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This Publisher Went All-In on Programmatic
Most publishers not named Turner don’t have the opportunity to just say no to programmatic ad buying. That means figuring out how to do it right.
Take Netherlands-based casual-games publisher Spil. After dabbling with exchanges, the publisher decided to shift its entire 20-person sales department to focus on programmatic ad sales.
It is relying heavily on supply-side platforms — Google’s Admeld and Dutch SSP Improve Digital — to automate as much of its selling as possible. The move was hastened by the fact that Spil’s games attract global audiences. The only way it could make money in most of these markets is through automation, the company concluded.
“The signs and the way the market is moving are so clearly going programmatic,” said Bas Seelen, Spil’s vp of advertising. “Whether it’s standard display, rich media or video, it would be foolish to keep believing in something we weren’t able to do well.”
Before entering the automated field, Spil ran typical standard display, but it also did a lot of special formats. But Seelen has been reading the tea leaves, and he believes the time is now to go programmatic, as automated buying makes buying and selling ads more cost-efficient and scalable. The prospect is even more appealing for a publisher like Spil, which attracts eyeballs from such a wide range of markets.
Spil owns 40 casual-game sites in pretty much every major language and boasts of reaching 200 million users around the world every month, with heavy usage in Latin America, Russia and India, as well as the United States. ComScore puts it at 7.7 million uniques in the U.S. For example, one of its sites, GirlsGoGames.com, gets 4.4 million uniques with games like “Sara’s Cooking Class,” where players can take different ingredients and make food.
As the media world becomes smaller, and international audiences grow larger, publishers need to eliminate inefficiencies on the sell-side, which means a growing wave of publishers gingerly tiptoeing into programmatic buying. Take, for example, The Guardian and The Daily Mail. While both U.K. publishers have made significant inroads in the U.S., they’re both taking cautious glances at RTB. Global audiences, while not meaning much to U.S. buyers, do mean something to global brands, and RTB is a way for those marketers to efficiently access those users.
Part of the new programmatic ecosystem isn’t just remnant trading, he argues. Spil works with pretty much everyone, and Seelen says it’s seen programmatic success with Kellogg’s, Disney, Universal, Lego and Unilever.
He wouldn’t discuss pricing, but he did say that the company’s eCPM improved between 10 and 15 percent in the last year after going programmatic.
“We can target pretty well by having the games being played by users and implementing data strategy,” Seelen said. “We have a big chunk of audience that is female, so family-oriented advertisers spend money with us.”
Image via Shutterstock
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Here's a hard-to-believe deal:
The Los Angeles Times (and Tronc Inc's nine other papers) are offering some digital subscriptions for the super-bargain rate of two cents a week, or $1.04 a year.
Don't rush to the phones, though, as I did, to try to place your order. The offer is available only under a special circumstance — when an existing digital subscriber phones or e-mails to cancel a subscription.
Still it's not all that rare and illustrates an inside-baseball twist to the current industry-wide pursuit of paid digital numbers.
Mark Campbell, senior vice president of digital marketing who oversees the effort from Tronc's L.A. offices, told me in a phone interview that the deeper-than-deep discounts account for under 5 percent of Tronc's total paid digital base. That would be around 13,000 of the 265,000 subs reported at the end of the third quarter of 2017. Both numbers will be higher when Tronc reports updated end-of-the-year results in early February.
Campbell points out that the cancelling subscriber has long presented a problem and an opportunity. Anyone who has once subscribed is a much better prospect than an e-mail mailing list would generate. Conversely, once the subscription relationship is severed, it quickly becomes harder to win the customer back.
"We' re always testing a range of offers — terms, duration and prices," Campbell said. This particular initiative goes by the in-house name, "Save the Stop"
Tronc could not provide exact data on what percentage of those offered the deal accept it, but volunteered that a third of cancelling customers over the past year (receiving various offers) were retained, compared to 10 percent the previous year.
The 2-cent deal began roughly a year ago so only a few under the plan have been asked so far to renew at a higher rate. (You can't get the $1.04 for a second year.) But among that small sample, roughly half are continuing.
There is some revenue sacrifice, of course, but Campbell said that with reduced introductory rates to new subscribers also pulling down the average, digital subscription revenues are up 70 percent year to year as the number of subscribers has risen 95 percent.
Campbell said that Tronc has one other good reason to stick with the deep discount for the near future. The company bought the Washington Post-licensed Arc content management system last year and is just beginning to phase it in paper by paper. The L.A. Times, first in that group, began operating on a beta version of Arc this week.
"Content loads faster, it's easier to navigate, and if you want to dig deeper you can," Campbell said. "It allows our journalists to tell stories in a more immersive way." That creates an extra incentive, he said, to get as many of the cancelling customers as possible to stick around and see the new, improved version of a site's digital report.
Campbell, with earlier stops at the New York Times and Wall Street Journal before he joined Tronc two years ago, said that the special attention to retaining customers is common in the industry and that some others offer rates as low or nearly so.
I got a somewhat more skeptical reaction on the super discounts when I called Matt Lindsay, president of Mather Economics. He is a leading consultant on paywalls, subscription pricing and the arcane art of identifying prospects, giving them enough of a free sample and beginning with attractive introductory terms that ramp up to full price.
"Tronc is client of ours," Lindsay told me, and expressed surprise at an offer so low. "We didn't advise them on that" — his work with Tronc has been on the print side — so he, like me, was unaware of the deal.
I am hearing conflicting opinions these days on how big a role paid digital subscriptions can play as sites search for added revenue to make up for lost advertising dollars. Some see a full pivot to asking readers to pay the majority of costs, while others voice doubts about whether that works for local sites, whether legacy or digital start-up.
The pool of potential subscribers is way smaller than for the big operations like the New York Times and Washington Post — now seeing much of their explosive paid digital growth in a worldwide market of English-speaking readers.
Then there is the value proposition: How willing will many readers be to spring for a local news report if the volume and quality of stories has been drastically crunched due to financial pressure?
"We have found that the more you penetrate the market, the higher the churn rate (cancelled subscriptions that need to be replaced to keep numbers and revenue equal)," Lindsay said. "You are getting past the most highly engaged, die-hard customers …"
"So the current thinking is don't stop at the sale — keep them reading, gather data on which content they read and what advertising they access." That's the path to building deeper engagement and reliably getting paid subs to renew over time.
My tipster on the L.A. Times deep-discount deal fit Campbell's Save-the-Stop model pretty exactly. He is Kevin Helliker, a longtime Wall Street Journal reporter and editor and Pulitzer winner who took the buyout a year ago and now edits a client magazine for the Brunswick consulting group.
Though he lives in the New York City area, Helliker wrote me:
"I subscribed after reading the LAT investigation last summer of the USC eye surgeon who allegedly was doing drugs with young people. Felt obliged to support that kind of journalism. But failed to develop the habit of reading it regularly and decided early this year to cut that expense. Accepted the new offer not only because it’s so low but because I do believe in the paper."
Not to be subversive, but might I suggest to digital-only paid subscribers to any legacy site: Try cancelling. You may be pleasantly surprised, as Helliker was, by the response.

domain: news


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Criticism of the public health system over medicine shortages has become a recurring issue. In many cases, the shortage obliges people who suffer from chronic diseases to appeal to support networks, social organizations and private pharmacies.
It is estimated that the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) increased the percentage of assorted recipes from 5% to 12% from 2019 to 2020, which means that more than 10 million recipes were not sorted. Adding in the decline of medical care for chronic patients who stopped visiting their IMSS clinic and the situation becomes even more complicated.
However, the shortage of drugs is not limited to public entities. The private sector, which groups a network with more than 40,000 pharmacies, is starting to look affected by the absence of medicines that the population needs.
We have detected a 15 percent shortage, which we believe has been tripled in recent weeks. Two out of 10 patients are prescribed alternative medicines to their usual treatment by their doctors.
Some important brands missing from the private sector are Afrin (a nasal decongestant), Caltrate (calcium and vitamin D) and Riopan (an antacid).
This considerably increases the out-of-pocket expense for patients and their relatives by more than a 70 percent.
Logistical difficulties are among the elements that delay supply. In the past, the transportation and the distribution of medicines were left to private businesses with more than 250,000 square meters of storage facilities and 1,000 transport units to manage the cold chain, a necessary condition for many substances. This is in contrast to the installed capacity of the federal government.
The private initiative dispersed nearly 2.4 billion units each year, which demonstrates that we have the capacity to guarantee supply. On a monthly basis, this is about 200 million units that can be distributed to every state institution.
Another equally important element is that the pandemic has caused a shortage in raw materials globally. Mexico imports more than 80 percent of its raw material needs.
Finally, I believe the entities involved with the state and private initiative should think about their actual positioning. On the one hand, our industry has been subject to claims of corruption in distribution or manufacturing without any specific cases being named, no public complaints and no proof or investigation underway.
On the other hand, for many years and under different governments, the business sector has been delegated the responsibility for logistics and production, from manufacturers to brokers and businesses specialized in the supply of medicines. Today, that has changed. That’s why the work of convincing the government of the importance of our sector should be constant. An example of a good dealmaker in the private sector is Carlos Slim, who with his experience and modesty has won over President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in the recent case of the collapse of a stretch of Line 12 of the subway in Mexico City.
In every crisis exists an opportunity. I’m sure there is human talent in our industry that can succeed in the constructive dialogue that has been difficult to achieve during the 4th transformation.


