Connect with us

Technology

Ginkgo Bioworks Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

Published

on

$251 million of Total revenue in 2023

$139 million in Cell Engineering services revenue, representing 31% growth over 2022

78 new Cell Programs added in 2023, representing 32% growth over 2022 and continued penetration in biopharma

Year-end cash balance of nearly $950 million provides meaningful multi-year runway as we drive towards profitability and begin recognizing benefits from improved platform efficiency

BOSTON, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNA, “Ginkgo”), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023. The update, including a webcast slide presentation and supplemental financial information, will be available at investors.ginkgobioworks.com.

“2023 was a breakout year for Ginkgo,” said Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo. “We’re working to build a durable platform that fundamentally transforms R&D in biotech. I’m particularly pleased with our growth in biopharma, which represents our largest untapped market – we added several new programs across modalities with large enterprises including Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer and are seeing strong momentum in pharma going into 2024. I am also thrilled to see a real ecosystem building around Ginkgo – we’re honored by the trust placed in us by the terrific founders of Patch Biosciences, Reverie Labs, and Proof Diagnostics to bring their technologies to customers and by the over 25 inaugural partners in our newly announced Technology Network. We are committed to bringing the best technologies together to support our customers, and we’ve never been better positioned to deliver.”

Recent Business Highlights & Strategic Positioning

Added 78 new Cell Engineering Programs in 2023, representing 32% growth over the prior year periodGinkgo’s Cell Engineering segment generated services revenue, which does not include downstream value share revenue, of $139 million in 2023, a 31% increase versus 2022Ginkgo’s Biosecurity segment generated $108 million of revenue in 2023 as the Biosecurity business shifted to a more recurring model focused on global reach and multiple pathogens to build a long-term biosecurity global infrastructureGinkgo continues to expand its global bioradar network—now in 14 countries and 10 airports—and advance capabilities for multi-target and multimodal biological threat detection, characterization, and forecasting for next-generation biological intelligenceGinkgo is partnering with the Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) and Doha Venture Capital (DVC) to build a Center for Unified Biosecurity Excellence in Doha (CUBE-D), envisioned as the first of several hubs for biosecurity sample and data analysis in our global networkGinkgo is partnering with Illumina, a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, to advance localized biosecurity capabilities in countries around the worldDownstream value share – which consists of potential value to Ginkgo from its Cell Engineering customers and includes potential royalties, milestone payments, and equity interests – is an important component of the financial potential of most programs. As of December 31, 2023 Ginkgo has approximately $2.4 billion in aggregate revenue potential from downstream milestone payments alone in addition to royalties.Ginkgo recently announced the launch of its Technology Network of over 25 companies, creating a more integrated approach to biotech R&D. Ginkgo has a long history of integrating diverse technologies to deliver on customers’ complex program goals and believes that customers should not have to choose a technical approach prematurely but should be able to test many approaches in an unbiased way. Ginkgo customers will be able to benefit from the integration of technologies from network partners in their programs, and Ginkgo expects to expand the network based on customer needs and feedback.Ginkgo also announced several acquisitions including Patch Biosciences, Proof Diagnostics and Reverie Labs. These acquisitions are expected to expand Ginkgo’s capabilities in AI and biopharma.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Fourth quarter 2023 Total revenue of $35 million, down from $98 million in the comparable prior year period, a decrease of 65% primarily driven by the expected ramp down of K-12 testing in Ginkgo’s Biosecurity segment and the impact of Cell Engineering downstream value share from equity milestones in 2022 that did not recur in 2023Fourth quarter 2023 Cell Engineering services revenue, which does not include downstream value share revenue, of $27 million, down 26% from $36 million in the comparable prior year period. There was no material downstream value share revenue received in the fourth quarter of 2023.Fourth quarter 2023 Biosecurity revenue of $8 million with gross profit margin of 15% is reflective of the early stages of transitioning to a more recurring business modelFourth quarter 2023 Loss from operations of $(178) million (inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of $44 million), compared to Loss from operations of $(231) million in the comparable prior year period (inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of $111 million). Just under half of the stock-based compensation expense relates to the continued GAAP accounting for the modification of restricted stock units issued prior to Ginkgo becoming a public company, as disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2023, and which we expect to continue to ramp down significantly in the coming quarters.Fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA of $(96) million, down from $(76) million in the comparable prior year period driven by the decline in Total revenue partially offset by a decline in operating expensesCash and cash equivalents balance as of the end of the fourth quarter of $944 million puts Ginkgo in a strong financial position to pursue its strategic objectives

