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KES China Facility Operational, Driving Localization and Embracing Chinese Market

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CHANGSHU, China, June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — On May 19, Koch Engineered Solutions (KES) held an opening ceremony for its first manufacturing facility in China, located in Changshu, Jiangsu Province. The Changshu manufacturing plant utilizes the latest generation of automation and manufacturing capabilities and is uniquely designed to produce our full product line. This facility will also bring design, engineering, and service capabilities to our local customers as part of this initiative.  The opening marks a significant milestone in KES’ localization process and demonstrates the firm’s strong confidence in the development of China’s green industry, technological innovation and the market’s future potential.

Dave Dotson, President of KES, Dan Haycook, President of KES Equipment Technology & Services (ET&S), David Chang, Vice President of KES ET&S Asia Pacific, and Chen Guodong, Member of Changshu Standing Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Changshu Economic & Technological Development Zone (CEDZ) party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the CEDZ Management Committee, were among the distinguished guests who attended the commissioning ceremony. The presence of KES’ valued customers and partners added significance to this important moment.

KES to increase its investment in the key international market

KES is the world’s leading manufacturer of mass transfer and combustion equipment and is part of Koch Industries, Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the world. With its entry into the Chinese market in the 1980s, KES has been dedicated to technology licensing, combustion and emission control, mass and heat transfer, separation and digital solutions. By offering comprehensive one-stop solutions, KES seamlessly integrates engineering, manufacturing, installation, testing and maintenance to cater to the diverse needs of its users.

The 60,000-square-meter facility is KES’ first wholly owned facility in China and is located in the Changshu Economic & Technological Development Zone. The strategic plant is poised to provide robust support to KES’ operations in the country, bolstering its position in the region. “Over the past few decades, KES solutions have been integral in helping create world-class chemical capabilities. We are excited to further expand our footprint and better serve our customers by adding a new plant,” said Dave Dotson, President of KES.

With over 40 years of experience in the Chinese market, KES possesses a profound understanding of the sector’s opportunities and challenges. With the green industry and technological innovation leading the way, China’s post-pandemic economy is poised for immense market growth. KES remains steadfast in its confidence in the Chinese market and will continue to explore growth opportunities. Speaking at the ceremony, Dave Dotson said, “This investment reflects KES’ strong confidence in the future potential of the Chinese market, which has long been identified as a crucial market for our business. The Chinese manufacturing facility is integral to supporting our global operations and creates virtuous cycles of mutual benefit with our partners within the industrial value chain.”

Combining local resources and teams with world-leading technology

The KES China manufacturing facility showcases a fully automated production line that integrates the latest generation of KES automation and manufacturing technology to ensure the delivery of globally consistent, high-quality products and technologies. It is one of the most sophisticated manufacturing facilities of its kind, capable of manufacturing and supplying a range of KES products, including burners, flares, and thermal oxidizers under the John Zink Hamworthy Combustion brand and trays and internals under the Koch-Glitsch name.

The dedicated teams at the KES China manufacturing facility collaborate seamlessly across borders to drive constant advancements in manufacturing, not only by adopting new equipment and technologies but also by establishing advanced flow testing centers to satisfy the market’s increasing demand for equipment performance. Dan Haycook, President of KES ET&S, said, “KES is committed to providing the manufacturing industry with cutting-edge technology while enhancing its design, engineering, project management and service capabilities. By leveraging global expertise alongside local resources, KES strives to deliver superior mass and heat transfer solutions, as well as combustion solutions that truly surpass customer expectations.”

Currently, KES works with Chinese multinational, state-owned and private companies operating in diverse sectors including the chemical, petrochemical, refining, oil and gas, iron and steel, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. With the establishment of the KES China manufacturing plant, the company has significantly enhanced its ability to deliver products swiftly and flexibly. Moreover, the strategic investment deepens KES’ localization initiatives and strengthens its ties with the Chinese market. By leveraging the advanced facility, KES is able to provide more efficient and attentive production, testing, engineering, and aftermarket service, meeting the evolving needs and expectations of its valued customers.