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Realme Narzo N55 4GB variant is priced at Rs. 10,999. The 6GB + 128GB variant is priced at Rs. 12,999. First sale of the handset starts on April 18, however, there will be a special live online sale that’s scheduled for April 13 at 12PM. During this online sale, the lower-end variant of the phone will be offered at a Rs. 700 discount, while the 6GB RAM variant will be offered at Rs. 1,000 discount on the Realme and Amazon websites.
Realme Narzo N55: Launch
Realme Narzo N55 has been launched in India


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Crankt Protein has launched two new flavours to its range of lean and mean protein bars – Choc Mint and Choc Peanut Butter.
The new flavours will join the line-up of Crankt Protein’s Choc Caramel, Choc Coconut, Choc Raspberry, and Cookies & Cream protein bars, all of which are low sugar, low GI and gluten free. Crankt Protein bars consist of 31 per cent protein, and contain 1.6 per cent carbohydrates.
Brendan Radford, founder of Crankt Protein, said: “Our intent has always been to fuel active bodies of all ages with complete nutrition, and empower consumers to make conscious choices in consideration of their health. In everything we do, we strive for greatness, innovation and to be at the cutting edge of health and nutrition.”
Owned by DNA Brands, Crankt Protein was developed as a nutritious alternative to the standard sugary energy drinks and chocolate bars. Crankt Protein’s products include protein bars and protein shakes.
The company continues to gain momentum through Australian grocery and P&C channels with companies such as Coles, Caltex, Coles Express, On The Run/ Peregrine Corporation, AA Holdings, Metcash, Woolworths, Woolworths Metro, Freedom Fuels, IGA supporting the brand’s growth.


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Blu-ray Sales Increasing in Japan28 May, 2008 By: Kyra Kudick
Japanese research firm BCN Ltd. reports sales of Blu-ray recorders are increasing in Japan, according to Reuters.
The BCN survey figures showed April sales for Blu-ray in Japan were nearly three times the 12.4% share for both high-def formats before HD DVD lost the format war, Reuters reported.
BCN also stated the more expensive Blu-ray recorders topped the previous generation recorders in the value of sales for the first time in April, with about a third of machines sold carrying the new format, according to Reuters.
BCN further predicts Blu-ray sales to expand in the coming months as consumer electronics manufacturers cut prices in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics, Reuters reported.


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POMPANO BEACH, Fla., May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Onstream Media Corporation (OTCQB: ONSM), a leading online service provider of live and on-demand corporate audio and web communications and virtual event technology with integrated social media marketing tools, today announced that it will co-sponsor a webinar, Social Media and the SEC's Latest Announcement: Where Do We Go From Here? The online forum will explore the recent SEC announcement endorsing use of social media in certain cases for the dissemination of news by publicly-held companies. http://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/10/1347
The SEC's April 2, 2013 announcement contained guidance under which public companies might disclose material information, including financial results, through social media channels, such as Facebook and Twitter, as long as investors have been appropriately alerted about which social media will be used to disseminate such information.
The webinar, hosted by CommPRO, sponsored by Akamai, webcast by Onstream Media and produced by the AXA Equitable Production Group in New York City, can be viewed on-demand at CommPRO.biz on May 1st. Leaders from public companies, disclosure wire services, the NASDAQ and NYSE will debate whether releasing earnings reports and other corporate news via social media will meet investors' needs for fair and full disclosure.
Veteran investor relations analyst and CommPRO contributor Gene Marbach moderates the forum. The live studio audience includes senior investor relations officers from publicly-held companies and financial journalists.
Business Wire – Cathy Baron Tamraz, Chairwoman and CEO
KCSA/theIRapp™ –Jeff Corbin, CEO / Founder
Loeb & Loeb – Kenneth R. Florin, Partner & Co-Chair, Advanced Media and Technology, Chair, Digital Media
Marketwired – Michael Nowlan, President and CEO
NASDAQ OMX –Matt Farlie, Managing Director, Global Corporate Solutions, The NASDAQ OMX Group
NYSE – Judith C. McLevey, Vice President, Head of Corporate Actions and Market Watch, Global Corporate Client Group, NYSE Euronext
PR Newswire –John Viglotti, Vice President, Investor Relations Products and Services
Stockr, Inc. – Vinny Jindal, CEO and Co-Founder
"Communicating with customers, partners, prospects, media, analysts and other constituents via social media channels has become a widely accepted and even preferred communications vehicle for many businesses across all industries," said Randy Selman, President & CEO, Onstream Media. "We are pleased to participate as the webcasting service provider to broadcast this event on behalf of a group of industry leaders that uniquely understand the requirements and complexities that publicly held companies face in today's social media era."
As an industry-leading provider of webcasting and webinars for SEC-regulated companies, Onstream Media continues to pursue new trends and develop efficient and economical methods for its clients to meet their Fair Disclosure requirements.
The contents of this press release, as well as that of the May 1st webinar, while intended to provide information on recent accounting and legal developments, should not be construed as accounting or legal advice, or an opinion, with respect to specific situations or questions.
About Onstream Media:
Onstream Media Corporation (OTCQB: ONSM), is a leading online service provider of live and on-demand corporate audio and web communications and virtual event technology with integrated social media marketing tools. Onstream Media's innovative Digital Media Services Platform (DMSP) provides customers with cost effective tools for encoding, managing, indexing, and publishing content via the Internet. The company's MarketPlace365® solution enables publishers, associations, tradeshow promoters and entrepreneurs to rapidly and cost effectively self-deploy their own online virtual marketplaces. In addition, Onstream Media provides live and on-demand webcasting, webinars, web and audio conferencing services. To date, almost half of the Fortune 1000 companies and 78% of the Fortune 100 CEOs and CFOs have used Onstream Media's services. Select Onstream Media customers include AAA, Dell, Disney, Georgetown University, National Press Club, PR Newswire, Shareholder.com (NASDAQ), Sony Pictures, and the U.S. Government. Onstream Media's strategic relationships include Akamai, BT Conferencing, and Trade Show News Network (TSNN). For more information, visit Onstream Media at http://www.onstreammedia.com or call 954-917-6655.
SOURCE Onstream Media Corporation


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There are other reasons: deleveraging balance-sheets, exit from non-core businesses and rationalised ambitions.
Earlier, debt-laden Suzlon had announced selling its German subsidiary Senvion to US-based Venture Capital fund Centrebridge Partners for a minor loss, mainly to cut debt.
Wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy completed 100 per cent stake sale of its German arm Senvion to US-based Centerbridge Partners.
Tulsi Tanti-run Suzlon had announced on January 22 the sale of 100 per cent stake in Senvion for 1 billion euros to pare its mounting debt.
Tulsi Tanti, chairman and managing director of Suzlon, is in a relaxed mood. But things haven't always been this tranquil at the company.


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No more cohorts: FCA says fintech sandbox is now ‘always open’
The regulator is on the hunt for more applicants trying to address diversity and inclusion (D&I) issues in financial services.
Since 2016 the UK’s financial regulator has operated a ‘sandbox’ for cutting-edge financial products and services to be tested with consumers in-market under its supervision.
FCA Innovate has announced that its sandbox is now ‘always open’, meaning firms can apply anytime to test their products at whatever stage is right for them.
“The Kalifa Review of UK FinTech recommended that the sandbox be enhanced to provide more value to firms. This included a specific recommendation that the sandbox be made available on a rolling basis, rather than through time-limited windows,” the FCA Innovate’s sandbox team wrote.
As well as being ‘always open’, the FCA has also launched a new online application form and guide, making it easier for new applicants to get started, and streamlined its internal decision-making process, resulting in quicker approvals.
Going forward the FCA Innovate team is, in particular, looking for applicants launching products and services to help people deal with the effects of Covid-19, and from firms led by underrepresented groups that are trying to address issues of diversity and inclusion (D&I) in financial services.
The application process has “incorporated D&I into the assessment of our ‘consumer benefit’ eligibility criterion, meaning firms which demonstrate that their proposal addresses issues of D&I (by benefitting underserved consumers, for example), or are run by diverse management teams, have a strong likelihood of meeting this criterion.”
Finally, in September, the second Green FinTech Challenge 2021 will be launched, encouraging a ‘green cohort’ of firms to apply for a bespoke package of sandbox support in building products and services that help the UK transition to a net-zero economy.