Full Year 2023 Financial Highlights

Full year 2023 Total revenue of $251 million, down from $478 million in the prior year, a decrease of 47% as Biosecurity revenue transitioned from K-12 testing to a more recurring business modelFull year 2023 Cell Engineering revenue of $144 million remained stable over the prior year, representing 31% growth in services revenue offset by a decrease in downstream value share from equity milestonesFull year 2023 Biosecurity revenue of $108 million, down from $334 million in the prior year, a decrease of 68%, with full year 2023 Biosecurity gross profit margin of 50%Full year 2023 Loss from operations of $(864) million (inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of $235 million), compared to $(2.2) billion (inclusive of stock-based compensation expense of $1.9 billion) in the prior yearFull year 2023 Adjusted EBITDA of $(355) million, down from $(173) million in the prior year

Full Year 2024 Guidance

Ginkgo expects to add 100-120 new Cell Programs to the Cell Engineering platform in 2024Ginkgo expects Total revenue of $215$235 million in 2024Ginkgo expects Cell Engineering services revenue of $165-185 million in 2024 driven by expected growth in biopharma and government programs. This guidance excludes the impact of any potential downstream value share revenue.Ginkgo expects Biosecurity revenue in 2024 of at least $50 million, representing approximate current contracted backlog, with potential upside from additional opportunities in the pipeline

Conference Call Details
Ginkgo will host a videoconference today, Thursday, February 29, 2024, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET. The presentation will include an overview of the fourth quarter and full year financial performance, recent business updates, a discussion on Ginkgo’s outlook, as well as a moderated question and answer session.

To ask a question ahead of the presentation, please submit your questions to @Ginkgo on X (hashtag #GinkgoResults) or by sending an e-mail to investors@ginkgobioworks.com.

A webcast link is available on Ginkgo’s Investor Relations website and a replay will be made available following the presentation.

Ginkgo Investor Website: https://investors.ginkgobioworks.com/events/

Audio-Only Dial Ins:
+1 646 876 9923 (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 (Houston)
+1 408 638 0968 (San Jose)

Webinar ID: 928 9136 7332

If you experience technical difficulties with any of these dial-ins or if you need international dial-in numbers, please visit our web site at https://investors.ginkgobioworks.com/events/ for updated dial-in information.

About Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo’s biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks) or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks
This press release, the presentation, and the conference call and webcast contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our plans, strategies, including with respect to our balance sheet and cash runway, acquisitions, current expectations, operations and anticipated results of operations, both business and financial, including opportunities for increased operational efficiency, our manufacturing capabilities, potential customer success, including successful application of our offerings by our customers, the capabilities and potential operational and financial success of our acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations, and expected timing thereof, expectations with regard to revenue, the nature of such revenue and any related downstream value share associated with such revenue, funding that is contingent upon Ginkgo’s achievement of milestones, expenses, including our stock-based compensation expenses, our full year 2024 outlook, the future security and commercial applications of the BIOINT industry, the expansion, timing and potential capabilities of our bioradar network and the national biodefense strategy, plans to develop and deploy AI tools for biology and biosecurity for both internal use and external release, including the expected timing thereof, and the market environment, all of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, market trends, or industry results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “can,” “project,” “potential,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo’s business, (ii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vi) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (vii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (viii) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (ix) the product development or commercialization success of our customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of Ginkgo’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations. 

