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Mushroom Handbags and Plastic-Free Picnics – IDTechEx Explores White Biotechnology and Sustainability

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BOSTON, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Handbags made of mushroom leather and biodegradable foodware are two examples of how white biotechnology can produce functional products that look good. With the right input feedstock, such as biomass or gases, and the right fermentation processes, the outputs of white biotechnology processes can be utilized in textiles, chemicals, and fuels.  Using CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the fermentation process can also contribute to the growing circular bioeconomy.

 

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Future production of sustainable materials. Source IDTechEx

Green fashion forward

Large mats made from the mycelium roots of mushrooms are a versatile material used for leather-alternative clothes and accessories. This is thanks to mycelium having a similar durability to that of traditional leather once treated with a tanning agent. As mycelium leather is a tough material and treated with preservatives for long-term usage, consumers won’t have to worry about their handbags degrading. Microbial leather, derived from the fermentation of bacteria or yeast, may also possess similar sustainable yet functional qualities. These microorganisms produce collagen or cellulose, among other molecules, which form the structure of the leather alternative material. The resulting fermentation-based materials are processed so that they become convincingly leather-like in appearance, so donning a pair of smart trainers doesn’t have to scream mushroom. 

CO2 utilization

Certain classes of microbes, such as acetogens and knallgas, can use CO2 as a fermentation input alongside hydrogen. Such CO2 utilization offers an opportunity to valorize captured CO2  while creating valuable products such as fuels and drop-in chemicals, providing an economic incentive to decarbonize. Microbes can often handle impurities, allowing minimal flue gas processing when compared to most other CO2 utilization pathways (such as thermochemical or electrochemical production of CO2-derived e-fuels). Emerging trends in this area involve using steel mill smelter gas because it is rich in CO, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. By using a readily available waste material (CO2), an environmental detriment can be transformed into a positive using biotechnology.

Fossil plastic-free packaging and picnics

Sustainable packaging is a market benefitting from white biotechnology, as with the right combination of inputs, biocatalysts, and process parameters, biobased materials can be designed and produced to replace fossil-based plastics. The impact of biodegradable bioplastics made through white biotechnology could reduce plastic waste in oceans and in landfills, thus contributing to the success of the circular economy. 

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a common bioplastic used in the production of compostable plates and foodware. The versatility of this material allows it to be produced in different shapes and sizes; for consumers looking to use products that are biodegradable, PLA foodware is a strong option so that their birthday parties and beach picnics don’t have to generate harmful waste. 

White biotechnology is a technology enabler for sustainable materials, such as animal leather and fossil plastic alternatives that can attract consumers with the benefits of switching to biobased materials without necessarily giving up quality. White biotechnology can also offer purpose to the gases accumulated by carbon capture, as scientists can put them to good use in making useable and eco-friendly chemicals and materials. While there is still significant work to be done to widen the application of biobased materials in industries like packaging and fashion, the growth of biobased materials will enable people to make more sustainable choices while shopping, thus helping the planet and strengthening the bioeconomy.  

For more information, please see IDTechEx’s latest reports, “White Biotechnology 2024-2034″, “Carbon Dioxide Utilization 2024-2044: Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players“, “Emerging Alternative Leathers 2024-2034: Technologies, Trends, Players”, and “Sustainable Packaging Market 2023-2033“.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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Lucy Rogers
Sales and Marketing Administrator
press@IDTechEx.com
+44(0)1223 812300

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DEFSEC Ships New BLISS (“Battlespace Laser Identification Sensor System”) To U.S. Army Yuma Test Center

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OTTAWA, ON, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – DEFSEC Technologies Inc. (TSXV: DFSC) (TSXV: DFSC.WT.U) (NASDAQ: DFSC) (NASDAQ: DFSCW) (“DEFSEC” or the “Company”) today confirmed that it has now shipped two new networked BLISSTM systems to the United States Army Yuma Test Center (US Army YTC) for test and evaluation.

The BLISSTM shipment today to the US Army YTC follows delivery of an earlier version, called BLDS (Battlefield Laser Detection System) to the U.S. Army last year for testing and trial activity.  BLISSTM is an enhanced, networked version of BLDS as the next step in the evolution of the Company’s technology roadmap for battlespace laser detection and intelligence.

The patent-pending BLISSTM system alerts operators to laser activity across the battlespace, providing critical early warning and valuable seconds to assess, evade, defend, and deploy countermeasures. Miniaturized BLISSTM sensors can be mounted on vehicles and fixed infrastructure, or worn on personnel, to affordably blanket a battlespace with sensors for enhanced survivability and situational awareness and battlespace intelligence in contested environments.  It transforms laser warning into shared, actionable battlespace information.