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Keith Anderson, vice president of marketing at Ibex Outdoor Clothing, in White River Junction on Tuesday. / GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS
Jim Harley, a member of the digital creative team at Ibex Outdoor Clothing in White River Junction, at work on Tuesday. / GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS
The customer service department at Ibex Outdoor Clothing in White River Junction on Tuesday. / GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS
Ibex, the White River Junction-based manufacturer of Merino wool outdoor clothing, has several documentaries and short films on its website. Some of the videos follow the supply chain back through the production factories to the Merino wool farms in New Zealand. Others showcase its products on cyclists, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
One video, titled “Ibex Ride,” follows three cyclists on a late-summer morning jaunt along Vermont’s shaded dirt roads, and up and over Middlebury Gap and Appalachian Gap wearing Ibex cycling clothes.
“That was a natural extension of the relationship,” said Keith Anderson, vice president of marketing for Ibex. “Hammer some people up Appalachian Gap for fun several times.”
Anderson said shopping for Ibex clothing is about having fun. He said other websites, such as Amazon.com, do not give consumers the same experience Ibex provides.
“If it’s not fun, we are definitely in the wrong industry,” he said.
Ibex was named to Internet Retailer’s Hot 100 List for 2013, a national business and retail magazine. The publication recognized Ibex for its innovative online navigation tools and social media integration.
Those tools include two twitter handles, @ibexgirl and @ibexdude, an Instagram portfolio that details the lifestyle of the company’s employees, activities that reward deals, and a browse-by-color navigation tool.
Ibex has been labeled as innovative for using the same old tools familiar to many companies in the online retail industry. The difference is that Ibex knows how to use them correctly.
Browse by color
Anderson said the company’s online navigation tools, such as the browse-by-color tab, are ways to make online shopping easier.
“We are always trying to figure out ways to get shoppers to where they want to go,” Anderson said. “The hard part there is what tools do you include?”
Ibex employees found the browse-by-color tool useful themselves, according to Anderson. He added that the changes to the website have been organic, rather than forced by trends in the online retail industry.
“We weren’t thinking of it as being innovative,” he said. “It was how we would want to shop.”
Issa Sawabini, partner at Fuse Marketing in Burlington, said these tools have become the standard with any online retail company.
The browse-by-color tab is simple, elegant and fun, he said, but not new. Other sites, such as Amazon.com and Levi’s, pioneered the tool.
“That’s not necessary innovative,” he said. “It’s expected.”
But Elaine Young, professor of marketing at Champlain College, said companies don’t have to make something new and shiny to be innovative. She said innovative products can build on preexisting products. That’s what Apple did when it replaced Sony’s Walkman with the iPod. The concept was the same, but the product was superior.
“Innovation can be something very small, something that changes the flow of traffic,” she said. “It’s not just about a product, it can be an idea.”
Sawabini said Ibex’s Instagram handle, Living Ibex, has sorted photographs to best capture the image and style of the company. Sawabini called it the website’s most exceptional feature, because it curates the photographs well.
So although this tool is not innovative, Ibex has been recognized by Internet Retailer because the content of its brand aligns appropriately with an Instagram platform.
“They are selecting images that make some sense,” Sawabini said. “It just brings it all to life. It’s not a company, it’s a group of people.”
Young says other apparel companies might not have the same success with Instagram integration because the convenience of this social platform aligns with Ibex’s lifestyle. Many of the employees use their phones to take pictures on the bike, atop a mountain ridge, and deep in the woods.
The tools by themselves are not always innovative, but how they are used can break new ground, according to Young.
“A pencil can be super innovative, but if you don’t know how to write, then it has no use,” she said.
Ibex has used Instagram and Twitter to allow potential customers to view the internal culture of the company, according to Anderson.
“It’s allowing people to see some of the humans,” Anderson said.
Anderson says Ibex is also presenting its products to consumers through an engaging experience. For example, the company sent a memory game to its email list that gave participants a discount on products. It was a classic kid’s memory game that used tiles of various images. Ibex adapted this game to use photographs of the employees’ dogs.
The game personally connected participants to the company, according to Anderson. He said this makes shopping at Ibex more interesting and engaging for consumers than other online retailers.
Sawabini added that the Twitter handles attach real people to the image of the company. Customers can have a more personalized and relevant discussion, because the company offers both male and female Twitter handles.
“You need to set your objective based on the quality of the interaction,” Sawabini said. “Every social media platform has a relationship with its users.”
A new frame of reference
Five years ago, Ibex’s online presence progressed from blogging to social media integration when it began using Facebook and Twitter to engage consumers. Anderson said the Internet has always been an important hub for the company. Now it is a tool that allows the company to connect to consumers more closely.
Brick-and-mortar stores are still a valuable way, however, to meet face-to-face with consumers and learn their interests, according to Anderson.
“Stores will always be there. We are not going all digital, all the way,” he said. “We are not going to leave those retailers. They are our bread and butter. They are really part of our identity.”
While the company values its retail stores, it is still going to focus on enhancing its online features.
Anderson said the company is going to make short videos that show customers how the product moves and hangs when worn because online customers are not able to try the clothing on as they would in a store.
The company will also be working on presenting its products to tablet and mobile device users. This includes the possibility of developing an app for these devices.
“It’s a different type of engagement,” Anderson said. “It’s a different frame of reference. You need to have more options than ever now. The way people navigate there has become so different.”
John Herrick is a correspondent for the Burlington Free Press, focusing on business.


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Maritime shipping is one of the cornerstones of the global economy, with the total goods loaded worldwide of cargo accounting for 11.076 million tons only in 2019, according to a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development publication from 2020. In Greece, the maritime shipping industry is a major pillar of the local economy as the country is one of the five major shipowning nations, along with Japan, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Greece is also the world’s largest shipowning nation as it holds more than 20% of the global tonnage and around 54% of the EU-controlled tonnage.
In connection with environmental problems, as well as international law, the EU, UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and other major institutions have been implementing regulations in the industry connected to vessel traffic monitoring, port state control, ship-source pollution, as well as directives concerning the harmonization of maritime equipment. Complying with the latest regulations has long been a problem for owners, due to the high costs of modification of vessels, as well as the established traditions in the sector. But what if it is not that hard to transform the maritime industry without paying a cosmic cost?
When it comes to Greece, the local entrepreneurial sector has seen the rise of tech startups with solutions that can upscale maritime shipping. Today, the Recursive team is going to meet you with ShipReality – a local company whose mixed reality (MR) design automation software facilitates a greener energy transition, automated assisted operations, and optimized ship design. According to the company, its solutions have reduced ship owners’ costs by 50% and facilitated remote training and control during the pandemic. Georgios Bourtzos, CEO and Co-founder of the company, discussed with us the company solutions, its mission, vision, and challenges.
A chain of ideas
The initial problem identified by the ShipReality team was the lack of digital geometry data for existing ships that sufficiently slowed down the processes of design and remodification ships had to undergo to keep up with the supranational-level regulations. “Mixed Reality gives us unprecedented tools to remotely collaborate, automate, and gamify ship design. This is why we started with this idea, wanting to completely change the way ship design takes place and spent the last 3 years developing software that works directly in the 3D space,” shared Bourtzos. The other three co-founders of the startup, Alexandros Ginnis (Lead MR Engineer), Lambros Kaiktsis (Chief Scientist), and Christos Papadopoulos (CTO), are all educators in the National Technical University of Athens, where Kaiktsis is a Professor and the Vice Dean at the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
Afterward, the idea evolved. For one, the company wanted to facilitate the ability of field experts to easily fix arising problems in the ship machinery for the long periods when ships were in the open sea spaces, which would often trouble the engineers’ access to a ship’s machinery. Then, when COVID-19 travel restrictions were set in place, troubles, related to the compulsory regulatory checks performed by authorities, arised, giving ShipReality the opportunity to once again employ the benefits of VR and MR technology and restate the benefits of remote checks. “Ships are remote complex assets traveling around the world – they have to go through regular inspections and surveys and maintenance of equipment not only by the shipowners and managers but also by the classification societies, port authorities, and equipment manufacturers,” Bourtzos explained. This is why, since the start of the pandemic, ShipReality has also been focused on facilitating a way for ensuring efficient remote check-ups, adjusting to the COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Intelligence solutions in the new remote era
In a nutshell, the company offers three main services materialized in the form of the solutions ShipMR-Design and ShipMR-Remote. ShipMR-Design is the most advanced software of ShipReality. It is a 3D CAD (computer-aided design) software for generative ship design that utilizes proprietary pathfinding algorithms that generate optimal routes in 3D space avoiding clashes (collisions) with existing machinery, working in VR for multi-user, collaborative immersive design reviews, training and MR for remote shipyard installation monitoring. While ship visualization is often performed using far less interactive 2D schemes, Bourtzos shared that the 3D model is time-saving and more efficient when it comes to fine-tuning each vessel before sending it for CPR (Construction Products Regulation) compliance check.
The ShipMR-Remote is the second software of the company. It is remote operations / spatial intelligence software with data anchoring and project management capabilities that connects on-board crew members with on-ground experts who can assist with remote support, inspections, and surveys. The solution has the benefit of enabling remote assistance, thus helping fleet teams stay on track and efficiently fix any machine problem that arises while enabling virtual audits and checks, Bourtzos added.
The future ahead
The business model of ShipReality is B2B, with options to expand by listing proprietary XR applications in marketplaces such as gaming engines. The industrial applications of ShipReality are suited for B2B enterprises as the maritime sector big players have already started implementing MR and VR technologies for commercial uses, Bourtzos shared. He also added that the solutions are yet to evolve and the next 5 to 10 years will be crucial for average industry owners to become more familiar with them. “Massive digital transformation and innovation adoption will take much longer in the shipping industry as it is one of the most conservative industries. To change the way owners operate takes a lot of effort, persistence, and time till they are comfortable with new technologies. Part of our work is to educate them on XR (VR/AR/MR) and the potential benefits of relaying capabilities and experiences from more advanced industries that have adopted such technologies,” the co-founder explained. Another obstacle the company is facing is the lack of a variety of software with suitable development kits for B2C applications. Bourtzos also noted the positive trends in the Greek ecosystem that has now started producing a range of products used in the maritime industry that were previously imported from other countries such as Japan and South Korea.
Among the main missions of ShipReality are to modernize the maritime industry, while allowing for the easy remodification of ships in the highly regulated sector, where legislators are concerned with reducing the pollution caused by ships. The ShipReality solutions are in line with the green energy conversion rules not only because they enable the reduction of the environmental footprint of the shipping sector by reducing employee traveling but because they facilitate fast and efficient ship transition to new greener propulsion. As it is already known, the IMO has set several targets for the maritime industry, including a 30% reduction in total CO2 emissions by 2030 and a 50% reduction by 2050. Not complying with these standards would leave shipowners with obsolete assets that they will not be able to charge, Bourtzos elaborated. With the sector currently evolving, ShipReality is going to continue shaping the local ecosystem, as its plans are to develop the proprietary applications of ShipReality, including its 3D pathfinding algorithm, and explore other sectors where its solutions can be implemented, with the offshore marine being one of the examples. Mixed reality technology is increasingly being used for training, machine inspections, and the creation of designs in several countries, including the UK, the US, and Singapore. Back in 2018, FLIR, the world’s largest design and manufacturing company of thermal imaging infrared cameras, introduced its first MR navigation water system. Rolls Royce, on the other hand, has introduced the concept of an autonomous ship with an intelligence system, featuring AR sensors used for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Up to this point, ShipReality has managed to attract $230K funding, $150K by the Norwegian-based accelerator Katapult Ocean that is known for its investments in impact-tech companies operating in the blue economy, as well as $80K from angel investors.