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain of the financial measures included in this release, including Adjusted EBITDA, have not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and constitute “non-GAAP financial measures” as defined by the SEC. Ginkgo has included these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes they provide an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating Ginkgo’s financial performance and prospects. Due to the nature and/or size of the items being excluded, such items do not reflect future gains, losses, expenses or benefits and are not indicative of our future operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental to, and should not be considered in isolation from, or as an alternative to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with comparable names used by other companies. See the reconciliation below for additional information regarding certain of the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release, including a description of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the historic measures to Ginkgo’s most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Ginkgo Bioworks Contacts:

INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com 

MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com 

 

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

As of December 31,

2023

2022

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$       944,073

$    1,315,792

Accounts receivable, net

17,157

80,907

Accounts receivable – related parties

742

1,558

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

39,777

51,822

Total current assets

1,001,749

1,450,079

Property, plant and equipment, net

188,193

314,773

Operating lease right-of-use assets

206,801

400,762

Investments

78,565

112,188

Equity method investments

1,543

Intangible assets, net

82,741

111,041

Goodwill

49,238

60,210

Other non-current assets

58,055

88,725

Total assets

$    1,665,342

$    2,539,321

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$           9,323

$         10,451

Deferred revenue

44,486

47,817

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

110,051

114,694

Total current liabilities

163,860

172,962

Non-current liabilities:

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

158,062

174,767

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

221,835

413,256

Warrant liabilities

5,700

10,868

Other non-current liabilities

18,733

31,191

Total liabilities

568,190

803,044

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000 shares authorized; none issued

Common stock, $0.0001 par value

199

190

Additional paid-in capital

6,385,997

6,136,378

Accumulated deficit

(5,290,528)

(4,397,659)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

1,484

(2,632)

Total stockholders’ equity

1,097,152

1,736,277

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$    1,665,342

$    2,539,321

 

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Cell Engineering revenue

$          26,976

$          53,257

$         143,531

$         143,666

Biosecurity revenue:

Product

12,431

28,949

35,455

Service

7,779

32,597

78,975

298,585

Total revenue

34,755

98,285

251,455

477,706

Costs and operating expenses:

Cost of Biosecurity product revenue

7,447

7,481

20,646

Cost of Biosecurity service revenue

6,611

22,771

46,524

183,570

Research and development

117,038

177,548

580,621

1,052,643

General and administrative

89,223

121,383

385,025

1,429,799

Impairment of lease assets

96,210

Total operating expenses

212,872

329,149

1,115,861

2,686,658

Loss from operations

(178,117)

(230,864)

(864,406)

(2,208,952)

Other income (expense):

Interest income

13,303

11,441

57,217

20,262

Interest expense

(93)

(106)

(93)

(106)

Loss on equity method investments

(1,119)

10,003

(2,635)

(43,761)

Loss on investments

(10,012)

(13,354)

(54,827)

(53,335)

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

6,555

28,871

5,168

124,970

(Loss) gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries

(42,502)

(42,502)

31,889

Other income (expense), net

93

6,161

9,138

7,634

Total other income (expense), net

(33,775)

43,016

(28,534)

87,553

Loss before income taxes

(211,892)

(187,848)

(892,940)

(2,121,399)

Income tax benefit

(198)

(14,770)

(71)

(15,027)

Net loss

(211,694)

(173,078)

(892,869)

(2,106,372)

Loss attributable to non-controlling interest

2,390

(1,443)

Net loss attributable to Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. stockholders

$      (211,694)

$      (175,468)

$       (892,869)

$   (2,104,929)

Net loss per share attributable to Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.

common stockholders:

Basic

$            (0.11)

$            (0.09)

$             (0.46)

$             (1.25)

Diluted

$            (0.11)

$            (0.10)

$             (0.46)

$             (1.25)

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic

1,977,708

1,854,952

1,944,420

1,679,061

Diluted

1,978,843

1,856,610

1,944,420

1,679,839

Comprehensive loss:

Net loss

$      (211,694)

$      (173,078)

$       (892,869)

$   (2,106,372)

Other comprehensive loss:

Foreign currency translation adjustment

4,383

5,278

4,116

(917)

Total other comprehensive gain (loss)

4,383

5,278

4,116

(917)

Comprehensive loss

$      (207,311)

$      (167,800)

$       (888,753)

$   (2,107,289)

(1)

R&D and G&A expenses included a significant charge for stock-based compensation expense as a result of the modification of the vesting terms of RSUs and related earnout shares. Total stock-based compensation expense, inclusive of employer payroll taxes, was allocated as follows (in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

2023

2022

2023

2022

Research and development

$         26,775

$         68,171

$        148,861

$          738,821

General and administrative

16,809

43,059

86,047

1,202,099

Total

$         43,584

$       111,230

$        234,908

$       1,940,920

 