Beyond real-time detection, BLISSTM incorporates enhanced laser pulse signature capture and analysis to help identify the source, intent, and affiliation of detected emissions.  By enabling users to distinguish among known signatures, the system supports faster, more informed tactical decisions.

“The BLISSTM system shipped today to Yuma for US Army testing represents a major step forward in tactical-edge force protection and actionable battlespace intelligence for commanders,” said Sean Homuth, President and CEO. “This capability will provide operators with critical time, better information, and a meaningful operational advantage against laser-enabled threats, including those seen in current Middle East conflicts.”

DEFSEC expects to brief domestic and foreign delegations on its BLISS product at Canada’s upcoming annual defence and security show, “CANSEC”, May 27 and 28, 2026, in Ottawa.

About DEFSEC

DEFSEC (TSXV: DFSC) (TSXV: DFSC.WT.U) (NASDAQ: DFSC) (NASDAQ: DFSCSW) (FSE: 62UA) develops and commercializes breakthrough next-generation tactical systems for military and security forces. The company’s current portfolio of offerings includes digitization of tactical forces for real-time shared situational awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users’ smart devices and weapons. Other DEFSEC products include countermeasures against threats such as electronic detection, lasers and drones. These systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems, and all come integrated with TAK. The company also has a new proprietary less-lethal product line branded PARA SHOTTM with applications across all segments of the non-lethal market, including law enforcement. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.

For more information, please visit https://www.defsectec.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which may be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “may”, “would”, “should”, “could”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “foresee”, “have sight of”, “believe”, or “continue”, the description of “optimism”, ” momentum” or “interest”,  the negative of these terms and similar terminology, including references to assumptions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of assisting the reader in understanding us, our business, operations, prospects and risks at a point in time in the context of historical and possible future developments and therefore the reader is cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of DEFSEC’s management and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties that are documented in detail in the Company’s public filings. Forward-looking statements included in this include, but are not limited to: management’s belief of sufficiency of available financial resources to support forecasted activities in 2026 based on cash on hand, anticipated revenue streams and planned expenditures in the fiscal year, subject to execution of the Company’s operating plan and other risks and factors described  in its public filings; interest in DEFSEC LightningTM, BLISSTM or other products and services as well as timing of full implementation or commercial release thereof; the Company’s estimates of increases to annualized gross margin on a go-forward basis and extent thereof, if any; the stage of scaled production for the PARA SHOTTM technology into new training cartridges and timing of release thereof; and management’s belief that its extensive customer base of law enforcement agencies for ARWEN throughout North America is a ready market for its new products like PARA SHOTTM as well as DEFSEC LightningTM.

Although DEFSEC’s management believes that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking statements discussed in this news release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting DEFSEC, including DEFSEC’s inability to execute on its current operating plan and/or fiscal 2026 forecasted activities, DEFSEC’s inability to secure contracts and subcontracts (on the timelines, size and scale expected or at all), statements of work and orders for its products in fiscal 2026 and onwards for reasons beyond its control, the renewal or extension of agreements beyond their original term, the granting of patents applied for by DEFSEC, inability to finance the scale up to full commercial production levels for its physical products, inability to secure key partnership agreements to facilitate the outsourcing and logistics for its ARWEN® and PARA SHOTTM products, inability to commercialize DEFSEC’s Battlespace Laser Identification Sensor System (BLISS), inability to secure or complete the execution of government contracts, inability to drive growth in DEFSEC’s ARWEN® product line, inability to advance the commercialization of DEFSEC’s PARA SHOTTM products, delay or inability to launch DEFSEC’s Lightning SaaS offering, lower than expected or delayed demand for DEFSEC’s BLISS, overall interest in DEFSEC’s products being lower than anticipated or expected; general economic and stock market conditions; a stagnation or decrease in North American defense and public safety spending, adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in Canada, the United States and elsewhere; the inability of DEFSEC to implement and execute its business strategies; risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in DEFSEC’s filings with the Canadian Security Administrators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and many other factors beyond the control of DEFSEC. Although DEFSEC has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and DEFSEC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its respective Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

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SOURCE DEFSEC Technologies Inc

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SPX Cooling Tech Unveils the Marley® OlympusMAX™ Fluid Cooler

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Maximum Capacity. Trusted Performance.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SPX Cooling Tech, LLC announced the launch of the Marley® OlympusMAX™ Fluid Cooler, engineered to deliver unmatched performance, efficiency and design flexibility for mission-critical facilities. Designed to meet the evolving demands of data centers, industrial plants and high-density cooling applications, the OlympusMAX Fluid Cooler sets a new benchmark in dry and adiabatic cooling technology.