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Jason Speer, President of Quality Float Works Inc., a float metal ball manufacturing company, has travelled several times to Iraq since their expansion into the troubled country:
“People still don’t even believe me, I have to show them some pictures,” says Speer, about his business trips to Iraq.
Speer says he saw investing in Iraq as an opportunity.
“The country needs to be rebuilt,” says Speer. “Everything has been destroyed over the years of neglect. I think there are a lot of opportunities for American businesses especially.”
Doing business in Iraq is definitely not easy. Just shipping the float metal balls can be a tricky process. Speer says they work with a local business man that assists with the logistics of getting their product into the country, but sometimes their products sit for weeks at a time, just waiting for the paperwork to be handled and to be cleared.
Listen to the full interview in the audio player above.
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Thiruvananthapuram: The government stopped the distribution of free food kits that were a huge relief for people during the Covid times. Although the final decision hasn’t been declared yet, the government has taken a stand that there is no need to continue the distribution. Food kits will not be distributed this month. The Department of Finance has informed the Food and Civil Supplies Department that distribution of kits is difficult as the state is facing an extreme financial crisis and since Covid restrictions have been eased there is no need to continue.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department had earlier instructed that food kits must be distributed to BPL families considering the difficulties faced during the pandemic. The additional chief secretary of the Department of Finance had recorded in the file concerning the allocation of money for Onam kit that distribution of kits cannot be continued. This matter may not be reviewed by the ministry again. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier made it clear that the distribution of food kits cannot go on forever.
The distribution of free food kits was started in the April-May period of 2020. The food kits gained much appreciation and even people belonging to the high-income group bought the kits. This had also helped the government win the second election. The kits were distributed 13 times in total. Almost 11 crore kits were distributed. The monthly amount was nearly Rs 350-400 crores. A total of Rs. 5200 crores was spent on kits.


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A Cornish firm which supplies clothing and equipment to divers
A Cornish firm which supplies clothing and equipment to divers all over the world has just received a £13,195 investment to boost its IT system.
Fourth Element, based in Helston, designs and manufactures high-performance dive gear and lifestyle clothing, as well as bespoke products for the police, fire brigade and military.
The company, founded in 1999, has built up a strong international reputation, selling its highly specialist clothing and equipment through approximately 1,000 dive shops in 48 countries.
Fourth Element’s Finance Manager Christian Rossetti decided to apply for a grant from BIG Productivity to futureproof the firm’s IT system to cope with business growth, as well as improving security and communication between staff all over the globe.
The total project cost was £29,322 and the grant received was £13,195.
“With the funding, we were able to get an all singing, all dancing IT system at the perfect time. The investment meant all systems and work streams operated seamlessly allowing staff to work from home and business to continue at an optimum during the pandemic,” said Christian.
With BIG Productivity’s help, Fourth Element was able to set up safe and secure home working for staff, with improved internal and external communications.
“Our business relies on the research, development, design and manufacture of products, to be sold using our multinational office locations. Our IT systems were a major limiting factor,” said Christian. “The IT investment has allowed us to increase productivity.”
Fourth Element, which works with some of the leading professionals in the dive industry, will now be able to continue to expand and develop, creating new local and global employment opportunities.
“It’s all up and running and working well,” said Christian. “We’re really pleased. I would definitely recommend BIG Productivity to other businesses. There are different grants available for all sorts of areas and it’s worth looking into.”
Lyn Newby, BIG Productivity’s Programme Manager, said: “Fourth Element is a well-established global market leader based right here in Cornwall.
“We’re proud to have supported their vital IT investment, allowing the company to improve sales, cyber security and communications, which will help to futureproof the firm as it continues to grow.
BIG Productivity is a £3.1m fund that offers grants from £2,500 up to £50,000 to qualifying small and medium-sized businesses in Cornwall to boost their productivity.
BIG Productivity is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme and is delivered by Cornwall Council
The fund also provides an advisory service to offer strategic, non-financial support to Cornish SMEs. The Advanced Advisory Service (AAS) is free and helps businesses to develop and implement projects that are a catalyst for growth.
For more information on BIG productivity and to see if your business might be eligible visit www.businessinvestmentforgrowth.co.uk


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As supply chain visibility becomes ever more important, a new technology is emerging with potential uses in inbound logistics, inventory management and the aftermarket.
A new type of highly flexible ‘superchips’ are being developed in a three-way UK partnership involving Cambridge technology front runners Arm and PragmatIC.
A number of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands are exploring NFC-enabled smart packaging as an innovative way to connect directly with customers.
Mass-market smart packaging is becoming economically viable.
PragmatIC is a trading name and trademark of PragmatIC Printing Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 07423954.
PragmatIC has achieved the certification of its Management Systems to the International ISO 9001:2015 Quality Standard.


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According to a note issued to clients by Needham & Company analyst Charlie Wolf, citing data from IDC, Android’s U.S. market share in March quarter dropped from 52.4 to 49.5 percent, the first sequential loss for Android ever in any region of the world. On the other hand, the market share of Apple iOS gained 12.3 percentage points to 29.5%.
Wolf described the loss of market share “is just the beginning”, and predicts Apple will eventually gains back the market share in fall, by the time that both GSM and CDMA versions of the new iPhone has been launched.
Apart from the U.S. market, Wolf also illustrated the fall of Nokia’s global market share were somehow leveled off by strong Android growth, by using IDC figures. Android phones and iPhones were the only two smartphones that has growth in market share, while all other smartphone platforms are declining.
During the second quarter, many Android phones with great specifications were launched, yet Apple has only put the white iPhone 4 into the market. Market figures and predictions might not be applicable in the 3rd quarter, as the analysis relies much on the predictions that the new iPhone will be launched in this fall. However, one thing is very certain, that makers of other smartphone platforms are in danger.


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The more expensive things get in Venezuela, the more 100 bolivar bills Venezuelans are forced to carry in their pockets. And things are getting pretty expensive in Venezuela, which is leaving the country severely short on banknotes.
Inflation in the country hit 45.4% in August, well above much-feared hyperinflation levels. Since the bolivar was introduced in January of 2008, inflation has soared 323%.
With prices of everyday goods on the rise, locals have been forced to carry around more cash, which they are doing almost exclusively with 100 bolivar bills ($15), the currency’s largest denomination. Demand for the bills is rising so sharply that Venezuela’s central bank can hardly keep up. In 2012, it put 272.6 million extra 100 bolivar bills into circulation—twice the amount it added in 2011, and triple that of 2010, according to local newspaper La Nación (link in Spanish).
In the past year alone, the bank has increased the number of 100 bolivar bills in circulation by 79%. One local recalled that, until recently, 100 bolivar bills were hardly used. “The bill was worth a lot, it was complicated to use because no one had enough change for it, but now if I want to buy bread, milk or cheese at any bakery I need it in my wallet,” he told La Nación. A mere five years ago, 100 bolivar bills accounted for 3% of the total bolivars in circulation; as of this January, the proportion was 23.6%.
The number of 50 bolivar bills, the currency’s second largest denomination, has also jumped. Together, 100 and 50 bolivar bills account for nearly half of all bills in circulation. Venezuela’s inflation woes are largely the result of failed government policies. Price and currency controls meant to slow the country’s inflation, which is the highest in Latin America, have instead exacerbated it, leading to shortages that have forced inflation higher.
With no end for inflation in sight—Venezuela’s president has argued that economic crisis is merely temporary—its central bank may be forced to churn out even bigger bills. Local economists have long been calling for the country to introduce 200 bolivar bills to ease the banknote bulk. Now there’s even talk of 300, 500 and 1000 bolivar bills.