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands, unaudited)

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net loss

$       (892,869)

$    (2,106,372)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

70,507

42,552

Stock-based compensation

229,884

1,930,641

Non-cash customer consideration

(1,373)

(34,263)

Loss on equity method investments

2,635

43,761

Loss on investments

54,827

53,335

Change in fair value of notes receivable

2,416

(3,757)

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

(5,168)

(124,970)

Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability

9,168

(1,262)

Loss (gain) on deconsolidation of subsidiaries

42,502

(31,889)

Impairment of long-lived assets

121,404

Deferred income tax benefit

(801)

(14,609)

Loss on disposal of equipment

842

3,091

Non-cash lease expense

28,313

19,082

Non-cash in-process research and development

9,182

1,162

Amortization of finance lease right-of-use assets

1,047

1,871

Non-cash severance and retention bonus expense associated with an acquisition

6,152

Other non-cash activity

2,147

283

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

50,068

55,024

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

10,473

(8,523)

Operating lease right-of-use assets

9,275

13,233

Other non-current assets

2,570

921

Accounts payable

(1,183)

(10,844)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

16,899

(39,639)

Deferred revenue, current and non-current

(35,917)

(36,417)

Operating lease liabilities, current and non-current

(22,800)

(10,792)

Other non-current liabilities

452

31

Net cash used in operating activities

(295,500)

(252,198)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

(40,801)

(52,271)

Deconsolidation of subsidiaries – cash

(42,980)

(55,721)

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

82,367

Asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(7,639)

Purchases of notes receivable

(350)

(40,000)

Proceeds from notes receivable

10,000

Purchase of investment in equity securities

(3,691)

Proceeds from sale of equipment

4,428

Other

(990)

(439)

Net cash used in investing activities

(80,693)

(67,394)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

93

240

Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards

(23)

(981)

Principal payments on finance/capital leases and lease financing obligation

(1,295)

(1,237)

Proceeds from public offering, net of issuance costs

99,303

Contingent consideration payment

(1,411)

(521)

Payment of equity issuance costs

(580)

(1,467)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(3,216)

95,337

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

(588)

908

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(379,997)

(223,347)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

1,315,792

1,550,004

Restricted cash, beginning of period

53,789

42,924

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

1,369,581

1,592,928

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

944,073

1,315,792

Restricted cash, end of period

45,511

53,789

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$         989,584

$      1,369,581

 

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.

Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(in thousands, unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

(in thousands)

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net loss attributable to Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. stockholders

$      (211,694)

$      (175,468)

$       (892,869)

$    (2,104,929)

Interest income

(13,226)

(11,412)

(57,217)

(20,262)

Interest expense

15

77

93

106

Income tax benefit

(198)

(14,770)

(71)

(15,027)

Depreciation and amortization

12,837

15,667

70,507

42,552

EBITDA

(212,266)

(185,906)

(879,557)

(2,097,560)

Stock-based compensation (1)

43,584

111,230

234,908

1,940,920

Impairment of long-lived assets (2)

121,404

Merger and acquisition related expenses (3)

23,663

26,045

70,771

46,229

Loss on investments

10,012

13,354

54,827

53,335

Loss (gain) on deconsolidation of subsidiaries

42,502

42,502

(31,889)

Loss on equity method investments (4)

1,119

(7,612)

2,635

45,315

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

(6,555)

(28,871)

(5,168)

(124,970)

Change in fair value of notes receivable

2,174

(3,924)

2,295

(4,153)

Adjusted EBITDA

$        (95,767)

$        (75,684)

$       (355,383)

$       (172,773)

(1)

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, includes $5.0 million and $10.3 million, respectively, in related employer payroll taxes.

(2)

For the year ended December 31, 2023, includes $25.2 million impairment loss on lab equipment and $96.2 million impairment loss on a right-of-use asset and the related leasehold improvements associated with an exited Zymergen leased facility.