Driving sustainable development through innovative and environmentally conscious solutions

Amidst the emergence of Digital China and the pursuit of Dual Carbon targets, China’s green industries and technological innovation have gained significant momentum. As a company dedicated to environmental responsibility, KES is well aware of the demand and potential for renewable energy in the Chinese market. With expertise in carbon capture and reduction, energy efficiency and emission reduction, renewable energy, and water treatment, the company is poised to support China’s energy industry in achieving China’s sustainable development goals while driving its own growth.

David Chang, Vice President of KES ET&S Asia Pacific, expressed his enthusiasm for aligning KES’ solutions with the evolving trends in the Chinese market, especially in the areas of energy efficient industries and technological innovation. He emphasized the company’s commitment to forging enduring and mutually beneficial partnerships with Chinese businesses. By working together, KES aims to drive industrial development, unleash new opportunities, and create substantial business value for all stakeholders involved.

As China strides towards innovation-driven, high-quality development, KES actively champions the principle of environmental responsibility. The company is at the forefront of promoting sustainable development by offering energy-saving and emission-reducing solutions to its customers. By consistently developing environmentally responsible and reliable products, KES strives to earn greater trust and recognition from consumers. With unwavering dedication, the company envisions a brighter future, where energy efficient practices and innovative solutions play a pivotal role in fostering a prosperous and environmentally conscious society.

About Koch Engineered Solutions

Koch Engineered Solutions (KES) delivers superior value in developing, integrating and applying innovative technical and service solutions for industrial value chains. KES offers uniquely engineered solutions in construction; mass and heat transfer; combustion and emissions controls; filtration; separation; materials applications; automation and actuation. Based in Wichita, Kansas, KES is a subsidiary of Koch Industries, one of the largest private companies in the world. More information is available at KochEngineeredSolutions.com.

 

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SOURCE Koch Engineered Solutions

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SoftBank Corp. and TOPPAN Holdings Develop Lightweight, Durable Skin for Solar HAPS Aircraft Wings

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Skin’s compatibility with stratospheric conditions such as extreme UV rays and ultra-low temperatures makes longer HAPS operations possible

TOKYO, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SoftBank Corp. (TYO: 9434) (President & CEO: Junichi Miyakawa, “SoftBank”) and TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) (President & COO: Satoshi Oya, “TOPPAN Holdings”) jointly developed a lightweight, durable skin for use on solar High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) aircraft wings and devised a testing method that replicates the stratosphere’s environment. Test production will go forward, and the aircraft wing skin is planned for use with HTA-type[1] HAPS, which SoftBank plans to deploy for commercial services from 2029 onwards.     

This jointly developed HAPS aircraft wing skin and test method that reproduces stratospheric conditions were made possible by combining SoftBank’s HAPS expertise and TOPPAN Holdings’ know-how accrued over years of creating advanced multi-layered film technology designed for packaging and construction materials. TOPPAN Holdings also leveraged its proprietary technology that evaluates weather resistance. This joint development mitigates film damage (degradation) caused by strong ultraviolet (UV) rays and ultra-low temperatures of almost -100°C. As a result, the aircraft can stay in the stratosphere for longer periods. 

Development Background
HAPS, also referred to as “base stations in the sky,” provide communication services from uncrewed aircraft that remain airborne in the stratosphere. Being able to keep an aircraft with a communications payload airborne for extended periods of time would make it possible to provide an alternative means of communications in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters, as well as provide communication services to under-connected areas, such as mountainous regions and remote islands. As these platforms operate from the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 20 km above, they offer wider-area coverage than base stations on the ground, while also providing high-quality, high-volume, low-latency communications superior to satellite-based communications. However, at this altitude in the stratosphere, UV ray and ozone exposure is far greater than at ground level, and with exposure to extremely cold temperatures that sometimes drop to almost -100℃, impaired efficacy due to these environmental factors had been a serious issue with conventional all-purpose skins. Responding to this challenge, SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings jointly developed a new ultra-lightweight, high-durability skin for aircraft wings capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of the stratosphere, along with a specialized methodology for its evaluation.     