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Melbourne's west is enjoying a boom in both brewing and beer venues. West City Brewing is, for now, a gypsy operation that has been enjoying success with its hoppy Footscray Ale and hopes to open a place in the west soon.
If there's one brewery above all others that won't be struggling to keep its beers chilled this winter it's Blizzard. "Australia's highest brewery" opened in the Victorian alps in March, brewing next to a Dinner Plain ski lift.
French inspired beer and Parisian bistronomy is coming to Alexandria thanks to Vince de Soyres, Thomas Cauquill and their Frenchies Bistro and Brewery. We caught up with the former Little Brewing and Flat Rock brewer to find out more.
You can find breweries off the beaten track in Australia these days, but few, if any, in as remote a location as Beaten Track itself. For our latest Who Brews? we find out the story behind the Boulder brewery six hours drive inland from Perth.
From a Surry Hills vegetarian restaurant of the same name sprung Yulli's Brews. Stepping in tandem into the brewing world are Yulli's founder Karl Cooney and homebrewing staff member James Harvey. With their first of their beers now in cans, we find out more.
It's not that long ago that Dereck Hales took up home brewing. Soon afterwards, he was winning competitions for his beers. And now he's quit the corporate world to open the Bad Shepherd brewpub with wife Diti Haniotis in Cheltenham.
When Lion announced its decision to move White Rabbit to Geelong, many bemoaned its loss from Healesville. But now two former White Rabbit brewers and their partners have set about bringing a new brewery to the town.
A new brewing company that takes its name from its home town of Castlemaine has started up in Victoria. It brings a decidedly old school approach to its beers, so we decided to find out why.
The growth in the number of small brewing companies, often gypsies using others' facilities, continues to rise. Nick O catches up with another: NSW based Merchant Brewing.
Brewing has returned to Hobart's Tasmanian Brewery Building with the launch of Captain Bligh's, a purveyor of traditional ales and ciders. And jam.


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Gartner sees that both consumers and business are holding off on making traditional PC purchases. This is in part due to the troubled economy and the multitude of devices available to read email, show videos, take pictures and perform basic business functions.
Gartner expects to see tablets replace about 10% of the PCs shipped by 2014. They go onto say that the tablet will have more of an impact on low power netbook pcs.
Gartner also foresees that emerging markets will skip the PC altogether in favor of a lower cost more functional tablet.


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Today ABA's President and CEO Susan Neely joined U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue and other industry leaders at a press conference to discuss the importance of modernizing our nation's infrastructure.
"A modernized infrastructure is crucial to keeping our economy moving and it is vital to the beverage industry," said Neely. "It is vital because we are American companies making American products by American workers in America's hometowns. What do we mean by that? The best way to make a great tasting Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper is to make it locally. And many of the local jobs our industry provides rely on good roads and bridges to bring the hundreds of brands we produce to market every day."
With close to 240,000 jobs provided by America's beverage companies, a strong infrastructure not only allows for our products to get to consumers reliably and efficiently, it helps working families sustain these jobs.
As always, we continue to keep environmental sustainability at the core of our business by expanding the use of hybrid vehicles or replacing vehicles with intermodal transportation. We can have a strong infrastructure that creates jobs, promotes efficiency and protects the environment.
Learn more about our commitment to sustainability at www.innovationnaturally.org


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Geneva-based banking software provider Temenos announced that the Bank of Queensland (BOQ) has launched retail banking services on Temenos Banking Cloud.
The service is said to be applicable for customers served under the BOQ, Virgin Money and ME Bank brands.
According to Temenos, BOQ has crossed over four million transactions since the platform was launched.
The cloud-based Temenos platform is said to enable BOQ to provide superior customer propositions with personalised offerings for a small fraction of the cost of its legacy systems, creating a competitive advantage and a favourable cost-to-income ratio.
Bank of Queensland chief product and transformation officer Rod Finch said: “We are modernising our technology from back to front to give us the flexibility and agility of a neobank, while leveraging the scalability and long-term investment of an established institution with 148 years in banking.
“This will provide our customers with compelling experiences, fast transactions and cutting-edge features. By leveraging the Temenos platform and the benefits of the cloud, we are attracting new customers and driving growth, ultimately improving our competitive advantage.”
Through the unification of 40 systems into a single platform for retail and business banking, the modernization project with Temenos streamlines BOQ’s technology landscape, claims the company.
As a part of the project, BOQ will migrate all of its banking operations across three banking brands.
Temenos president and global head of field operations Erich Gerber said: “The Australian banking market is going through unprecedented change as regulators look to drive innovation and competition, and banks navigate bringing personal relationships into the digital age.
“With Temenos Banking Cloud, we are putting banks in control of their business models and innovation cycles, giving them the agility and speed to build great products and profitable business.”
BOQ Group is expected to gradually implement the Temenos Banking Cloud across all of its retail banking business lines, with business banking and lending to follow.


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The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Tuesday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.
GLOBAL MALAISE: Economists are still trying to put into context the shock that the world has absorbed, and will absorb. On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund put the damage at Great Depression levels.
— France is forecasting an 8% drop in growth this year and is staring down its worst recession since World War II. And that 8% drop may be optimistic, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Tuesday.
The nation is pumping money into unemployment benefits and helping struggling businesses. But that spending, coupled with plunging growth, could push France’s deficit up to 9% in 2020, Budget Minister Gerard Darmanin said.
AS YOU WERE: North America is in lockdown but in regions struck early by the coronavirus, there is movement toward whatever will become the post-pandemic normal. Those attempts could provide the road map ahead for the rest of the world.
— Italian book, stationary and children’s stores were allowed to open nationwide Tuesday, provided they could maintain the same social-distancing and sanitary measures required in supermarkets. Some regional governors did not greenlight those openings, however, and many shop owners are keeping their doors shut.
— Poland will start to gradually lift restrictions Sunday on businesses and individuals. The nation went into lockdown on March 13. Government spokesman Piotr Mueller said that the number of people allowed into shops is expected to be raised and some restrictions on open air activity will be lifted.
— Audi has restarted operations at its Hungarian plant, though at a very limited scale. A single shift of about 100 employees began assembling V6 engines Tuesday, with another V6 engine assembly line expected to restart by the end of the week. Wider plant activities, albeit still in single shifts, are expected to gradually restart late next week.
— Austria is allowing small retailers, DIY businesses and gardening supply stores to reopen Tuesday. Customers will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. There will be limits on the number of people allowed into stores.
The country closed almost all retail stores in mid-March. Austrian authorities have said they plan to begin reopening them on May 2, followed by restaurants in mid-May, provided the pandemic remains under control.
COST IN JOBS: The wave of layoffs and furloughs have been massive. Companies continue to shed jobs, though most vow to bring people back into the workplace as soon as it is safe.
— Groupon will release or furlough about 2,800 workers, more than 40% of its entire workforce. The company, which had struggled before the pandemic, said in a regulatory filing that the majority of the cuts will take place in the current quarter.
— New Zealand, which has also been hit by the outbreak, is now absorbing the economic fallout. NZME, which runs radio stations and newspapers, is reducing its workforce by 15% through layoffs and attrition. And the owners of the country’s Burger King restaurants are seeking bankruptcy protection and a buyer dozens of locations with hopes of speeding re-openings when the pandemic fades.
EARNINGS SEASON!: Twenty-three S&P 500 constituents are scheduled to report quarterly earnings this week. Of the 11 S&P sectors, only three are expected to report per-share profit gains compared with last year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Everyone will be looking closely at companies with operations in China to see how they emerged from the outbreak there.
— JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Johnson & Johnson all posted earnings Tuesday.
MARKETS: Volatility in markets continues. Markets have tumbled sharply since the beginning of the pandemic, but they’re up this week.
— Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street Tuesday as traders gingerly embrace early signs that the White House and a number of state governors are sorting out how to gradually reopen the economy. Big companies also started reporting their first-quarter earnings, revealing damage from the coronavirus outbreak.
ISLANDS IN THE STREAM: Global activity has screeched to a halt, but there are aspects that are humming, and that includes streamed entertainment.
— Roku expects first-quarter steaming hours will spike 49% compared with last year, or total 13.2 billion hours. It anticipates an increase of 3 million active users, close to 40 million.
The newly launched Disney streaming service now has 50 million new subscribers.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


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The Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) recently conducted a crop forecast survey for the 2018 season. A figure of 56 000 tons of NIS (nut-in shell at 1.5% kernel moisture content) is estimated to be produced in 2018. This is still lower than the projected long term forecast of 57 600 tonnes in an industry that is expanding more rapidly than when the long term projections were made, although it should be noted that a more accurate forecast can only be made at the end of January. Although the final volume of the global 2017 macadamia crop will only be known in 2018, it is no secret that it was again a world record accompanied by record prices. “Despite the 2017 global crop being the largest ever recorded it is clear that the global demand has increased substantially. Consistency of supply has been a worrying aspect of the macadamia industry, so a significant increase in volume from the largest macadamia exporting nation, is what the market needs to satisfy this growing global demand and to continue to encourage new products with macadamias”, said Mr. Jens Borchert from Palm Nuts and More, a German-based macadamia importer and distributor.
The final 2017 crop volumes will also be made available in January, which it is anticipated to be slightly more than 42 000 tonnes NIS. Fifty two percent (52%) of the 2018 crop is expected to be produced in Mpumalanga, followed by Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and other regions (Table 1).
Table 1. Expected 2018 macadamia crop forecast distribution by province.
|Province||Limpopo||Mpumalanga||KwaZulu-Natal||Eastern Cape||Western Cape|
A reduction in import tariffs for macadamias was announced in late November by the Chinese Government. The tariff was reduced from 19% to 12%. SAMAC has been working hard with various role players, especially in China to facilitate a lower import duty and many months of discussions have finally paid off. This will assist the industry to remain competitive in one of its most important export markets.
Fifty five percent (55%) of the crop is expected to be processed to kernel in 2018, which is more than the previous season. Mr Walter Giuricich, chairman of SAMAC says “The industry is well on the road to recovery after the recent drought and the 2018 season macadamia crop is looking promising. Many handlers are expanding their markets, which is a positive sign of a growing industry. The demand for macadamias remains high and we are confident that the expected higher volumes will encourage the market to further grow and develop.”
An updated forecast will be issued in January 2018.
Issued by the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC)
8 December 2017
Contact: Barry Christie
Tel: +27 73 084 1772