(3)

Represents transaction and integration costs directly related to mergers and acquisitions, including: (i) due diligence, legal, consulting and accounting fees associated with acquisitions, (ii) post-acquisition employee retention bonuses and severance payments, (iii) the fair value adjustments to contingent consideration liabilities resulting from acquisitions, (iv) acquired intangible assets expensed as in-process research and development, and (v) costs associated with the Zymergen Bankruptcy, as well as securities litigation costs, net of insurance recovery.

(4)

Represents losses on equity method investments under the hypothetical liquidation at book value method, net of losses attributable to non-controlling interests.

 

Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.

Segment Information

(in thousands, unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Revenue:

Cell Engineering

$            26,976

$         53,257

$       143,531

$       143,666

Biosecurity

7,779

45,028

107,924

334,040

Total revenue

34,755

98,285

251,455

477,706

Segment cost of revenue:

Biosecurity

6,611

30,218

54,005

204,216

Segment research and development expense:

Cell Engineering

77,999

95,408

353,493

273,356

Biosecurity

191

590

1,599

1,937

Total segment research and development expense

78,190

95,998

355,092

275,293

Segment general and administrative expense:

Cell Engineering

60,047

63,686

215,263

168,586

Biosecurity

12,652

13,670

55,514

56,353

Total segment general and administrative expense

72,699

77,356

270,777

224,939

Segment operating (loss) income:

Cell Engineering

(111,070)

(105,837)

(425,225)

(298,276)

Biosecurity

(11,675)

550

(3,194)

71,534

Total segment operating loss

(122,745)

(105,287)

(428,419)

(226,742)

Operating expenses not allocated to segments:

Stock-based compensation (1)

43,584

111,230

234,908

1,940,920

Impairment of long-lived assets

121,404

Depreciation and amortization

12,837

15,667

70,507

42,552

Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability

(1,049)

(1,320)

9,168

(1,262)

Loss from operations

$        (178,117)

$     (230,864)

$     (864,406)

$  (2,208,952)

(1)

Includes $5.0 million and $10.3 million in related employer payroll taxes for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ginkgo-bioworks-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2023-financial-results-302076484.html

SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Zum Celebrates Its Drivers Nationwide As Back-to-School Season Gets Underway

Published

on

By

Drivers in Fresno, Rockford and other cities share why they’re excited about the 2026–27 school year

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zūm, a leader in student mobility, is kicking off the 2026–27 school year by spotlighting its drivers across the country dedicated to delivering reliable, transparent and efficient service for students, families and schools.

“As students return to school, we are proud of our amazing teams of drivers who are helping provide access to education for children and peace of mind for families each day,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. “Drivers are the heart of our operation and often the first smiling face a child sees. They understand the importance of their work and we believe ours have a positive influence on the students they serve.”

Zum supports more than 6,500 schools across 19 states. This year, Zum welcomed several new school district partners, including Fresno Unified School District (CA), School District of Philadelphia (PA), Shawnee Mission School District (KS) and Rockford Public Schools (IL).

A few Zum drivers share why they enjoy working with students and families:

“I drive special needs students: elementary, middle and high school. The parents are great; they need a lot of help, and we provide it with door-to-door service. The training was excellent, and I work with a monitor who has been doing this for about 10 years, so I’ve learned a lot from him. Everything’s been inspiring—and at the end of the day, you feel good about yourself, because you’re helping all these kids.”
— Zum driver Chester Herbert (Rockford, IL)

“I like the atmosphere of the job: the co-workers, the staff, the children, the overall experience of delivering the kids every day to school safely. I also like the responsibility of it. I’ve definitely gotten to know some of the kids and have been building little bonds with them. I like driving and being a good part of the community.”
— Zum driver Antoine Robinson (Oakland, CA)

“I raised five kids and have 14 grandkids, so I’m always surrounded by children. I like greeting the kids in the morning and talking to them: ‘What did you do last night?’ ‘What did you have for dinner?’ They’ll tell me about Grandma and Grandpa, or Mom and Dad … At Zum, there’s a bunch of drivers, and we’re all a team, helping each other. Everybody’s dedicated to doing their job the best they can.”
— Zum driver Grace Maher (Fresno, CA)

“My job is so fulfilling. My first ‘Oh, wow!’ was the technology; my tablet tells me exactly where to go. Also, the buses are very important: We have brand new buses, EV buses, buses that have AC. I am a people person, and to make (the students) feel good, I try to know every single kid by name. You make them feel valuable, like you care. Then we start having conversations, and they are at peace when they see me.”
— Zum driver Pascale Dalle (Oakland and Redwood City, CA)