Wing Skin & Evaluation Method Characteristics
1. Use of impact-resistant advanced resin and proprietary structure to achieve both lightweighting and safety
Leveraging converting technology[2] developed for packaging by TOPPAN Holdings, an optimized skin structure was achieved by precisely layering original materials and impact-resistant advanced resin suitable for use at extremely low temperature conditions. The resulting skin weighs the same as or less than average conventional all-purpose skin, and even if damage to the skin were to occur, the break-resistant design keeps damage from spreading, allowing for both a safe and lighter HAPS airframe.    

2. Advanced durability to address harsh stratospheric conditions
SoftBank has contributed real-world data from its stratospheric HAPS flights, including actual temperature measurements and deep ultraviolet (UV-C) ray exposure conditions, and has also defined requirements such as weight reduction and other performance criteria. This has enabled TOPPAN Holdings to design a skin that addresses exposure to the harsh environmental conditions of the stratosphere by applying technology developed for construction materials. These conditions particular to the stratosphere include everything from extremely low temperatures (approximately -50℃ to -95℃) to extreme heat (approximately 100℃) from direct sunlight. The skin is also resistant to short wave UV-C and high-concentration ozone (10-20 ppm, parts per million) exposure that are far stronger than at ground level. This durability will allow for extended HAPS operation periods.      

3. Establishing a testing method that simulates stratospheric conditions to ensure reliability
TOPPAN Holdings leveraged its knowledge of packaging film testing and accelerated durability testing of construction materials, to construct a new test environment that assesses the skin under a simulation of the ultralow temperatures of the stratosphere, while also facilitating the testing of simultaneous exposure from short wave UV rays and the ozone. By using this test environment, it is possible to understand the detailed mechanisms of deterioration particular to the stratosphere and to use that knowledge for improved product design. This understanding and design adjustment makes it possible to carry out a more precise and more reliable evaluation compared to former testing methods.     

Roles of Both Companies
SoftBank
Provide expertise required to evaluate the suitability of the skin as well as expertise on HAPS operations
Supervision of advancing use with HAPS aircraft and transferring advances to practical application

TOPPAN Holdings
Develop and provide skin material suitable for HAPS aircraft
Proposal for evaluation method in stratospheric environment

Future Developments
SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings will proceed with research to make the skin material developed within the scope of this project even lighter and stronger by fiscal 2027 (the year ending March 31, 2028). Additionally, while evaluating durability in the stratosphere, both companies will also attempt to establish mass production technology capable of ensuring sufficient supply and reliable quality by fiscal 2028. Also, based on testing outcomes, additional functions will be added, and the skin is expected to be used by SoftBank on HTA-type HAPS aircraft that provide commercial services, planned for launch from 2029 onwards. Both companies also plan to apply this skin to other fields that require a high level of durability.

[1] HTA (Heavier-Than-Air) refers to HAPS that remain airborne by generating aerodynamic lift, similar to conventional aircraft.

[2] Converting technology is the process of transforming materials like film into high-function final products through specialized processing such as printing and lamination. 

For more information:
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/news/04/newsrelease260427_1.html 

About SoftBank Corp.
Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) operates telecommunications and IT businesses in Japan and globally. Building on its strong business foundation, SoftBank Corp. is expanding into non-telecom fields in line with its “Beyond Carrier” growth strategy while further growing its telecom business by harnessing the power of 5G/6G, IoT, Digital Twin and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solutions, including High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)-based stratospheric telecommunications. While constructing AI data centers and developing homegrown LLMs specialized for the Japanese language, SoftBank is integrating AI with radio access networks (AI-RAN), with the aim of becoming a provider of next-generation social infrastructure.
https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/