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This was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Embassy in China.
"In addition to visiting the exhibition, the Ukrainian delegation is expected to visit a number of forums, conferences, bilateral meetings with representatives of the official and business circles of China," the report reads.
The day before, Ambassador Kamyshev, together with the ambassadors of other countries and the leadership of China, took part in the opening ceremony of the CIIE. The expo was opened online by President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping.
At the collective stand of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, our state at the CIIE is represented by PJSC State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine, Ukraine’s trading companies Fulon and Ocean Foods.
The third China International Import Expo will run until November 10.
Let’s get started read our news at facebook messenger > > > Click here for subscribe


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The Definitive Guide to Daybed Sofa in Catlin IL 61817
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Catlin, Westville encouraging opposition to Aqua Illinois' proposed rate hike
CATLIN — Early in the new year, Catlin officials are planning to encourage another letter-writing campaign by village residents against Aqua Illinois' proposed water-rate increase. "I hope we do some ...


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Britain's 3i completes $48 mln exits in third quarter
LONDON Jan 30 (Reuters) - British private equity group 3i said on Thursday it had completed 29 million pounds ($48 million) of exits in the three months to Dec. 31, taking its total proceeds for the year so far to 557 million pounds.
The owner of women's fashion retailer Hobbs and Tommee Tippee baby bottle maker Mayborn said new investment increased during the third quarter, with 247 million pounds invested compared to just 4 million pounds in same three months in 2012.
The group said it did not plan to complete any significant new private equity investments in the final quarter of its financial year.
3i said diluted net asset value (NAV) per share had increased 3 percent to 333 pence.


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For years, the tagline for M&Ms candies has been, “Melts in your mouth, not in your hands” — anyone who’s ever seen a small child’s face and hands all smeary with half-eaten chocolate can understand why such sentiment might appeal. Now, however, thanks to researchers at Cadbury Chocolate in England, those messy days may be a thing of the past.
The Daily Mail reported this week that scientists at the company’s recently opened research-and-development facility in the village of Bournville in Birmingham, England, have created “temperature-tolerant chocolate,” which resists melting.
The key to the modified treat lies in grinding the sugar used to produce chocolate into smaller particles, resulting in less fat coverage of the grains. Cadbury tested different particle sizes and varied the fat content during the development process to find out what combinations produced optimal heat resistance.
“In general, lower fat contents and lower particle sizes gave best temperature tolerance,” the firm’s scientists wrote in a patent application.
The patent-pending recipe refuses to melt at 40°C, whereas regular chocolate begins to liquefy slightly below average human body temperature, 37°C. There’s just one catch: the product will only be available in warmer countries, such as Brazil and India.
“Production of temperature-tolerant chocolate would allow production of chocolate-containing product more suitable for hot climates, particularly in less economically developed countries where the supply chain is ill equipped to handle temperature fluctuations,” the application states.
Some Brits are upset with Cadbury’s decision to refrain from selling the innovated candy in England and see it as another strike against Kraft Foods, which took over the brand in early 2010 in a controversial $19.5 billion deal. Parliament member Robert Halfon told the Daily Mail that the choice is unfair.
“Kraft promised British chocolate for British people when they took over Cadbury,” he said. “This is incredibly disappointing. We invented this brand and now British workers are not being allowed to enjoy the chocolate of their labors. I would urge them to reconsider this and allow British people to have same rights as chocolate eaters in other countries.”
Retired chocolate taster Angus Kennedy told the Daily Mail that he believes Britain would embrace the altered sweet, citing its ability to eliminate unsightly stains from households with kids across the land.
“I think such a product would be very popular here. There’s no reason why it couldn’t be a seasonal product for the warmer months,” he said. “We also eat far more chocolate in this country than in most other places. So we should get the benefits when they come up with new innovations.”


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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – After embarrassing arrests reached all the way to the Lt. Governor’s office, Florida lawmakers quickly passed a complete ban on gambling in Internet cafes. But, the bill may have plenty of unintended consequences, according to a lawsuit trying to stop the bill.
According to the lawsuit, posted by CBSMiami news partner the Miami Herald, a Miami law firm defending Internet café owners Incredible Investments, LLC said the bill so loosely defined the term “slot machine” that it could everything from actual slot machines to computers to even smartphones.
Lawyers compared the games run by the Internet café to other games of chance run by McDonald’s and Coca-Cola with the only difference being the Intenet café used a screen to show the results instead of a scratch-off card of looking under a soda bottle cap.
The legislature defined a “slot machine” as: “any machine or device or system or network of devices that is adapted for use in such a way that, upon activation, which may be achieved by, but is not limited to, the insertion of any piece of money, coin, account number, code, or other object or information, such device or system is directly or indirectly caused to operate or may be operated and if the user, whether by application of skill or by reason of any element of chance or any other outcome unpredictable by the user.”
The lawsuit said that due to the new definition, the owner of a network of computers could be shut down if the user logged in to check on any contest or enter a code to get into a contest with a company.
The lawsuit also alleges that an amendment that allowed national contests “establishes invidious discrimination based solely on the geographical reach of the Plaintiff’s advertising of its game promotions.”
According to the Tamp Bay Times, more than 1,000 Internet cafes have been shut down due to the new law.


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There will soon be a legal way to watch Game of Thrones without an HBO subscription.
If you have a Hulu account, you're in luck. The streaming service is now offering HBO programming as a premium add-on, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That means subscribers can watch HBO shows right on Hulu, for $15 a month (in addition to Hulu's monthly subscription fee of $8-$12). Hulu also scored the same deal with Cinemax (The Knick, Banshee), which costs an additional $10 per month.
Viewers who subscribe for the add-on will have access to all HBO programming, from movies and documentaries to comedy specials and hit series like Big Little Lies, The Leftovers, Insecure, and, of course, Game of Thrones.
To put the price into context, HBO Now, the network's streaming-only service, currently costs $15 a month. An HBO television subscription fee varies among cable providers, but some offers are as low as $10 a month, in addition to the standard cable bill. Thus, Hulu's add-on service isn't so much a bargain, but it a convenience for current members who prefer to watch all their shows on the same streaming site.
With Season 7 of GoT arriving in a little over a week, this deal couldn't have come in a more opportune time. Watch a promo about the deal below, which pretty much sums up how we feel about the news. And check out Hulu's HBO option here.


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Stone Enjoy By 04.20.13 IPA has hopheads buzzing in KC
Most breweries now employ an “Enjoy By” date on a bottle rather than an expiration date. But Stone Brewing Co. has flipped that idea on its head with a new release, the Enjoy By 04.20.13 IPA. The California brewer has created a hop-heavy ale with 11 different hops added at all points of the brew process. And all of those pungent hops aren’t meant to last, which is why the beer that showed up in Kansas City (the first of the limited hophead releases that appeared in KC was Enjoy By 12.21.12) this past week is here only for a short time. Stone sent Fat City a 22 oz. bottle – the adult equivalent of the Easter Bunny – and we obliged them by drinking it.


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SANTA PAULA, CA – May 2016—BendPak / Ranger recently announced a slight update to their iconic logos. The new logos evoke a clearer identity and fresher look for a brand globally associated with value and durability.
“When the BendPak brand was first introduced, our logo included words that we feel are no longer necessary,” said Jeff Kritzer, BendPak’s Sr. Vice President of Marketing. “Nowadays, the names BendPak and Ranger sell themselves and our products are recognized across the globe. As our brands evolve, we want our branding messages to keep pace. BendPak is known to be a forward-thinking company and this is just another example of how we’re not afraid to change.”
BendPak is giving their dealers and press agencies a June 15, 2016 deadline to cease using old logos. The new logos can be downloaded in high-resolution by clicking below:
About BendPak Inc.: BendPak manufactures car lifts, parking lifts, pipe benders and air compressors. Their Ranger brand includes tire changers, wheel balancers, brake lathes, vehicle lift products and a wide variety of garage equipment. BendPak, Ranger Products and BendPak-Ranger related marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of BendPak Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. For more information contact BendPak Inc. at 805-933-9970 or visit their web site www.bendpak.com. General press inquiries: email@example.com


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A new flavour of Freddo Frog chocolates has been spotted in supermarkets and shoppers are already going wild for it.
The iconic Cadbury chocolate treat now comes in a ‘Tropical Pineapple’ flavour − currently on sale at Coles and Big W. It’s described as a ‘milk chocolate with a pineapple flavoured centre’ and made in Tasmania. The new Freddos are available in share packs of 12 pieces and are currently half-price at Coles for $2.50. The Woolworths website currently lists the item as ‘temporarily unavailable’.
News of the latest release has already made the rounds online and it’s safe to say the majority of social media users are big fans.
“Omg I was being so good with chocolate, but not after I find these,” one Facebook user said.
“Had some today and so yummy!” another wrote.
A third person wrote: “Yum, need to get me some of those.”
Need we say more?