“This is my first year driving a school bus. I have six kids at home, so now I’m home early enough to spend more time with them. In this job, you’re working with kids. You have to be patient. Even my wife was like, ‘Oh, that would be perfect for you.’ I love going to work and the people I work around, and I love being able to be home on the weekends with my family.”
— Zum driver Juan Santillan (Fresno, CA)

At Zum, drivers benefit from modern facilities, digital tools, real-time communication, and technology that simplifies daily operations, allowing them to focus on what matters most: serving students safely and reliably.

“Zum has a driver-first approach to student mobility, and our drivers understand the essential role they play in families’ lives,” said Liz Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Student Mobility at Zum. “In the weeks and months leading up to the start of the school year, our drivers have been busy training and preparing so they’ll be ready for the first day.”

Zum is helping school districts improve reliability, strengthen communication with families and modernize one of the nation’s largest public mobility systems through its AI-powered Connected Mobility Experience (CMX™) platform. To learn more about how Zum is redefining student mobility, visit www.ridezum.com.

About Zum

Zum is redefining mass mobility with Zum CMX, which connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the student mobility market, Zum is addressing a daily source of anxiety and disruption by providing a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Learn more at www.ridezum.com. Today, more than 6,500 schools in 19 states have relied on the Zum CMX system.

Media Contact

Jenny Mayfield
VP, Communications, Zum
press@ridezum.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zum-celebrates-its-drivers-nationwide-as-back-to-school-season-gets-underway-302868268.html

SOURCE Zūm

Continue Reading

Technology

UNISORB Welcomes BILZ-USA to Expand Engineering and Product Solutions

Published

on

By

UNISORB Named Sole North American Distributor for BILZ

MICHIGAN CENTER, Mich., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UNISORB Installation Solutions, a global provider of machine mounting, vibration isolation, and precision leveling solutions headquartered in Michigan Center, Mich., today announced it has acquired BILZ-USA, effective August 30, 2026, making UNISORB the exclusive distributor of BILZ products across North America. The transition expands UNISORB’s engineering support and on-site project management capabilities for industrial customers seeking precision vibration isolation and leveling solutions. Full product and service details are available at www.UNISORB.com.

UNISORB is now the exclusive North American distributor of BILZ products.

“BILZ’s leveling and isolation technology closes a gap in our product line at the high-precision end of the market,” said John Hornberger, Chief Executive Officer of UNISORB. “Combining our installation and project management teams with BILZ’s engineering staff means customers get one point of contact for a project that used to require two vendors.”

What This Means for Customers

Decades of combined expertise. BILZ’s engineering staff join UNISORB’s engineering and project management teams, giving customers a single technical team backed by decades of hands-on experience in vibration isolation, leveling, and precision installation.A broader, unified product line. UNISORB’s lineup now spans BILZ’s full catalog, from basic leveling mounts to active isolation systems, alongside UNISORB’s existing machine mounting and installation solutions, giving customers access to a significantly wider range of solutions from a single source.More capability for BILZ customers. Longtime BILZ customers now gain direct access to UNISORB’s full engineering, manufacturing, and on-site project management resources; capabilities not previously available through BILZ alone.A unified approach to installation. Customers receive continuous support from initial site survey through final leveling and installation, managed by one team rather than coordinated separately across two vendors.Centralized North American distribution. Distribution from Michigan Center will consolidate logistics for customers ordering across North America as the transition is completed.One point of contact. BILZ orders will transition to being placed directly through UNISORB in the coming weeks, moving away from what was previously a two-vendor process for combined leveling and isolation projects.

About UNISORB

UNISORB Installation Solutions, headquartered in Michigan Center, Michigan, is a global provider of machine mounting, vibration isolation, and precision equipment leveling solutions for manufacturers across a range of industrial sectors. More information is available at www.UNISORB.com.

