend to find a scalable alternative to FBS before taking their products to market. This is because using FBS is simply not commercially viable.
A number of cultivated meat companies, such as Mosa Meat, have successfully gone ‘cruelty-free’ by using plant-derived and chemically-derived FBS alternatives, however, it remains to be seen just how scalable these methods are.
So would cultured meat be a commercially viable and more environmentally friendly option than cattle if Fetal Bovine Serum was cut out of the equation? Probably not.
One 2011 study from Oxford University stated that lab-grown meat could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 96% when a plant-derived nutrient source (Cyanobacteria hydrolysate) and genetically engineered E.Coli were used in the place of FBS.
However, another more recent study (2019) by LEAP (Livestock, Environment and People), found that even when using the plant algae-derived Cyanobacteria as an FBS alternative to grow the cells, the environmental benefit of lab-grown meat was not clear.
The study found that lab-grown meat was potentially more harmful to the environment than cattle in the long run, due to the different effects of the greenhouse gases produced. Methane produced by cows remains in the atmosphere for around 12 years, whilst the CO2 produced from a lab growing ‘meat’ (using non-renewable energy) can remain for thousands of years, producing a larger overall global warming effect.
That’s not the only problem facing lab-grown meat. One two-year techno-economic analysis commissioned by Open Philanthropy on the viability of food scale cultured meat production found “a number of significant barriers to the scale-up of animal cell culture”.
Analysis from the Good Food Institute found that around 4,000 superlab facilities (costing $601M [AUD] each) with giant specially designed bioreactors would need to be built by 2030 to produce just 10% of the world’s protein needs using lab-grown meat, Food Navigator reports. This would cost $2.4 trillion AUD, a cost that would be passed to the consumer.
So what does the changing landscape of Australia’s meat market mean for its exports over the next decade as cattle stocks are predicted to fall due to global warming?
Australia exports 60% of its beef and is the world’s most valuable and second-largest beef exporter after Brazil. Australia is also the largest consumer of beef per capita, according to a report from Meat & Livestock Australia.
But there’s no denying that the public’s protein preferences and attitudes towards their diet have shifted, with around 22% of the world’s population now vegetarian or vegan, and 12% of Australians.
These changing attitudes towards meat are not to be ignored, especially when negotiating a trade deal with India where 24% of the world’s vegetarians live.
India is the world’s largest consumer of vegetarian food, with a massive 39% of the Indian population classing themselves as vegetarian, and 81% restricting their meat intake on certain days.
Researchers at Botanical Proteins believe they have cracked the future of plant protein production, creating a new class of protein-rich plants that not only taste good with minimal processing but provide an impressive nutritional profile with a full spectrum of proteins and omegas 3, 6 & 9.
A representative for Botanical Proteins, which is part of Defugo Technologies, said: “We believe that Australia’s protein exports could be supplemented by this innovative new class of proteins that we’re already producing as a byproduct of green energy.
“A report from the UN has found that industrial livestock farming will not be able to meet the population’s demand for protein by 2050, meaning that most people won’t have access to an animal protein-rich diet. Botanical Proteins offer an affordable and tasty solution that will feed the world.
“Establishing Australia as a cost-effective exporter of plant protein is a forward-thinking move that we’re asking Canberra to consider.”
The researchers believe that another significant export market to consider when negotiating a free trade deal is the vegan wine market, especially in India where 30% of the wine sold is imported.
Botanical Proteins added: “Our technology also offers the wine industry a solution that could replace the animal proteins used to remove tannins from most wines with plant-based alternatives.
“This would create a truly vegan product that can be more easily marketed across the globe. For example, vegan wines could be traded with our partner India under the recent free trade deal on premium wines.”
Whilst India may not have a reputation for being a vast consumer of alcohol based on its various religious and cultural preferences, just under a third (30%) of the population consumes alcohol.
That’s a sizable market to tackle, especially considering that whilst only 40% of Australians regularly drink alcohol, around $32.8 billion (AUD) of Australia’s wine market is made from domestic sales.
A report by the Sydney Morning Herald valued Australia’s presence in the Indian wine market at $12 million currently, with the new deal predicted to see growth in the premium wine market.
Tony Battaglene, chief executive of industry group Australian Grape & Wine, told the publication that the deal on wine trade with India was “as good as you’re going to get at the moment”.
However, researchers at Botanical Proteins believe there is far more potential trade at stake.
Using its plant-based technology Botanical Proteins believes winemakers will now be able to harness an untapped market in India, vegan wines.
So, is it time Australia rethought its exports to fit the changing markets?
https://www.wineaustralia.com/market-insights/australian-wine-sector-at-a-glance (82% of Australia’s $40 billion wine market, domestic sales)


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A year ago, it was China's announcement of its second half export quotas that sparked a frenzy in the world of rare earth elements. The world woke up to a perception of acute shortages in ingredients vital to our western quality of life, and the prices of individual rare earths rose dramatically. Export prices (FOB) for the so-called light rare earths (LREE) samarium and cerium showed gains of over 2,500% in 2010. The share prices of companies looking for rare earths in the ground followed suit, and made a number of early adopters significantly wealthier. This year's announcement of second half export quotas has not caused quite the same shock, but a price explosion has ensued nonetheless. This time it is the turn of the heavy rare earths (HREE).
The export prices of three HREE have exploded since China's July announcement, whilst the LREE have remained immobile. Dysprosium (Dy), arguably the most important of the rare earths due to its irreplaceability in high performance magnets that are central to many high-tech innovations, has more than doubled in a matter of weeks. Europium (Eu) and to a lesser extent terbium (Tb) are in hot pursuit.
Gathering data from metal-pages.com, I have indexed the prices of the REE at Jan. 1 of this year, and it is apparent that since then, the export price of dysprosium has gone up an astounding 1,000%, half of this rise was achieved during the last month.
REE FOB prices indexed at Jan. 1, 2011 - source metal-pages.com
What have the exploration companies done over this period? I have looked at the share prices of six juniors with the most advanced HREE projects, each of which expect to produce significant quantities of either europium, terbium, dysprosium, or yttrium by 2016. Since January, they have risen a paltry 3.6% average, and since the July announcement, they have declined 12.2%.
What explains the disconnect? Well, besides the global fear for an impending stock market crash as a consequence of the various currency and political crises, the REE sector appears to be hit especially hard by a nagging doubt whether the whole story still has validity. The media has blasted us with reports of technology innovation moving away from REE because of the high prices, vast deposits being found under water, recycling successes and the so-called glut that the combination of Molycorp and Lynas will cause once they reach full production. On top of this, a number of once-respected analysts have shown an obvious bias towards companies that they benefit from in some form or other, which hasn't made this extremely complex industry any more transparent. Most of the recent news items appear to be subject to some interest or other, be it financial or political, making it very hard for the average investor to read through the lines to get to the facts. This has made many insecure about the long term viability of investments in the rare earth sector, and has caused them to turn away.
Is there a lasting market for rare earths? Well the answer is a resounding yes, and this will not change for a while. Given the unique properties of the REE, the heavies in particular, their application is virtually limitless, and they are on the whole not substitutable without an unacceptable loss in performance. China has admitted it will run out of HREE within a year or two, and will need to resort to imports. This ensures that there will be a demand for the heavy rare earth supply for an indefinite period and whosoever can get their hands on it and do wise things with it, will have a technology edge lasting for decades.
Terence van der Hout is a researcher for the Netherlands-based Gold&Discovery Fund.