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UPS Centennial Hub employees work through ‘Superbowl’ of delivery season
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Whether it’s gifts and orders for clients, family, or friends, the UPS ground hub is always prepared to deliver packages to the front door.
In a single day, more than 150,000 packages will pass through the conveyer belt at the UPS Centennial Hub, according to manager Kyle Marquess.
“Every package matters,” Marquess said. “Behind every package is a person, whether handling it or receiving it. Every package matters and it’s about delivering what matters.”
It’s a never-ending parade of packages to pre-loaders like Ben Schreck.
“It starts, you know, coming off the airplanes onto our line, then we take it from the line and get it on the truck,” Schreck said. “Those trucks have from 160 to 300 stops on their day. The drivers — they’re the real heroes.”
Schreck said it’s fast-paced and the busiest on Wednesdays.
“I feel like I get paid to work out, basically,” Schreck said.
More than 300 employees worked on Monday sorting boxes, packages, and everything else from the conveyer belt before loading them onto delivery trucks.
Zach Hockenbury has been sorting at the facility for three years.
“It’s a good feeling to know we can get these packages out to loving families,” Hockenbury said.
Marquess said his team is in the second quarter of their Superbowl and they need more players.
“Drivers, helpers going out and delivering throughout the day,” Marquess said. “Or personal vehicle drivers delivering out your own car or truck.”
During COVID, e-commerce exploded. Being a part of the chain of needs and wants, according to Schreck, is exhausting and nonstop, but rewarding.
“Growing up, I didn’t think I’d be loading boxes on a truck,” Schreck said. “But it’s a lot more than that. You’re a lot of times getting important packages, critical medical devices.”
Although more than 150,000 boxes will make their way through the hands of Monday’s team, the peak is not expected to slow down anytime soon. About 320 employees are working at the UPS Centennial Hub at about an 80-person increase than what is usually staffed.
Marquess said majority of the seasonal jobs turn into permanent positions that lead to careers.
Copyright 2021 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.


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As computing devices get closer to the body, Westpac New Zealand is exploring how wearables such as smartwatches and Google Glass can be used for payments and other financial services.
Westpac, which in late 2013 launched a banking app for the Sony SmartWatch, is expanding its work to other wearable devices. The smartwatch market alone is set to expand with the recent launch of Google's Android Wear platform and the rumored Apple iWatch, and the bank envisions using these devices to make contactless payments. And Walt Disney Co.'s recent success in convincing half of Walt Disney World theme park guests to use its payment-capable MagicBands indicates a clear consumer interest in wearables.
"We're in a position to do a wide range of work in innovation, including seeing how people use these new computing devices and how they may use them to make payments," said Simon Pomeroy, chief digital officer for Westpac.
Westpac is testing wearable payment systems with consumers to gauge their comfort level with the technology, and the bank also plans to test authentication techniques such as voice recognition technology or photo recognition. The plan is to see what technology provides the best chance for a seamless mix of identity verification and payments.
"We want to know what the consumers' 'pain points' are in regards to payments or other transactions, and how that can be fixed with wearables or other new technology," Pomeroy said.
To court developers, Westpac also operates an "app challenge" as a means to spot innovation early. Developer programs are becoming a popular way among payment companies to reach out to programmersPayPal, MasterCard and Microsoft have each hosted "hackathons" and other events to attract interest developers of payments and financial services apps.
Westpac is also working with Samsung, which has released several iterations of its Gear smartwatch over the past year, to get early access to new technologythe bank's agreement with Samsung covers smartphones, tablets, watches and advanced televisions. All of these devices are in play as possible venues to execute payments, Pomeroy said.
"There's a lot of cutting edge technology there that we can look at," Pomeroy said.
For example, Westpac recently launched a mobile payment app that gives users of Samsung's Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 handsets the option to make contactless payments using the devices' built-in Near Field Communication technology.
Samsung's Galaxy S5 can also support fingerprint scans for a second factor of authentication for payments and other functions, and PayPal already supports this technology on Samsung's phone.
Samsung did not return a request for comment by deadline.
Wearable technology is relatively new to financial servicesWestpac is one of the first banks in the world to have a smartwatch app, though other banks such as Barclays and CaixaBank issue payment-capable wristbands.
Westpac is running a number of other technology projects, including an expansion of its mobile banking functions and a test of a mobile wallet that uses host card emulation for contactless payments. It is also testing Bluetooth-based beacons in its branches.
The bank this week also unveiled an augmented reality app for account management. This app displays 3D imagery over the user's credit or debit card when viewed through a smartphone's camera. The images show balances, transactions and other details.
Other than paying the user's credit card bill, Westpac does not have payment-specific functions on the augmented reality app, though it may add such features after the mobile app relaunches in 2015, Pomeroy said.


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Positive signs for China’s consumer goods sector
The increase in the disposable income of the average Chinese worker is expected to boost the country’s consumer goods market in the second half of 2022, despite negative factors including the war in Ukraine and a resurgence in domestic Covid-19 cases.
The National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) latest figures show that total retail sales of consumer goods, a vital consumption indicator, reached 3.4 trillion yuan ($533.5 billion) in March 2022, down by 3.5% year-on-year.
In the first quarter of the year, sales reached 10.9 trillion yuan, up 3.3% year-on-year, while the online retail sales rose by 6.6% year-on-year to 3 trillion yuan during the January-March period, the NBS said.
“China’s consumer market is expected to continue its recovery. Although the growth of consumption has been dampened by the latest resurgence of Covid-19 cases in some major cities, its recovery momentum will not change,” said NBS spokesman Fu Linghui.
Fu said consumption has served as the bedrock for China’s stable economic growth, and the final consumption expenditure contributed 69.4% to the country’s economic growth in the first quarter, driving GDP growth by 3.3 percentage points.
He added that consumers’ purchasing power and willingness to spend will be boosted as the Covid-19 outbreak increasingly gets brought under control and the government’s efforts to stabilize and grow the jobs market bear fruit.
Promoting a green agenda
Meanwhile, China “will actively promote sales of electric vehicles as well as green and smart home appliances, bolster the in-depth integration of online and offline consumption, foster new forms and models of consumption, and stimulate consumption in townships and rural areas”, Fu said.
Wang Yun, a researcher with the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, told the China Daily website: “Consumption plays a fundamental role in China’s economic development and is the main driving force boosting economic growth.”
However, he warned that recovery of consumption levels is being held back by mounting challenges, most notably the resurgence in the number of Covid-19 cases, Wang said.
More effort is needed to encourage a higher level of car sales and ease restrictions on home purchases in order to promote recovery and boost economic growth, Wang said.
The Chinese government is to roll out measures to boost consumption, as part of efforts to keep the economy stable and improve people’s livelihoods, according to China’s State Council.
It said that consumption in the services sector, including medical, health, elderly people and child care, should be boosted, adding that spending on home appliances, cars and other big-ticket items will be encouraged.


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Apparel exporters demanded 5 per cent cash incentive on their export receipts due to the rising costs amid implementation of a new salary structure in the industry. At present, garment shipments to new markets — which are destinations other than the US, the EU and Canada — and the use of local yarn yield 4 per cent cash incentives. But now, the apparel and textile makers have demanded 5 per cent cash incentives for all export shipments for the next five years.
The ongoing trade war between the US and China and the suspension of trade benefits by the US for Turkey have created good opportunities for Bangladesh’s garment sector, Rubana Huq, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said at a joint press conference on the upcoming national budget. If the opportunities are to be utilised, the exporters need a helping hand from the government, she said.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) were present at the press conference. Huq demanded an extra Tk 5 in exchange rate of US dollar for garment export receipts as it may boost shipments by 6 per cent.
She also called for keeping all kinds of purchases for export purposes out of the purview of VAT, corporate tax cuts for garment companies from 12 per cent to 10 per cent and duty-free import of all kinds of safety equipment. The BGMEA Chief urged the government to carry forward the source tax of 0.25 per cent on export receipts in the next budget. Some exporters’ loans should be rescheduled for a longer time frame as they are facing challenges in running their factories. “Such a move will create more job opportunities as small and medium enterprises will be able to rerun their units.” She also suggested forming an emergency fund of Tk 300 cr to help the small and medium factories.
Mohammad Ali Khokon, President of the BTMA, urged the government to give 16 per cent cash incentives on apparel exports to the US markets as Bangladeshi product face 15.62 per cent duty there. “High duty to the US erodes our competitiveness,” he said, while also calling for a 10 per cent corporate tax rate for textile companies. Mohammed Hatem, Senior Vice President of the EAB, urged the government to simplify the process for getting cash incentives. “Exporters have to face a lot of difficulties in receiving the incentive money,” he said. Mansoor Ahmed, first Vice-President of BKMEA, also spoke.