Media Contact

John Hornberger

Chief Executive Officer, UNISORB

jhornberger@unisorb.com

Tim Spahr 
Vice President – Sales & Marketing
tspahr@unisorb.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unisorb-welcomes-bilz-usa-to-expand-engineering-and-product-solutions-302868227.html

SOURCE UNISORB Installation Solutions

Continue Reading

Technology

Eliminate costly enclosures: ABB debuts IP66/Type 4X Drives for Australia’s harshest industrial environments

Published

on

By

New ACS580, ACH580 and ACQ580 IP66/Type 4X drives support food and beverage, HVACR, manufacturing, and water and wastewater applications exposed to harsh environmental conditions.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ABB has introduced ACS580, ACH580 and ACQ580 drives with IP66/Type 4X protection, extending the range of motor control solutions available for applications operating in demanding environmental conditions. The new drives are designed for installations where motor control equipment may be exposed to dust, water, humidity, outdoor weather and other harsh conditions, providing greater flexibility when considering drive selection, installation design and equipment location.

Tailored for different industry requirements

The three drive families are designed to address the specific requirements of different industries and applications:

ACS580 IP66/Type 4X drives are designed for demanding food and beverage environments, supporting motor-driven applications including pumps, fans, compressors, mixers and conveyors operating across wet, washdown, indoor and outdoor production environments.ACH580 IP66/Type 4X drives are designed specifically for HVACR applications, supporting equipment operating in exposed and outdoor locations, including rooftop air handling units, cooling towers, exterior exhaust fans, outdoor pump skids and outdoor chiller units.ACQ580 IP66/Type 4X drives are designed for water and wastewater environments, supporting a broad range of applications including clarifiers, surface aerators, screens, flocculators, dosing systems, activated sludge pumps, lift stations and booster stations.

Many Australian facilities operate in environments that present challenging conditions for installed electrical equipment. The IP66/Type 4X design provides greater flexibility to locate drives closer to the application, where appropriate for the installation.

By reducing the need for additional protective enclosures or dedicated electrical rooms and enabling shorter motor cable runs, this approach can reduce site installation costs and complexity. It can also support faster installation and commissioning and a smaller overall system footprint.

The drives incorporate a range of built-in features designed to support installation, operation and integration, including coated circuit boards, integrated EMC C2 filtering, a built-in DC choke for harmonic mitigation, and Safe Torque Off (STO). The design also provides option slots for additional I/O and fieldbus communications, enabling the drives to be configured for different application requirements.

Optional Bluetooth-enabled control panels further support commissioning and interaction with the drives. When used with ABB’s Drivetune mobile application, Bluetooth connectivity provides a convenient way to access and work with drive settings. ABB’s drive software and connectivity tools can also support commissioning and diagnostic activities.

ABB is also highlighting the importance of distinguishing ingress protection ratings from other environmental performance characteristics when selecting equipment for demanding applications.

In Australia, an IP66 rating relates specifically to the enclosure’s protection against the ingress of dust and water, in accordance with AS/NZS 60529 and IEC 60529. The first digit, 6, denotes a dust-tight enclosure, while the second 6 denotes protection against powerful water jets.

Environmental characteristics such as UV, corrosion and chemical resistance should therefore be considered separately from the IP66 classification and assessed against the specifications and testing applicable to the individual product. This distinction is particularly relevant for equipment installed in outdoor, coastal, washdown or chemically exposed environments. ABB, for example, separately identifies corrosion, UV and chemical-resistance characteristics for its ACS580 IP66/Type 4X drive rather than treating these as properties conferred by the IP66 rating itself.

The ACS580, ACH580 and ACQ580 IP66/Type 4X drive range is available in power ratings from 5.5 kW to 22 kW, providing a solution for applications where protection against dust ingress and water exposure is an important consideration in the selection, installation and operation of variable speed drives.

Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nCWb7g-MGI

About ABB
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 110,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.

ABB Drives is a global technology leader serving industries, infrastructure and machine builders with world-class variable speed drives, drive systems and packages. We help our customers, partners and equipment manufacturers to improve energy efficiency, asset reliability, productivity, safety and performance.

Media Contact:
Natalie Landrito
Marketing and Communications Manager
contact.centre@au.abb.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/eliminate-costly-enclosures-abb-debuts-ip66type-4x-drives-for-australias-harshest-industrial-environments-302868246.html

SOURCE ABB

Continue Reading

Trending