Built on a century of heat rejection expertise, the OlympusMAX Fluid Cooler brings a new level of performance in dry and adiabatic cooling.  It is available in both adiabatic and dry configurations. The bolt-on adiabatic module can be factory or field installed—or even installed after the equipment is operational in order to provide maximum flexibility in response to changing conditions and site demands.

As global data center density continues to expand, operators are increasingly seeking cooling solutions that balance performance, energy use, water use and operational flexibility. “OlympusMAX reflects our commitment to advancing cooling technology to support the evolving demands of mission-critical facilities,” said Dustan Atkinson, Director of Product Management for SPX Cooling Tech. “By offering scalable dry and adiabatic performance, engineered flexibility and streamlined installation, we’re helping facilities meet increasingly challenging demands while maintaining efficiency and long-term reliability.”

At the heart of the OlympusMAX adiabatic module is a patent-pending recirculating adiabatic design that significantly reduces blowdown, minimizing unnecessary water discharge while improving system efficiency. Unlike traditional once-through or spray systems, the unit’s recirculation technology delivers more uniform water flow across the pad – improving saturation efficiency, extending pad life and reducing mineral accumulation on critical components. The result is more predictable energy and water consumption – a critical advantage for performance-sensitive environments such as hyperscale data centers.

Engineered for uptime, the OlympusMAX features high-efficiency Marley Geareducer® gear drives, robust construction materials and integrated component redundancy, including mission-critical fan and VFD systems. With unit options ranging from 120 to 240 horsepower, the design maximizes cooling capacity per square foot, delivering industry-leading heat rejection density.

Installation and serviceability were key priorities in the system’s development. Each unit ships with a factory-assembled electrical access platform, single-point wiring connection, VFDs and PLC controls pre-installed, and full-size access doors with internal walkways. These features streamline installation while enabling safer operation and easier maintenance.

The launch underscores SPX Cooling Tech’s mission to provide flexible, high-efficiency heat rejection solutions across its full portfolio including dry coolers, adiabatic coolers, evaporative coolers, and cooling towers, ensuring customers have a single-supplier solution tailored to their operational strategy.

About SPX Cooling Tech, LLC
SPX Cooling Tech is a leading global manufacturer of cooling towers, fluid coolers, adiabatic and dry cooling systems, evaporative condensers, industrial evaporators and OEM aftermarket parts from brands that include Marley®, Recold® and SGS Refrigeration. Since 1922, our brands’ cooling systems, components and technical services have supported applications in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, and industrial process cooling. SPX Cooling Tech and its product brands are part of SPX Technologies, Inc. For more information see www.spxcooling.com.

About SPX Corporation
SPX Technologies is a supplier of highly engineered products and technologies, holding leadership positions in the HVAC and detection and measurement markets. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPX Technologies has approximately 4,700 employees in 16 countries and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SPXC.” For more information, please visit www.spx.com.

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SOURCE SPX Cooling Technologies

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AMTD’s TGE Reports Full Year Results with 27.7% Increase in Revenue, with 25.5% Increase in Total Assets and 9.1% Increase in Net Assets

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PARIS and LONDON and NEW YORK, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Generation Essentials Group (“TGE” or the “Company”) (NYSE: TGE, LSE; TGE), a NYSE and LSE dual-listed company and a subsidiary of AMTD Group Inc., today announced the filing of its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with summary highlights below:

Total Revenue increased by 27.7% from US$77.0 million to US$98.3 millionTotal non-GAAP Net Income increased by 3.2% from US$44.7 million to US$46.2 million Total Assets amounted to US$1,464.1 million (US$30.2/share)Net asset value amounted to US$839.1 million (US$17.3/share)

The annual report is available on the Company’s investor relations website at  http://thegenerationalessentials.com. The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations Office at ir@tge.media.

About The Generation Essentials Group

The Generation Essentials Group (NYSE: TGE; LSE: TGE), jointly established by AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) and AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD), is headquartered in France and focuses on global strategies and developments in multi-media, entertainment, and cultural affairs worldwide as well as hospitality and VIP services. TGE comprises L’Officiel, The Art Newspaper, movie and entertainment projects. Collectively, TGE is a diversified portfolio of media and entertainment businesses, and a global portfolio of premium properties. Also, TGE is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsor manager, with its first SPAC successfully raised and priced on December 18, 2025.

For The Generation Essentials Group:
IR Office
The Generation Essentials Group
EMAIL: ir@tge.media

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SOURCE The Generation Essentials Group

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