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NetCreations Inc., a provider of opt-in e-mail services, said that its shareholders have approved the company's acquisition by Italian yellow pages and Internet service provider SEAT Pagine Gialle.
The transaction, accomplished through a merger with Sogerim S.A., an affiliate of SEAT Pagine Gialle, was approved at a special meeting of NetCreations' shareholders. As a result of the merger, NetCreations shares have been converted into the right to receive $7 in cash per share from the acquirer.
NetCreations, New York, became a private company Friday, and its stock will no longer be traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
“Our acquisition of NetCreations is consistent with our international strategy to become a leading provider of business-to-consumer marketing information,” Lorenzo Pellicioli, CEO of SEAT Pagine Gialle, said in a statement.
SEAT Pagine Gialle recently acquired a majority stake in France's Consodata, a provider of business-to-consumer marketing information and e-mail marketing services.
NetCreations said Rosalind Resnick, its CEO, will retain her position.


text: Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman launched Startup India Hub on Monday afternoon. The launch took place at the Le Meridien Hotel in New Delhi in the presence of many incubators, investors and startup founders. Startup India Hub comes under Invest India, the official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of the Government of India, mandated to facilitate investments into India. The initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16th January 2016. Speaking at the event, Nirmala Sitharaman said the government is trying its best to create a better environment for the startups in India. "Although the startup hub has been initiated today, I would want the engagement to be a lot more dynamic, so that we are able to respond and correct our course at every stage. We are trying to expedite the disbursement of funds and tax services, reducing the time lag between the inception of the idea and creating success. I invite all of you to come forward with us and brand India, brand Indian projects and bring uniformity and novelty to our approach. Join us," she said. The Government believes that the Hub will help the startups in India to discover and connect with other startups and enablers of the entrepreneurial ecosystem including investors, mentors, incubators, accelerators and government bodies. A panel discussion was also held before the official launch with the topic - 'Navigating the startup ecosystem'. It was moderated by Rajat Tandon, President of IVCA who was also a part of the leadership team at NASSCOM. The panel included T-Hub founder Srinivas Kolipara, Sheroes founder Sairee Chahal, Abhishek Prasad from Reliance GenNext Hub, Executive Director of TiE Geetika Dayal and Blume Ventures Principal Arpit Agarwal. During the discussion, Abhishek Prasad said when they entered the startup system, they hired a lot of people through references and walk-ins but with time they have matured and are now smarter when it comes to hiring. He added that the criteria for hiring now are passion for work and determination to learn.


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Nov. 16, 2022
WISNER, LA — Due to safety concerns, retail and delivery operations will be temporarily suspended effective Friday, Nov. 18 at the Wisner Post Office, 130 Fort Scott St., Wisner, LA 71378.
Until repairs can be made to the postal facility, Wisner customers can pick up their Post Office Box mail, retrieve packages and obtain retail services at the Sicily Island Post Office, 201 Peniston St., Sicily Island, LA 71368.
Retail hours at the Sicily Island Post Office are 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday.
We apologize for this inconvenience to our customers and hope to have the office fully functional again as soon as possible.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.


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Comic Book Science in the Classroom
A new experiment in Maryland has students and teachers using comic books as learning tools. The program illustrates an ongoing debate: do teachers give students a challenge, or offer less difficult material that is more likely to spark their interest?
The books are meeting with mixed reviews among fifth-graders at at Lisby-Hillsdale Elementary. As 10-year-old Hunter Haag said of the difference between regular books and graphic novels, "it's kind of good about not having pictures, because you get a chance to make it up in your mind."
But some students say neither comic books nor adventure books can compete with their first passion: video games.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Xcom: Enemy Unknown will be released for iOS devices on Thursday, June 20, 2K and Firaxis have announced.
The game's £13.99 price tag is high for an iOS title, but remember that this is the complete Xcom experience from the PC version, optimised for touch screen devices. Head-to-head multiplayer is currently missing, but will be added as a free update at a later date.
The app is universal and is supported by iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th Generation.
Source: Press release


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The shop, now under construction at 205 Brooklea Dr., next to Fringe, will specialize in a wide variety of olive oils — and more.
“It will have between 40 and 50 varieties of olive oils and balsamic vinegars, with a tasting bar, a similar concept to a winery,” said Watts. “People can come in and try them, and we’ll offer different pairings of oils and vinegars. That’s the main part of the business.”
Olives on Brooklea will also sell related products, said Watts, including gourmet salts, spices and some work by local artists.”
Watts said she had visited a similar store about a year and a half ago, then her sister-in-law took her to F. Oliver’s Oils & Vinegars in Canandaigua, another store specializing in a wide variety of olive oils.
There are a few other such stores scattered around the country. In McLean. Va.’s upscale Tyson’s Corner Mall near Washington, D.C., Under the Olive Tree does something similar.
But the big push for Watts moving forward with her store came from listening to author Tom Mueller on NPR’s “Fresh Air” program talking about his book, “Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil.”
“It was absolutely fascinating how much of the olive oil we buy off the shelf is corrupted by other oils, so I got really interested in this whole concept” of selling top-grade olive oils, said Watts.
The store is scheduled to open in September. Express checkout
Tearney’s Tearney’s Martial Arts has consolidated into the school’s newest location, in the Home Depot plaza, next to Staples in Camillus. And just a few months after Tearney, earlier in the summer, said he was going to keep the Tearney’s in Onondaga open, the wheelbarrow backed up.
“I got the proverbial offer I couldn’t refuse,” said Tearney. “Pure Energy offered to buy my building on Onondaga Boulevard, even though we were dead-set on keeping both schools open. When they made the offer, I couldn’t refuse.”
Two-hundred students from that branch moved over to the new school on Milton Avenue, said Tearney.
“I’ve got to tell you, we are totally blessed,” said Tearney. “It’s the best thing we could have done. I’ve set up 12 schools since 1969 and this is by far my crowning achievement. Enrollment has gone up 65 percent. It’s been great.”
While we’re out in the western suburbs, know that Jackie Clary, the new owner of the Curves health club in Fairmount, has big plans. Clary is moving Curves to 5320 W. Genesee St., near Camillus Commons.
“We will re-open the day after Labor Day and I will be offering great membership specials for both new and returning members and also a great sign-up rate for teachers,” said Clary. “We have Circuit Zumba several times per week including Zumba Gold.”
Clary said the club also accepts Silver Sneakers and Silver and Fit insurance.
The McDonald’s restaurant in Nedrow is closed and undergoing a tear down and rebuild.
Paul Ross, the owner of that and other locally franchised Mickey D’s, said he’s reinvesting in Nedrow and the Valley for his longtime customers. The place is 40 years old.
“It was time to put it away and build something new and exciting,” said Ross, who said McDonald’s requires franchisees to rebuild their oldest buildings.
The old McDonald’s will be torn down in the next few days and the new one built over the next few months, with an anticipated opening the second week of November.
“Tell all of those people on the south side who have been my customers for 40 years we’re taking a time out and bringing them something new and exciting,” said Ross, who did the same at his Cicero and other area McDonald’s.
You may have caught this on the Store Front blog Wednesday, but Cabela’s has announced its newest stores to be built over the next two years. New York state still isn’t on track for one, which means another once-hoped-for retailer at a location near Destiny USA — think Inner Harbor — still isn’t to be.
Store Front run Fridays in CNY and Sundays in The Post-Standard Business section, and blog.syracuse.com/storefront is updated regularly. The Store Front e-newsletter is delivered Wednesday mornings to Friends of Store Front. Contact Bob Niedt at firstname.lastname@example.org. You can call Bob at 470-226


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A business fund launched by Havant MP Alan Mak in partnership with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has resulted in almost half a million pounds worth of investment into the local economy. In total, the investment is forecast to secure 24 jobs at the three firms awarded funding.
Launched in December, nearly £120,000 has been spent of the £250,000 Havant Business Support Fund. More businesses are now being encouraged to apply for investment from Mr Mak's fund.
The money has been used to invest into capital equipment such as machinery, with funding resulting in an additional investment of over £360,000 into supported projects.
One of the businesses that has benefitted from the funding is New Lane based manufacturer Straightpoint. A world leading exporter of industrial weighing equipment, Straightpoint has used the money to expand its site and purchase machinery which allows it to manufacture its products from start to finish.
Growing at 20 per cent a year, the firm has taken on three new employees and an apprentice as a direct result of the investment.
Alan Mak MP said: “Delivering a strong local economy is my top priority as local MP, and I am delighted that this investment into Havant firms has resulted in jobs and growth representing real tangible results. After visiting Straightpoint I was impressed by their vision for the future and I believe that their new machinery and new employees will mean their business grows helping our local area.
“There is still money available from the fund and I urge all Havant businesses that could benefit from capital investment to apply.”
Companies interested in the fund can find out more information by visiting solentlep.org.uk/funding-support/
Eligible businesses can apply to the Solent LEP for between £10,000 and £75,000 from the Havant Business Support Fund to contribute towards projects that will unlock additional investment, improve business productivity and support local jobs.
David Ayling, Straightpoint CEO, said: “The money we received from the Havant Business Support Fund was absolutely vital in helping us grow locally and create jobs. The new machinery has much improved our workflow and ability to calibrate our products to a great accuracy. This is vital as our product is used with cranes and lives depend on its accuracy.”