About the TOPPAN Group
Established in Tokyo in 1900, the TOPPAN Group is a leading and diversified global provider committed to delivering sustainable, integrated solutions in fields including printing, communications, security, packaging, décor materials, electronics, and digital transformation. The TOPPAN Group’s global team of more than 50,000 employees offers optimal solutions enabled by industry-leading expertise and technologies to address the diverse challenges of every business sector and society and contribute to the achievement of shared sustainability goals.
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppan/

 

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SOURCE TOPPAN Holdings

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TravelingWiki Foundation Launches SportsFanWiki.com, Providing Disabled Fans with Sports Venue Specific Information in Wiki Format

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The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports and leverages the launch of a GenAI platform to ensure access across society to expanded disability resources information.

LAS VEGAS, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — TravelingWiki Foundation announces the launch of SportsFanWiki.com, providing a comprehensive database of sports venue information for fans with Non Visible Disabilities. The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports.

Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle.

The launch of SportsFanWiki occurs at the same time as the launch of ShoheiAutographs.com; MantleRookies.com; KobeRookies.com; and LebronRookies.com, offering market leading sports card inventory of Shohei Ohtani, Mickey Mantle, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, respectively. The launch highlights TravelingWiki’s services offered including new Generative AI functionality via a GenAI platform currently in beta testing. The launch also spotlights TravelingWiki’s CardForACause.com platform for free disability resources offered to 20 million Americans for no cost as funded with sports cards sales nationwide via the most two recent White House administrations.

TravelingWiki CEO Jonathan Sutter notes, “Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle, to highlight the critical resources offered via TravelingWiki for the Non Visible Disability community.”

More information about the non-profit work of TravelingWiki foundation is available via visiting http://www.Travelingwiki.com.

Media Contact

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

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SOURCE TravelingWiki Foundation

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AiPPT.com Expands Its Approach to Turning Information into Ready-to-Use Presentations in India

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NEW DELHI, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiPPT.com has refined its platform as demand continues to grow in India for faster ways to turn everyday information into structured presentations.

Across universities, coaching centers, startups, and corporate teams, presentation work often begins with scattered material from notes, documents, and online sources. The platform focuses on converting this workflow into a single process that produces usable slides from raw input. The aim is to reduce preparation time while keeping presentations clear and ready for use.

A Workflow Built Around Content

AiPPT.com allows users to start in familiar ways. A topic can be entered directly, or files such as Word and PDF documents can be uploaded. Web content can also be converted into slides via the URL-to-PPT feature, which turns online information into structured presentations.

The system analyzes the input and builds a presentation with clear sections and logical flow. Slides are generated with formatting applied automatically, reducing manual effort.

For users looking for inspiration, AiPPT.com also provides resources such as easy presentation topics to help them get started more quickly.

From Scattered Information to Clear Communication

In academic and workplace settings, information is often spread across multiple formats. Turning this into a structured presentation can take time.

AiPPT.com simplifies this process. A report can become a meeting deck. A research paper can be turned into a seminar presentation. Startups can quickly build investor materials using the AI pitch deck generator. Educators can create structured lessons with support from tools designed for teaching, such as AI for teachers.

A Flexible System for Editing and Conversion

AiPPT.com supports full editing after generation. Users can adjust text, change slide order, or refine structure. Presentations can also be edited directly through its online PPT editor.

Users can also choose from a range of presentation templates to match different use cases. This flexibility helps users adapt presentations for classrooms, meetings, and digital sharing without rebuilding them.

About AiPPT.com

AiPPT.com is an AI-powered PPT generator focused on turning information into structured presentations. The company builds tools that connect content creation, organization, and presentation in one workflow. Its goal is to support clearer communication by helping users transform ideas and materials into ready to use slides efficiently.

Contact Information
Company Name: PIXELBLOOM PTE. LTD.
Email: support@aippt.com

Website: https://www.aippt.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/aipptcom-expands-its-approach-to-turning-information-into-ready-to-use-presentations-in-india-302753879.html

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